In this short scene, the audience is introduced to the Flower King and his daughter, Princess Wenxin, who has recently returned from a trip to the seashore. The King asks his daughter why she seems to have a "soft glow" on her, and she tells him that it is because of a poem she has written. The poem, written by Miss Caroline, is a metaphor for the conflict inherent in the world, and the King uses it as an example of how to present the culture of the Flower Kingdom in a way that is harmonious with the world around it. The Princess, however, does not agree with the King's use of the metaphor. She feels that the King is encouraging "cowardice," and that the Queen's tradition of peace-keeping is the only way for the kingdom to gain an advantage over its rivals.