Ghost in the palace

The morning palace appeared peaceful.

Too peaceful.

Sunlight filtered through the branches of the old flowering trees in the imperial garden, scattering golden patches across the stone path. A gentle breeze stirred the leaves, carrying the faint fragrance of flowers through the air.

Near a secluded pavilion, Lady Chen sat with Princess Zhi.

A small table stood between them.

A pot of warm tea steamed quietly.

Two porcelain cups rested beside it.

To anyone passing through the garden, they looked like two women enjoying an ordinary morning together.

But neither woman was truly relaxed.

Princess Zhi slowly lifted her cup and took a sip.

Lady Chen glanced around before lowering her voice.

"Is anyone nearby?"

Princess Zhi looked toward the paths.

"No."

"The guards are far enough away."

Lady Chen nodded.

Only then did she lean slightly closer.

"Today."

Princess Zhi’s fingers paused around her cup.

"You mean the investigation?"

Lady Chen nodded.

"They are finally going to discover the truth."

Princess Zhi’s expression became thoughtful.

"I hope so."

Lady Chen lowered her eyes.

"For so long, the Empress has been confined to her courtyard because of that black altar."

Her voice contained a trace of sympathy.

"She has been surrounded by suspicion even though she has done nothing."

Princess Zhi sighed.

"I know."

The discovery of the strange black altar inside the Empress’s courtyard had caused enormous turmoil throughout the palace.

Some officials had demanded punishment.

Others had whispered that the Empress must have been practicing forbidden cultivation.

A few had even suggested that she should be removed from her position.

And the most extreme voices had demanded her execution.

Princess Zhi’s fingers tightened around her cup.

"I still remember those days."

Lady Chen nodded.

"Everyone was frightened."

"They wanted someone to blame."

Princess Zhi looked toward the distant Empress’s courtyard.

"But today..."

She lowered her voice.

"If they catch Shin Gu performing forbidden magic, everything will change."

Lady Chen nodded.

"Yes."

"If the investigation proves that Shin Gu was responsible for the black magic..."

"Then everyone will finally understand that the Empress was framed."

Princess Zhi’s eyes softened.

"And those who demanded her death will have to remain silent."

Lady Chen smiled faintly.

"She deserves that."

For a moment, neither spoke.

The breeze moved gently through the garden.

Then Princess Zhi whispered,

"I have been praying for this."

Lady Chen looked at her.

"You still go to the shrine every morning?"

Princess Zhi nodded.

"Yes."

"I light incense for the Empress."

Her expression became emotional.

"She has suffered enough."

Lady Chen lowered her gaze.

"Yes."

Then, almost inaudibly, she added,

"She deserves freedom."

Princess Zhi nodded.

"She deserves to walk outside her courtyard without everyone looking at her with suspicion."

Lady Chen looked around again.

Then she whispered,

"And if Shin Gu is caught today..."

She paused.

"...the Empress will finally be free."

Princess Zhi’s eyes brightened.

"I hope you’re right."

"I am."

Lady Chen spoke with surprising certainty.

"The investigation has been planned carefully."

"They won’t confront Shin Gu immediately."

"They’re watching."

"They want to catch her in the act."

Princess Zhi nodded.

"That is what I heard."

She lowered her voice further.

"If she truly is using forbidden magic, she won’t be able to hide forever."

Lady Chen gave a small nod.

"No one can."

There was something strange about the certainty in her voice.

Princess Zhi didn’t notice.

Her attention remained on the distant palace courtyard.

"The Empress has been through so much."

She remembered the night the Empress had nearly died.

She remembered sitting outside her chamber, terrified that the woman who had once helped her during the darkest period of her life would never open her eyes again.

She remembered the day everyone thought the Empress had died.

The mourning banners.

The crying servants.

The Emperor refusing to believe she was gone.

And then—

The miracle.

The Empress had awakened.

Princess Zhi had never forgotten it.

"She came back from death," Princess Zhi whispered.

Lady Chen looked at her.

"Yes."

"Perhaps Heaven protected her."

Princess Zhi smiled.

"I believe that."

She took another sip of tea.

"Maybe that is why the black magic failed."

Lady Chen’s fingers tightened slightly beneath the table.

But her expression remained calm.

"Perhaps."

Princess Zhi looked toward her.

"You seem confident."

Lady Chen smiled gently.

"I simply believe justice will prevail."

Princess Zhi nodded.

"Yes."

Then her expression became serious again.

"But there is still a problem."

"What?"

"The people who wanted the Empress punished."

Lady Chen waited.

Princess Zhi continued.

"They may not apologize even if Shin Gu is caught."

Lady Chen sighed.

"That is true."

"People are quick to judge."

"They are slower to admit they were wrong."

Princess Zhi looked down at her tea.

"I heard some officials were still demanding that the Empress be executed because the black altar was found in her courtyard."

Lady Chen nodded.

"I heard that too."

Princess Zhi’s expression darkened.

"They don’t even know the truth."

"They only see the evidence placed before them."

Lady Chen remained quiet.

Princess Zhi continued,

"If Shin Gu is exposed, those voices should disappear."

Lady Chen nodded.

"They will."

She looked toward the palace rooflines.

"And then..."

Her voice became softer.

"...the Empress can finally breathe."

Princess Zhi smiled faintly.

"She should be able to leave her courtyard again."

"She should be able to walk through the gardens."

"She should be able to speak to people without being watched."

Lady Chen nodded.

"Yes."

Then she looked at Princess Zhi.

"You should go to the shrine."

Princess Zhi blinked.

"Now?"

"Yes."

"You said you wanted to light incense for her."

Princess Zhi smiled.

"I did."

Lady Chen gently pushed the tea pot toward her.

"Then go."

Princess Zhi stood.

She adjusted her sleeves.

"I’ll pray for the Empress."

Lady Chen looked up at her.

"And for everyone else who has suffered because of this."

Princess Zhi nodded.

"Of course."

She paused before leaving.

Then she looked back.

"Lady Chen."

"Yes?"

"If they catch Shin Gu..."

Lady Chen raised an eyebrow.

Princess Zhi smiled.

"Come with me to tell the Empress."

Lady Chen’s expression remained gentle.

"Of course."

Princess Zhi smiled and walked away.

Lady Chen watched her disappear among the trees.

Only when Princess Zhi was completely gone did Lady Chen’s expression change.

Her smile disappeared.

Her eyes became cold.

Her fingers slowly tightened around the teacup.

"They think they’re going to catch her..."

She whispered.

A strange stillness settled over the garden.

Lady Chen looked toward Shin Gu’s distant courtyard.

Then she lowered her voice.

"But what if they catch the wrong person?"

Her eyes narrowed.

The peaceful garden suddenly felt much colder.

She slowly stood.

No one had heard their conversation.

Or so she believed.

Far beyond the garden wall, hidden among the shadows of an ancient tree, a palace guard stood motionless.

He had not heard every word.

But he had heard enough to become suspicious.

Lady Chen adjusted her sleeves and walked away.

Behind her, the garden returned to silence.

And somewhere else in the palace—

The investigation was already moving forward.

The Dowager Empress was waiting.

The Emperor was watching.

The hidden guards were positioned.

And Shin Gu remained unaware of how close the truth had come.

But Lady Chen knew one thing.

If the investigators reached Shin Gu—

Everything could collapse.

And for the first time—

The calm expression on Lady Chen’s face could no longer hide the fear beneath it.

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