In the palace courtyard, Ling zhi pleads with the emperor to spare her life. The emperor refuses, saying that she is a famine victim and that he will kill her if she does not leave the palace. He tells her that she will soon be with the Empress Dowager's army, and she begs him to help her escape. She tells him that when she was grounded by her father, he forbade anyone to contact her. A maid came to her and gave her gifts in her father's honor. She asks the emperor if he will be afraid of her, and the emperor replies that he is afraid of the spirit queen.