Ghost in the palace

The next morning, the palace looked peaceful.

Too peaceful.

The servants walked through the corridors carrying trays of tea and breakfast. Officials entered the outer court with documents beneath their arms. Guards changed shifts at the palace gates, and musicians in one distant courtyard practiced softly for an upcoming ceremony.

To anyone looking from the outside, nothing seemed wrong.

But beneath that ordinary morning was a growing fear.

Rumors about the Empress had not disappeared.

Neither had the whispers about the black altar discovered in her courtyard.

Some commoners had begun demanding punishment.

Some ministers had started questioning whether the Empress was truly innocent.

And somewhere inside the palace—

Shin Gu was still hiding.

The Dowager Empress knew it.

Princess Zhi knew something was wrong.

The Emperor knew someone was manipulating events.

But they still lacked the one thing they desperately needed.

Proof.

They needed to catch Shin Gu performing the dark ritual.

Without evidence, accusing her could become dangerous.

If they failed, the court could turn against the Empress instead.

That was why the Dowager Empress had summoned Lady Chen and Princess Zhi.

The three women sat inside the Dowager Empress’s private chamber.

The doors were closed.

No unnecessary servants were present.

The atmosphere was unusually serious.

The Dowager Empress slowly placed her teacup on the table.

"Mei Lan came to me last night."

Lady Chen’s fingers stopped moving.

Princess Zhi immediately looked up.

"What did she say?"

The Dowager Empress’s expression remained solemn.

"She witnessed something concerning."

She told them about the hooded man.

About his secret meeting with Shin Gu.

About his anger when he learned the Empress had survived.

And most importantly—

About his order.

Finish the task.

Princess Zhi’s face became increasingly troubled.

"So Shin Gu really is involved."

"She is," the Dowager Empress replied.

"But we still cannot move against her."

Lady Chen frowned.

"Why not?"

"Because suspicion isn’t evidence."

The Dowager Empress looked directly at her.

"If we accuse Shin Gu without proof, she can deny everything. Worse, she may destroy whatever evidence remains."

Princess Zhi nodded slowly.

"Then we need to catch her."

"Exactly."

The Dowager Empress’s voice became quieter.

"We need to catch her while she is performing the dark magic."

Princess Zhi’s expression hardened.

"Or else everyone will continue believing the Empress is responsible."

The words hung heavily in the room.

The black altar had been discovered in the Empress’s courtyard.

That alone had given the rumors strength.

People who knew nothing about the Empress’s character could easily believe the worst.

Princess Zhi clenched her hands.

"She would never do something like that."

"I know," the Dowager Empress replied.

"But the people outside these walls don’t know her the way we do."

Lady Chen remained unusually quiet.

Then she said,

"The ministers are already making noise."

Princess Zhi looked toward her.

"What have you heard?"

Lady Chen sighed.

"Some ministers are saying the Empress has brought misfortune upon the palace. Some commoners are demanding that she be punished."

Her voice lowered.

"After the black altar was found, the situation became worse."

Princess Zhi’s expression darkened.

"They want her punished for something someone else planted."

Lady Chen nodded.

"Some are even demanding that she be executed."

Silence.

The Dowager Empress’s eyes hardened.

"Executed?"

"Yes."

Lady Chen looked uncomfortable.

"The rumor has spread beyond the capital. Once people become frightened, they stop asking whether something is true. They simply look for someone to blame."

Princess Zhi slammed her hand lightly against the table.

"How can they be so foolish?"

The Dowager Empress looked at her calmly.

"Fear makes people foolish."

She paused.

"And whoever is behind this knows that very well."

Princess Zhi fell silent.

That was the most frightening part.

The enemy wasn’t simply trying to kill the Empress.

They were trying to destroy her reputation.

If they succeeded, even surviving an assassination attempt would not save her.

The palace itself could become her prison.

The people could demand her death.

And the Emperor could be forced into an impossible position.

Princess Zhi whispered,

"Then we have to act quickly."

"We do."

Lady Chen looked at the Dowager Empress.

"Do you believe Shin Gu will make another attempt?"

The Dowager Empress’s eyes narrowed.

"She failed before."

"People like her don’t accept failure easily."

Princess Zhi nodded.

"She’ll try again."

"Perhaps."

The Dowager Empress looked toward the closed doors.

"But Shin Gu is intelligent."

"She won’t repeat the same mistake."

Lady Chen frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"She knows we are watching."

The Dowager Empress spoke slowly.

"She will not leave obvious evidence behind."

"She will not perform anything where someone can easily discover her."

"She will wait."

Princess Zhi’s expression became serious.

"For the right opportunity."

"Yes."

The Dowager Empress nodded.

"And that is what makes her dangerous."

Lady Chen leaned back.

"Then what can we do?"

The Dowager Empress didn’t answer immediately.

She stared into her tea.

"We watch."

Princess Zhi looked frustrated.

"Just watch?"

"For now."

The Dowager Empress finally raised her eyes.

"We cannot attack a shadow."

"We need to make the shadow reveal itself."

Princess Zhi understood.

"You want her to believe she’s safe."

"Yes."

"And when she acts..."

"We catch her."

Lady Chen’s expression changed slightly.

"That could take time."

"I know."

"But we have no choice."

A silence settled over the chamber.

Outside, palace bells sounded in the distance.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

The Dowager Empress looked toward the window.

"The Emperor must be told everything."

Princess Zhi nodded.

"But carefully."

"Of course."

The Dowager Empress turned toward Lady Chen.

"And you?"

Lady Chen looked at her.

"What about me?"

"You have contact with Shin Gu."

Lady Chen’s expression stiffened.

The Dowager Empress continued.

"Do not confront her."

"Do not threaten her."

"Do not allow her to realize that we know."

Lady Chen nodded slowly.

"I understand."

Princess Zhi looked at her.

"And if Shin Gu tries something?"

"Then we follow her."

The Dowager Empress’s voice was firm.

"We let her lead us to whoever stands behind her."

That thought made everyone quiet again.

The hooded man.

The mysterious person above Shin Gu.

Someone powerful enough to enter the palace unnoticed.

Someone who knew about the Empress.

Someone who wanted her dead.

The Dowager Empress whispered,

"We must discover who that person is."

Princess Zhi nodded.

"And until then, we protect the Empress."

Lady Chen looked down.

"The ministers and commoners won’t stop."

"No," the Dowager Empress replied.

"They won’t."

Her expression became colder.

"But neither will we."

She rose from her seat.

"Let them talk."

"Let them spread rumors."

"Let Shin Gu believe she has escaped suspicion."

Princess Zhi looked at her.

"And what will we do?"

The Dowager Empress smiled faintly.

"We wait."

"For the moment when our enemy becomes careless."

Her eyes hardened.

"Then we strike with proof."

The three women fell silent.

None of them noticed the faint shadow moving beyond the courtyard wall.

Someone had been listening.

Someone had heard enough.

And inside another courtyard—

Shin Gu suddenly opened her eyes.

She had felt something.

A strange disturbance.

A warning she could not explain.

Her fingers tightened around the cup in her hand.

For the first time that morning, she wondered—

Had someone discovered her secret?

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