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Ghost in the palace

Chapter 37: ghost in the picture · 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

The forest rang with shouts and the hiss of arrows.

The ambush that was meant to kill had turned into a circus of chaos.

The Emperor’s guards braced around the half-stuck carriage, blades flashing in the morning haze. The Duke’s men fought like a wall — trained, strong, but outnumbered.

Then... the air shifted.

A cold gust swept through the branches, though no wind stirred the leaves.

Something unseen slithered between trunks, laughter hidden in the rustle of pine needles.

Wei Rong was the first to appear — if ”appear” could describe the blur of translucent flame that slipped through a bandit’s shoulder.

He grinned, invisible to mortal eyes, voice a growl only Ananya could hear.

”They want a fight? Let’s give them a memory instead.”

Before anyone could blink, the nearest attacker swung his sword—only to have his own wrist seized midair.

His arm jerked back violently.

”Who—who touched me!?” he shouted, spinning around.

Fen Yu giggled, her bell-like laugh floating on the wind.

She swooped low, snatched the man’s cap, and placed it backward on his head. Then she pulled his hair hard enough to make him yelp.

”Who’s there?! Show yourself!”

”Ghosts!” another screamed, eyes rolling. ”It’s ghosts!”

Li Shen hovered above them, calm and faintly glowing. His long scholar’s robe moved like water, sleeves trailing mist.

He extended one elegant hand and whispered a short verse under his breath — the old language of balance.

Branches cracked. A fallen log rolled, tripping three men as though the forest itself had come alive.

Ananya leaned out of the carriage window, her face half-lit by sunlight filtering through the trees.

Her lips curved in satisfaction. ”Serves them right,” she murmured.

Yao Qing gasped as one of the men tripped over a root, only to find himself pushed headfirst into a mud puddle. His companion tried to help — and promptly got his ear flicked by invisible fingers.

Wei Rong roared with laughter. ”Pathetic mortals! You thought you’d ambush an Empress?”

He grabbed a man’s collar and swung him into a tree trunk with a loud thud.

Fen Yu danced above him, gleeful. ”You’re too rough, Wei Rong! Let me try!”

She floated toward another bandit — a burly brute pulling back his bowstring — and, with a wicked grin, she tugged the back of his trousers.

He squealed, the arrow flying into the sky.

Even the guards blinked in disbelief. The Emperor, watching from his horse nearby, frowned deeply — because his enemies were... running? From nothing?

As if to prove her point, Fen Yu twirled upside down in the air, sticking her tongue out at a fleeing bandit.

The man shrieked and dropped his sword.

Li Shen sighed, ever the calm teacher among fools. ”You two have no discipline. Next time, aim for efficiency.”

Wei Rong snorted. ”Discipline doesn’t make men scream.”

Fen Yu giggled so hard she nearly fell through a tree trunk. ”Did you see his face when I pulled his hair?”

Ananya chuckled quietly, resting her chin on her hand. ”I did. Remind me to reward you later.”

Yao Qing stared at her, half in awe, half in disbelief. ”You’re actually... enjoying this?”

Ananya smiled, a rare sparkle lighting her eyes. ”For once, I don’t have to pretend to be scared.”

Outside, chaos had reached its peak.

Men fled, tripping over each other, their cries echoing through the forest.

”Ghosts! The forest is cursed!”

”My sword—my sword is gone!”

”Something just slapped me—someone help!”

Fen Yu had grabbed one man’s hand and used it to slap another, cackling uncontrollably.

Wei Rong, not to be outdone, shoved a third bandit so hard that he flew into a patch of nettles.

Li Shen glided calmly between them, his voice cutting through their laughter.

”Enough. Leave a few alive to tell the tale. Fear spreads faster than corpses.”

The others slowed, panting though they needed no breath.

Fen Yu floated back toward the carriage, her hair rippling like pale smoke.

She waved cheerfully. ”All clear, my lady!”

The woods fell quiet again, save for the panting of horses and the creak of bowstrings being lowered.

Zhao Rui’s men stood in stunned silence, blades still drawn, eyes darting between the trees.

One of them whispered, ”Did... anyone else see that?”

Another crossed himself. ”Heaven protect us... the forest fought for Her Majesty.”

Ananya finally stepped out of the carriage, skirts brushing the dirt, her expression composed — though a faint smile tugged at her lips.

She looked around the clearing at the scattered, moaning bandits, the guards too awed to speak, and the Emperor standing rigid on his horse.

”Is the danger over?” she asked, voice smooth as silk.

Zhao Rui met her gaze, still processing what he’d witnessed. ”It seems... someone else decided to fight on your side.”

She smiled faintly, brushing dust from her sleeve.

”Then it’s about time I had some loyal allies.”

Wei Rong’s laugh echoed softly through the trees. ”You already do, my lady. You just keep us well-fed on fun.”

Fen Yu twirled above Ananya’s shoulder, invisible to all but her. ”We should do this again!”

Ananya’s grin was small but genuine. ”Next time, maybe in the palace gardens.”

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