Ghost in the palace

The afternoon sun had already begun to descend when the Dowager Empress left the Princess’s courtyard.

Her conversation with Princess Zhi and Lady Chen had left her thoughtful.

She had listened carefully, smiled when appropriate, and offered the usual words of reassurance.

Yet something had remained unsettled in her heart.

Shin Gu.

For some reason, every time she thought about that woman, an uncomfortable feeling crept through her.

The Dowager Empress could not explain it.

Perhaps it was merely suspicion.

Perhaps it was because Shin Gu had been unusually quiet lately.

Or perhaps—

Her instincts were simply warning her.

She stopped beneath the covered corridor and looked toward one of the palace servants standing nearby.

”You.”

The maid immediately stepped forward.

”Your Majesty.”

”Go to Shin Gu’s courtyard.”

The maid bowed.

”Yes.”

The Dowager Empress paused before continuing.

”Tell her I have selected a maid for her.”

The servant looked slightly surprised.

”For Shin Gu?”

”Yes.”

The Dowager Empress smiled faintly.

”She has very few servants around her. It is not proper for someone of her position.”

The maid bowed again.

”I understand.”

But the Dowager Empress’s eyes became colder after the servant turned away.

She wasn’t sending the maid merely to serve Shin Gu.

She was sending her—

To watch.

---

Shin Gu’s courtyard was unusually quiet.

The maid noticed it immediately.

As she passed through the outer gate, she heard no laughter from servants.

No footsteps.

No conversation.

Nothing.

The courtyard looked almost abandoned.

The flower beds were poorly maintained.

Several leaves had fallen onto the stone path.

The windows remained closed despite the pleasant afternoon weather.

The maid swallowed nervously.

She had visited many palace courtyards.

None had ever felt like this.

It wasn’t simply quiet.

It felt—

Empty.

As if even the air didn’t want to stay there.

She walked farther inside.

Then she saw her.

Shin Gu stood beneath the old tree in the center of the courtyard.

Her back was turned.

She appeared to be looking at something on the ground.

The maid couldn’t see what.

”Lady Shin Gu.”

Shin Gu slowly turned.

Her expression was calm.

Too calm.

The maid immediately bowed.

”Greetings, Lady Shin Gu.”

Shin Gu studied her.

Then smiled.

”What brings you here?”

”The Dowager Empress sent me.”

Shin Gu’s smile remained.

But her eyes changed.

”The Dowager Empress?”

”Yes.”

The maid lowered her head.

”She asked me to inform you that she has decided to assign a maid to your service.”

Shin Gu looked at her for several seconds.

Then glanced around her own courtyard.

”A maid?”

”Yes.”

The maid smiled politely.

”Her Majesty said you have very few servants here.”

Shin Gu’s eyes narrowed slightly.

”I don’t require another servant.”

The answer came immediately.

The maid remained respectful.

”Her Majesty was concerned that you might need assistance.”

”I said I don’t need one.”

Her tone remained soft.

But there was something beneath it.

Something that made the maid’s fingers tighten around her sleeve.

Shin Gu walked closer.

”What is your name?”

The maid answered.

”Mei Lan.”

”How long have you served in the palace?”

”Three years.”

”And your duties?”

”Hair arrangement, makeup, clothing, embroidery, and general household work.”

Shin Gu studied her face.

”You seem too young.”

Mei Lan smiled.

”I have been trained since childhood.”

Shin Gu didn’t answer.

Instead, she looked past the maid toward the gate.

Almost as though expecting someone.

Then she turned back.

”The Dowager Empress sent you?”

”Yes.”

”Why?”

Mei Lan hesitated.

”She said she wanted you to have someone capable assisting you.”

Shin Gu gave a quiet laugh.

”How thoughtful.”

But there was no warmth in those words.

---

At the Dowager Empress’s courtyard, the old woman waited.

She knew Shin Gu might refuse.

That was exactly why she had prepared another explanation.

If Shin Gu rejected the maid, it would reveal suspicion.

If she accepted—

The Dowager Empress would have eyes inside that strange courtyard.

Either way, she would learn something.

After nearly half an hour, the maid returned.

The Dowager Empress looked up.

”Well?”

The maid bowed.

”Lady Shin Gu initially refused.”

The Dowager Empress wasn’t surprised.

”But?”

”She eventually agreed.”

A small smile appeared on the Dowager Empress’s lips.

”Good.”

The maid lowered her voice.

”But Your Majesty...”

”What?”

”Her courtyard felt strange.”

The Dowager Empress’s smile disappeared.

”Strange?”

”There were almost no servants.”

”Only Lady Shin Gu.”

”And?”

The maid hesitated.

”I cannot explain it.”

”Then don’t try.”

The Dowager Empress looked toward the distant palace roofs.

”Just observe.”

”Do not provoke her.”

”Do not investigate recklessly.”

”And never let her know why you were sent.”

The maid bowed.

”Yes, Your Majesty.”

---

Later that evening—

Mei Lan returned to Shin Gu’s courtyard.

This time she carried a small box containing her belongings.

Shin Gu was sitting inside the main room.

She looked at the box.

”So you really are staying.”

Mei Lan bowed.

”Yes.”

”I thought you might change your mind.”

Shin Gu smiled.

”Perhaps I should have.”

Mei Lan lowered her eyes.

”If Lady Shin Gu doesn’t need me, I can return to the Dowager Empress.”

Shin Gu stared at her.

Then unexpectedly—

She laughed.

”No.”

Mei Lan looked up.

”Stay.”

”Since Her Majesty was kind enough to send you, refusing would be impolite.”

Mei Lan bowed.

”Thank you.”

Shin Gu leaned back.

”You said you know hair and makeup?”

”Yes.”

”Then prepare my hair tomorrow morning.”

”Of course.”

Shin Gu nodded.

”Go settle your things.”

Mei Lan turned.

But before she reached the door—

”Mei Lan.”

She stopped.

”Yes?”

Shin Gu’s voice was strangely gentle.

”Do you know why the Dowager Empress suddenly became concerned about me?”

Mei Lan’s heart skipped.

She turned around.

”I don’t know, Lady Shin Gu.”

Shin Gu looked at her for several seconds.

Then smiled.

”Neither do I.”

Mei Lan bowed again.

”I will arrange your things.”

She left.

The moment the door closed—

Shin Gu’s smile disappeared.

She stared at the closed door.

Her eyes became cold.

”The Dowager Empress...”

She murmured.

”Why now?”

She had been careful.

She had kept her courtyard nearly empty.

She had trusted very few people.

And now—

A maid had suddenly been sent to her.

Shin Gu wasn’t foolish.

She knew palace servants could have ears everywhere.

Perhaps this maid truly was innocent.

Perhaps she was merely unfortunate.

Or perhaps—

Someone had deliberately placed her here.

Shin Gu’s fingers slowly tightened around the edge of her sleeve.

”Fine.”

A faint smile returned.

”If the Dowager Empress wants to watch me...”

”Let her watch.”

---

Meanwhile, the Dowager Empress sat with Princess Zhi and Lady Chen.

Lady Chen was speaking about the upcoming wedding arrangements.

The Dowager Empress listened quietly.

After a while, she casually said,

”I sent a maid to Shin Gu today.”

Lady Chen looked surprised.

”You did?”

”Yes.”

”Why?”

The Dowager Empress smiled.

”Her courtyard has almost no servants.”

”I thought she might need someone.”

Princess Zhi looked thoughtful.

”That was kind of you.”

The Dowager Empress nodded.

”I thought the same.”

Then she added casually,

”I may send another maid to you as well, Princess.”

Princess Zhi smiled.

”And Lady Chen?”

”I already have enough servants,” Lady Chen replied.

The Dowager Empress smiled.

”I was thinking the same.”

She didn’t elaborate.

She didn’t need to.

The truth was simple.

She wanted Shin Gu to believe the maid was part of an ordinary gesture.

Nothing suspicious.

Nothing unusual.

Just another palace arrangement.

But deep inside—

The Dowager Empress knew better.

Something about Shin Gu had never felt right.

And now she intended to find out why.

---

That night, Mei Lan stood inside Shin Gu’s courtyard, arranging her belongings.

She looked around.

The courtyard was silent again.

Too silent.

Then—

A faint sound came from somewhere behind the main hall.

Mei Lan froze.

She turned.

Nothing.

Only darkness.

She swallowed.

Perhaps it had been the wind.

She continued arranging her clothes.

But somewhere beyond the closed doors—

Shin Gu stood motionless.

Watching.

Listening.

Neither woman trusted the other.

And neither yet knew—

Which one would discover the truth first.

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