Mr. Lan tells Mr. Lin that he is free to pursue his case with justice. He says that the crime is heavy, and that the earthquake was caused by the general's mistake. The general says that if he had known the earthquake would occur, he would not have spent so much money on the vases. He tells the story of a woman who was made general and tried to seize power. The rumors are that the general is an impostor and that someone is behind the whole thing.