Ghost in the palace

The wedding preparations continued across the capital.

Red lanterns decorated noble residences.

Musicians rehearsed.

Servants hurried through courtyards carrying silk, flowers, and gifts.

On the surface—

The kingdom looked prosperous.

Peaceful.

But beneath that peaceful appearance...

Fear was quietly spreading.

---

It began with the Cheng Residence.

Just before dawn, a maid screamed.

Her cry echoed through the entire mansion.

Servants rushed toward the inner courtyard.

”What happened?”

The old gardener pointed toward the stone path.

His hands trembled.

Dozens of birds lay scattered across the ground.

Their feathers were untouched.

No wounds.

No blood.

Yet every one of them was dead.

The steward frowned.

”Perhaps poison?”

The palace physician was summoned.

After examining several birds, he slowly shook his head.

”No poison.”

”No disease.”

”I cannot determine the cause.”

The servants looked at one another uneasily.

No one had an explanation.

---

On the same morning...

At the Shen Residence...

Another strange event occurred.

A servant opened the stable doors.

Instead of the usual sounds of horses—

Silence.

Near the entrance lay several dead cats.

Their eyes were open.

Frozen.

As if they had died from overwhelming terror.

The servants immediately carried them away.

One maid whispered,

”This feels unlucky...”

An older servant quickly interrupted.

”Do not say such things.”

But despite her words...

Fear had already entered everyone’s heart.

---

Across the city...

At the Tao Residence...

No animals died.

Instead...

Every night...

Someone cried.

Soft at first.

Then louder.

A woman’s voice.

Weeping.

Sometimes outside the window.

Sometimes inside the garden.

Whenever guards searched...

No one was there.

The family searched every corner.

Nothing.

Not even footprints.

The crying continued for three nights.

No one slept peacefully.

---

The Duke Residence experienced its own strange occurrence.

During the second watch of the night...

The guards reported hearing footsteps running across the rooftops.

When they looked...

Nothing.

The footsteps continued.

Slowly.

Then stopped.

Moments later...

A child laughed.

The guards immediately drew their swords.

”Who’s there?”

Only silence answered.

The next morning, they discovered another flock of dead sparrows near the eastern wall.

---

Soon...

Rumors spread from one noble house to another.

Every family believed they were being targeted.

Some blamed political enemies.

Others suspected rival clans trying to create fear before the wedding season.

The Cheng family suspected the Shen family.

The Shen family suspected the Tao family.

The Tao family suspected distant relatives.

Meetings were held.

Extra guards were hired.

Talismans were hung above doors.

Monks were invited to chant scriptures.

Nothing changed.

The strange events continued.

---

Then...

A traveling merchant arrived in the capital.

During dinner with several nobles, he quietly mentioned,

”It isn’t only the capital.”

Everyone looked toward him.

”What do you mean?”

The merchant lowered his voice.

”I’ve traveled through six counties.”

”The villages are experiencing the same things.”

He counted on his fingers.

”Dead birds.”

”Crying voices.”

”Animals refusing to enter certain forests.”

”People waking at midnight after hearing whispers.”

The room became silent.

One noble frowned.

”You’re exaggerating.”

The merchant shook his head.

”I wish I were.”

”I left one village because no one dared go outside after sunset.”

Another noble asked,

”Did anyone discover the cause?”

The merchant sighed.

”No.”

”Some blame ghosts.”

”Some blame evil cultivators.”

”Others say Heaven is warning the kingdom.”

No one laughed.

Because...

The same things were happening in their own homes.

---

Within days...

The stories reached every noble residence.

People no longer dismissed them as coincidence.

Children stopped playing outside after dark.

Servants refused to work alone at night.

Markets closed earlier than usual.

Temple offerings doubled.

Even seasoned soldiers admitted they felt uneasy during night patrols.

---

At the Duke Residence...

Duke Lian Zheng stood in the courtyard, looking at another group of dead birds.

Beside him stood Lian Cheng.

”This is no longer limited to the palace,” Lian Cheng said quietly.

The Duke nodded.

”No.”

”It has spread across the kingdom.”

Lian Cheng looked toward the darkening sky.

”If every noble family...”

”...every village...”

”...even ordinary people...”

”...are experiencing this...”

He paused.

”Then whatever we’re facing...”

”...is much larger than palace politics.”

The Duke remained silent.

A cold wind swept through the courtyard.

High above them...

A flock of birds suddenly changed direction mid-flight—

As if fleeing from something unseen.

The brothers watched quietly.

Neither spoke.

But both reached the same conclusion.

Something ancient...

Something hidden...

Had begun to move.

And this time—

The entire kingdom was feeling its presence

The rumors that had once been whispered in private courtyards had now become the topic of every noble household.

No family was untouched.

The Cheng residence.

The Shen residence.

The Tao residence.

The Duke’s residence.

Even smaller noble estates outside the capital reported the same terrifying incidents.

Dead birds appearing overnight.

Animals refusing to enter certain courtyards.

Strange crying voices after midnight.

Servants falling ill from fear.

People waking after hearing footsteps outside their windows, only to find no one there.

The kingdom was slowly losing its peace.

---

Three days later...

The imperial court was unusually crowded.

Nearly every influential noble family had come.

The ministers stood in tense silence while the nobles waited to be announced.

The Emperor entered the throne hall.

”His Majesty has arrived!”

Everyone bowed.

”Long live Your Majesty!”

The Emperor took his seat.

”You may rise.”

No sooner had everyone stood than an elderly marquis stepped forward.

”Your Majesty, please forgive my boldness.”

The Emperor nodded.

”Speak.”

The marquis took a deep breath.

”Our families can no longer endure these strange events.”

Another noble stepped forward.

”My servants refuse to patrol after sunset.”

A third added,

”My grandchildren cannot sleep because they hear crying outside every night.”

Another noble clenched his fists.

”We have increased guards.”

”We have invited monks.”

”We have searched every corner.”

”Nothing has changed.”

The throne hall grew increasingly heavy.

One minister said nervously,

”Your Majesty, merchants are beginning to avoid the capital.”

Another official added,

”Several villages have reported the same strange occurrences.”

The murmurs spread through the court.

Finally, an elderly duke spoke bluntly,

”If this continues...”

”...many noble families will consider leaving the capital until it is safe.”

His words echoed through the hall.

Several nobles nodded in agreement.

The Emperor remained silent.

His expression was calm.

But inside...

He understood their fear.

Because the palace itself was suffering the same unexplained disturbances.

He slowly stood from the throne.

”You believe only your residences have suffered.”

His voice was steady.

”The Imperial Palace has experienced the same events.”

The hall fell silent.

Even the nobles looked surprised.

The Emperor continued,

”Strange sounds.”

”Unexplained accidents.”

”Nighttime disturbances.”

”We are investigating them.”

A minister asked anxiously,

”Has Your Majesty discovered the cause?”

The Emperor looked across the hall.

”...Not yet.”

A wave of disappointment spread through the gathering.

One noble lowered his head.

”Then... what hope do ordinary people have?”

The question lingered in the air.

At that moment—

Prince Liang stepped forward.

His voice was calm but carried authority.

”Everyone.”

The hall quieted.

”We understand your concerns.”

”We will not ignore them.”

He looked around the room.

”My brother and I have already begun investigating these incidents.”

”We believe these events are connected rather than isolated.”

A younger noble asked,

”How long will the investigation take?”

Prince Liang answered honestly.

”I cannot give you a date.”

”But I can promise this...”

”We will continue until the truth is found.”

The Emperor nodded.

”The safety of the kingdom is our responsibility.”

”We will strengthen night patrols, investigate every report, and work with local officials throughout the empire.”

He paused before adding,

”If any family experiences unusual events, report them immediately. Do not spread rumors or take justice into your own hands.”

The nobles exchanged uneasy glances.

Although they had not received the answer they wanted, they could see the Emperor was not dismissing their fears.

The elderly marquis bowed deeply.

”We trust Your Majesty.”

One by one, the others bowed as well.

”We await the court’s findings.”

As the nobles slowly left the throne hall, Prince Liang remained beside the Emperor.

After the doors closed, he spoke quietly.

”They’re frightened.”

The Emperor looked toward the empty hall.

”So am I.”

Prince Liang frowned.

”You think this is only the beginning?”

The Emperor nodded slowly.

”If these incidents have spread beyond the palace...”

”...then whatever we’re facing is no longer aimed at one person or one family.”

He looked toward the palace gates in the distance.

”It is becoming a threat to the entire kingdom.”

The brothers stood in silence, both realizing that solving this mystery was no longer just a matter of protecting the royal family.

It had become a race to restore peace before fear consumed the empire.

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