Ghost in the palace

The Imperial Palace had become unusually quiet.

For the first time in many days, no alarming reports arrived from the border.

No strange deaths.

No mysterious illnesses.

No whispers of restless spirits haunting the night.

The palace servants walked through the corridors with lighter steps, their tense expressions finally easing.

Even the guards, who had spent weeks doubling patrols, allowed themselves to breathe.

To everyone else—

It seemed the worst had passed.

Yet...

Inside the Imperial Study, a heavy silence lingered.

The Emperor stood before the open window, his hands clasped behind his back as he gazed into the moonlit palace gardens.

The cool night breeze carried the scent of blooming plum blossoms.

Normally, such a peaceful night would have calmed him.

Tonight...

It did the opposite.

His instincts refused to rest.

A ruler who had survived countless political conspiracies learned long ago that the most dangerous enemies never attacked while everyone was alert.

They waited.

They smiled.

They hid.

And they struck only after people believed the danger had ended.

A soft knock echoed.

”Enter.”

The carved wooden doors opened.

Prince Liang stepped inside, dressed in a dark blue robe. After bowing respectfully, he looked at his elder brother.

”You summoned me, Your Majesty?”

The Emperor nodded.

”Sit.”

Prince Liang obeyed.

A servant silently poured tea before disappearing from the room.

For several moments neither brother spoke.

Only the faint sound of wind brushing against bamboo leaves could be heard outside.

Finally Prince Liang broke the silence.

”The capital has become peaceful.”

”No incidents have been reported for several days.”

”The Duke Residence also reported that everyone returned safely after the attack.”

The Emperor slowly lifted his teacup.

”Too peaceful.”

Prince Liang frowned.

”You still believe another attack will happen?”

The Emperor lowered the cup.

”I don’t believe...”

”I know.”

His voice remained calm.

”The enemy failed.”

”They will not disappear simply because one plan failed.”

”They will become more careful.”

”They will wait.”

Prince Liang nodded slowly.

”I’ve increased patrols.”

”The city gates are watched day and night.”

”Our spies haven’t discovered anything suspicious.”

The Emperor looked toward the dark sky.

”That is exactly what worries me.”

Prince Liang followed his gaze.

”If they aren’t moving...”

”They’re planning.”

The Emperor gave a faint nod.

”This silence feels...”

”...like the calm before a storm.”

The room fell quiet again.

Prince Liang had rarely seen his brother this unsettled.

The Emperor trusted his instincts more than reports.

And those instincts had saved the empire countless times.

After a while, the Emperor turned toward him.

”What became of Shin Gu?”

Prince Liang blinked.

”Imperial Physician Zhang examined her.”

”And?”

”He said she inhaled an unknown substance during one of her rituals.”

The Emperor’s eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.

Prince Liang continued,

”It irritated her lungs.”

”She suddenly began coughing violently.”

”According to the physician...”

”...she even coughed blood.”

The Emperor remained expressionless.

”Is she dying?”

Prince Liang shook his head.

”No.”

”The physician believes her internal energy was disturbed.”

”She has been ordered to rest.”

”She is recovering.”

”Within a few weeks she should return to normal.”

The Emperor walked slowly back toward his desk.

”Did the physician find anything unusual?”

Prince Liang hesitated.

”He said...”

”...it was unlike any illness he had treated.”

”No poison.”

”No infection.”

”It was as if...”

He paused.

”...something had rebounded against her.”

The Emperor’s fingers tapped lightly against the wooden desk.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

His mind immediately connected it with another event.

The night...

The Empress returned from the brink of death.

And Shin Gu suddenly collapsed.

Coincidence?

The Emperor no longer believed in coincidences.

He spoke quietly,

”Keep watching her.”

Prince Liang looked surprised.

”You suspect her?”

The Emperor’s expression remained unreadable.

”I suspect everyone.”

Especially now.

Because somewhere—

Behind the palace walls—

Someone had already begun preparing the next move.

And the Emperor intended to find them...

Before the storm finally arrived.

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The night was unusually quiet.

Moonlight filtered through the bamboo grove surrounding Shin Gu’s courtyard, casting long shadows across the stone path. The servants assigned to her residence had all retired early, believing their mistress was still recovering from illness.

No one knew the truth.

This was no ordinary illness.

Inside the dimly lit chamber, Shin Gu sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion. Her normally flawless complexion had turned frighteningly pale. Tiny beads of cold sweat rolled down her forehead, and her breathing was uneven.

A bronze incense burner stood before her.

Instead of fragrant incense, strands of dark smoke twisted unnaturally from it.

The room felt cold.

Deathly cold.

Shin Gu slowly opened her eyes.

The pupils, usually calm and calculating, now looked exhausted.

”...Again.”

She coughed.

A streak of blood stained the white handkerchief she quickly covered with her sleeve.

Her fingers trembled.

The failed ritual that should have claimed the Empress’s life had cost her dearly.

Not once...

But twice.

The first failure had injured her spiritual sea.

The second, when the Empress returned from the brink of death, had nearly shattered her cultivation completely.

She closed her eyes once more and tried to gather spiritual energy.

Nothing.

Only pain.

A sharp burning sensation spread through every meridian in her body.

She winced.

”...Impossible.”

She had cultivated dark arts for decades.

She had sacrificed too much to reach this level.

Yet now...

She could barely gather enough energy to light a candle.

Suddenly—

The temperature in the room dropped further.

The candle flames flickered violently.

The black smoke inside the incense burner gathered together.

Slowly...

It formed a vague human silhouette.

Not completely visible.

Only a shadow.

A voice echoed inside the chamber.

Cold.

Ancient.

”You failed.”

Shin Gu immediately lowered her head.

”This disciple is incompetent.”

Silence.

Then the voice returned.

”The vessel still lives.”

Shin Gu clenched her fists.

”I underestimated her fate.”

”You underestimated Heaven.”

The words struck harder than any weapon.

Shin Gu’s breathing became heavier.

The shadow continued.

”Take the next step.”

Shin Gu’s eyes widened.

”...Now?”

”Now.”

She hesitated.

For the first time...

Fear appeared in her eyes.

”My spiritual foundation has nearly collapsed.”

”If I attempt another forbidden ritual...”

She paused.

”...I will die.”

The room became silent.

Even the candles stopped flickering.

After a long moment, the shadow spoke again.

”You fear death.”

Shin Gu lowered her gaze.

”...Yes.”

She had devoted her entire life to seeking greater power.

She had betrayed her own sect.

Abandoned every moral teaching.

Committed countless sins.

Not because she wished to die.

But because she wished to live.

Longer.

Stronger.

More powerful than everyone else.

If she attempted another ritual in her current condition—

Her meridians would shatter.

Her soul could collapse.

There would be nothing left.

Not even reincarnation.

The shadow remained motionless.

Finally...

It spoke.

”Then wait.”

Shin Gu slowly looked up.

The pressure inside the room eased slightly.

”Recover.”

”Hide.”

”Observe.”

”When they believe danger has passed...”

Its voice became colder.

”...Strike.”

The shadow dissolved into smoke.

The room returned to silence.

Shin Gu remained sitting there for several minutes.

Only after she was certain the presence had disappeared did she release a long breath.

She leaned against the pillar behind her.

Her body felt unbearably heavy.

”...I’m alive.”

Barely.

Outside the chamber...

A maid knocked gently.

”Madam?”

”Would you like your medicine?”

Shin Gu composed herself immediately.

Her expression returned to its usual calm.

”Leave it outside.”

”Yes, Madam.”

The footsteps faded.

Shin Gu slowly stood.

Every movement caused pain.

She walked toward the window.

Beyond the palace walls, lanterns could be seen in the distant city.

Somewhere beyond them...

The Duke residence was celebrating.

Preparing for a wedding.

Laughing together.

She could almost imagine it.

The Empress.

Surrounded by family.

Safe.

Happy.

Shin Gu’s eyes narrowed.

”...Enjoy your happiness.”

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

”For now.”

She knew she could not act.

Not today.

Not tomorrow.

Perhaps not even this month.

Every instinct screamed at her to kill the Empress immediately.

But instinct alone would only lead to her own death.

She had survived this long because she knew when to advance...

And when to retreat.

She clenched the windowsill tightly.

”I will recover.”

”My spiritual sea will heal.”

”My cultivation will return.”

”And when it does...”

Her eyes became frighteningly cold.

”No one will save you a second time.”

A gust of wind swept through the chamber.

The candles extinguished one after another.

Darkness swallowed the room.

Only Shin Gu’s voice remained.

Quiet.

Patient.

Filled with resentment.

”Celebrate while you can.”

”Peace...”

”...never lasts forever.”

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