Ghost in the palace

The Hooded Figure

The palace was unusually quiet.

Moonlight spilled across the stone pathways, turning the imperial gardens into a sea of silver. Gentle wind stirred the bamboo leaves, and the distant sound of water flowing through the palace ponds echoed through the darkness.

Most of the palace had already fallen asleep.

The servants had retired.

The guards continued their patrols.

The concubines’ palaces were dark.

Everything appeared peaceful.

Yet the Empress could not sleep.

She sat beside the open window of her chamber, a book resting on her lap, though she had not read a single page. Ever since the strange incidents surrounding Shin Gu and the dark magic, an uneasy feeling lingered in her heart.

Something was wrong.

She simply couldn’t prove it.

Suddenly—

A familiar whisper echoed beside her ear.

”An An...”

She turned.

Fen Yu floated beside the window, her face unusually serious.

Behind her were Wei Rong and Li Shen.

For once...

None of them were arguing.

The Empress frowned immediately.

”What happened?”

Wei Rong crossed his arms.

”We saw someone.”

Her heart skipped.

”Who?”

Li Shen answered quietly.

”A hooded figure.”

”The person has been wandering inside the palace.”

The Empress stood up at once.

”What?”

Fen Yu nodded.

”Not once.”

”Twice.”

”Maybe three times tonight.”

The Empress’s expression became solemn.

”Did the guards see this person?”

All three ghosts slowly shook their heads.

”No.”

”They walked straight past.”

”As though they couldn’t see the figure.”

A chill ran through her spine.

”Can you recognise who it is?”

”No.”

”We couldn’t even tell if it was a man or a woman.”

The room fell silent.

The Empress paced slowly.

”If I tell the Emperor...”

She stopped herself.

No.

She had no evidence.

She couldn’t explain that three ghosts had informed her.

No one would believe such a story.

Instead, it would raise suspicion about her.

Fen Yu bit her lip.

”So what do we do?”

The Empress looked out into the dark courtyard.

”I’ll see this person with my own eyes.”

All three ghosts stared at her.

”What?”

”You can’t be serious!”

Wei Rong immediately objected.

”It could be dangerous.”

She smiled faintly.

”That’s exactly why I need to know.”

”If I witness it myself, then tomorrow I can report it.”

Li Shen sighed.

”I had a feeling you would say that.”

...

Not long after midnight...

The Empress changed into ordinary maid clothing.

She removed her jewellery.

Her magnificent robes were replaced with plain blue garments.

Her hair was tied into a simple bun.

Standing before the mirror...

She barely resembled the ruler of the empire.

Fen Yu giggled.

”You actually look like a palace maid.”

Wei Rong nodded.

”If I didn’t know better, I’d ask you to bring me tea.”

The Empress rolled her eyes.

”Very funny.”

Li Shen smiled.

”Shall we go?”

She quietly opened the side door of her chamber.

The corridor outside was empty.

Keeping to the shadows, she slipped through the palace.

The ghosts floated around her.

For a while...

Nothing happened.

Only the sound of crickets filled the air.

Fen Yu yawned dramatically.

”I hope we didn’t imagine it.”

Wei Rong looked annoyed.

”You never imagine anything.”

”I imagine beautiful dresses.”

”That’s different.”

The Empress couldn’t help smiling despite the tension.

”You three...”

Li Shen laughed softly.

”If anyone else saw us, they’d think we’re on an evening stroll.”

Fen Yu suddenly floated ahead.

”I still think the hooded person is ugly.”

Wei Rong snorted.

”You haven’t even seen the face.”

”I can sense ugly.”

”You sense snacks more accurately.”

”I do not!”

”You do.”

”I don’t!”

The two ghosts began chasing each other around a flowering tree.

Li Shen rubbed his forehead.

”They’re impossible.”

The Empress whispered with a smile,

”Please stay quiet.”

Fen Yu stuck out her tongue.

”We’re ghosts.”

”No one can hear us.”

”That isn’t the point.”

The palace grounds stretched endlessly before them.

They crossed the lotus pond.

Passed the Imperial Library.

Walked beneath rows of ancient pine trees.

Still...

Nothing.

The Empress began wondering whether the figure had already left.

Then—

The wind stopped.

Completely.

Every leaf became still.

Every insect fell silent.

An unnatural stillness spread through the palace.

Fen Yu froze.

Wei Rong stopped speaking.

Li Shen slowly turned.

All three wore identical expressions.

Alarm.

The Empress noticed it immediately.

”What is it?”

No one answered.

Instead...

The air became colder.

Not ordinary night cold.

This was different.

It felt as though warmth itself had disappeared.

Her breath became visible.

She rubbed her arms instinctively.

”So cold...”

The hairs on the back of her neck stood up.

An invisible pressure settled over the courtyard.

The ghosts slowly gathered around her.

For the first time since she had met them...

Not one of them joked.

Not one smiled.

The Empress whispered,

”Is it here?”

Li Shen nodded once.

”Yes.”

Then...

Footsteps.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

They were slow.

Measured.

Coming from behind her.

Every step echoed through the empty courtyard.

The Empress’s heartbeat quickened.

She swallowed.

Slowly...

Very slowly...

She turned around.

A figure stood beneath the moonlight.

Covered entirely by a black hooded cloak.

The face remained hidden in darkness.

The sleeves concealed the hands.

The body shape revealed almost nothing.

Tall enough to be a man.

Slender enough to be a woman.

She couldn’t tell.

The figure stood perfectly still.

Watching her.

The Empress felt as though countless eyes were staring into her soul.

Neither of them spoke.

The night itself seemed to hold its breath.

She wanted to ask—

Who are you?

But the words refused to leave her mouth.

The hooded figure tilted its head slightly.

An oddly unnatural movement.

Then...

Very slowly...

One pale hand emerged from the cloak.

The fingers held a folded piece of paper.

Without warning—

The paper flew through the air.

It landed gently against the Empress’s chest before falling into her hands.

At that exact moment—

Fen Yu cried out.

”I can’t move!”

Wei Rong struggled violently.

”My body—”

Li Shen’s calm expression shattered.

”There is a seal...”

Invisible chains wrapped around the three ghosts.

Golden-black markings appeared around them like countless glowing links.

The ghosts tried to fly forward.

They couldn’t.

Tried to speak louder.

They couldn’t.

They were trapped in place.

The Empress stared in horror.

”Fen Yu!”

”I’m trying!”

”I can’t move!”

Wei Rong gritted his teeth.

”Who... are you?”

The hooded figure remained silent.

Not a single word.

Not a single movement.

The Empress unfolded the paper with trembling fingers.

Only three words were written.

Doomed is near.

Her blood ran cold.

The simple sentence carried overwhelming malice.

She looked up instantly.

”What do you mean?”

No answer.

The hooded figure simply continued watching her.

The silence was more terrifying than any threat.

She took one cautious step forward.

”Stop!”

”I know you’re involved with the attacks.”

”Who sent you?”

The figure neither denied nor admitted anything.

Another cold wind swept across the courtyard.

The lanterns flickered wildly.

For one brief heartbeat...

The moon disappeared behind dark clouds.

Everything became almost completely black.

When the moonlight returned—

The hooded figure was gone.

Vanished.

As though it had never existed.

The Empress looked around frantically.

”Where?”

She searched every direction.

The courtyard was empty.

No footsteps.

No shadow.

Nothing.

Only the folded paper remained in her shaking hand.

Then—

The invisible pressure disappeared.

The warmth returned.

Crickets began chirping once more.

Leaves rustled gently.

Fen Yu suddenly stumbled forward.

”I can move!”

Wei Rong clenched and unclenched his fists.

”The chains are gone.”

Li Shen looked unusually pale.

”I’ve never experienced anything like that.”

The Empress looked at them.

”What happened to you?”

Fen Yu hugged herself.

”It was horrible.”

”I felt as though something locked my soul.”

Wei Rong frowned deeply.

”I couldn’t even use my spiritual power.”

Li Shen stared in the direction where the figure had disappeared.

”Whoever that was...”

”They knew we were ghosts.”

The Empress’s eyes widened.

”You think so?”

Li Shen nodded.

”The seal wasn’t meant for humans.”

”It was meant for us.”

Wei Rong spoke grimly.

”That person wasn’t afraid of ghosts.”

”They controlled us.”

Fen Yu whispered,

”I’ve never been unable to move before.”

The four of them stood in silence.

The palace looked exactly as it had before.

Peaceful.

Beautiful.

Safe.

Yet now...

The Empress knew that somewhere within these walls walked someone who could see or sense spirits.

Someone who possessed mysterious power.

Someone who had delivered only a single warning.

Doomed is near.

She folded the paper carefully and hid it inside her sleeve.

Tomorrow...

She would tell the Emperor that she had seen a suspicious hooded figure in the palace.

She would not mention the ghosts.

She could not.

But one thing had become clear.

The enemy was no longer hiding outside the palace.

They were already inside.

Watching.

Waiting.

And whatever ”doom” the message foretold...

It was coming closer with every passing night.

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