Ghost in the palace

The morning court was unusually tense.

Before the first bell had even finished ringing, ministers had already gathered beneath the towering gates of the imperial court.

Their faces were grim.

Their whispers were sharper than usual.

Something had changed.

For days, rumors had circulated throughout the capital.

A strange black altar had been discovered in the Empress’s courtyard.

Something connected to forbidden arts.

Something powerful enough to frighten even experienced cultivators.

Yet the Emperor had not announced an arrest.

He had not ordered an execution.

He had not even publicly condemned the Empress.

To the ministers—

That silence was becoming unbearable.

When the Emperor finally entered the hall, every official bowed.

"Long live Your Majesty."

The Emperor took his seat.

His gaze swept across the assembled court.

He immediately noticed the unusual expressions.

Too many people were prepared to speak.

He leaned back slightly.

"Rise."

The ministers stood.

For several breaths, no one moved.

Then the Minister of Justice stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, this minister has something urgent to report."

The Emperor’s eyes settled on him.

"Speak."

The minister lowered his head.

"The black altar discovered in Her Majesty the Empress’s courtyard has still not been destroyed."

The hall became silent.

The Emperor’s expression did not change.

"I am aware."

The Minister of Justice raised his head.

"Your Majesty, with respect, being aware is not enough."

Several ministers immediately stepped forward.

"Yes!"

"The matter can no longer be delayed!"

"The people are terrified!"

"Officials have suffered because of the strange incidents!"

"The empire has suffered!"

The Emperor’s fingers rested against the arm of his throne.

His voice remained calm.

"I said I am investigating."

The Minister of Justice’s expression hardened.

"How long must the empire wait?"

The Emperor looked directly at him.

"Until I know the truth."

The minister clenched his fists.

"Your Majesty, what truth is there left to discover?"

A murmur spread through the hall.

The Emperor’s eyes became colder.

"Choose your next words carefully."

The minister bowed.

"This minister apologizes."

But his voice did not sound apologetic.

He continued,

"The altar was found in the Empress’s own courtyard."

"The Empress was present when the strange incident occurred."

"Forbidden symbols were discovered."

"Unnatural events have happened repeatedly."

"And yet Her Majesty remains protected by Your Majesty."

His final words were almost an accusation.

The Emperor slowly stood.

The entire hall became silent.

"Do you believe I am protecting a criminal?"

The minister swallowed.

"I believe Your Majesty is allowing personal feelings to interfere with justice."

A collective gasp went through the court.

Even several ministers who had supported him looked uneasy.

The Emperor’s expression became unreadable.

"Personal feelings?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The Emperor stared at him.

Then said quietly,

"You are accusing your Emperor of placing one woman above the empire?"

The minister immediately knelt.

"This minister would never dare."

"You already did."

Silence.

The Emperor’s voice was no longer gentle.

"You entered my court and demanded an execution based on suspicion."

"I did not."

"You demanded that the Empress be hanged."

The minister’s face paled.

"Your Majesty..."

"You did."

The Emperor stepped down from the throne.

His robes brushed against the polished floor.

"Do you know what I found when I personally examined the evidence?"

The ministers exchanged glances.

The Emperor continued.

"The altar is real."

A murmur swept through the hall.

"But its purpose is unknown."

"Unknown?" someone whispered.

The Emperor’s eyes immediately turned toward the voice.

The minister lowered his head.

The Emperor continued.

"We discovered traces of forbidden energy."

"But we did not discover proof that the Empress created it."

Several ministers immediately protested.

"But it was in her courtyard!"

"Exactly," the Emperor said.

"And that is why I refuse to act carelessly."

The Minister of War stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, if someone placed such an altar inside Her Majesty’s courtyard, then surely she should have known."

The Emperor’s expression hardened.

"Should she?"

The minister hesitated.

"Yes."

"Then explain why the Empress nearly died after being attacked by the same forces we are investigating."

The minister fell silent.

The Emperor continued.

"Explain why she survived the forbidden ritual."

"Explain why she was unconscious for days."

"Explain why she herself reported that she felt her body being controlled."

No one answered.

The Emperor looked around the hall.

"You want an execution."

"Yes," several ministers said together.

"You want blood."

No one answered.

"You want me to hang the Empress before I know whether she is a victim or a perpetrator."

The Minister of Justice stepped forward again.

"Your Majesty, the empire cannot remain in fear."

"And hanging an innocent woman will remove that fear?"

The minister’s mouth tightened.

"If she is innocent, the investigation will prove it."

The Emperor’s eyes sharpened.

"And if she is dead?"

Silence.

"You cannot bring her back."

The Emperor turned away.

"I will not execute someone merely because the court is frightened."

The Minister of War suddenly spoke.

"Then what does Your Majesty intend to do?"

"Investigate."

"For how long?"

"As long as necessary."

The minister’s expression changed.

Then another official stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, if you refuse to act, the ministers may have no choice but to petition together."

The Emperor looked at him.

"Is that a threat?"

The official immediately bowed.

"This minister speaks only for the welfare of the empire."

Another minister joined him.

"We cannot allow the imperial household to become a source of forbidden magic."

Another followed.

"If Your Majesty refuses to punish the guilty, the people will believe the law does not apply to the imperial family."

The Emperor’s jaw tightened.

One after another—

They stepped forward.

Their voices became louder.

Their demands became bolder.

"Hang the Empress!"

"Investigate her family!"

"Seal the Empress’s courtyard!"

"Destroy the altar!"

"Protect the empire!"

The court descended into chaos.

The Emperor raised his hand.

No one stopped.

His eyes became ice-cold.

"Enough."

The word thundered across the hall.

Every minister froze.

The Emperor looked over them.

"You have forgotten where you stand."

No one moved.

"You are ministers of this empire."

"Not a mob."

His voice echoed beneath the high ceiling.

"You do not enter my court and demand someone’s death simply because you dislike the answer to an investigation."

The Minister of Justice knelt.

"Your Majesty, we only want justice."

"Then wait for justice."

"We cannot."

The Emperor stared at him.

"Why?"

The minister lowered his head.

"Because too many people have suffered."

The Emperor’s expression softened for only a moment.

"I know."

His voice became quieter.

"I know how many people have suffered."

He looked toward the darkened court doors.

"I have seen the reports."

"I have spoken to the healers."

"I have personally witnessed what happened to the Empress."

His hand tightened.

"I will not allow another innocent person to suffer simply because we are desperate for an answer."

The ministers remained silent.

Then—

The oldest minister in the court stepped forward.

He was usually quiet.

Today, however, his expression was unusually serious.

"Your Majesty."

The Emperor looked at him.

"If the Empress is innocent..."

"Then prove it."

The Emperor’s eyes narrowed.

The old minister continued.

"If she is guilty..."

"Then punish her."

The Emperor nodded slightly.

"That is exactly what I intend to do."

The old minister bowed.

"But until then, no one will touch her."

The words were unmistakable.

Several ministers looked dissatisfied.

But no one dared speak.

The Emperor returned to his throne.

"From today onward, no minister is permitted to enter the Empress’s courtyard without authorization."

"The investigation remains under imperial command."

"The altar is to remain untouched."

"The investigators will report directly to me."

"And anyone who attempts to destroy evidence will be treated as obstructing an imperial investigation."

The ministers lowered their heads.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The Emperor looked over them one last time.

"And remember something."

His voice was quiet.

"The person you are demanding to hang is not merely the Empress."

"She is a member of the imperial family."

"If you accuse her without proof, you are not defending the empire."

"You are weakening it."

No one answered.

The court fell into a heavy silence.

But the Emperor knew the matter was far from finished.

The ministers had left the hall obediently—

Yet their eyes had revealed everything.

They were angry.

They were frightened.

And some of them were determined to force his hand.

The Emperor remained seated after everyone had departed.

His gaze drifted toward the palace windows.

Somewhere beyond those walls—

The Empress was unaware of the storm gathering around her.

He closed his eyes briefly.

The black altar.

The strange magic.

The attacks.

The rumors.

The ministers.

Everything was connected somehow.

And until he discovered how—

He would not let anyone touch her.

Not even the entire imperial court.

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