Maomao does her best to navigate the complex social situations at the garden party, including meeting the other Upper First rank concubines. But once she settles down to do her work as a food-taster, she discovers a surprise in a bowl of soup.
This arrangement seems made to instill
 rivalry between the four concubines.
يبدو أنَّ الغاية من هذه التّرتيبات هي
زرع روح التّنافس بين المَحظيّات الأربع
Die Sitzordnung schürt Feindseligkeiten
zwischen den Gemahlinnen.
Esta fiesta parece promover
la rivalidad entre las concubinas.
Esta fiesta parece promover
la rivalidad entre las concubinas.
La tension est à son comble
au sein de l’assemblée.
Sembra una situazione pensata
per fomentare la rivalità fra le consorti.
Essas apresentações parecem feitas
para incitar a rivalidade.
Видать, пирушки нужны, чтобы разжечь
вражду между наложницами.