In prison, Ling tells the guards that he has read the letters and realizes that his father is now his enemy. He tells them that he will always be there for Ling, and that he thinks it will make him feel better. He says that the prison has fewer guards and that since the emperor does not treat Ling well, he cant just deny that the family has been together for twenty years. He also says that he can get some members of the family out of the prison, since the prison is full of prisoners who have been sentenced to death by the emperor. Ling says he will take care of the prisoners himself, since he is the one who gave the gold token to the emperor himself. He asks the guards if they would like to take him with them, but they refuse, saying that they do not have the money to do so. Ling thanks the guards for their kindness, and says that although the family is seized, he still has some money and personal property. He adds that saving Ling's brother was a part of the deal between the emperor and nanyun. Otherwise, he would not hesitate to send Ling back to prison