Minister Yuan is the Minister of Rites in the Capital City, a high ranking official in the imperial government. He has a granddaughter who is shy and timid, rarely leaving home and having seen few proper men. Huang Shi caught her eye and began courting her with sappy poems, using the same tactics he had used to woo Shen Zhuyu. Minister Yuan position and wealth make his granddaughter an attractive match for Huang Shi who sees this as an opportunity to elevate his social status. The minister residence is where Huang Shi was performing his duties when he unexpectedly met the minister granddaughter, setting in motion the events that would lead to Shen Zhuyu despair.
