YAN continues to act innocent, and begs CHING and the Queen Mother to forgive ZHOU. YAN sees ZHOU in the prison. She tries to cover up her selfishness by claiming that she has a compelling reason for what she has done. ZHOU believes so. CHING appreciates HING and treats him as his son. HING wants to make use of his good relationship with CHING to help ZHOU and PING. He tries to defend ZHOU, which infuriates CHING beyond measure. HING is then punished by being whipped. HIN, HAN and PING try to intercede for HING, and get punished too. The Queen Mother agrees not to kill ZHOU, but ZHOU will lose her crown and has to work in the palace as a housemaid. CHING is so worried about the situation of the country, and blames all the ministers for having not played their part. He calls them rubbish, which really scares them to death. TAI does not want to offend TIN, and thus asks PING to stay away from HAN. This irks HAN greatly. CHING falls sick.… ...