In this chapter, the audience is introduced to the protagonist, who is the son of a peasant family in the ancient Chinese city of chen. He has a twin brother, an older brother, and a younger brother. The protagonist explains that he was born with a poisonous insect in his body, which affects his memory. He tells the story of how the ninth princess of the city, huanxie, married the emperor of the Ming dynasty in order to force him to marry her in her place. . After the wedding, the protagonist was forced to marry in his own place.