Mingkong asks his brother if he has ever had an injury on his back, and Mingkong guesses that he has. Mingkong tells his brother that the things that have hurt him, such as the debt he owes to the Ming family, will eventually be cut down, and that he will soon be able to return to his former self. He tells Mingkong that although he is feared by everyone in the palace, Mingkong has not changed. He says that although the child has been tried, the father, mother, and brother should all be ashamed of their part in the child's fate. He also says that the emperor loves his people, and thus all beings, are his sons. He adds that the people are his children, and how can they exchange their lives for one another? Mingkong says that even though he has to sacrifice his own life, he must protect his younger brother.