Ghost in the palace

Morning arrived quietly at the imperial palace.

The first rays of sunlight slipped through the carved windows of the Dowager Empress’s chamber, touching the polished floor with a pale golden glow.

Yet the Dowager Empress had barely slept.

The information she had received during the night continued to trouble her.

Shin Gu.

The mysterious hooded man.

The secret meeting.

The planned movement of a maid.

And, most importantly, the strange incidents that had surrounded the Empress.

Too many things had happened.

Too many coincidences.

The Dowager Empress had once believed the Empress’s troubles were merely the result of palace conflicts and unfortunate circumstances.

She no longer believed that.

Someone was hiding something.

And she intended to find out who.

She turned toward the trusted general standing quietly near the door.

"Have you confirmed that Shin Gu remains in the palace?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"And her maid?"

"She has not left the courtyard."

The Dowager Empress nodded.

"Good."

She thought for a moment.

"Send a discreet message to His Majesty."

The General bowed.

"What should I tell him?"

"Tell him I need to speak with him privately."

"Also summon Princess Zhi."

The General hesitated.

"And Lady Chen?"

The Dowager Empress was silent for several seconds.

Then she nodded.

"Bring her too."

The General bowed.

"Yes, Your Highness."

As he turned to leave, the Dowager Empress stopped him.

"And remember."

"No one else is to know."

The General’s expression became serious.

"I understand."

He left immediately.

The Dowager Empress remained beside the window.

Her gaze drifted toward the distant courtyard where the Empress usually stayed.

She quietly murmured,

"An’er..."

"This time, I will not let you face this alone."

---

The Secret Gathering

Not long afterward, the Emperor arrived at the Dowager Empress’s chamber.

Princess Zhi came shortly after him.

Lady Chen was the last to arrive.

The doors were closed behind them.

Two trusted guards stood outside.

No servants were allowed nearby.

The Emperor looked at his mother with curiosity.

"You summoned us."

The Dowager Empress nodded.

"Yes."

"This matter must remain completely secret."

Princess Zhi immediately became serious.

"Is it about the Empress?"

The Dowager Empress nodded.

The Emperor’s expression changed.

"What happened?"

The General stepped forward.

"We received information that Shin Gu may be involved in the strange incidents surrounding Her Majesty."

The Emperor’s eyes narrowed.

"May be?"

"We don’t have enough evidence yet," the General explained.

"But there are suspicious circumstances."

He briefly explained the secret meeting between Shin Gu and the hooded stranger.

The room became silent.

Princess Zhi’s face turned serious.

"So Shin Gu may be planning something again?"

"That is what we need to discover," the General replied.

The Emperor’s fingers tightened slightly.

He remembered the Empress lying unconscious.

He remembered believing he might lose her.

And then he remembered the strange explanation she had given after waking.

She had not chosen to walk toward the lake.

Something had controlled her.

Someone had interfered.

His expression hardened.

"If Shin Gu is involved..."

He paused.

"...I want proof."

The General bowed.

"That is precisely why we cannot confront her yet."

The Dowager Empress nodded.

"If we accuse her without evidence, she will deny everything."

"And if she realizes we suspect her..."

"She may destroy the evidence and disappear."

Princess Zhi looked thoughtful.

"Then we watch her."

"Yes," the Dowager Empress said.

"We investigate quietly."

---

A Difficult Decision

Lady Chen had remained silent.

She sat with her hands folded neatly, appearing concerned.

The Emperor glanced toward her.

"What do you think?"

Lady Chen lowered her eyes.

"If Shin Gu is truly involved, she should be investigated."

Her voice was soft.

"I don’t understand why anyone would want to harm the Empress."

The Dowager Empress watched her carefully.

Lady Chen’s expression remained perfectly composed.

The Dowager Empress said nothing.

She had not forgotten the strange closeness between Lady Chen and Shin Gu.

Nor had she forgotten how often Shin Gu had appeared around Lady Chen.

But suspicion alone was not enough.

So she simply said,

"Then you will cooperate."

Lady Chen nodded.

"Of course."

The General unfolded another report.

"We believe Shin Gu may attempt something tomorrow night."

The Emperor immediately looked up.

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"She mentioned sending her maid somewhere."

"We don’t know where."

The Emperor’s gaze became cold.

"Then find out."

The General bowed.

"We will."

---

The Plan

The Dowager Empress rose.

"Listen carefully."

Everyone became attentive.

"We will not confront Shin Gu."

"We will not question her."

"We will not change her routine."

The General nodded.

"Instead, we allow her to believe everything is normal."

Princess Zhi understood.

"She will become careless."

"Exactly."

The Dowager Empress looked at the Emperor.

"You must continue your normal activities."

"No unusual guards."

"No sudden orders."

"Nothing that might alert her."

The Emperor nodded.

"And the Empress?"

The question came immediately.

The Dowager Empress’s expression softened slightly.

"She must remain protected."

"But discreetly."

The General answered,

"I will arrange guards who remain out of sight."

"No one will know they are there."

The Emperor nodded.

"Good."

Princess Zhi then asked,

"What about Shin Gu’s maid?"

The General replied,

"We will watch her."

"But we will not stop her."

"If she carries something, we follow."

"If she meets someone, we observe."

"And if Shin Gu herself appears..."

"We record everything."

The Emperor’s gaze sharpened.

"And if they attack?"

The General answered firmly,

"Then we intervene."

The room became quiet.

The Emperor slowly nodded.

"Do whatever is necessary to protect the Empress."

---

The One Rule

Before the meeting ended, the Dowager Empress looked at everyone.

"One more thing."

Her voice became especially firm.

"No one tells Prince Liang."

Princess Zhi looked surprised.

"Why?"

"Because we don’t know who Shin Gu trusts."

"And we don’t know who might unknowingly warn her."

The Emperor agreed.

"Until we have proof, fewer people must know."

The General bowed.

"Understood."

Lady Chen lowered her head.

"As you command."

The Dowager Empress looked at her for a moment longer.

Then she said,

"Everyone leaves separately."

"No gathering."

"No suspicious behavior."

"Act as though this conversation never happened."

One by one, they agreed.

---

After the Meeting

The Emperor left first.

Princess Zhi followed shortly afterward.

The General waited several minutes before departing through another corridor.

Lady Chen remained behind briefly.

She bowed to the Dowager Empress.

"Your Highness."

"Yes?"

"I hope we find whoever is responsible."

The Dowager Empress studied her face.

"I hope so too."

Lady Chen smiled faintly and left.

Once the doors closed, the Dowager Empress’s expression changed.

She was troubled.

There was something about Lady Chen that she could not explain.

Perhaps it was merely instinct.

Perhaps she was being unfair again.

But after everything that had happened to the Empress—

The Dowager Empress had learned one lesson.

She could no longer afford to ignore her instincts.

---

The Emperor’s Thoughts

Meanwhile, the Emperor walked alone through the palace corridor.

His expression remained calm.

But his thoughts were anything but calm.

He remembered the Empress smiling at the Duke residence.

He remembered her sitting beside him at dinner.

He remembered her laughing with her family.

And he remembered how close he had come to losing her.

His hand tightened.

"No more."

He would not allow another person to threaten her life.

Not again.

This time, he would uncover the truth.

Even if the truth led somewhere he did not expect.

Even if it led into the heart of the palace.

---

Somewhere Else

Far away from the secret meeting—

Shin Gu sat peacefully in her courtyard.

She was completely unaware of what had just happened.

Her maid stood nearby.

Shin Gu lifted her teacup.

"Tomorrow night."

The maid bowed.

"Yes, Mistress."

Shin Gu smiled.

"Everything will finally be finished."

She looked toward the palace walls.

She believed everyone had relaxed.

She believed the attack outside the palace had redirected their suspicions.

She believed the Empress was no longer being watched carefully.

She believed she had time.

But she was wrong.

Because for the first time—

The Emperor, the Dowager Empress, Princess Zhi, and the General were watching.

Quietly.

Patiently.

And this time—

They were not looking for rumors.

They were looking for proof.

The palace appeared peaceful.

But beneath that peaceful surface—

A secret battle had begun.

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