Ghost in the palace

Night had settled deeply over the palace.

Most of the corridors were silent, the lamps burning low as the servants completed their final duties. The Empress’s courtyard was especially quiet. After everything that had happened, the Dowager Empress had ordered stricter security around her chamber.

No one was supposed to enter without permission.

Inside her chamber, the Empress sat near the window, reading quietly.

She had only just begun to relax when—

Knock. Knock.

She froze.

Her eyes immediately moved toward the window.

At this hour?

Who could possibly be there?

She stood and approached cautiously.

Another soft knock came.

The Empress frowned.

She carefully opened the window.

Then her eyes widened.

Two figures stood outside.

Both were dressed as palace maids.

But the moment they lifted their faces—

The Empress stared in disbelief.

"Princess Zhi?"

"And Lady Chen?"

The two women smiled.

"Let us in quickly."

The Empress hurriedly stepped aside.

They climbed through the window, carefully closing it behind them.

The Empress immediately whispered,

"What are you two doing here?"

Princess Zhi dusted off her sleeves.

"We came to see you."

"At midnight?"

Lady Chen gave a small smile.

"We had no choice."

The Empress looked toward the door nervously.

"If someone sees you here, you’ll be punished."

Princess Zhi exchanged a glance with Lady Chen.

Then she smiled.

"Don’t worry."

"We already took care of the guards."

The Empress stared.

"What did you do?"

Lady Chen answered calmly,

"We gave the guards and maids outside your chamber sleeping medicine."

The Empress’s eyes widened.

"You did what?"

"They’ll sleep peacefully until morning."

The Empress covered her face for a moment.

"You two are unbelievable."

Princess Zhi laughed quietly.

"And you were going to scold us?"

"Yes!"

The Empress lowered her voice.

"Do you know how dangerous this is?"

Lady Chen nodded.

"That is precisely why we came secretly."

The Empress sighed.

"Fine. Sit down before someone discovers you."

The three women gathered around the small table.

For several moments, nobody spoke.

Then Princess Zhi’s expression became serious.

"We believe you."

The Empress looked at her.

"Believe me?"

Lady Chen nodded.

"We don’t believe you placed those talismans."

The Empress’s expression softened.

"Thank you."

"But," Lady Chen continued, "we think someone wants everyone to believe you did."

The Empress’s eyes narrowed.

"That is what I have been thinking too."

Princess Zhi leaned closer.

"When we searched Shin Gu’s courtyard, we found nothing."

"Not one talisman."

"Not one suspicious object."

The Empress nodded slowly.

"And yet everyone keeps finding things connected to me."

"Exactly," Lady Chen said.

Princess Zhi lowered her voice.

"It feels deliberate."

The Empress remained silent.

Then she whispered,

"Shin Gu."

Lady Chen and Princess Zhi exchanged a glance.

"We don’t have proof," Lady Chen said.

"I know."

The Empress looked toward the dark window.

"But someone is manipulating what everyone sees."

Princess Zhi nodded.

"And that’s why we came tonight."

The Empress turned back toward them.

"You think Shin Gu is outsmarting everyone?"

Lady Chen answered carefully,

"We think someone is."

"And Shin Gu’s courtyard being completely clean is suspicious."

Princess Zhi added,

"Especially when every other place has evidence."

The Empress’s fingers tightened around her cup.

"So someone wants suspicion to remain everywhere except where it belongs."

"Perhaps," Lady Chen replied.

A heavy silence settled between them.

The Empress finally whispered,

"Then we need to be careful."

Princess Zhi smiled faintly.

"We are."

Lady Chen nodded.

"And we won’t accuse anyone until we have proof."

The Empress looked at both women.

For the first time that night, she felt a little less alone.

She reached across the table and held their hands.

"Thank you."

Princess Zhi squeezed her fingers.

"We’re friends."

Lady Chen smiled.

"And friends don’t abandon each other just because the palace starts whispering."

The Empress’s eyes became slightly moist.

Outside, the palace remained completely silent.

But inside the chamber, three women sat together, quietly trying to understand a mystery that had already placed the entire palace in danger.

And none of them knew—

Someone else was already moving in the shadows.

The palace had fallen silent beneath the night sky.

Inside the Empress’s chamber, the three women sat around the mahjong table, but their attention had long since drifted away from the game.

The black altar discovered in the Empress’s chamber had changed everything.

The Empress still couldn’t understand how such a thing had appeared in her private room.

Someone had entered.

Someone had placed it there.

And whoever had done it wanted suspicion to fall upon her.

Lady Chen slowly placed her mahjong tile down.

"I have an idea."

Princess Zhi looked up.

"What?"

Lady Chen glanced toward the closed doors before lowering her voice.

"We should become friends with Shin Gu."

The Empress immediately stared at her.

"Shin Gu?"

"Yes."

Princess Zhi’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

Lady Chen continued,

"Think about it. Everyone is suspicious of her, but nobody has proof. If we suddenly question her or investigate her courtyard, she’ll become careful."

The Empress nodded slowly.

"But if you become her friends..."

"We can visit her courtyard naturally," Princess Zhi finished.

Lady Chen smiled.

"Exactly."

The Empress remained quiet.

She could already see the logic.

If Lady Chen and Princess Zhi began visiting Shin Gu casually, there would be nothing suspicious about their presence.

They could drink tea with her.

Play games.

Talk about palace matters.

Discuss clothing, jewelry, food and gossip.

And while doing so—

They could observe.

Listen.

Learn.

The Empress finally sighed.

"It is dangerous."

Princess Zhi smiled.

"Everything in this palace is dangerous."

Lady Chen laughed softly.

"Besides, Shin Gu won’t expect us to suspect her if we are friendly with her."

The Empress looked at them carefully.

"What exactly do you plan to do?"

Princess Zhi leaned forward.

"Tomorrow, I’ll visit her courtyard."

Lady Chen nodded.

"And I’ll go with you."

"You two together?"

"Yes."

The Empress raised an eyebrow.

"Won’t that look strange?"

Lady Chen shook her head.

"We’ll simply say that we wanted to visit her."

Princess Zhi smiled.

"And perhaps invite her to play mahjong sometime."

The Empress couldn’t help laughing.

"You’re going to investigate someone while playing mahjong?"

"Why not?"

Princess Zhi looked completely serious.

"People talk more when they’re comfortable."

Lady Chen nodded.

"Exactly."

The Empress’s smile faded as she looked toward the empty corner where the black altar had been discovered.

"But don’t forget why you’re doing this."

Her voice became serious.

"We aren’t trying to prove Shin Gu is guilty."

Lady Chen nodded.

"We’re trying to find the truth."

"And if she’s innocent?" the Empress asked.

"Then we’ll know that too," Princess Zhi replied.

Silence followed.

The Empress slowly nodded.

"Fine."

She looked at both women.

"But promise me you won’t take unnecessary risks."

Princess Zhi smiled.

"I promise."

Lady Chen raised her hand.

"I promise too."

The Empress finally relaxed.

Then she picked up a mahjong tile.

"Now, whose turn is it?"

Princess Zhi immediately pointed at Lady Chen.

"Hers."

Lady Chen frowned.

"I thought it was yours."

"It wasn’t."

"You’re cheating."

"I’m not."

The Empress laughed.

For a few moments, the terrible mystery outside the chamber seemed distant.

But none of them realized—

The next day’s visit to Shin Gu’s courtyard would be the beginning of a very dangerous game.

Because sometimes the easiest way to discover someone’s secret—

Was to make them believe you were their friend.

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