Cai Ming tells his mother that he has taken over the army and that he will kill anyone who tries to stop him. He also tells her that he sent an eunuch to Luoyang to inform the sixth prince that he should return to the city and rescue the princess. Cai Ming then tells Cai Junhao that soldiers have been besieged at the palace and that whoever takes control of the palace will die. He accuses Cai Minghao of betraying him and defecting to the Empress. He tells Cai Ming to write an order of abdicating the throne and pass it on to his son.