This chapter opens with a conversation between the two young men, who have left the Ming dynasty and are now living in the Qing dynasty. The two men are still in love with each other, but they are no longer friends. The young man tells the old man that he still wants to be a part of the Ming court. The old man tells him that he will never be able to do so, but the young man says that he wants to try his hand at being a courtier. He asks if he is sure that he would still like to be involved in the court, but he is not sure if he would want to do it in person. He wants to ask his master about what happened, otherwise, he won't have the chance to get over the incident. He also asks his brother if he really wants to let the whole thing go, but his brother says he doesn't want to let it go, that is enough. A young officer enters the inn where the young men are staying to collect the food. The officer says that the place is small, so they have to wash the dishes every day. He says that if he does not bring the small dishes back, he can't tell the shop keeper. He faints head in. He tells the officer that he is going to be there to keep guard, and the officer tells him to hurry back out. When the officer returns, he says that there is a young man who is here to pick up the food, and he asks the officer if he has delivered the meal. This young man answers that he hasn't, and that he has come to pick the food up. He then asks