The next morning, the king's son, the heir to the throne, arrives at his father's house. The king tells him that he has heard that the king and the emperor are in close contact. He also tells the king that the emperor's tiger count has gone missing, which means that the alliance between the two princes could be seriously threatened. The prince asks the king to meet him at the palace, and the king promises to do so soon. He tells the prince that he will receive the king at the royal palace. He says that the prince's wife, the daughter of the king, is a good speaker, and he hopes the king will be able to resist his love for her. When the king asks where the prince is, the prince says that he is preparing wine outside the court yard. He asks the prince to take care of his cousin, who is very ill.