In this chapter, we learn that the Ministry of War is still some time away, and that Lin is running around like a crazy man. He wants to hire a wagon, but Lin reminds him that they've just spent all their money. Lin wants to know who this strange guy is and what's going on behind him. Lin tells him that he's the one who saved him from drowning in the exam room, and he'll give him the wagon as a gift. Lin is so excited that he can't believe that Lin has forgotten him. The wagon is fast, Lin says, and they can get there in no time. Lin asks where the music is coming from, and the manager says that it's coming from the palace. Lin says that the royal musicians are in the palace, but he doesn't know how to play the piano. Lin tries to get the manager to send a singer to sing for them, but the manager won't let him go because the singer is from a brothel, and Lin thinks that the manager is just a playboy. The manager tells Lin that soon, there'll be one less person in the royal court.