The scene opens with the protagonist, Yung-Hsien, in the middle of a conversation with his friend, the protagonist's first cousin, Miolan. Miolan is the daughter of his mother's older sister, and Miolan and the protagonist get along very well. The protagonist tells his friend that Miolan spent a year embroidering a handkerchief for the crown prince, which Miolan gave to the prince, but Miolan became depressed and did not leave the house for a month. He tells the protagonist that the prince's heir, the heir to the throne, offers to help him clean up his family's house, which is in disarray. He invites the protagonist to stay with him at his house.