Ghost in the palace

Morning sunlight poured brightly over the capital.

But today—

The Cheng residence was even brighter.

Red banners hung across the gates.

Lanterns swayed gently.

Music echoed faintly from inside.

—

Today was not an ordinary day.

—

Today—

The groom’s side had come to "win the bride."

—

Arrival at Cheng Residence

The grand gates of the Cheng family opened slightly—

Then stopped.

—

Outside stood:

The Duke

The Empress

Her Uncle

Lian Rou (the groom)

His close friend

Lian Hua (younger sister)

—

And behind them—

Servants carrying gifts.

Red boxes.

Silk trays.

Jewelry.

Sweets.

—

Lian Hua whispered excitedly,

"This is the fun part."

—

The Empress smiled slightly.

"Yes."

—

Inside—

Giggles echoed.

—

The bridesmaids.

Waiting.

Ready.

—

The Door Blocked

The moment they approached—

The door slammed shut.

—

"STOP!"

A loud female voice came from inside.

—

"No entry without passing!"

—

Lian Rou sighed.

"...It begins."

—

Lian Hua grinned.

"Good luck, brother."

—

The Empress folded her arms calmly.

Watching.

—

Round 1 — Red Envelope Bribery

A small window opened.

A bridesmaid peeked out.

—

"No money, no honey!"

—

Lian Hua laughed.

"They’re serious."

—

Lian Rou signaled to his friend.

A stack of red envelopes appeared.

—

He handed one.

—

Inside—

Silence.

Then—

"Too little!"

—

Another voice shouted,

"Add more!"

—

The friend groaned.

"This is robbery."

—

The Empress smirked slightly.

"Pay properly."

—

More envelopes were passed.

—

Still—

"NOT ENOUGH!"

—

Lian Rou sighed deeply.

"...Fine."

—

He added more.

—

Finally—

The door opened slightly.

—

"Pass!"

—

Laughter erupted.

—

Round 2 — Bride Trivia

Another bridesmaid stepped forward.

Holding a scroll.

—

"Answer correctly—or no entry!"

—

Lian Rou nodded.

"...Ask."

—

First question:

"What is the bride’s favorite food?"

—

"...Sweet lotus pastry."

—

"Correct!"

—

Second:

"Her shoe size?"

—

"...Small."

—

"Too vague!"

—

Lian Hua whispered,

"Say properly!"

—

"...Size 36."

—

"Correct!"

—

Third:

"When did you first meet?"

—

Lian Rou paused.

Then—

"...Under the lantern festival."

—

The bridesmaids went quiet.

—

Then—

"PASS!"

—

Chen Ruyi, inside the room, covered her face.

Blushing deeply.

—

Round 3 — Physical Challenge

The door opened slightly more.

—

But—

Another bridesmaid stepped out.

—

"Not so easy!"

—

"50 push-ups!"

—

Lian Rou froze.

"...50?"

—

"Yes!"

—

Lian Hua laughed loudly.

"Do it!"

—

The Empress leaned slightly.

"...You can."

—

Lian Rou took a breath.

—

Then—

Dropped down.

—

1...

2...

3...

—

Everyone began counting.

—

By 30—

He slowed.

—

By 40—

He struggled.

—

By 50—

He collapsed.

—

"PASS!"

—

Cheers erupted.

—

Round 4 — Declaration of Love

Now—

The door opened halfway.

—

But one final barrier remained.

—

"Confess!"

—

"Declare your love!"

—

Lian Rou stood still.

—

"...In front of everyone?"

—

"Yes!"

—

Lian Hua whispered loudly,

"Say something good!"

—

The Empress smiled quietly.

Watching.

—

Lian Rou took a step forward.

—

His voice steady.

—

"Chen Ruyi."

—

Inside—

She froze.

—

"I don’t promise a perfect life."

—

"But I promise—"

—

"To stand beside you."

—

"In every moment."

—

"Whether bitter or sweet."

—

Silence.

—

Then—

The bridesmaids screamed.

"PASS!"

—

Round 5 — The Four Flavors of Life

A tray was brought out.

—

Four bowls.

—

"Sour."

"Bitter."

"Spicy."

"Sweet."

—

"Eat all."

—

"To prove you accept life."

—

Lian Rou looked at the tray.

—

"...This is unnecessary."

—

"Do it!"

—

He sighed.

—

One by one—

He ate.

—

Sour—his face twisted.

—

Bitter—he nearly coughed.

—

Spicy—he turned red.

—

Sweet—finally relief.

—

Everyone laughed loudly.

—

"PASS!"

—

Round 6 — Face Full of Love

Next—

A strange game.

—

"Catch items... using only your face."

—

Lian Hua burst into laughter.

"This is ridiculous!"

—

Small items were hung.

—

Lian Rou had to grab them—

Without hands.

—

He tried.

Failed.

Tried again.

—

Finally succeeded.

—

The crowd cheered.

—

Round 7 — Passing Food

Final challenge.

—

Seaweed strip.

—

"Pass using mouth only."

—

Lian Rou stared.

"...No."

—

"Yes."

—

His friend stepped forward.

"I’ll help."

—

They both leaned.

—

Carefully.

—

Almost dropped it.

—

Caught again.

—

Finally—

Success.

—

"PASS!!!"

—

The Door Opens

The final barrier—

Gone.

—

The doors opened fully.

—

Inside—

Chen Ruyi sat.

—

Dressed beautifully.

—

Red wedding robes.

—

Elegant.

Radiant.

—

Lian Rou stepped forward slowly.

—

For a moment—

The world quieted.

—

Then—

He smiled.

—

"...I came."

—

She smiled back.

—

"I know."

—

Behind them—

Cheers exploded.

—

Lian Hua jumped.

"They did it!"

—

The Empress stood quietly.

Watching.

—

Her heart warm.

—

This—

Was happiness.

—

Simple.

Bright.

Earned.

—

And as the groom finally reached the bride—

—

The beginning of a new journey—

Had truly begun.

Winning the Bride & A House Full of Laughter

The moment the final door opened—

Cheers erupted across the Cheng residence.

The tension of the games dissolved instantly into celebration.

Laughter.

Clapping.

Teasing voices.

—

At the center—

Lian Rou stood facing Chen Ruyi.

She sat gracefully on the bed, dressed in radiant red, her veil slightly lifted—

Her cheeks flushed.

Her eyes shining.

—

For a brief moment—

Everything else disappeared.

—

"...I came for you," he said softly.

—

Chen Ruyi lowered her gaze.

"...You took long enough."

—

Behind them—

The bridesmaids burst into laughter.

—

"After all that effort, you still complain!"

—

Lian Hua rushed forward.

"Of course she will! You made him suffer!"

—

"You enjoyed it!"

—

"I did!"

—

The room filled with noise again.

—

The Empress stood slightly aside.

Watching quietly.

—

Her lips curved into a soft smile.

—

This happiness—

This warmth—

She had almost lost once.

—

But now—

She held it again.

—

The Bride Is "Won"

Following tradition—

Lian Rou stepped closer.

—

He extended his hand.

—

Chen Ruyi hesitated for a brief second.

Then—

Placed her hand in his.

—

That simple gesture—

Marked everything.

—

The bridesmaids clapped loudly.

—

"Take her properly!"

—

"Don’t drop her!"

—

Lian Rou sighed.

"...I won’t."

—

He gently helped her stand.

—

Their hands didn’t separate.

—

And in that moment—

They weren’t just two individuals anymore.

—

They were—

A pair.

—

Families Meet Formally

Soon—

The playful atmosphere settled slightly.

—

Because now—

Came the formal part.

—

In the main hall—

Both families gathered.

—

The Duke and his elder brother stepped forward.

—

Facing—

Chen Guowei and the Cheng elders.

—

The atmosphere shifted.

More respectful.

More composed.

—

But not cold.

—

The Duke spoke first.

"We thank the Cheng family for raising such a fine daughter."

—

Chen Guowei nodded.

"And we thank the Duke family..."

"For accepting her."

—

A pause.

—

Then—

Both men smiled slightly.

—

The tension eased.

—

Because this wasn’t negotiation anymore.

—

It was agreement.

—

Union.

—

The Empress Observes

From the side—

The Empress watched carefully.

—

She noticed everything.

—

The way her father spoke calmly.

—

The way Chen Guowei held dignity—

But also relief.

—

This alliance—

Was not just about marriage.

—

It was about balance.

Power.

Trust.

—

And yet—

Amid all that—

There was genuine happiness.

—

Teasing Begins Again

But of course—

Formal moments never lasted long.

—

Because—

Lian Hua was present.

—

She leaned toward Chen Ruyi.

"So, sister-in-law..."

—

Chen Ruyi blinked.

"...Already calling me that?"

—

"Yes."

—

Lian Hua grinned.

"You have no escape now."

—

The room laughed.

—

Then—

She turned to Lian Rou.

"You cried during push-ups."

—

"I did not."

—

"You almost did."

—

"That was sweat."

—

"Emotional sweat."

—

Even the Duke chuckled softly.

—

The Empress Joins

The Empress stepped forward slightly.

—

Looking at both of them.

—

"You did well."

—

Lian Rou nodded.

"...Thank you."

—

Chen Ruyi smiled gently.

"I’m glad you came."

—

The Empress’s eyes softened.

"I wouldn’t miss this."

—

Even Lady Chen Is Teased

Then suddenly—

Lian Hua’s eyes sparkled mischievously.

—

She turned toward—

Lady Chen, who had arrived with the family.

—

"Sister Chen..."

—

Lady Chen looked at her calmly.

"...Yes?"

—

"When is your turn?"

—

The entire hall froze.

—

Then—

Laughter exploded.

—

Even the elders couldn’t suppress smiles.

—

Lady Chen’s expression remained composed.

But her fingers tightened slightly.

—

"That depends," she replied smoothly.

—

"On what?" Lian Hua pushed.

—

Lady Chen glanced briefly—

Toward the Empress.

—

Then back.

—

"On fate."

—

The Empress noticed.

But said nothing.

—

Younger Sister Joins the Chaos

Now—

Even the Empress’s younger sister joined.

—

She leaned toward Chen Ruyi.

"Sister-in-law..."

—

Chen Ruyi laughed.

"You too?"

—

"Yes."

—

She pointed at Lian Rou.

"He worked very hard."

—

Chen Ruyi nodded.

"I saw."

—

"He should work like this always."

—

"I agree."

—

Lian Rou sighed.

"I regret coming here."

—

Everyone laughed again.

—

Emotional Moment

Then—

The Grandmother stepped forward.

—

Her voice softer.

—

"Enough teasing."

—

She looked at Chen Ruyi.

—

"You are part of this family now."

—

Her words carried weight.

—

Chen Ruyi’s eyes softened.

—

"...Thank you."

—

Then—

She turned slightly.

Looking at her own father.

—

For a moment—

Emotion flickered.

—

Because this—

Was a transition.

—

A daughter—

Becoming a bride.

—

The Emperor Watches

At a distance—

The Emperor stood quietly.

—

Watching everything.

—

The laughter.

The teasing.

The warmth.

—

And her.

—

The Empress.

—

Moving freely.

Smiling.

Alive.

—

His gaze softened.

—

"...This suits her."

—

More than the palace ever did.

—

But—

He knew.

—

He would bring her back.

—

Not to cage her.

—

But to protect this smile.

—

Closing the Scene

As the formalities ended—

The house returned to celebration.

—

Food was served.

Music began.

Voices filled the halls again.

—

Lian Hua continued teasing.

The younger sister joined her.

—

Chen Ruyi laughed more freely now.

—

Lian Rou—

Still trying to defend himself.

—

And the Empress—

Stood among them.

—

No longer distant.

—

No longer alone.

—

But part of something—

Real.

—

Warm.

—

Alive.

—

And as laughter echoed through the Cheng residence—

—

Everyone knew—

—

This was not just a marriage.

—

It was the beginning of something bigger.

—

A bond between families.

—

And a future—

Filled with both love—

And challenges yet to come.