Ghost in the palace

The first rays of dawn stretched across the palace roofs, bathing the golden tiles in warm light. Palace servants had only just begun their morning duties when a graceful figure crossed the imperial garden.

It was Empress Lian An.

The guards outside the Emperor’s courtyard immediately bowed.

”Greetings, Your Majesty.”

Lian An gave a small nod before entering.

---

Inside the courtyard, the Emperor had just finished his morning sword practice. His robes were simple, and a thin layer of sweat covered his forehead as he handed his sword to Eunuch Gao.

The eunuch suddenly widened his eyes.

”Your Majesty... the Empress has arrived.”

The Emperor froze.

”What did you say?”

”The Empress is here.”

He turned immediately.

There she stood beneath the flowering plum tree, dressed in a pale blue robe.

For a brief moment, disbelief crossed his face.

Then it was replaced with quiet happiness.

She had come to see him.

After their night together at the Duke’s residence, she had avoided him for several days, always finding reasons to leave whenever he approached. He had respected her wishes and never forced a conversation.

Seeing her come of her own accord filled him with hope.

He walked towards her, his usually stern expression softening.

”Lian An.”

The Empress bowed slightly.

”Your Majesty.”

”You came to see me?”

”I did.”

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

”Come inside.”

---

The two entered the study.

Servants served tea before quietly withdrawing.

The Emperor noticed she wasn’t touching her teacup.

Instead, her fingers were tightly gripping a folded piece of paper.

His smile gradually disappeared.

”What happened?”

Without a word, she placed the folded paper before him.

”I found this last night.”

He frowned.

”Found where?”

”Someone threw it into my room from outside.”

His expression became serious.

He unfolded the paper.

Only two words were written in thick black ink.

DOOMED.

The brushstrokes were rough, almost carved into the paper with hatred.

The Emperor’s eyes narrowed.

His fingers tightened around the letter.

A dangerous aura spread through the room.

”Eunuch Gao.”

The old eunuch hurried inside.

”Summon the Dowager Empress.”

”Yes, Your Majesty.”

”Summon Lady Chen.”

”Yes.”

”Prince Liang.”

”At once.”

”And Princess Zhi.”

The eunuch bowed before hurrying away.

The Emperor looked back at the letter.

”This was thrown into your room?”

She nodded.

”I saw someone outside.”

”You saw the person?”

”A hooded man.”

His expression darkened.

”A hooded man...”

The room fell silent.

After everything that had happened—the sleepwalking, the attacks outside the palace, the dark rituals—another unknown figure had finally appeared.

This could not be a coincidence.

---

Less than half an hour later...

The imperial audience chamber was sealed.

Only those the Emperor trusted were allowed inside.

The Dowager Empress entered first.

”What happened so early?”

Princess Zhi followed, looking confused.

Prince Liang arrived moments later.

Finally, Lady Chen entered gracefully.

Seeing everyone’s serious expressions, she lowered her smile.

”What has happened?”

The Emperor placed the letter on the table.

”I want everyone to read this.”

Prince Liang picked it up first.

The moment he saw the words, his expression changed.

”’Doomed’?”

Princess Zhi covered her mouth.

”Who wrote this?”

Lady Chen frowned deeply.

”This isn’t a prank.”

The Dowager Empress examined the paper carefully.

”The ink is fresh.”

”It was written only recently.”

The Emperor nodded.

”It was thrown into the Empress’s room during the night.”

Everyone looked towards Lian An.

Princess Zhi asked quietly,

”You saw someone?”

”I did.”

”What did he look like?”

”He wore a black hooded cloak.”

”No face?”

Lian An shook her head.

”I couldn’t see it.”

Prince Liang folded his arms.

”So...”

”There is another person involved.”

The room became silent.

The Dowager Empress slowly spoke.

”We assumed Lady Chen and Shin Gu were the only enemies.”

The Emperor nodded.

”But now...”

”There is someone else.”

Lady Chen frowned.

”If this hooded man entered the inner palace...”

”...then our palace security has already been breached.”

Princess Zhi shivered.

”So everything...”

”The attacks...”

”The strange magic...”

”The assassination attempts...”

”Could all be connected?”

”No,” Prince Liang replied.

”Not connected.”

”They’re being directed.”

Everyone turned towards him.

”If someone is bold enough to throw a threatening letter directly into the Empress’s chamber...”

”...he isn’t merely watching.”

”He’s provoking us.”

The Emperor’s gaze hardened.

”And challenging the throne.”

---

The Dowager Empress looked towards Lian An.

”There is something I don’t understand.”

Lian An met her eyes.

”You said you saw the hooded man.”

”Why were you outside your room in the middle of the night?”

For the first time that morning...

Lian An hesitated.

She couldn’t tell them the truth.

She couldn’t say that Fen Yu had sensed strange spiritual energy, waking her and urging her outside.

No one would believe ghosts.

She forced herself to remain calm.

”I couldn’t sleep.”

The Dowager remained silent.

Lian An continued,

”The room felt stuffy.”

”So I went outside for some fresh air.”

”That’s when I noticed movement.”

”I followed the figure for a short distance.”

”But before I could get closer...”

”He disappeared.”

The room fell quiet.

The explanation sounded reasonable.

Princess Zhi nodded sympathetically.

”I’ve done that before when I couldn’t sleep.”

Lady Chen agreed.

”The palace can feel suffocating during summer nights.”

Prince Liang didn’t question her.

The Dowager Empress studied Lian An for several seconds before finally nodding.

”I see.”

Lian An secretly released the breath she had been holding.

At least...

No one suspected the truth.

---

The Emperor placed the letter back on the table.

”There is one problem.”

Everyone looked at him.

”We still know nothing about this hooded man.”

”Who is he?”

”What does he want?”

”How long has he been inside the palace?”

No one could answer.

The questions hung heavily in the air.

---

Prince Liang broke the silence.

”We should strengthen palace patrols immediately.”

The Emperor nodded.

”Already done.”

”The Shadow Guards will patrol every roof and corridor.”

Lady Chen added,

”Search every abandoned building.”

”Especially the old palace quarters.”

The Emperor agreed.

”No one enters or leaves the palace without inspection.”

Princess Zhi looked worried.

”What if he isn’t alone?”

Another silence.

Because that possibility...

...was even more frightening.

---

The Dowager Empress folded her hands.

”Until we discover his identity...”

”The Empress must never be left alone.”

The Emperor answered immediately.

”I agree.”

He turned to Lian An.

”From today onwards, two Shadow Guards will remain hidden outside your residence day and night.”

She wanted to refuse.

But after everything that had happened...

She simply nodded.

”As Your Majesty commands.”

---

Outside the palace windows...

Dark clouds slowly gathered despite the bright morning.

Inside the audience chamber, every face remained tense.

Somewhere...

Within the vast imperial palace...

A mysterious hooded figure was watching.

Waiting.

Planning.

And the single word written upon that letter echoed in everyone’s mind—

Doomed.

The game between light and darkness had entered a new stage.

Thank You From the Bottom of My Heart! ✨

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