Ghost in the palace

The morning sun had barely risen when the Emperor’s courtyard filled with the empire’s most important figures.

The atmosphere was unusually solemn.

No servants dared to speak above a whisper.

The Emperor sat at the head of the pavilion, his expression unreadable.

To his right sat the Dowager Empress.

Beside her was Princess Zhi, who quietly observed everyone.

On the opposite side sat the Empress, composed as always.

Not far from her sat Lady Chen, her hands folded neatly in her lap, though her heart raced.

Finally, Prince Liang entered carrying a sealed wooden box.

He bowed deeply.

”Greetings, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor nodded.

”Begin.”

Prince Liang placed the box upon the table.

”I believe we’ve found our first significant clue.”

Every pair of eyes turned toward him.

He carefully removed a folded letter.

”This was discovered during a secret inspection of Minister Shen’s residence.”

A murmur spread through those present.

Lady Chen frowned slightly.

”The Shen residence?”

Prince Liang nodded.

”It was hidden beneath a false compartment in his study.”

The Emperor spoke calmly.

”Read it.”

Prince Liang unfolded the letter.

His voice echoed through the quiet courtyard.

> ”When unrest weakens the Empire, our armies shall advance from the northern frontier. Ensure the Imperial Court remains occupied with internal disorder.”

The courtyard fell silent.

He continued.

> ”Once the borders collapse, the capital shall be isolated. The promised reward awaits those who remain loyal.”

Princess Zhi covered her mouth.

”...They’re planning an invasion.”

The Dowager Empress’s face hardened.

”They’ve been waiting for our kingdom to descend into chaos.”

Even Lady Chen looked genuinely startled.

The Emperor remained calm, though his eyes had turned icy.

”Is there a seal?”

Prince Liang shook his head.

”No official seal.”

”The handwriting was deliberately disguised.”

”But the paper and ink are consistent with documents used by our northern neighboring kingdom.”

The Empress lowered her gaze, thinking carefully.

”So they intend to take advantage of the fear spreading through the empire.”

Prince Liang nodded.

”Exactly.”

”They believe our people are already losing confidence.”

The Dowager Empress spoke coldly.

”Then arrest Minister Shen immediately.”

Several officials nodded in agreement.

But the Emperor slowly shook his head.

”No.”

Everyone looked toward him.

Prince Liang smiled faintly.

He had expected that answer.

The Emperor stood and walked toward the large military map spread across the table.

”If we arrest him today...”

”...whoever truly controls this operation will disappear.”

He looked around the pavilion.

”I want the mastermind.”

”Not merely the messenger.”

The Empress nodded slightly.

”Keeping him under surveillance may reveal who he contacts next.”

The Emperor smiled faintly.

”Exactly.”

Prince Liang added,

”I’ve already ordered shadow guards to monitor every visitor entering and leaving the Shen residence.”

The Emperor looked back at the map.

”Now...”

”We prepare for the possibility that the letter is genuine.”

He pointed toward the northern frontier.

”Our neighboring kingdom expects weakened defenses.”

”They will be disappointed.”

He turned to the Commander of the Imperial Guards.

”Quietly reinforce every northern fortress.”

”No public announcement.”

”Double the number of soldiers stationed along these routes.”

His finger traced the mountain passes.

”Seal every major crossing.”

”Construct temporary defensive barriers.”

”Increase watchtowers.”

The commander bowed.

”It shall be done.”

The Emperor continued,

”Move additional food supplies, arrows, medicine, and equipment into the frontier forts.”

”If war comes...”

”Our soldiers must never lack provisions.”

The Minister of War nodded in agreement.

”We should also establish reserve supply depots behind the front line.”

”Good,” the Emperor replied.

”Do it.”

Prince Liang added,

”We should restrict movement through the northern passes until the investigation is complete.”

The Emperor nodded.

”Only authorized military convoys may enter.”

Princess Zhi finally spoke.

”The people must not panic.”

The Emperor agreed.

”Exactly.”

”No rumors.”

”No announcements of invasion.”

”The preparations will be explained as routine military exercises.”

The Dowager Empress looked at him approvingly.

”That is wise.”

The Empress watched the map quietly.

Although everyone was discussing the northern kingdom...

A thought lingered in her mind.

Something still doesn’t fit.

She looked toward Prince Liang.

”The letter may be genuine...”

”...or it may be another distraction.”

The courtyard became silent again.

The Emperor slowly turned toward her.

”Explain.”

She met his gaze.

”If someone inside our kingdom wants us focused on an external enemy...”

”...they might use this letter to draw all of our attention north.”

Prince Liang’s expression grew serious.

”So while we prepare for war...”

”...the real mastermind continues working inside the capital.”

The Emperor looked at the military map, then at the letter.

After a long silence, he nodded.

”We will prepare for both.”

His voice became firm.

”Strengthen the borders.”

”But continue the secret investigation inside the capital and the palace.”

”No one...”

”...is above suspicion.”

A cool breeze swept through the courtyard.

None of them noticed the servant standing in the distance.

Head lowered.

Silent.

Listening.

As soon as the meeting ended...

The servant quietly disappeared through a side corridor.

Far away, hidden within a deserted courtyard of the palace, a hooded figure accepted a tiny folded note.

After reading it, the figure smiled.

”So...”

”The Emperor has taken the bait.”

The smile slowly widened.

”But he still refuses to stop searching inside the palace.”

The figure crushed the note into ash.

”Interesting

The Imperial Palace lay wrapped in silence.

Only the palace guards patrolling beneath the moon disturbed the stillness.

Inside the Imperial Study, every servant had been dismissed.

The doors were shut.

The windows closed.

Only three people remained.

The Emperor.

Prince Liang.

And General Xu Jian, Commander of the Imperial Army.

The atmosphere was grave.

On the table lay the letter discovered in the Shen Residence.

The Emperor looked at the general.

”Read it.”

General Xu carefully unfolded the letter. As he finished reading, his face became solemn.

”If this is genuine...”

”The northern kingdom is preparing for war.”

The Emperor nodded.

”If it is false, someone wants us to move our army and expose our intentions.”

Prince Liang added, ”Either way, we cannot ignore it.”

General Xu bowed his head.

”What are Your Majesty’s orders?”

The Emperor walked toward the large map of the empire.

His finger stopped at the northern frontier.

”The border will be reinforced.”

”But...”

He turned.

”It must be done quietly.”

The general understood immediately.

”No public mobilization.”

”Exactly.”

The Emperor continued,

”I don’t want panic spreading through the capital.”

”If neighboring kingdoms discover we’re strengthening the border, they’ll know we’ve uncovered something.”

Prince Liang nodded.

”The movement must appear routine.”

The Emperor looked at General Xu.

”Select three thousand new recruits.”

The general blinked.

”The new recruits?”

”Yes.”

”They’ll travel in small groups over several nights.”

”They’ll be recorded as training detachments.”

General Xu smiled faintly.

”A clever disguise.”

The Emperor continued.

”Send experienced officers with them.”

”They’re inexperienced.”

”They’ll need proper leadership.”

”It shall be done.”

The Emperor pointed to several supply depots on the map.

”Open the military warehouses.”

”I want arrows.”

”Swords.”

”Spears.”

”Crossbows.”

”Shield replacements.”

”Armor.”

He paused before adding,

”And food supplies.”

Prince Liang looked surprised.

”So much?”

The Emperor nodded.

”If war comes...”

”I refuse to let my soldiers starve.”

General Xu bowed deeply.

”I’ll prepare enough provisions for three months.”

”Good.”

The Emperor’s expression remained calm, but his voice carried unmistakable authority.

”No military banners.”

”No war drums.”

”No large formations.”

”Everything moves at night.”

Prince Liang smiled.

”The people will believe ordinary supply caravans are traveling.”

The Emperor nodded.

”Exactly.”

General Xu made careful notes.

”What about medicine?”

The Emperor answered immediately.

”Send physicians.”

”Medical herbs.”

”Bandages.”

”Dried medicinal roots.”

”No soldier dies because we failed to prepare.”

The general struck his fist against his chest.

”Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor looked toward the dark window.

”I also want gypsum, timber, iron nails, and stone.”

Prince Liang looked puzzled.

”Construction materials?”

The Emperor nodded.

”If border forts require repair...”

”I don’t want them waiting for supplies.”

General Xu understood.

”We’ll reinforce walls, towers, and supply stations.”

The Emperor finally looked at both men.

”This operation exists only between us.”

”If word leaks...”

”...our enemy will know we are preparing.”

Prince Liang’s expression hardened.

”I’ll assign only trusted officers.”

General Xu nodded.

”And every convoy will travel under different routes.”

The Emperor approved.

”Good.”

Hours later...

The moon hung high above the capital.

The western military depot quietly opened its massive wooden gates.

No drums sounded.

No torches burned brightly.

Only hooded workers loaded wagons.

Crates marked as grain...

Actually contained bundles of arrows.

Barrels labeled cooking oil...

Concealed spearheads wrapped in cloth.

Ordinary merchant wagons...

Were filled with military equipment.

One by one...

The caravans departed.

Each taking a different road.

Each escorted by only a handful of soldiers dressed as merchants.

To anyone watching...

They looked like simple trading caravans.

Hidden on a rooftop across the street, a shadowy figure observed the quiet procession.

”...Interesting.”

The cloaked figure smiled beneath the hood.

”The Dragon Emperor...”

”...has begun preparing.”

The figure disappeared into the darkness before the first convoy left the capital.

Back inside the palace, the Emperor remained awake long after Prince Liang and General Xu had departed.

He looked once more toward the map of the empire.

His kingdom stood on the edge of uncertainty.

He still had no proof of who practiced the forbidden arts.

He still did not know who the true enemy was.

But one thing was certain—

If war came...

His people would not face it unprepared.

The Emperor extinguished the final candle in the study.

Outside, under the cover of darkness, dozens of secret supply caravans continued their silent journey toward the northern frontier. The empire had begun preparing for a battle that no one else yet knew was coming.