As "Writing a Grievance" starts, tearfully, Guizhi tells Zhao Chong upon his return what she has done during his absence and ghastly situation her real father is in. She also tells the husband for the first time her family's traumatic past, and then pleads to him for help. Despite his deep love and sympathy for his wife and his eagerness to save his father-in-law, all Zhao can do, for he has no authority to reopen a closed case, is to write a Grievance to be filed by Guizhi to the Imperial Inspector who will be in town the next day.