The narrator explains that entering the palace requires a maid and an all-around helper. He says that he cannot guarantee that anyone will enter, but that if he stands out among the candidates and catches the eye of one, he can approach the emperor immediately. The narrator asks a friend to help him enter the palace, but the friend says that she cannot trust him. He tells her that he has a secret and he needs her help. After waiting for a long time, he finally gets what he is looking for. He wants to know if she is a good person, and she tells him that she is. He asks if there is anything he can do for her, but she says that her cousin is the Empress and she will not do anything for her.