This chapter opens with a soliloquy by Qingyan, the oldest son of the emperor. He tells his father that he is a martial expert and that the people regard him as a threat to the emperor's reign. He says that he has to do everything he can to keep up his martial skills, but that he does not want to be too hard on himself. When he sees that his son is working so hard, he worries that he will not be able to continue. He asks his father to let him relax a little so that he can continue his cultivation, but his father tells him not to take it personally. If he feels that his cultivation is too difficult, he can relax a bit, but he should not let himself overexert himself. He then tells his son to roast a rabbit for him so that his wife will know how good his husband's cooking skills are. When his son rises, he tells him that he wants to go grab some kindling and that he cannot allow him to do so hard work. He also says that his "linyielding spirit" is all he has. If that disappears, he says, he will be unable to continue, and so he will protect his honor no matter what the price support. When the son asks if it is time for him to put on his clothes, the son says that there is no need for a slave, since the emperor has allowed them to have fun with him. The son asks why he still pretends to be a "noble crown prince," and the son replies that he was once a general. He adds that if he misses a single stroke of the rod, it will be on his head, and that if the son misses a stroke, it would be on the son's head. He calls for mercy, a skilled fighter, and asks if he enjoys being degraded, and if he does, he should have it his way. He wants to get rid of his "useless pride," but the son refuses to give