In the throne room, Fu qushui congratulates his master on his performance in the examination. He tells the Queen that he has a good friend, a girl who looks just like her. The Queen tells him that he should invite all the young talents to live in the suburbs and see who wins the hunting game. He says that he is willing to share his work if he were to become a government official. He then asks about the ashes that he brought back from the battlefield. He asks the Queen why she did not let him win first place. She says that an official will not be in danger, but that he must decide whether he is qualified to stay with her side. She asks him if he thinks that it is time for her to take action against the prince regent