Ghost in the palace

The eastern sky slowly brightened as dawn spread across the capital.

A thin layer of mist hovered above the ground, and the cool morning breeze carried the smell of damp earth. Outside the northern gates, thousands of people had gathered with their families, belongings, and hopes for a new beginning.

Today, the journey to the north would finally begin.

It would take approximately three months to reach their destination.

Three months of walking, resting, eating, sleeping beneath unfamiliar skies, and facing whatever difficulties the road brought them.

For some families, the journey was frightening. They had never traveled so far from their homes. For others, it was an opportunity to escape poverty and build a better life.

And among these travelers was a rather unusual group of people.

A former imperial family traveling without revealing their identities, the Empress and her companions, several military officers, Yao Qing’s family, the twins, and Lady Chen.

They had gathered before sunrise, but despite the early hour, their departure was already becoming chaotic.

”Why is everyone rushing us?” Prince Liang complained as he adjusted the strap of his shoulder bag.

He looked toward the migration officials, who were moving from one group to another, urging people to prepare.

”We have three months ahead of us! Are they expecting us to reach the north before breakfast?”

General Guo Han, who was checking the open cart, glanced at him.

”If you keep talking instead of helping, perhaps they will leave you behind.”

Prince Liang looked offended.

”How can you say such a thing? I have been helping since dawn!”

”What exactly have you helped with?”

”I have been supervising.”

General Guo Han laughed.

”Of course. Supervising.”

”I am serious!”

”So am I.”

Lady Chen, standing nearby, shook her head.

”Both of you should save your energy. We haven’t even left the capital yet.”

Prince Liang turned toward her.

”Why does everyone keep attacking me this morning?”

”Perhaps you are making it too easy.”

The twins burst into laughter.

Prince Liang stared at them.

”You two should respect your elders.”

The older-looking twin raised an eyebrow.

”Then behave like one.”

His sister immediately covered her mouth, trying to suppress her laughter.

General Guo Han laughed so loudly that several travelers turned to look at them.

Prince Liang pointed accusingly at the twins.

”Remember this. When we reach the north, I will make you carry the heaviest bags.”

The boy shrugged.

”Fine. We will put your bags on top of ours.”

His sister nodded solemnly.

”Then you can carry all of them yourself.”

Prince Liang fell silent.

Lady Chen laughed.

”That is what you get for arguing with children.”

”They are fifteen!”

”And you are supposed to be older and wiser.”

Prince Liang looked toward the sky as though asking the heavens for patience.

Unfortunately for him, the heavens offered no assistance.

Instead, the migration instructor’s voice rang out across the departure grounds.

”All registered families! Prepare to move! Check your belongings one final time! We will not delay the entire procession because someone has forgotten a bundle!”

The crowd immediately became more active.

People lifted their bags, tightened the ropes around their carts, and called their family members closer.

The long-awaited journey was about to begin.

### The Open Cart

Their group had arranged an open cart to carry their provisions and other belongings.

Unlike an ordinary merchant’s cart, it had no covered compartment. Its wooden sides were reinforced with thick planks, and a large cloth had been spread across the bottom to protect their goods from dirt.

Several bundles of clothes were tied together.

Blankets were folded and placed beneath the heavier luggage. Cooking utensils had been packed inside wooden boxes, while bags of rice, flour, dried vegetables, and other provisions occupied one side.

Water containers were secured near the front.

There were also baskets of food for the first few days, along with spare shoes, medicine, and the smaller necessities that people often forgot until they needed them.

The cart was not luxurious, but it was practical.

More importantly, it allowed the group to carry enough supplies without forcing every person to shoulder the entire burden.

The Emperor stood beside it, examining the ropes.

”Are the heavier bags secured properly?”

General Guo Han tugged at one of the knots.

”Yes. They should remain in place unless the road becomes particularly rough.”

”Check the water containers again.”

”I already checked them twice.”

”Then check them a third time.”

General Guo Han turned slowly.

”Your Majesty—”

He stopped himself immediately.

They were traveling as ordinary people, and he had nearly used the wrong form of address.

The Emperor gave him a warning look.

General Guo Han cleared his throat.

”I mean, you worry too much.”

Prince Liang immediately joined in.

”He has been like this since yesterday. If we let him, he will inspect every rope in the cart ten times.”

The Emperor glanced at his younger brother.

”And if one of those ropes breaks and the supplies fall onto the road, who will carry them?”

Prince Liang considered the question.

Then he pointed at General Guo Han.

”He will.”

General Guo Han stared at him.

”Why me?”

”Because you are a general.”

”That is not how military rank works!”

”Then why have a rank if it cannot help us carry bags?”

Lady Chen burst out laughing.

Even the Emperor’s expression softened.

The argument continued until the Empress approached the cart.

She was dressed in practical traveling clothes, with her hair arranged securely and a light outer garment protecting her from the morning chill.

She examined the supplies and noticed that one of the smaller baskets had been placed close to the edge.

”Move that basket inward,” she suggested. ”It might fall when the cart turns.”

General Guo Han immediately moved it.

The Emperor looked at her approvingly.

”Anything else?”

”The blankets should be on top. We may need them before we reach our first resting place.”

He nodded and helped rearrange them.

Prince Liang watched the two of them.

Then he leaned toward Lady Chen.

”Look at that. I have been talking for half an hour, and nobody listens to me. She says two sentences, and everyone starts working.”

Lady Chen smiled sweetly.

”Perhaps you should try saying something useful.”

Prince Liang pressed a hand against his chest.

”I have been wounded.”

”Good. Perhaps you will finally be quiet.”

The twins laughed again.

The Empress shook her head, amused by their antics.

Although everyone had been awake since before dawn, their group remained full of energy.

They were tired, certainly, but the excitement of beginning a new journey had made it difficult for anyone to remain still.

### The Officials Begin Rushing Everyone

As the sun climbed higher, the migration officials began directing the families into their assigned positions.

The carts were arranged in a long procession. Families who needed extra assistance were placed where guards and medical personnel could reach them more easily.

The military officers rode or walked near the outer edges, while the ordinary travelers filled the road between them.

The instructor approached their group.

”Are you ready?”

General Guo Han nodded.

”Our belongings are secured.”

”Good. Stay with your assigned section. Do not move ahead of the procession, and do not stop without informing the officials.”

”We understand.”

The instructor looked toward the open cart.

”Keep the goods inside the wooden sides. If anything falls, retrieve it only when the guards confirm it is safe.”

Prince Liang nodded solemnly.

”We will protect our goods with our lives.”

The official gave him a strange look.

”It is a basket of food, not a royal treasure.”

The twins immediately began laughing.

Prince Liang’s solemn expression disappeared.

”I was trying to sound responsible!”

”Then perhaps you should practice,” Lady Chen replied.

The official moved on before Prince Liang could defend himself.

A moment later, a signal sounded from the front of the procession.

The migration instructor raised his hand.

”Everyone, begin moving!”

The first carts rolled forward.

Wooden wheels creaked against the road, and the sound of thousands of footsteps filled the morning air.

People adjusted their bags and called to their children.

Some looked back at the capital one final time.

Others kept their eyes fixed on the road ahead.

The journey had begun.

### Leaving the Capital Behind

The Empress walked beside Princess Zhi, while the Emperor and General Guo Han remained near the open cart.

Prince Liang walked on the other side, occasionally helping to push the cart whenever the road became uneven.

Lady Chen joined the Empress and Princess Zhi.

Yao Qing walked with her family, and the twins moved alongside them, chatting excitedly about the journey.

For the first hour, nobody complained.

The morning air was cool, the road was relatively smooth, and the capital’s northern gate gradually disappeared behind the procession.

The twins were particularly enthusiastic.

”I wonder what the north will look like,” the girl said.

Her brother adjusted the strap across his shoulder.

”Probably different from here.”

”That is obvious.”

”Then why did you ask?”

”I was wondering whether there would be mountains.”

”There might be.”

”And rivers?”

”Possibly.”

”And different kinds of food?”

He looked at her.

”That is the first sensible question you have asked.”

She immediately smacked his arm.

”Who asked you to judge my questions?”

Yao Qing sighed.

”You two promised to behave during the journey.”

”We are behaving!” they answered together.

Lady Chen laughed.

”They sound exactly like Prince Liang.”

Prince Liang, who was walking ahead of them, turned around.

”I heard that!”

”Good,” Lady Chen replied.

”At least someone is listening to me!”

General Guo Han shook his head.

”I am beginning to understand why the officials wanted everyone to start early. They probably hoped the walking would make you quieter.”

Prince Liang pointed at him.

”You are enjoying this far too much.”

”I certainly am.”

The Empress smiled as she listened to their conversation.

There was something comforting about the familiar rhythm of their arguments.

The road ahead was long, but their group did not lack companionship.

Even the Emperor seemed less serious than usual.

He walked beside the cart, occasionally checking the supplies and speaking with the guards assigned to their section.

Whenever the Empress slowed down to speak with Princess Zhi or Lady Chen, he glanced in her direction to ensure she was comfortable.

She noticed him doing so.

After a while, she approached him.

”You do not need to keep checking on me.”

”I am not checking on you.”

She looked at him.

He looked back at her.

Then she glanced at the way he had been watching her for the last several minutes.

”Really?”

He cleared his throat.

”I am checking whether everyone is keeping up with the group.”

”Of course.”

”That is my responsibility.”

”Naturally.”

The Empress smiled and returned to her companions.

The Emperor watched her go, realizing too late that she had been teasing him.

General Guo Han coughed to hide a laugh.

The Emperor turned toward him.

”Do you have something to say?”

”No.”

”Then concentrate on the cart.”

”Yes.”

But the general’s smile remained.