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Ghost in the palace

Chapter 26: a place to stay · Nov 02, 2026

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Chapter List (462)

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1 Chapter 1: Waking in silk 2026-11-02
2 Chapter 2: Morning greetings 2026-11-02
3 Chapter 3: Whisper in silk 2026-11-02
4 Chapter 4: Fire and smoke 2026-11-02
5 Chapter 5: Taste of home 2026-11-02
6 Chapter 6: Confiscated 2026-11-02
7 Chapter 7: Plan 2026-11-02
8 Chapter 8: Whisper in dark 2026-11-02
9 Chapter 9: Night before the fire 2026-11-02
10 Chapter 10: the rite of smoke and water 2026-11-02
11 Chapter 11: heaven judgement 2026-11-02
12 Chapter 12: shadow behind the lie 2026-11-02
13 Chapter 13: restored white 2026-11-02
14 Chapter 14: lady’s chen 2026-11-02
15 Chapter 15: collision 2026-11-02
16 Chapter 16: waiting 2026-11-02
17 Chapter 17: dawager measure 2026-11-02
18 Chapter 18: homecoming under watch 2026-11-02
19 Chapter 19: the secret visit 2026-11-02
20 Chapter 20: the night of promise 2026-11-02
21 Chapter 21: the dawn escape 2026-11-02
22 Chapter 22: buns and new path 2026-11-02
23 Chapter 23: purchase 2026-11-02
24 Chapter 24: purchasing 2026-11-02
25 Chapter 25: the small beginning 2026-11-02
26 Chapter 26: a place to stay 2026-11-02
27 Chapter 27: ghostly chaos 2026-11-02
28 Chapter 28: the ledger 2026-11-02
29 Chapter 29: emperor unease 2026-11-02
30 Chapter 30: before the dawn 2026-11-02
31 Chapter 31: return before dawn 2026-11-02
32 Chapter 32: the emperor arrived 2026-11-02
33 Chapter 33: fire beneath politeness 2026-11-02
34 Chapter 34: the breakfast with the duke family 2026-11-02
35 Chapter 35: shadow and silk 2026-11-02
36 Chapter 36: tooth 2026-11-02
37 Chapter 37: ghost in the picture 2026-11-02
38 Chapter 38: arrows 2026-11-02
39 Chapter 39: back to the palace 2026-11-02
40 Chapter 40: a bowl 2026-11-02
41 Chapter 41: helping princess 2026-11-02
42 Chapter 42: the smile that’s cut 2026-11-02
43 Chapter 43: a silly afternoon 2026-11-02
44 Chapter 44: promise over wine 2026-11-02
45 Chapter 45: shadows between brother 2026-11-02
46 Chapter 46: smoke on the border 2026-11-02
47 Chapter 47: bread of hunger 2026-11-02
48 Chapter 48: midnight order 2026-11-02
49 Chapter 49: fire in the grain yard 2026-11-02
50 Chapter 50: price of loyalty 2026-11-02

Morning light crept gently across the shutters of The Whispering Bowl, turning the wooden walls golden.

Birds chattered somewhere near the riverbank, and the scent of damp earth and boiled rice hung faintly in the air.

Inside the shop, everything was still — except for two small figures huddled in a blanket by the stove.

The twins, Lian and Lin, slept so quietly that for a moment it was hard to believe they were even breathing.

The door to the back room slid open. Yao Qing stepped out, tying her hair, still half-asleep.

She froze when she saw them. ”What in Heaven’s name...?”

Before she could call out, Ananya appeared from the small kitchen corner, holding a pot of steaming tea.

Her calm eyes met Yao Qing’s startled ones. ”Don’t be alarmed. They’re with me.”

”With you?” Yao Qing whispered, looking between the children and her. ”An’an, where did they come from?”

Ananya set the pot down, her voice quiet but steady. ”From the bridge. I saw them yesterday — hungry, alone. Their parents died near the border.”

Yao Qing’s expression softened instantly. ”The border?”

Ananya nodded. ”Their father worked at the granary before it burned. They walked here when the fighting reached their town.”

For a long moment, Yao Qing said nothing. Then she sighed. ”The world grows crueler every season.”

Ananya poured her a cup of tea, her hands graceful and steady. ”They’ll stay here. We can give them work — cleaning, errands, helping in the kitchen. Nothing heavy.”

Yao Qing looked up sharply. ”Work? You mean to keep them?”

Ananya’s smile was faint but firm. ”Yes. This shop needs more than tables and chairs to come alive. It needs people who understand hunger.”

Yao Qing’s eyes softened. ”You always take in strays, don’t you?”

”Maybe I just remember what it felt like to be one,” Ananya replied quietly.

A faint rustle came from the corner. Lin stirred first, blinking against the light.

She sat up slowly, clutching the blanket around her small shoulders. Beside her, Lian woke with a start, immediately alert, eyes scanning the unfamiliar room.

Ananya walked over, her steps light. ”You’re awake,” she said with a smile.

Lian got to his feet quickly. ”We’re sorry! We didn’t mean to fall asleep here!”

”You were supposed to,” Ananya said gently. ”And you can stay as long as you need.”

The boy froze, staring at her in confusion. ”Stay?”

”Yes.” She crouched so they were eye-level. ”But not for free.”

Lin blinked, nervous. ”What do you mean?”

Ananya smiled softly. ”You’ll work here. Help with cleaning, errands, whatever needs doing. And you’ll eat three meals a day, no skipping. Agreed?”

Lian stared at her as if she’d spoken in another language. ”We can work?”

”Of course.” She glanced at Yao Qing, who was watching with quiet amusement. ”This is my friend. You’ll listen to her when I’m not around.”

Yao Qing knelt beside them, her voice gentle. ”We’ll need help cleaning the tables and running to the market. Think you can manage that?”

Lin nodded so hard her braid bounced. ”Yes, madam!”

”Don’t call me madam,” Yao Qing laughed. ”Call me Sister Qing.”

When Yao Qing went to open the front shutters, Ananya led the twins toward the small rooms at the back.

One was empty except for a folded mat and a chest.

”This will be yours,” she said. ”It’s small, but it’s safe.”

Lin ran her hand along the wooden wall, eyes wide. ”Our own room?”

Ananya nodded. ”You’ll share until we can make space for another.”

Lian looked at her, still hesitant. ”Why are you doing this for us?”

Ananya’s gaze softened. ”Because once, someone did it for me.”

For a long moment, the boy just stood there, staring at her as if memorizing her face.

Then he bowed deeply, his voice low. ”We’ll work hard, miss. I promise.”

”I know you will,” she said, resting a gentle hand on his shoulder. ”Now go wash up. Breakfast will be ready soon.”

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