Ghost in the palace

The grand banquet came to an end under a sky full of quiet stars.

Lanterns swayed gently in the night breeze, their golden glow slowly dimming as guests began to leave one by one.

What had begun as a celebration—

Had turned into something much bigger.

Something no one expected.

—

The announcement of the marriage between Lian Rou and Chen Ruyi had spread like wildfire.

—

Inside the Duke residence, nobles exchanged polite smiles.

Outside—

They whispered.

—

"This is impossible..."

"The Duke family and Chen family... joining hands?"

"Weren’t they rivals?"

"Enemies, even..."

—

"Something is wrong."

"Or... something big is coming."

—

The murmurs grew louder as the guests departed.

Carriages lined up.

Servants moved efficiently.

The night carried secrets in every direction.

—

At the entrance—

The Emperor stood, ready to leave.

Beside him—

Lady Chen stood quietly.

Her expression calm.

But her eyes—

Sharp.

Observing.

Calculating.

—

The Duke stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, thank you for attending."

—

The Emperor nodded.

"It was a well-arranged banquet."

—

His gaze shifted briefly—

Toward the Empress.

—

A moment.

Small.

But noticeable.

—

Lady Chen saw it.

Her fingers tightened slightly inside her sleeves.

—

The Duchess smiled.

"We are honored by your presence."

—

Formalities ended.

—

The Emperor turned.

And walked toward his carriage.

—

Lady Chen followed.

—

But as she stepped forward—

Her gaze lingered—

On the Empress.

—

A faint smile appeared.

Polite.

Perfect.

—

But beneath it—

Something colder stirred.

—

The carriage door closed.

The wheels began to move.

—

And just like that—

The Emperor left.

—

The Duke residence slowly emptied.

—

But outside—

The whispers only grew louder.

—

—

Court Rumors Begin

By the time dawn approached—

The entire noble circle already knew.

—

"The Duke and Chen alliance..."

"It changes everything."

—

"If they unite—"

"No one can challenge them."

—

"What about the Emperor?"

"Did he approve this?"

—

"And Lady Chen?"

"Her family is involved..."

"Does she support it?"

—

Questions layered over questions.

—

In the royal court—

Ministers gathered in quiet clusters.

—

Some shocked.

Some worried.

Some... intrigued.

—

"Power is shifting."

"Very clearly."

—

"This is no simple marriage."

—

"This is strategy."

—

—

Meanwhile — In the City

Far from the palace and court—

In the lively streets of the capital—

A familiar place buzzed with energy.

—

The Whisper Bowl restaurant.

—

Even late at night—

It remained alive.

Warm.

Welcoming.

—

Laughter echoed.

Food was served.

Stories were shared.

—

At one corner—

Lian Rou sat with his friends.

Relaxed.

Leaning back.

A cup in his hand.

—

"...So it’s official now," one friend said.

"You’re getting married."

—

Another laughed.

"To Chen Ruyi, of all people."

—

"Didn’t your families hate each other?"

—

Lian Rou smirked slightly.

"Things change."

—

"Or people make them change," another teased.

—

He didn’t deny it.

—

Instead—

He took a sip quietly.

—

Around them—

Other customers were talking.

Not knowing he was listening.

—

"Did you hear?"

"The Duke and Chen families are uniting."

—

"I heard the Emperor attended personally."

—

"This is huge."

—

"It’s like two enemies suddenly becoming allies."

—

"Or maybe... they were never true enemies?"

—

"Impossible."

"They’ve had tension for years."

—

"Then why now?"

—

Silence.

Then—

A whisper.

—

"...Someone must have forced it."

—

Lian Rou’s hand paused mid-air.

—

His eyes narrowed slightly.

—

"...Forced..."

—

Another voice added,

"Maybe someone threatened Chen Guowei."

—

"He wouldn’t agree otherwise."

—

"That man is too proud."

—

"Exactly."

—

Lian Rou leaned back slowly.

—

His expression changed.

—

Something clicked.

—

A memory.

—

A letter.

—

A threat.

—

"...Don’t send your daughter to the palace."

"...Marry her to the Duke nephew."

—

His grip tightened.

—

"...That letter..."

—

His heart skipped slightly.

—

"...That was..."

—

He went still.

—

"...Me."

—

Silence filled his mind.

—

The noise of the restaurant faded.

—

"...I did that..."

—

His thoughts raced.

—

At that time—

He only wanted one thing.

—

To protect Chen Ruyi.

—

To stop her from entering the palace.

—

To make sure—

She stayed with him.

—

He didn’t think beyond that.

—

Didn’t think—

It would lead to this.

—

Didn’t think—

It would shake the balance of power.

—

His friend nudged him.

"What happened? You look serious."

—

"...Nothing."

—

But his voice wasn’t convincing.

—

He looked down at his hands.

—

"...Did I... create this?"

—

"...This alliance..."

—

"...This chaos..."

—

For a moment—

He felt a strange weight in his chest.

—

Not regret.

—

But realization.

—

Actions have consequences.

—

And his—

Were far bigger than he expected.

—

—

Back at the Palace

The Emperor sat in his chamber.

Silent.

—

The court reports lay open.

—

Every single one—

Mentioned the same thing.

—

"The Duke-Chen alliance."

—

He leaned back slightly.

—

"...Interesting."

—

He wasn’t angry.

—

But he was thinking.

—

Deeply.

—

"Enemies don’t become allies overnight."

—

"...Unless something forces them."

—

His fingers tapped lightly on the armrest.

—

"...Or someone."

—

His gaze darkened slightly.

—

Then—

A thought crossed his mind.

—

The Empress.

—

Her family.

—

Her influence.

—

"...Is this connected to her?"

—

He didn’t know.

—

But one thing was certain—

—

The palace.

The court.

The kingdom.

—

Were no longer stable.

—

Something had shifted.

—

And this marriage—

Was only the beginning.

—

—

Back at the Restaurant

Lian Rou stood up suddenly.

—

"I’ll leave first."

—

His friends blinked.

"Already?"

—

"Yeah."

—

Without waiting—

He walked out.

—

The night air hit his face.

Cool.

Sharp.

—

His mind still racing.

—

"...I only wanted her safe..."

—

"...But now..."

—

He looked up at the sky.

—

"...Everything has changed."

—

A slow breath escaped him.

—

"...Fine."

—

His eyes steadied.

—

"...If I started this—"

—

"...Then I’ll see it through."

—

His expression hardened.

—

Not with fear.

—

But with resolve.

—

Because now—

This wasn’t just about love.

—

This was about power.

—

About consequences.

—

About a future—

He had unknowingly set into motion.

—

And far away—

In the shadows of the palace—

Someone else was already watching.

—

Waiting.

—

Planning.

—

Because chaos—

Had only just begun.

Blessings of Gold and Warmth

Morning sunlight filtered softly into the inner hall of the Duke residence.

The air felt lighter today.

Warmer.

Peaceful.

—

After the long night filled with emotions, laughter, and quiet moments—

This morning brought something different.

Joy.

—

Inside the women’s chamber—

Soft chatter filled the room.

—

The Empress sat beside her mother, her aunt, her younger sister Lian Hua, and the Grandmother.

All gathered around a large wooden table.

—

On the table—

Lay opened boxes.

Silk-lined.

Glowing.

—

Filled with—

Jewelry.

—

Gold.

Jade.

Pearls.

Hairpins shaped like phoenixes.

Bracelets carved with ancient patterns.

Necklaces that shimmered under the light.

—

Lian Hua gasped dramatically.

"Grandmother... are we opening a treasure house?!"

—

The Grandmother chuckled softly.

"You talk too much."

—

But her eyes were kind.

Gentle.

—

She slowly picked up a jade necklace.

Holding it carefully.

—

"This..."

Her voice softened.

"...was given to me when I became the lady of this house."

—

The room quieted.

—

Even the Empress leaned forward slightly.

—

The jade glowed faintly.

Old.

But powerful.

—

"I wore this," the Grandmother continued,

"when I first entered this family."

"When I took responsibility."

—

Her gaze shifted.

Toward the jewelry.

Toward the future.

—

"And now..."

She smiled softly.

"It is time to pass it on."

—

Lian Hua’s eyes widened.

"To sister-in-law?!"

—

"Yes."

—

Chen Ruyi.

—

The name itself brought warmth to the room.

—

The Aunt nodded proudly.

"She will become the head lady of the younger branch."

—

The Mother added gently,

"She deserves this honor."

—

The Empress smiled softly.

"She does."

—

She remembered Chen Ruyi’s calm nature.

Her kindness.

Her quiet strength.

—

"...She will take care of this family well."

—

The Grandmother nodded.

—

Then—

She opened another box.

—

Inside—

A golden hairpin shaped like a phoenix spreading its wings.

—

Lian Hua leaned closer.

"Wow..."

—

The Grandmother smiled faintly.

"This one..."

"...symbolizes authority."

—

Her fingers traced the delicate carving.

—

"When worn..."

"...it reminds the wearer of her duty."

—

The Aunt chuckled lightly.

"Then Ruyi must wear it carefully."

—

The room laughed.

—

Even the Empress smiled.

—

The Grandmother placed it aside carefully.

—

Then—

One by one—

She began showing each piece.

—

A bracelet.

"This is for prosperity."

—

A ring.

"For protection."

—

A pearl set.

"For grace."

—

Every item carried meaning.

History.

Responsibility.

—

The room filled with stories.

—

"How your grandfather brought this from the northern lands..."

—

"How this jade was gifted after a victory..."

—

"How this bracelet protected a lady during difficult times..."

—

Each piece—

Was not just jewelry.

—

It was legacy.

—

Lian Hua leaned closer to the Empress and whispered,

"If I get married, I want all of this too."

—

The Empress rolled her eyes.

"Earn it first."

—

"I’m your sister."

"That’s enough qualification."

—

The Aunt laughed.

"You will scare away your future husband."

—

"I’ll scare him into loving me."

—

Everyone burst into laughter.

—

The tension of the past days—

Faded completely.

—

For a moment—

There was no palace.

No politics.

No danger.

—

Only family.

—

The Mother gently held the Empress’s hand.

"...You see this?"

—

The Empress looked at her.

—

"This is what you have."

—

"...A home."

—

Her voice softened.

"No matter where you are."

—

The Empress’s eyes softened slightly.

—

"...I know."

—

The Grandmother suddenly spoke again.

—

Her tone slightly serious now.

—

"These ornaments..."

"...are not just beauty."

—

"They carry responsibility."

—

Her gaze moved across all of them.

—

"When Chen Ruyi wears them..."

"She represents this family."

—

"She protects its dignity."

—

"She leads its future."

—

Silence followed.

—

Even Lian Hua didn’t joke.

—

Because—

This mattered.

—

The Empress nodded slightly.

"She will."

—

The Grandmother smiled again.

—

Then—

Her tone lightened.

—

"But before that..."

—

She picked up a pair of earrings.

—

"These will suit her face perfectly."

—

The room burst into laughter again.

—

Just like that—

The heavy moment passed.

—

The Aunt stood.

"We should prepare properly."

—

"Yes," the Mother added.

"We will present these during the ceremony."

—

The Empress nodded.

—

She carefully looked at each piece again.

—

Not just as ornaments.

—

But as something deeper.

—

Something that tied people together.

—

Past.

Present.

Future.

—

Lian Hua suddenly grabbed a small bracelet.

"This one is mine."

—

"No, it is not," the Aunt snapped.

—

"It chose me."

—

"It did not."

—

The room once again filled with playful arguments.

—

And the Grandmother simply watched.

Smiling.

—

Because this—

This laughter.

This warmth.

—

Was the true wealth of the family.

—

And soon—

Chen Ruyi would become part of it.

—

Not just as a bride.

—

But as someone who would carry this legacy forward.

—

With grace.

With strength.

—

And with love.