AU pretends to resign. The empress dowager asks AU to stay. However, she allows ON to resign. AU goes to the palace to see HEI. The palace guard, HAK, obstructs his way. He even finds excuse to send TONG YUR MON to JIANG NING. The empress dowager regards AU as enemy. The empress dowager arranges a lantern festival to select a queen for the emperor. HEI likes SOR LI's granddaughter the most. He even gives her a jade. He neglects PING. AU accuses HAK who has broken the rule of the palace as he takes the emperor out to hunting and uses the emperor's bow and arrow. He sentences HAK to death. HEI arrives in time and negotiates with AU. HEI orders AU to set HAK free. AU challenges HEI with the ex-emperor' s exhortation. Meanwhile, the empress dowager and the ex-emperor arrive.