Ghost in the palace

The capital had never been this restless.

For several days, whispers had moved through the streets like a spreading fire.

At first, people had spoken quietly.

Then they had begun gathering.

And by the seventh day, the entire capital seemed to be holding its breath.

The reason was one name.

The Empress.

Rumors claimed that a black altar had been discovered in the Empress’s courtyard.

Rumors claimed that strange rituals had been performed there.

Rumors claimed that the recent deaths, unexplained illnesses, strange awakenings, and terrifying incidents throughout the kingdom were connected to her.

The truth was far more complicated.

The Emperor knew that.

But the people did not.

And that difference was becoming dangerous.

---

Outside the imperial palace, hundreds of people had gathered.

Some held white mourning cloth.

Some carried wooden boards with accusations written across them.

Others held portraits of family members they had lost.

Their voices rose together.

"Justice for the dead!"

"Punish the Empress!"

"Give us an explanation!"

"Do not protect the person responsible!"

"Investigate the Empress!"

A mother stood near the front of the crowd, clutching a small child’s garment against her chest.

"My son disappeared three months ago!"

Her voice cracked.

"They told me there was no explanation!"

She raised the cloth.

"If the Empress knows something, she must answer for it!"

Beside her, an old man shouted,

"My daughter died after seeing those strange things!"

Another voice cried,

"My brother came home changed!"

"My family heard voices in an empty room!"

"My husband disappeared!"

"My sister was found dead!"

The accusations blended together.

Grief.

Fear.

Anger.

And uncertainty.

The guards stood in front of the palace gates with their shields raised.

"Everyone, step back!"

"Return to your homes!"

"His Majesty is investigating the matter!"

But the crowd refused.

"How long are we supposed to wait?"

"You keep saying investigate!"

"Someone has to pay!"

A stone struck the ground near the guards.

Then another.

The soldiers immediately tightened their formation.

Their commander raised his hand.

"Do not attack the civilians unless absolutely necessary!"

The soldiers nodded.

They understood.

These were not enemy soldiers.

They were frightened people.

---

Inside the palace, the situation was no calmer.

The Emperor stood in his study, listening to another report.

"The crowd has grown larger," the Minister said carefully.

"Several groups from neighboring districts have entered the capital."

The Emperor’s face remained expressionless.

"How many?"

"Several hundred at present."

"And more are coming."

The Emperor closed his eyes briefly.

His fingers pressed against the edge of the table.

"How many officials have begun demanding the Empress’s punishment?"

The Minister hesitated.

"Your Majesty..."

"Answer me."

"Nearly half of the court."

Silence.

The Emperor opened his eyes.

Half.

Only a few weeks ago, the greatest problem in his life had been learning how to repair the relationship between himself and his Empress.

Now—

His kingdom was beginning to fracture.

---

Another minister stepped forward.

"There is another problem."

The Emperor looked at him.

"Speak."

"The people believe that because the black altar was found in Her Majesty’s courtyard, the evidence is conclusive."

"It isn’t."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The minister lowered his head.

"But we have no explanation for why it was there."

The Emperor’s jaw tightened.

That was the problem.

He knew the Empress wasn’t guilty.

He had watched her recover from death.

He had seen her kindness.

He had witnessed the strange incidents surrounding her.

And most importantly—

He knew there were forces at work that ordinary people couldn’t understand.

But knowing something privately was not enough.

He needed proof.

Evidence that could withstand the court.

Evidence that could convince thousands of frightened people.

And right now—

Every piece of physical evidence seemed to point toward the Empress.

---

The black altar had been found inside her courtyard.

That fact alone had become a weapon.

The Emperor remembered standing before it.

Black candles.

Strange symbols.

Ancient markings.

A residue of unfamiliar energy.

Everything about it had looked sinister.

But there had been one problem.

The Empress herself had been nowhere near it.

And the altar had appeared in a place she had never used for rituals.

The Emperor had ordered the entire courtyard sealed.

He had confiscated the objects.

He had questioned servants.

He had investigated the guards.

Yet nothing explained who had placed it there.

Worse—

Every time his investigators came close to finding an answer, another strange incident occurred.

A witness disappeared.

A document vanished.

A servant suddenly forgot what they had seen.

A guard was found unconscious.

It was as if someone—or something—was constantly erasing the trail.

---

"Your Majesty."

The Emperor looked up.

A shadow guard had entered the study.

"Kneel."

The guard immediately bowed.

"I have news."

"Speak."

"We discovered another unusual location."

The Emperor’s eyes sharpened.

"Where?"

"An abandoned temple outside the western district."

The room became silent.

"What did you find?"

"A second altar."

The Emperor stood.

"Identical?"

"Not completely."

The guard hesitated.

"But it carries the same black markings."

The Emperor’s expression changed.

For the first time that day—

A spark of hope appeared.

Then disappeared.

"Who knows?"

"Only the people who found it."

"Keep it secret."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Bring me everything recovered from the site."

The guard bowed.

"Yes."

He turned to leave.

Then the Emperor stopped him.

"And find out whether anyone connected to the Empress has ever visited that temple."

The guard paused.

"We will investigate."

"Not just investigate."

The Emperor’s voice became cold.

"Find the truth."

---

Meanwhile, in the Empress’s temporary residence, the atmosphere was completely different.

The Empress sat beside the window.

She had heard the shouting outside.

She didn’t need anyone to explain.

She knew what the people were saying.

She had heard the servants whisper.

She had seen the fear in their eyes.

And she understood their anger.

People had lost family members.

They wanted someone to blame.

Unfortunately—

She had become the easiest person to blame.

Her hands rested quietly in her lap.

"Why me?"

The words escaped before she could stop them.

Behind her—

The three ghosts were silent.

Usually, they would have argued.

Usually, Fen Yu would have made some ridiculous comment.

Wei Rong would have complained.

Li Shen would have analyzed the situation.

But today—

None of them laughed.

Fen Yu floated closer.

"They’re frightened."

The Empress looked at her.

"I know."

"They don’t know what is happening."

"I know."

Fen Yu’s expression saddened.

"And they’re looking for someone who can carry their anger."

The Empress looked outside.

The distant shouting reached her ears.

"Punish the Empress!"

Her eyes lowered.

"I understand them."

Wei Rong frowned.

"But that doesn’t make it fair."

"No."

She smiled sadly.

"It doesn’t."

Li Shen folded his arms.

"The evidence is deliberately arranged."

The Empress looked at him.

"You think someone wants them to blame me?"

"I don’t think."

He paused.

"I know."

Wei Rong nodded.

"Someone is constructing a story."

Fen Yu’s eyes darkened.

"And we’re all being forced to play our roles."

The Empress remained silent.

---

Then another shout came from outside.

"Hang the Empress!"

Her expression changed.

For a moment, she looked genuinely hurt.

Fen Yu immediately moved closer.

"Don’t listen."

The Empress shook her head.

"I have to."

"Why?"

"Because they are afraid."

She stood.

"They lost people."

She walked toward the window.

"I can’t hate them for wanting justice."

Wei Rong’s expression softened.

"But you are innocent."

"I know."

Li Shen sighed.

"And that is why we have to prove it."

The Empress nodded.

"Yes."

She turned around.

"Then we need to find whoever is behind this."

The three ghosts looked at one another.

Their expressions became serious.

They had been investigating strange paranormal activity for months.

They had encountered spirits.

Dark energy.

Ancient rituals.

Unusual awakenings.

And now—

A black altar.

Everything was becoming connected.

---

At that moment, the palace doors opened.

A messenger hurried inside.

"Your Majesty!"

The Emperor immediately turned.

"What happened?"

"The crowd has broken through the first outer barrier."

The ministers became pale.

"How many?"

"More than a thousand."

The Emperor’s eyes hardened.

"Are the guards holding them?"

"Yes."

"For now."

The Emperor walked toward the doors.

"Prepare my horse."

The ministers stared at him.

"Your Majesty, where are you going?"

"To the palace gates."

The Minister immediately stepped forward.

"That could be dangerous."

The Emperor looked at him.

"They are my people."

He paused.

"And they are angry because they believe their families have been abandoned."

His voice became quieter.

"I will not hide behind walls while they suffer."

---

At the palace gates, the noise was deafening.

The Emperor appeared on the upper platform.

The crowd immediately noticed him.

Their voices rose.

"His Majesty!"

"Ask him about the Empress!"

"Give us justice!"

"Punish the guilty!"

The Emperor raised his hand.

Slowly—

The crowd became quieter.

Not silent.

But quieter.

The Emperor looked over the people.

He saw grief.

He saw anger.

He saw fear.

And he understood something.

If he simply declared the Empress innocent—

They would not believe him.

So he spoke carefully.

"I know many of you have lost people you love."

A woman began crying.

The Emperor continued.

"I know strange events have frightened this kingdom."

His voice carried across the courtyard.

"And I know you want answers."

The crowd listened.

"But I will not condemn someone simply because fear demands a sacrifice."

Someone shouted,

"The black altar was in the Empress’s courtyard!"

The Emperor looked toward the voice.

"I know."

The crowd erupted again.

"Then why is she still alive?"

"Why haven’t you punished her?"

"Is His Majesty protecting her?"

The Emperor waited until the noise settled.

"Yes."

The crowd froze.

The Emperor’s next words were firm.

"I am protecting her."

Gasps spread through the crowd.

"Because she is innocent until proven guilty."

The crowd erupted again.

But the Emperor continued.

"And because I will not kill an innocent person merely to make frightened people feel that justice has been served."

His voice hardened.

"Justice is not revenge."

Silence gradually spread.

The Emperor looked across them.

"If the Empress is guilty, I will punish her myself."

His expression became cold.

"But if she is innocent, I will not allow anyone to destroy her simply because someone placed a black altar in her courtyard."

The crowd became restless.

Then an old man shouted,

"Then find the real culprit!"

The Emperor looked directly at him.

"That is exactly what I intend to do."

---

Behind the palace walls—

Someone listened.

A woman stood in the shadows.

Her face was difficult to see.

But her hands were trembling.

The Emperor’s declaration had not been part of the plan.

The people were supposed to demand the Empress’s death.

The court was supposed to pressure him.

The evidence was supposed to become overwhelming.

But instead—

The Emperor had refused to surrender.

The woman slowly stepped backward.

"We need another plan."

---

That evening, the Emperor returned to his study.

He looked exhausted.

A mountain of reports waited for him.

Deaths.

Disappearances.

Paranormal incidents.

Rebellions.

Political accusations.

And the Empress.

Everything seemed to lead back to her.

Yet somehow—

Nothing truly connected.

He sat down heavily.

For a moment, he simply stared at the table.

His life had become a maze.

Every answer created three more questions.

Every investigation opened another mystery.

Every attempt to protect the Empress made the court more suspicious.

And still—

He could not abandon her.

He remembered the day she had nearly died.

The moment her breathing stopped.

The moment everyone believed she was gone.

He remembered holding her hand.

Begging her to wake.

He remembered promising that if she survived, he would spend the rest of his life correcting the things he had done wrong.

And she had returned.

He wasn’t going to lose her again.

Not to an enemy.

Not to politics.

Not to fear.