Ghost in the palace

The Empress’s courtyard had become strangely quiet.

Not peaceful.

Quiet.

There was a difference.

Peace meant one could breathe without thinking about what might happen next.

This silence felt as though the entire palace were holding its breath.

Ever since the black altar had been discovered hidden inside the Empress’s chamber, the imperial guards had tightened their control over the courtyard. Every entrance was watched. Every servant was questioned. Even the physicians who came to examine the Empress had to pass through several inspections.

The Empress had once complained that palace life was boring.

Now she almost wished for that boredom back.

At least boredom had been normal.

She sat beside the window, resting her cheek against her palm.

Outside, two guards stood beneath the corridor.

Another pair stood near the garden gate.

A maid was sweeping the same patch of ground for what seemed like the tenth time.

The Empress sighed.

"I think that floor has already been cleaned."

The maid immediately stopped.

"Your Majesty?"

"You have been sweeping there for half an hour."

The maid looked down.

"Oh..."

The Empress couldn’t help laughing softly.

"Go drink some tea."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The maid hurried away.

The Empress watched her disappear.

Then sighed again.

Her days had become painfully repetitive.

Eat.

Rest.

Listen to reports.

Be examined by physicians.

Stay inside.

Wait.

And wait some more.

The Emperor had forbidden her from wandering around the palace until the investigation was complete.

She understood why.

But understanding did not make it less frustrating.

She looked toward the garden.

Even her three ghost companions had been unusually quiet during the day.

They knew something was wrong.

The black altar had changed everything.

The palace had always contained secrets.

But now those secrets seemed to be gathering around her.

And worse—

People were beginning to whisper.

The Empress knew it.

She had heard the servants.

Some believed she was cursed.

Some believed the strange supernatural incidents happening across the kingdom were somehow connected to her.

Some even believed that the black altar had been placed in her chamber because she herself was practicing forbidden magic.

It was absurd.

Yet fear rarely cared about reason.

The Empress lowered her eyes.

"How did everything become this complicated?"

A faint voice came from behind her.

"Because you have terrible luck."

She immediately turned.

Fen Yu floated upside down near the ceiling.

The Empress stared at her.

"Must you do that?"

Fen Yu smiled.

"Yes."

Wei Rong appeared beside her.

"She has been doing it for twenty minutes."

Li Shen entered last, holding an imaginary book.

"She claims it helps her think."

Fen Yu crossed her arms.

"It does."

"It clearly does not."

"It does."

The Empress shook her head.

"You three are impossible."

For a moment—

She smiled.

Then the smile faded.

The ghosts noticed.

Wei Rong’s expression softened.

"You’re worried."

"I am."

"About the palace?"

"About everything."

She looked toward the closed doors.

"I don’t know who I can trust anymore."

Li Shen became serious.

"That is precisely why you should be careful."

The Empress nodded.

"I know."

Fen Yu floated down until her feet touched the floor.

"We’re watching."

"I know."

"We won’t let anything happen to you."

The Empress looked at them.

"I know that too."

Her voice softened.

"That is probably the only thing keeping me sane."

Fen Yu smiled.

Then—

A noise came from outside.

Footsteps.

Several.

The three ghosts immediately turned toward the door.

The Empress straightened.

A maid entered and bowed.

"Your Majesty, there are visitors."

"Who?"

The maid hesitated.

"Lady Chen and Princess Zhi."

The Empress’s eyes brightened.

"Let them in."

The maid bowed and left.

A few moments later, two young women entered.

But neither was dressed as herself.

One wore the plain robes of a palace maid.

The other wore the same.

Their hair had been tied simply.

No jewelry.

No symbols of rank.

The Empress stared.

Then burst into laughter.

"Princess Zhi."

Princess Zhi immediately put a finger against her lips.

"Quiet!"

Lady Chen looked equally amused.

"Do you have any idea how difficult it is to walk like a servant?"

The Empress laughed again.

"You look ridiculous."

"So do you," Princess Zhi replied.

"I am an Empress."

"And currently trapped in a courtyard."

The Empress pointed toward a seat.

"Come here before I order you both to kneel."

Princess Zhi smiled.

"Now that sounds more like you."

The two sat down.

The ghosts appeared behind the Empress.

Fen Yu looked at the disguised women.

Then at the Empress.

Then back at them.

"Why are they dressed like servants?"

"Because apparently the palace has become so dangerous that visiting me requires disguises," the Empress said.

Lady Chen nodded.

"And because there are too many ears everywhere."

Her expression became serious.

The Empress’s smile disappeared.

"What happened?"

Lady Chen leaned closer.

"A lot."

Princess Zhi sighed.

"Too much."

The Empress waited.

Lady Chen looked toward the doors before speaking.

"People are frightened."

"I know."

"No," Lady Chen said quietly. "It’s worse than you think."

The Empress remained silent.

Lady Chen continued.

"Officials are beginning to privately discuss the supernatural incidents."

"They are saying that something is spreading."

The Empress’s fingers tightened.

"And?"

Princess Zhi answered this time.

"They are beginning to connect everything to you."

The Empress closed her eyes.

"I expected that."

"Some believe the black altar was yours."

"What?"

The Empress opened her eyes sharply.

Princess Zhi nodded.

"They don’t understand what happened. They see an altar inside your chamber, strange things happening throughout the kingdom, ghosts appearing around you..."

She paused.

"And they create their own explanation."

The Empress laughed bitterly.

"So I’m responsible for everything?"

"Some people think so."

The Empress leaned back.

"How convenient."

Lady Chen looked at her sympathetically.

"Don’t let it get into your head."

"I’m trying."

Princess Zhi reached over and took her hand.

"They don’t know you."

The Empress looked down at their joined hands.

"No."

Her voice softened.

"But they are afraid."

"And frightened people believe strange things," Princess Zhi said.

The Empress nodded.

That was true.

She had learned that lesson repeatedly.

But another thought bothered her.

"What about Shin Gu?"

The room became silent.

Even the ghosts stopped moving.

Lady Chen exchanged a glance with Princess Zhi.

"She hasn’t been caught."

The Empress’s expression hardened.

"I know."

"She is careful," Lady Chen continued.

"Very."

Princess Zhi frowned.

"Every time investigators get close, there is nothing."

"No evidence?"

"Nothing useful."

The Empress stared at the table.

"How can someone hide this well?"

Li Shen spoke quietly from behind her.

"Because someone may be helping her."

The Empress looked over her shoulder.

Lady Chen noticed the movement.

"What?"

The Empress quickly replied,

"Nothing."

She wasn’t ready to explain the ghosts to anyone who didn’t already know.

But Li Shen’s words stayed in her mind.

Someone helping Shin Gu.

That possibility was terrifying.

The palace was enormous.

Thousands of servants.

Hundreds of officials.

Guards.

Physicians.

Court ladies.

Eunuchs.

Noble families.

Anyone could potentially pass information.

The Empress lowered her voice.

"Do you think Shin Gu is still inside the palace?"

Lady Chen nodded.

"Possibly."

Princess Zhi frowned.

"Or she has someone inside."

The Empress’s gaze became distant.

"That would explain too many things."

"What?"

"How people keep knowing where I am."

Lady Chen became still.

The Empress continued.

"When I went to the lake, someone knew."

"When I left the palace, someone knew."

"When the black altar appeared..."

She paused.

"Someone had access to my chamber."

Princess Zhi’s face turned pale.

"And now everyone thinks you’re the cause."

"Yes."

The Empress gave a small, humorless smile.

"Which means the real person can hide behind me."

Lady Chen nodded slowly.

"Exactly."

For several moments nobody spoke.

Outside, footsteps passed along the corridor.

All four women immediately became silent.

The footsteps disappeared.

Lady Chen waited before speaking again.

"The Emperor has increased security."

"I know."

"He is also investigating quietly."

The Empress’s expression softened slightly.

"He hasn’t told me everything."

"He probably doesn’t want to frighten you."

The Empress smiled faintly.

"He should know by now that keeping me uninformed only makes me more curious."

Princess Zhi laughed.

"That is definitely true."

The atmosphere lightened for a moment.

Then Lady Chen asked,

"Are you bored?"

The Empress stared at her.

"I’m dying of boredom."

Princess Zhi laughed.

"You nearly died once already. Don’t use that phrase."

The Empress rolled her eyes.

"I am sitting in the same courtyard every day."

She gestured around.

"Look at this place."

"I’ve memorized every stone."

Fen Yu whispered,

"She has."

Wei Rong nodded.

"Twice."

Li Shen added,

"She counted the tiles yesterday."

The Empress glared at them.

"Don’t expose me."

Princess Zhi laughed.

Lady Chen smiled.

For a few moments, the four women simply talked.

They discussed ordinary things.

Food.

Palace servants.

The latest gossip.

Princess Zhi complained about being forced to attend lessons.

Lady Chen described an argument between two noblewomen.

The Empress laughed at both.

It felt almost normal.

Almost.

Then Lady Chen’s expression changed.

"There is one more thing."

The Empress looked at her.

"What?"

"People are saying something else."

"What?"

Lady Chen hesitated.

"They say the Emperor is protecting you because he is under some kind of spell."

The Empress stared.

Princess Zhi looked furious.

"Idiots."

Lady Chen sighed.

"They are frightened."

The Empress was quiet.

Then she smiled faintly.

"So now I’m not only a practitioner of forbidden magic."

"Apparently you’re also controlling the Emperor."

Princess Zhi shook her head.

"This is ridiculous."

The Empress leaned back.

"Let them talk."

She had learned something important during her time in the palace.

Rumors were like wind.

You could not catch them.

You could only wait for them to pass.

But deep inside—

She knew this was different.

Someone was deliberately creating those rumors.

Someone wanted the kingdom to fear her.

And perhaps—

Someone wanted the Emperor to doubt her.

That was what frightened her most.

Because if the Emperor ever stopped believing her...

Everything would change.

She looked toward the door.

"Has he said anything?"

Lady Chen knew immediately whom she meant.

"The Emperor?"

"Yes."

"He is angry."

"At me?"

"No."

Lady Chen smiled faintly.

"At whoever is doing this."

The Empress lowered her eyes.

For some reason, those words comforted her.

Princess Zhi squeezed her hand.

"He believes you."

The Empress smiled.

"I know."

Then she looked toward the ghosts.

They were watching her silently.

She knew what they were thinking.

The black altar was not random.

The supernatural incidents were not random.

And Shin Gu had not disappeared.

The palace was still in danger.

But at least—

She wasn’t facing it alone.

Lady Chen stood.

"We should leave before anyone notices we’re gone too long."

Princess Zhi nodded.

"Yes."

The Empress looked disappointed.

"So soon?"

Lady Chen smiled.

"We’ll come again."

"Tomorrow?"

"If we can."

Princess Zhi stood.

"Be careful."

"You too."

They moved toward the door.

Before leaving, Princess Zhi turned back.

"Don’t worry too much."

The Empress smiled.

"I’ll try."

The door closed.

Silence returned.

The Empress sat quietly.

Fen Yu floated beside her.

"They care about you."

"I know."

Wei Rong nodded.

"And the Emperor does too."

The Empress looked at him.

"I know."

Li Shen’s expression became serious.

"But there is something you should remember."

"What?"

"Everyone is looking at you."

The Empress’s smile faded.

"Yes."

"And that means whoever is behind this will expect you to react."

She understood.

The enemy wanted her frightened.

Wanted her angry.

Wanted her careless.

She slowly stood.

"Then I won’t give them what they want."

Fen Yu smiled.

"That’s our Empress."

The Empress looked out through the window.

The palace beyond her courtyard appeared peaceful.

Beautiful.

Golden beneath the afternoon sun.

But she knew better now.

There were shadows everywhere.

Some belonged to ordinary people.

Some belonged to ghosts.

And some—

Belonged to things far darker.

She touched the edge of the table where the black altar had once been hidden.

Her eyes hardened.

"Shin Gu..."

"If you’re still in this palace..."

She whispered,

"I will find you."

And somewhere beyond the courtyard—

A bell rang.

Once.

Twice.

Then silence.

The Empress remained standing by the window.

She no longer felt bored.

Now she was waiting.

And waiting—

Was sometimes more dangerous than fighting.

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