Shao Shang's eyes fluttered open, and Empress Quan helped her up. She sat down by the bed with a bowl of soup in her hand. Looking puzzled, Shao Shang turned and looked at her while sipping the soup. Holding back her tears, Empress Quan broke the news to her. She said, 'Shao Shang, you are expecting. You are into the 2nd trimester soon. You are going to be a mother.' Empress Quan's words seemed to echo in Shao Shang's mind. Shao Shang placed her hand on her tummy, in disbelief she repeated the words to Empress Quan again. This time around, both Empress Quan and Mdm Zhai, her close maid, acknowledge and confirmed the news of the pregnancy. The images of all those drinking nights came flashing back. Guilt started to creep in.  Empress Quan and Mdm Zhai started to probe more about how the pregnancy came about. They tried to fish for related information. 

While stroking her tummy, Shao Shang lay back against the bed. Shao Shang broke it to them that they consummated three days before the actual wedding. She said, 'On that bleak night, I took an oath, never to walk away from him so as long he doesn't abandon me, I will never forsake him. I left a mark on his arm and he left one on mine. He carried me to the room and we consummated before the wedding.' Mdm Zhai held the hand of Empress Quan and Shao Shang, her eyes hinting that things had developed to the point of no return. The most important thing on hand was to find ways to manage the situation. Shao Shang took her stand that since Huo Buyi had chosen to abandon her, she would raise the child on her own. However, taking into consideration that she was carrying the Huo family bloodline. The child would take the family name of Huo. This was the last thing, Shao Shang could do for Huo Buyi. 

Shao Shang was determined to make a living using her carpentry and pottery skills. All three of them sat down and brainstorm ways to pull this off and to avoid being on the Emperor and Huo Buyi's radar. Empress Quan suggested having Shao Shang live under another name, to assume another identity. Mdm Zhai added that Shao Shang could assume the identity of a window or a married woman whose husband had joined the army. Shao Shang could be her long-distance relative and go live in a house in another town. This way, not only the birth of her child would be legitimate, Shao Shang could start a new life. Empress Quan excitedly offered herself, sharing ways she could make trips and stay with Shao Shang for an extended time to look after her and her child. Empress Quan placed her hand on Shao Shang's tummy, she said, 'Shao Shang, I'm afraid you have to make a decision soon. Your tummy will start to show and Liang Qiu Qi will find out what's going on.'

After pondering for a night, Shao Shang decided to assume the identity of Mdm Zhai's long-distance relative whose husband had laid down his life for the country. Moreover, this story was not too far off from the facts. Thus, she would not be lying to her child should he/she brings up the topic in the distant future. Since everything had been decided, Mdm Zhai would see to the arrangement and Empress Quan was in preparation to head back to the palace giving Shao Shang an opening to execute her plan. Empress Quan said, 'I'll head back to the palace and tell the Emperor our plan to go hands-on to do our part for the people of our land. This will help justify your absence and my excuse to leave the palace. On the other hand, we could shake Liang Qiu Qi off your trail.' Shao Shang nodded and thanked Empress Quan wholeheartedly. All of them rest for the day. The following day, after breakfast, they bid each other goodbye and headed off to carry out their individual plan.