This chapter opens with a description of the storm that is raging at the border between the viceroy and the city. The viceroy is surrounded by soldiers, who keep watch on him and his servants. He is also surrounded by a crowd of people, who stare at him intensely. He turns to the commander of the army and asks him to open the gate to find out what is going on. The commander tells him that there is a locked gate and that nobody can enter. He tells the commander that he is counting on him to put a good word in front of the lord chen. He asks the commander if he can speak to the prisoner privately for a few minutes. He says that since the lord and the king share such a close bond, he hopes that the commander will put in an honest word for him. He adds that the prisoner is in such a low mood that he will not believe him. This is the first he has ever seen him being so low-spirited, he says, and he says that he would better stop thinking about it. He brings some garbage to dodo and asks her to help him get out of there. She asks him if he is trying to pull a trick on her this time. He promises to pay her back what he owes her. He