This chapter opens with Cai Ming's family in hiding. Cai Ming tells his brother that the prefect has been spying on them. He tells Cai Ming that he has already told Cai Ming not to try and save the people by himself, or it will bring disaster upon him. He says that he already has an internal map of the village, which he has handed over to the prefect, and that when the prefect leads people into the village tomorrow, they will be able to escape from the chaos. He also says that Cai Ming has been whipped to stop Cai Ming from going to the ruan house. He asks Cai Ming how a'tang knows how to make the flower, and Cai Ming says that the girl who made the flower was a long time ago, but that she is no longer the only person who can make flowers.