The empress tells the guards that she is the one who has poisoned the king. She tells them to capture her and kill her. The guards tell her that they are here to persuade her to give up her throne. She says that she indulges in sexual pleasures, looks for handsome men, and spends more money than she needs. People are afraid, she says, because she has spent too much money. She accuses the king of taking the wrong path, and of collaborating with foreign countries. She suggests that he be overthrown, and that she be the new emperor. The king tells her that he will follow her and have her new empress. The chancellor tells him to hold on, but the empress says that he cannot overthrow her. He says that if she were to kill him, he would not be able to overthrow her, because the only obstacle to her way would be him. He tells the chancellor that he knows that he has wanted to take over the throne from her, and he tells her to hold onto the rest of the money she has left. The emperor tells the king to give her the antidote, or he will kill her