Ghost in the palace

Morning sunlight had barely reached the palace when Princess Zhi and Lady Chen left their respective courtyards.

Neither woman spoke much as they walked.

Their destination was the same.

Shin Gu’s courtyard.

After the conversation with the Empress the previous night, they had made their decision.

They would not accuse Shin Gu.

They would not spy openly.

They would simply visit her as friends.

If Shin Gu was innocent, they would discover it.

If she knew something, perhaps she would eventually reveal it.

And if there was something hidden beneath her calm expression...

They would find it.

Princess Zhi adjusted the sleeve of her outer robe as they approached the secluded part of the palace.

"Are you ready?" she asked quietly.

Lady Chen nodded.

"As ready as I can be."

"You look nervous."

"I’m not nervous."

Princess Zhi glanced at her.

"You have been fixing your sleeve for the last hundred steps."

Lady Chen immediately stopped touching it.

"I was thinking."

"About Shin Gu?"

"About what we might find."

Princess Zhi’s expression became serious.

"Remember what we agreed."

Lady Chen nodded.

"We treat her normally."

"No accusations."

"No suspicious questions."

"And no searching her belongings."

"Exactly."

Princess Zhi smiled faintly.

"We are simply two women visiting another woman."

Lady Chen looked ahead.

"Let’s hope she believes that."

They continued walking.

But as soon as the walls of Shin Gu’s courtyard came into view, both women slowed.

Something felt wrong.

Very wrong.

Princess Zhi’s smile disappeared.

Lady Chen stopped beside her.

"Do you feel that?"

Princess Zhi nodded.

A strange chill had passed through her body.

It wasn’t the ordinary coldness of morning.

The sun was already rising, yet the air around Shin Gu’s courtyard felt strangely cold.

Lady Chen rubbed her arms.

"Why is it so cold here?"

Princess Zhi looked around.

"I don’t know."

The courtyard was completely silent.

Not peacefully silent.

Dead silent.

There were no birds perched on the roof.

No insects buzzing among the flowers.

No cats wandering through the garden.

Even the trees seemed unnaturally still.

Lady Chen frowned.

"Where are all the birds?"

Princess Zhi’s gaze moved across the courtyard.

"Exactly."

The palace was usually full of life in the morning.

Servants hurried through corridors.

Birds sang from the trees.

Small animals occasionally appeared near the gardens.

But here...

Nothing.

The courtyard looked almost abandoned.

The flowers were present, but somehow even they seemed lifeless.

Lady Chen whispered,

"This place gives me chills."

Princess Zhi nodded.

"Me too."

She took a breath.

"Let’s go inside."

They approached the entrance.

The palace maid guarding the door immediately bowed.

"Greetings, Princess Zhi. Lady Chen."

Princess Zhi smiled politely.

"We have come to visit Lady Shin Gu."

The maid hesitated for the briefest moment.

Then she stepped aside.

"Lady Shin Gu is inside."

"Thank you."

The two women entered.

The chill became stronger.

Lady Chen’s fingers curled slightly.

She looked at Princess Zhi.

"Do you feel it again?"

"Yes."

Neither woman said anything else.

They walked through the courtyard.

Every step seemed louder than it should have been.

Their shoes touched the stone path.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

No birds.

No servants chatting.

No laughter.

Nothing.

Finally, they reached the main chamber.

Before they could knock, they heard a faint sound from inside.

The clink of a cup.

Princess Zhi exchanged a glance with Lady Chen.

She knocked.

"Lady Shin Gu?"

Silence.

Then a woman’s voice answered.

"Come in."

Princess Zhi opened the door.

The moment they stepped inside, they saw her.

Shin Gu sat beside the window.

A cup of tea rested in her hand.

She looked perfectly calm.

She had been drinking alone.

But the moment she saw the two unexpected visitors, her expression changed.

Shock flashed across her face.

For one brief second, she looked genuinely startled.

"Princess Zhi?"

Her gaze moved toward Lady Chen.

"And Lady Chen?"

She slowly put her cup down.

"What brings both of you here?"

Princess Zhi smiled.

"We wanted to visit you."

Shin Gu stared at them.

"Visit me?"

Lady Chen nodded.

"Yes."

Shin Gu’s suspicion was obvious.

"At this hour?"

Princess Zhi gave a small laugh.

"Is there a rule saying we cannot?"

Shin Gu didn’t answer.

Her eyes moved between the two women.

For several seconds, she seemed to be trying to understand their purpose.

Finally, she gestured toward the seats.

"Please sit."

They took their seats.

A maid immediately came forward to pour tea.

Lady Chen accepted the cup.

But as soon as she touched it, she felt another chill.

She glanced toward the window.

The curtains moved slightly.

There was no wind.

Her eyes narrowed.

Princess Zhi noticed.

Neither said anything.

Shin Gu watched them carefully.

"Have I offended either of you?"

Lady Chen immediately shook her head.

"No."

Princess Zhi smiled.

"Actually, we came because we owe you an apology."

Shin Gu’s expression changed.

"An apology?"

Lady Chen placed her cup down.

"We judged you."

Shin Gu remained silent.

Princess Zhi continued.

"After everything that happened to the Empress, we became suspicious of everyone."

Lady Chen lowered her eyes.

"We thought you might be connected to the incidents."

Shin Gu’s fingers tightened around her cup.

Princess Zhi noticed the movement.

"We were wrong to judge you without proof."

Shin Gu looked at them for a long moment.

Then she slowly asked,

"So you believe I’m innocent now?"

Lady Chen nodded.

"We don’t know everything."

"But we know suspicion isn’t proof."

Princess Zhi added,

"And we shouldn’t have treated you as though you were guilty."

Shin Gu stared at them.

Something unreadable passed through her eyes.

Then she smiled.

A small, controlled smile.

"I appreciate your honesty."

Lady Chen returned the smile.

"We wanted to come ourselves."

"Why?"

"Because words carried by servants become rumors."

Princess Zhi answered.

"We thought it was better to speak directly."

Shin Gu nodded slowly.

"That was wise."

The three women sat quietly.

For a moment, the atmosphere seemed almost normal.

Then Shin Gu poured more tea.

"Would you like something to eat?"

Princess Zhi shook her head.

"No, thank you."

Lady Chen smiled.

"We just had breakfast."

Shin Gu nodded.

She took another sip.

But Lady Chen couldn’t stop looking toward the window.

The courtyard outside still bothered her.

She finally asked casually,

"Your courtyard is very quiet."

Shin Gu’s hand stopped.

Only for a heartbeat.

Then she answered,

"I prefer quiet."

Princess Zhi looked toward the window.

"But there aren’t even birds."

Shin Gu’s expression remained calm.

"Perhaps they don’t like coming here."

Lady Chen smiled.

"That is unusual."

"Perhaps."

Shin Gu took another sip of tea.

Princess Zhi studied her face.

There was no obvious fear.

No nervousness.

No anger.

Nothing that clearly suggested guilt.

And yet...

Something still felt wrong.

Princess Zhi decided not to push.

Instead, she smiled.

"Do you often spend your mornings alone?"

Shin Gu nodded.

"Most days."

"You must become bored."

"I have books."

Lady Chen smiled.

"Then perhaps we should visit you more often."

Shin Gu looked surprised again.

"More often?"

Princess Zhi nodded.

"Why not?"

Lady Chen laughed softly.

"We can play mahjong."

Shin Gu stared at them.

Then, unexpectedly, she smiled.

"I haven’t played in years."

"Then we’ll teach you."

Princess Zhi’s expression softened.

The tension slowly began to disappear.

For the first time since entering the courtyard, Shin Gu looked less guarded.

They spoke about ordinary things.

Clothing.

Food.

The upcoming marriage celebrations.

The palace’s endless ceremonies.

Lady Chen watched her carefully.

She looked completely ordinary.

A noblewoman discussing a wedding.

Nothing suspicious.

Nothing frightening.

Yet the silence outside remained.

Eventually, Princess Zhi stood.

"We should leave."

Shin Gu rose as well.

"I am glad you came."

Lady Chen smiled.

"So are we."

They walked toward the door.

Just before leaving, Princess Zhi turned around.

"Shin Gu."

Shin Gu looked at her.

"We truly are sorry."

Shin Gu’s expression softened.

"I know."

Princess Zhi nodded.

Then she and Lady Chen left.

The moment the door closed behind them, Lady Chen’s smile vanished.

She looked at Princess Zhi.

"Something is wrong."

Princess Zhi nodded.

"I know."

They walked a few steps before Lady Chen whispered,

"Did you feel that cold?"

"From the moment we entered."

"It wasn’t normal."

Princess Zhi looked back toward the courtyard.

The servants were standing quietly.

The trees were still.

No birds.

No insects.

Nothing.

"Her courtyard feels like..."

"Like life doesn’t want to stay here," Lady Chen finished.

Princess Zhi frowned.

"But we can’t accuse her."

"No."

"We promised."

Lady Chen nodded.

"Still, we should tell the Empress."

Princess Zhi considered it.

"Not yet."

Lady Chen looked at her.

"Why?"

"Because we don’t know whether this courtyard is strange because of Shin Gu."

She lowered her voice.

"Or because something else is happening here."

Lady Chen’s expression became serious.

"Dark magic?"

"Perhaps."

They continued walking.

Neither noticed the faint black mark hidden beneath the edge of Shin Gu’s courtyard wall.

Inside the chamber, Shin Gu remained standing beside the window.

She watched the two women disappear down the path.

Her expression slowly changed.

The polite smile disappeared.

Her eyes became cold.

She walked toward the window and looked at the empty courtyard.

Then she whispered,

"They came to investigate me."

A maid standing behind her lowered her head.

"Lady, should we—"

"No."

Shin Gu raised her hand.

"Don’t do anything."

"But—"

"If we react now, they’ll know."

The maid immediately fell silent.

Shin Gu’s fingers tightened around her teacup.

She had not expected Princess Zhi and Lady Chen to come together.

For a moment, she had feared they had discovered something.

But their apology had changed everything.

They had told her they no longer suspected her.

Perhaps that was useful.

A faint smile returned to Shin Gu’s lips.

"If they want to become friends..."

She looked toward the door.

"Then let them."

Meanwhile, Princess Zhi and Lady Chen continued through the palace corridor.

Neither spoke for several moments.

Finally, Lady Chen said,

"I don’t believe she is innocent."

Princess Zhi looked at her.

"You just apologized to her."

"I know."

"Then why?"

"Because if she is hiding something, I don’t want her to know we’re looking."

Princess Zhi smiled faintly.

"Now you understand."

Lady Chen nodded.

"We’ll visit her again."

"Yes."

"And we’ll observe."

"Carefully."

They exchanged a determined look.

Neither woman knew what the other had noticed.

Neither knew that Shin Gu had already realized their visit was not entirely innocent.

And neither knew that beneath the silence of that barren courtyard, something far darker was waiting.

But one thing had become clear.

Shin Gu’s courtyard was not ordinary.

And until they discovered why—

They would have to keep smiling.

Because in the palace, sometimes the most dangerous friendships began with an apology.