CHUN accuses YUET of trying to outshine the others by vulgar means. KIU-YEUNG steps up to YUET’s help, accusing CHUN of setting YUET up with a view to becoming the principal dancer. The emperor praises BUT for SHAN’s brilliant performance. He wants to promote SHAN to senior dancer. His suggestion of promoting SHAN by two ranks meets with the opposition of YUET, who says SHAN has indeed made a mistake in her performance. SHAN’s pendant is exactly the same as that of the dowager. FA, her mother, says that is because her pendant was handmade by a craftsman in the palace. SHAN does not believe her words though. YIN commends YAN’s homemade peony cakes. He is going to visit Luoyang to look for his parents. She promises to write to his hometown to inquire about his background. WAN dances for private banquets so as to earn enough money to repay her debts. She is surprised to run into LONG, who is dressed as a woman.… ...
