In this chapter, the protagonist's father, who is also the son of the second uncle of the protagonist, asks his son what his cousin wants from him. The protagonist tells him that his cousin, Lin ruzhen, has teamed up with Fang Kuo and is trying to get his father to break off their engagement. He also tells his father that the noble consort, pei, and her highness are plotting against him by getting at him. He says that he has been at war with pei's highness and that they are his father's enemies. In return for his son's favor, he promised pei that he would adopt him as his second son. . He tells his son that fang Kuo has sent a person to meet with him in secret, and they are probably plotting against the protagonist. He leaves the palace to find out what is going on.