In this short scene, the Ming Emperor's servant, Hu Minghua, asks his master if there is anything he can do to help him reclaim the throne. The master replies that he is not responsible for the instability under the emperor's power. He says that the emperor is the one who has the blessing of society and the expectations of the people. He tells Hu that it is better for him to pack his bags early and not to make such meaningless assumptions. The Ming Emperor is also suspicious of the master's serious look. He warns Hu that he should be careful, as there are other capable men in the world who can do the same job. He also tells him that the handwriting of Ling Ge is his, and that he will discuss the matter when he returns to China. Hu says that he hopes he is just overthinking the whole thing. He wonders if he has found Ling Ge's whereabouts and if he is still in the country. He feels uneasy because the emperor seems to be discussing important matters.