The chapter opens with a description of the protagonist's visit to the emperor's palace. He is greeted warmly by the emperor, who introduces him to his wife and daughter-in-law. He tells the protagonist that he is a member of the royal family, and that his father is a wealthy man. The protagonist is impressed by the king's wealth and the prince's good looks, and he asks the emperor if he can visit him. The emperor replies that he can, but that he must first visit his daughter, who is staying with her father's sister, the queen's daughter. The prince asks the protagonist if he has seen his daughter before, and the protagonist says that he has. He then asks the queen if she has seen her sister before. The queen replies that she has, and she tells him that she had seen him before, when he was a young boy. He asks the prince if he would like to visit him, but the prince refuses, saying that he would have to work extra hours to make up for the extra time he has missed. When the prince asks if the protagonist wants to see his sister again, the protagonist tells him he will not, saying he wants to stay with his father. When he asks if she wants to come back with him, she says she will, but she will stay with her brother. The narrator tells the prince that he should come back first, because he has to work overtime to finish the first draft of the novel. He says he is going to die if he does not go home with the others. He sighs and says he will finish the novel today, even if it is rainy.