My Warrior Empress

The Empress Dowager of Great Qi prays for dynasty stability, praising Regent Theodore Vance. Divination predicts 'demise.' Taoist master Jiuyang states this is an omen of the nation's fall: The Emperor's Star is weak, treacherous officials are in court; only the North Star can reverse this. Empress Dowager asks if the emperor will welcome Theodore Vance, learns Emperor Zhu Jing is at the House of Hundred Blossoms with courtesans, watching a cricket fight, unaware of the crisis.