Ghost in the palace

The northern border was nothing like the peaceful streets of the capital.

There were no elegant palace walls.

No beautiful gardens.

No luxurious carriages passing through wide avenues.

Instead, there was a long stretch of dusty road disappearing toward the horizon.

Thousands of people stood there with bundles, carts, sacks of grain, children, tools, blankets, and whatever possessions they had managed to save.

They had all come for the same reason.

They wanted a new beginning.

The government had opened the northern lands for settlement, and families from different parts of the kingdom had gathered at the border before beginning the long journey.

The road ahead was difficult.

Very difficult.

And everyone knew it.

At the front of the crowd stood the migration instructor.

He was a broad-shouldered middle-aged man who had spent years working with military transport groups. His voice was loud enough to reach the people standing several rows behind him.

"Listen carefully!"

The crowd gradually became silent.

"Once we leave this border station, everyone follows the assigned route."

He pointed toward the distant road.

"You are not free to wander wherever you want."

"We have thousands of people traveling together."

"Anyone who separates from the group without permission will be considered a missing traveler."

Several people nodded.

The instructor continued.

"There will be guards along the route."

"Anyone attempting to steal from another traveler will be punished immediately."

His expression hardened.

"And anyone who deliberately attacks, kidnaps, or attempts to kill another traveler..."

He paused.

The crowd became completely silent.

"...will be executed immediately."

A nervous murmur passed through the people.

The instructor raised his voice again.

"Do not mistake this journey for an ordinary trip."

"We are moving an entire population."

"One person’s greed can endanger hundreds."

"One person’s violence can cause panic."

"Therefore, anyone who tries to hurt another traveler will face the harshest punishment."

Nobody spoke.

Even the children seemed quieter.

The instructor looked across the crowd.

"You will walk."

Someone near the back raised a hand.

"What about those who are too tired?"

The instructor answered without hesitation.

"There will be rest periods."

"At night, we will establish a temporary settlement."

"There will be food."

"There will be water."

"There will also be a restaurant arranged for the travelers."

The crowd immediately became slightly more animated.

"A restaurant?"

"Food?"

"How much will it cost?"

"Will everyone get food?"

The instructor lifted his hand.

"Listen first."

The crowd quieted.

"Lunch will be given a fixed two-hour period."

"At night, the traveling group will stop."

"There will be food and basic services."

"But outside those periods, you keep walking."

An elderly man frowned.

"For how long?"

The instructor looked toward the northern road.

"If we keep stopping every hour, this journey will never end."

"If you walk according to the schedule, you will reach the northern settlement in roughly one month."

He paused.

"If everyone decides to rest whenever they please, the same journey could take three months."

The crowd gasped.

"Three months?"

"By foot?"

"Impossible!"

The instructor nodded.

"Exactly."

"So if you want to reach your new home before the season changes, follow the instructions."

A young man tightened the strap around his shoulder.

"How far do we walk every day?"

"Long enough."

The instructor smiled grimly.

"You will complain."

A few people laughed nervously.

"You will become tired."

More laughter.

"Your feet will hurt."

Someone groaned.

"And by the tenth day, you will probably hate me."

The crowd laughed properly this time.

"But if you listen to the schedule, you will reach the north much sooner."

The instructor turned toward his assistants.

"Keep families together."

"Do not allow people to wander."

"Keep elderly travelers toward the center."

"Families with young children will travel with the protected groups."

"Merchants and carts will remain toward the sides."

He paused.

"And nobody leaves the route."

Everyone nodded.

The journey was about to begin.

But before the first group could move—

A commotion came from the side.

People turned.

A woman was walking toward them.

She carried a bundle against her chest.

Beside her was a man.

And between them—

Two teenagers.

A girl and a boy.

They were twins.

Both were fifteen.

The girl was crying openly.

The boy’s eyes were red, though he was trying desperately not to cry.

The woman walked quickly toward the Empress.

The Empress immediately recognized her.

Her eyes widened.

"Yao Qing?"

The woman stopped.

For a moment, she simply looked at the Empress.

Then tears filled her eyes.

"Sister..."

The Empress’s expression softened.

Yao Qing immediately came forward.

The fifteen-year-old girl rushed behind her.

"Sister, don’t leave us!"

The Empress froze.

The girl grabbed her sleeve.

"We want to go with you."

Her twin brother stood beside her.

His expression was equally desperate.

"Please."

The Empress looked at them.

Then at Yao Qing.

Then at the man standing beside Yao Qing.

She understood immediately.

They had come prepared.

But they had also come with a problem.

The instructor noticed the group and approached.

"What is happening?"

The Empress stepped forward.

"They are my family."

The instructor looked at the group.

"Family?"

The Empress nodded.

"My brother."

She pointed toward the man.

The man immediately bowed.

"Brother-in-law."

Then she pointed toward Yao Qing.

"My sister-in-law."

Yao Qing bowed respectfully.

"Greetings."

The instructor looked at the twins.

"And them?"

"My younger siblings."

The twins immediately bowed.

"Greetings, Brother-in-law."

The instructor’s expression remained suspicious.

"How old are they?"

The Empress answered calmly.

"Fifteen."

The instructor nodded.

"They are old enough to travel."

The girl immediately looked hopeful.

"But there is a problem."

The hope disappeared from her face.

The instructor looked at the Empress.

"The migration group has already been registered."

"We have limited numbers."

"We cannot simply add people whenever someone asks."

Yao Qing stepped forward.

"Please."

She lowered her voice.

"They have no one else."

Her hand tightened around the bundle she was carrying.

"We lost our home."

"We lost almost everything."

"They only have us."

The man’s expression became solemn.

"They are my wife’s younger siblings."

"I cannot leave them behind."

The twins lowered their heads.

The girl wiped her tears.

"We can walk."

"We won’t cause trouble."

Her brother immediately added,

"We can carry our own things."

"We don’t need a carriage."

"We don’t need special treatment."

The instructor looked at them.

Then at the Empress.

"We already have thousands of people."

"If I make an exception for everyone, this migration becomes impossible to manage."

Several people nearby had started listening.

One elderly woman whispered,

"They’re just two teenagers."

Another man said,

"They can walk."

A third person nodded.

"They’re family."

Soon more voices joined.

"Let them come."

"They’re only two."

"Why separate a family?"

"If they can keep up, let them join."

The instructor raised his hand.

"Everyone, quiet!"

The crowd slowly became silent.

He looked toward the Empress.

"Are you responsible for them?"

The Empress nodded.

"Yes."

"If they fall behind?"

"I will make sure they don’t."

"If they cause trouble?"

"I will deal with it."

The instructor studied her.

The Empress remained calm.

Finally, he sighed.

"Fine."

The twins’ faces brightened immediately.

"But they follow the same rules as everyone else."

The Empress nodded.

"Of course."

"No special food."

"No special carriage."

"No special rest."

"Everyone walks."

The twins immediately nodded.

"We will."

The girl wiped her tears.

"Thank you."

The instructor looked at the people around him.

"Enough."

"The family can join."

A cheer rose from several travelers.

The twins looked relieved.

Yao Qing bowed deeply.

"Thank you."

The instructor waved his hand.

"Save your thanks."

"You still have to walk."

The crowd laughed.

Even the Empress smiled.

Yao Qing came closer.

The Empress quietly asked,

"Are you sure?"

Yao Qing nodded.

"We discussed it."

She glanced at her husband.

"He agreed."

Her husband smiled.

"I told her the same thing."

"We are family."

"If they go, we go."

The Empress looked at him.

For a moment, her expression became genuinely emotional.

She had known Yao Qing for years.

Yao Qing had been one of the people who stood beside her through difficult times.

And now Yao Qing had brought her own family.

The Empress reached out and held her hand.

"You should have told me earlier."

Yao Qing smiled.

"I wanted to surprise you."

"You nearly made me worry."

"I’m sorry."

The Empress shook her head.

Then she looked at the twins.

"Come here."

The girl stepped forward immediately.

The Empress wiped the remaining tears from her face.

"You are fifteen now."

The girl nodded.

"Yes."

"Then don’t cry like a little child."

The girl sniffed.

"I’m sorry."

The Empress smiled.

"You are old enough to walk all the way north."

The girl straightened.

"I can!"

Her brother immediately said,

"I can walk farther than her."

She turned toward him.

"Don’t start."

"I didn’t start anything."

"You did."

The Empress laughed.

Yao Qing covered her mouth.

Even her husband smiled.

The people nearby watched the family with warmth.

Nobody doubted the story.

The relationship appeared natural.

The man behaved like a protective older brother.

Yao Qing behaved like a gentle sister-in-law.

The twins behaved like younger siblings.

There was nothing suspicious about them.

That was exactly what they wanted.

They were not traveling as important people.

They were traveling as one ordinary family.

A family heading north together.

The instructor finally called out,

"Everyone!"

The laughter stopped.

"Prepare your belongings!"

"Check your water."

"Check your shoes."

"Check your food."

"We leave in half an hour."

The entire border erupted into movement.

People began tightening ropes around bundles.

Children drank water.

Men checked wheels.

Women arranged food.

The twins helped each other secure their bags.

The girl looked at the Empress.

"Sister."

"Hmm?"

"Will there really be a restaurant tonight?"

The Empress smiled.

"There will."

"Is it good?"

"Very."

The girl’s eyes brightened.

"What kind of food?"

Before the Empress could answer, Yao Qing laughed.

"You’ll find out tonight."

The boy looked suspicious.

"Why are you both hiding it?"

The Empress smiled mysteriously.

"Because surprises are more enjoyable."

The boy sighed.

His sister laughed.

"Then I’ll wait."

A little distance away, the Emperor stood watching.

He had remained quiet throughout the entire exchange.

His eyes moved from Yao Qing to her husband.

Then to the twins.

Then finally to the Empress.

There was a strange expression on his face.

Not anger.

Not suspicion.

Just exhaustion.

The Empress noticed him.

"What?"

The Emperor looked at the growing group.

"Nothing."

She raised an eyebrow.

"You look tired."

He sighed.

"I am."

She almost laughed.

"Why?"

He looked toward the road.

"Because every time I think our journey is finally organized..."

He glanced at Yao Qing.

"...another family appears."

Yao Qing laughed.

The twins tried to hide their smiles.

The Emperor looked at them.

Then sighed again.

"Two more."

The Empress smiled.

"They’re family."

"I know."

He looked at her.

"That’s why I agreed."

The Empress’s expression softened.