The scene opens with the pei clan's greetings to the princess, who is celebrating her birthday. The party is interrupted by the storming of the palace by the "banyan army" , which has killed all the clan members except the princess' son. The princess's son, hongyang, has committed suicide. The next day, the palace is empty. The pei family asks the princess to tell them what happened the night before, and the princess tells them that the three clan members have been accused of treason and will be imprisoned. She says that if she had them killed, she would be ashamed to see her father.