The next day, when Madam Yu entered the palace, she was followed by a maid with a veil.

The imperial guards checking at the palace gate wanted to ask the man to take off his veil and verify that he was correct before entering the palace.

Madam Yu frowned in displeasure, but good manners prevented her from losing her temper. "Whenever I came to the palace to see the Empress before, you didn't have to conduct such a strict inspection?"

"Madam, things are different now. In the past few months, many assassins have infiltrated the Empress's palace. His Majesty is worried that other assassins and killers will still try to break into the palace and commit assassinations. Therefore, he has asked us to thoroughly investigate those who enter the palace to prevent anyone from sneaking in and causing harm to the nobles in the palace."

What the Imperial Guards said was well-reasoned and very clever. They were not doing this to check the people entering the palace for the Empress alone, but to check the people who were about to enter the palace for the nobles in the palace.

If it was just for the Empress Dowager's investigation, Madam Yu could still have a reason to refuse, but if it was for the noble ladies in the palace, she would have no reason. If she didn't want the Imperial Guards to investigate, it clearly meant that she had something to hide.

Madam Yu was reluctant to let go and asked the maid to remove her veil. The imperial guards could not help but persuade her: "Madam, can you please ask the maid to remove the veil? You are in a hurry to go to the palace to visit Concubine Yu. Don't waste so much time here."

Fortunately, the people on guard today are all good-tempered. If they met someone with a bad temper, they would have gone up and taken off the maid's veil.

You are not a beauty, and there is no place where you cannot see people. This palace is not a place where people are eaten. Why do you need to wear a veil when entering the palace?

Madam Yu thought for a moment and said, "That maid's appearance has been ruined since she was young, and she has always worn a veil. It's not that I don't let her take it off, but I'm afraid it would scare everyone, so..."

The Royal Guard knew the pain of a disfigured woman, especially one whose appearance had been ruined since childhood. He thought it was because others had mocked and teased her too much that she wore a veil. He no longer hesitated and waved back, "Go in..."

When Madam Yu took the maid in, cold sweat broke out on her back, soaking her clothes. Fortunately, she was wearing a dark dress today, so no one noticed it.

As Madam Yu entered the palace gate of Concubine Yu's bedroom, a palace maid came to greet her. "Madam is finally here. The Queen has been waiting for you for a long time. When you didn't see her with anyone, she was worried that something might have happened to you on the way."

The palace maid was a servant who entered the palace with Concubine Yu. Her name was Xiaolan. She looked smart when she was in Yu's mansion before, so Concubine Yu brought her into the palace.

As Xiaolan led Madam Yu inside, she said, "The Queen misses you very much, but she can't leave the palace to visit you because she doesn't have the token from His Majesty."

Madam Yu sighed softly, "It's enough that the Queen has this intention. She has no choice but to stay in the palace."

Madam Yu followed Xiaolan into the inner hall. As soon as they entered, Concubine Yu stood up and walked over quickly, her face anxious and worried: "Mother, did something happen on the way? Otherwise, why are you here so late?"

Madam Yu shook her head. "No, we encountered the Royal Guards on the way and it took us some time."

"Inspection by the Imperial Guards?" Concubine Yu had not left the palace for a long time. When Yu Chongran came yesterday, he did not mention that she had to be inspected by the Imperial Guards before entering the palace.

"It is said that there have been too many assassins in the palace in recent months, so people entering and leaving the palace have been arranged to be checked by the Royal Guards. Only after they are confirmed to be innocent can they enter or leave the palace."

Concubine Yu had heard a little about the assassination in the palace, but the assassins almost all went to Fengqi Palace. She didn't know what Gu Yanyue had done outside that caused panic in the palace.

But when he looked behind Madam Yu and saw that no one had come in with her, his heart sank, "Mother, the person you brought in wasn't discovered, right?"

"Don't worry, no. I told the Imperial Guards that the maid had been disfigured since childhood and had always been veiled, so they didn't stop her." Madam Yu took Concubine Yu's hand and comforted her, "Nannan, you're too nervous."

Concubine Yu always felt that this was too risky: "I hope so. Ever since I promised my father yesterday, I have been feeling uneasy. I always feel that something might happen."

"You're overthinking it. Your father and Duke Qin have already made all the arrangements. As long as you follow their instructions, you won't be discovered. When your father becomes the Imperial Censor, we'll be able to attend the palace banquets during the holidays, and we'll have the chance to see you more often."

In the past, Yu Chongran's official position was too low, so he couldn't attend any palace banquets. In the years since Concubine Yu entered the palace, they hadn't visited her many times, and they didn't know whether she was living well in the palace.

Concubine Yu rubbed her forehead, gathered her composure, and said, "Mother, where is the person you brought in? Call her over to show me first, so she can get familiar with the environment of the palace. She will stay by my side and serve me during the few days she is in the palace."

Xiaolan walked in with the man. The first time Concubine Yu saw her, she felt that she was very similar to Qin Ranran in figure. After taking off her veil, she looked exactly like Qin Ranran. She couldn't help but exclaimed: "Similar! It's so similar!"

Then he turned to Mrs. Yu and asked, "What's her name?"

Madam Yu took a sip of tea and said, "Your father sent someone to find her among the beggars on the street. She said she didn't have a name yet, and since I thought she wouldn't live long, I didn't give her one."

Concubine Yu sighed and shook her head, saying, "It still needs a name..."

She thought for a long time before she said, "I'll just call you Ying'er, the shadow of shadow."

Ying'er knelt down before Concubine Yu, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the name you bestowed upon me."

Concubine Yu said calmly, "Get up. Xiaolan, take Ying'er downstairs to familiarize herself with the affairs of the palace. Although she won't be here for long, don't let anyone get caught."

Xiaolan took the order and retreated with Ying'er.

Concubine Yu chatted with Madam Yu for a while before Madam Yu left the palace and returned home.

When they reached the palace gate, the imperial guards at the gate noticed that Madam Yu was no longer with the veiled maid who had followed her into the palace that morning. They couldn't help but wonder, "Madam, where is the veiled maid who just followed you into the palace?"

Madam Yu smiled and explained to the imperial guard, "The Concubine Yu was impressed by the maid's quick hands and feet and her cleverness, so she kept her by her side. Your Majesty certainly hasn't stipulated that concubines in the palace can't keep the maids their mothers brought into the palace, right?"

The Royal Guard shook his head. "That's not the case. Madam, please take care."