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Ghost in the palace

Chapter 374: – The Price of Dark Magic · Nov 02, 2026

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Chapter List (462)

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351 Chapter 351: The Message in the Night 2026-11-02
352 Chapter 352: The Dowager’s Warning 2026-11-02
353 Chapter 353: the kingdom uneasy 2026-11-02
354 Chapter 354: the kingdom in the brink 2026-11-02
355 Chapter 355: The Forgotten Shadow 2026-11-02
356 Chapter 356: whisper in the garden 2026-11-02
357 Chapter 357: the women who returned from the forest 2026-11-02
358 Chapter 358: the trails lead to north 2026-11-02
359 Chapter 359: Whispers Across the Kingdom 2026-11-02
360 Chapter 360: hunt for the hidden cult 2026-11-02
361 Chapter 361: The Suggestion No One Had Considered 2026-11-02
362 Chapter 362: midnight inspection 2026-11-02
363 Chapter 363: The Traitor’s Letter 2026-11-02
364 Chapter 364: The Empire Stands Firm 2026-11-02
365 Chapter 365: The Fallen Minister 2026-11-02
366 Chapter 366: The Shadow on the Terrace 2026-11-02
367 Chapter 367: The Man Beneath the Hood 2026-11-02
368 Chapter 368: Unnamed A New Shadow 2026-11-02
369 Chapter 369: The Mysterious Letter 2026-11-02
370 Chapter 370: The Hand Behind the Shadows 2026-11-02
371 Chapter 371: The Man Who Walked Among Ghosts 2026-11-02
372 Chapter 372: doomed 2026-11-02
373 Chapter 373: The Letter of Doom 2026-11-02
374 Chapter 374: – The Price of Dark Magic 2026-11-02
375 Chapter 375: The Second Phase 2026-11-02
376 Chapter 376: The Shadow Over the Kingdom 2026-11-02
377 Chapter 377: The Shadow in Princess Zhi’s Courtyard 2026-11-02
378 Chapter 378: A Shadow of Death 2026-11-02
379 Chapter 379: The Black Magic Plague 2026-11-02
380 Chapter 380: The Courtyard Without Life 2026-11-02
381 Chapter 381: ghost staring 2026-11-02
382 Chapter 382: A Dangerous Truth 2026-11-02
383 Chapter 383: the empty cotyard 2026-11-02
384 Chapter 384: doubt 2026-11-02
385 Chapter 385: the trap 2026-11-02
386 Chapter 386: The Trap Behind the Trap 2026-11-02
387 Chapter 387: The Rumor That Set the Capital Ablaze 2026-11-02
388 Chapter 388: The Ministers Who Demanded Judgment 2026-11-02
389 Chapter 389: The Ministers’ Demand 2026-11-02
390 Chapter 390: The Missing Talisman 2026-11-02
391 Chapter 391: — A Midnight Visit 2026-11-02
392 Chapter 392: Fen Yu’s Terrible Date 2026-11-02
393 Chapter 393: The Silent Courtyard 2026-11-02
394 Chapter 394: The Ghosts Who Would Not Stop Fighting 2026-11-02
395 Chapter 395: The Court Demands Blood 2026-11-02
396 Chapter 396: The Whisper That Turned Into a Storm 2026-11-02
397 Chapter 397: The Mystery Beneath the Palace 2026-11-02
398 Chapter 398: The Maid Who Wasn’t What She Seemed 2026-11-02
399 Chapter 399: Whispers Beneath the Moon 2026-11-02
400 Chapter 400: The Black Altar 2026-11-02

The western wing of the imperial palace remained unusually quiet.

Unlike the bustling inner courts, where servants hurried with trays of tea and ministers came and went, this secluded residence felt cold and lifeless. Even the birds avoided its roof.

Inside one of its dimly lit chambers, heavy curtains blocked the morning sunlight.

A sharp cough echoed through the room.

”Cough...!”

Shin Gu pressed a trembling hand against the edge of the table to keep herself from collapsing.

Her face had lost its healthy colour.

Dark circles lingered beneath her eyes.

Cold sweat dampened her forehead.

Every breath felt heavy.

”...Impossible...”

She clenched her teeth.

”My spell... failed.”

The memory returned vividly.

The dark ritual.

The spiritual thread she had woven to control the Empress.

The sudden golden light that had erupted without warning.

Then—

The backlash.

It had been as though an invisible force had shattered her spell and hurled its power back at its caster.

She had barely escaped with her life.

Shin Gu raised a shaking hand.

Dark wisps of spiritual energy gathered above her palm for only a heartbeat before dispersing like smoke.

”...So weak.”

Her cultivation had fallen dramatically.

The backlash had consumed much of the spiritual power she had accumulated over the years.

The protective blessing left by the monk had been far stronger than she had expected.

”So...”

”The old monk really anticipated this.”

Her expression twisted with hatred.

”I underestimated him.”

---

A maid cautiously knocked on the door.

”My Lady... your medicine.”

”Leave it.”

The maid placed the tray down and hurried away, sensing the oppressive atmosphere inside the room.

Shin Gu ignored the herbal medicine completely.

Ordinary medicine could not restore what she had lost.

This injury was spiritual.

It required something else.

Something forbidden.

She slowly walked towards a hidden cabinet.

After checking that no one was watching, she slid aside a wooden panel concealed behind several scrolls.

A secret compartment appeared.

Inside rested a small black wooden box covered with strange carved symbols.

She carefully opened it.

Within lay a tiny crystal vial.

The liquid inside shimmered with an unnatural crimson glow.

Even through the glass, it seemed alive.

”The Power Potion...”

She smiled faintly.

Her leader had given it to her years ago with one warning.

”Use it only when absolutely necessary.”

”It restores spiritual energy...”

”...but the price is high.”

Shin Gu stared at the vial.

”If I drink it now...”

”My strength will return.”

”Then...”

”I can complete the second step.”

Her smile slowly widened.

---

A sudden knock interrupted her thoughts.

One of her trusted attendants entered and bowed.

”My Lady.”

”What?”

”There is news.”

Shin Gu looked up.

”What news?”

”The Empress reported seeing the hooded man.”

For the first time that morning, surprise appeared in Shin Gu’s eyes.

”...She saw him?”

”Yes.”

”The Emperor immediately summoned the Dowager Empress, Prince Liang, Princess Zhi and Lady Chen.”

”They all know there is another person behind these incidents.”

Shin Gu remained silent.

”So...”

”My leader has finally stepped into the game.”

The attendant nodded.

”There is another matter.”

”What is it?”

”The noble ladies have begun avoiding this residence.”

”No invitations have arrived today.”

”The palace servants also seem... distant.”

Shin Gu’s eyes narrowed slightly.

She understood immediately.

No one had openly accused her.

But after the strange incidents surrounding the palace...

People had become cautious.

No one wished to associate too closely with anyone who might become involved in future investigations.

Her attendant asked quietly,

”My Lady...”

”Does this trouble you?”

Shin Gu slowly laughed.

A low, cold laugh.

”Trouble me?”

She shook her head.

”They are fools.”

”They believe keeping their distance will keep them safe.”

She walked towards the window.

Outside, several noblewomen who would once have greeted her warmly quietly turned and walked another direction after noticing her residence.

Shin Gu watched them without emotion.

”They may avoid me today.”

”But tomorrow...”

”They will kneel.”

Her voice was filled with icy confidence.

---

She looked again at the crimson vial in her hand.

”My leader has appeared.”

”Now...”

”No one will suspect me.”

”All attention will be focused on the mysterious hooded figure.”

”While they chase shadows...”

”I’ll move freely.”

Her lips curved into a satisfied smile.

”It couldn’t have happened at a better time.”

The attendant looked uncertain.

”But your injuries...”

Shin Gu’s fingers tightened around the vial.

”They’re temporary.”

”Once I recover my strength...”

”The second phase begins.”

The attendant hesitated.

”My Lady...”

”Should we inform the Leader?”

Shin Gu slowly shook her head.

”No.”

”He already knows.”

She remembered the brief message delivered days earlier.

”Do not fail again.”

The words alone had carried enough pressure to make even her shiver.

”I cannot disappoint him.”

---

She uncorked the vial.

A strange metallic scent immediately filled the room.

Dark spiritual energy gathered around the bottle’s mouth.

Even the candles flickered violently.

The attendant instinctively stepped backwards.

”My Lady...”

Shin Gu stared at the crimson liquid.

”This palace...”

”They celebrate marriages.”

”They laugh.”

”They believe danger has passed.”

Her smile became frightening.

”They have no idea...”

”...that they are standing at the edge of a cliff.”

She slowly raised the vial.

”Once my power returns...”

”I’ll make every one of them understand despair.”

Her eyes burned with cold determination.

”The Emperor.”

”The Empress.”

”The Duke’s family.”

”All of them...”

”...will suffer.”

Outside her chamber, thunder rumbled faintly across the distant sky.

The storm was still far away.

But it was coming.

Kitchen servants carried vegetables toward the kitchens.

Stable boys swept the stone paths.

For a brief moment, everyone found time to rest.

Naturally...

The topic turned to the palace.

And then—

To one particular person.

”...Have you heard?” one young maid whispered.

”Heard what?”

”About Shin Gu.”

The others instinctively looked around before moving closer.

”Keep your voice down.”

”What if someone hears?”

The first maid lowered her voice.

”I heard another palace maid disappeared after offending one of Shin Gu’s personal attendants.”

A chill passed through the group.

An older kitchen servant frowned.

”I don’t know if that’s true.”

”My cousin works in the Inner Palace,” another maid replied. ”She said no one dares argue with that woman.”

”Why?”

”They say whoever quarrels with her ends up suffering.”

The courtyard became unusually quiet.

A young servant laughed nervously.

”You’re trying to scare us.”

”I wish I were.”

Another servant joined the discussion.

”They say one maid argued over a missing hairpin.”

”What happened?”

”Three days later she became seriously ill.”

Someone else added quietly,

”And another servant slipped from the palace stairs.”

”They said it was an accident.”

”But...”

”But what?”

”He had argued with Shin Gu’s maid the previous day.”

The words lingered in the air.

One maid rubbed her arms.

”That can’t simply be coincidence...”

An elderly gardener shook his head.

”Coincidences happen.”

”We shouldn’t accuse people without proof.”

The others nodded.

Still...

None of them looked convinced.

A laundry maid spoke next.

”I’ve seen that personal maid once.”

”What was she like?”

The woman hesitated before answering.

”Beautiful.”

”But...”

”She always looked down on everyone.”

”As if ordinary servants weren’t worth speaking to.”

Another maid immediately agreed.

”Exactly.”

”My sister served tea during a palace banquet.”

”She accidentally brushed against that maid.”

”What happened?”

”The maid slapped her in front of everyone.”

Several servants frowned.

”Was she punished?”

”No.”

”Not at all.”

The silence grew heavier.

One of the younger servants whispered,

”They say she serves only Shin Gu.”

”She follows Shin Gu everywhere.”

”And Shin Gu trusts no one else.”

A stable hand leaned on his broom.

”I’ve heard something stranger.”

Everyone turned.

”What?”

”Whenever she smiles...”

”...someone has bad luck.”

A nervous laugh spread through the group.

”Stop saying such frightening things.”

”I’m serious.”

”My uncle delivers supplies to the palace.”

”He says the palace servants avoid making eye contact with her.”

”Even the senior maids.”

The cook sighed.

”Fear spreads faster than truth.”

”Still...”

”Even rumours usually begin somewhere.”

Another servant nodded slowly.

”I don’t believe in curses.”

”But I do believe cruel people can make life miserable for others.”

The conversation shifted.

”Has anyone here actually met her?”

For a moment—

No one answered.

Finally, an elderly gatekeeper raised his hand.

”I did.”

Everyone leaned closer.

”It was several months ago.”

”She came with Shin Gu’s carriage.”

”I greeted everyone politely.”

”But when I greeted her...”

”She looked at me as though I were dirt beneath her shoes.”

”What did she say?”

”’Know your place.’”

The servants exchanged uneasy glances.

”That’s all?”

”That was enough.”

”I’ve served this family for thirty years.”

”No one has ever spoken to me that way.”

His expression darkened.

”I have never forgotten it.”

A young maid frowned.

”Why would Shin Gu keep such a woman close?”

The gardener answered quietly,

”Because arrogant people are useful to those who enjoy power.”

No one argued.

At that moment, another maid hurried into the courtyard carrying folded towels.

”You are all talking about Shin Gu again?”

”You’ve heard stories too?”

She nodded.

”My aunt works near the palace infirmary.”

”She says every time someone openly quarrels with Shin Gu’s personal maid...”

”...something unfortunate happens soon afterwards.”

”High fever.”

”A broken arm.”

”A carriage accident.”

”A fall.”

”No one can explain it.”

The younger servants exchanged frightened looks.

One whispered,

”Do you think...”

”...it’s dark magic?”

Immediately the older servants scolded him.

”Don’t say such things carelessly.”

”Walls have ears.”

The young servant lowered his head.

”Sorry.”

The head housekeeper happened to pass through the courtyard.

Seeing everyone gathered together, she raised an eyebrow.

”What are you discussing?”

Instantly everyone stood.

”Nothing, Madam.”

Her gaze swept across the group.

”I heard the name Shin Gu.”

No one spoke.

She sighed.

”I know rumours travel quickly.”

”But remember this.”

”Do your work honestly.”

”Stay away from unnecessary disputes.”

”And don’t spread stories you cannot prove.”

The servants bowed.

”Yes, Madam.”

She started walking away.

Then paused.

Without turning around, she added,

”However...”

”If you ever encounter that personal maid...”

”...remain polite.”

”...and leave immediately.”

The courtyard fell completely silent.

Even after the head housekeeper disappeared around the corner, nobody spoke for several moments.

Finally, one kitchen boy whispered,

”Even Madam said that...”

The older gardener slowly resumed sweeping.

”Sometimes wisdom isn’t about proving whether a rumour is true.”

”It’s about knowing which dangers are worth avoiding.”

The others silently returned to their work.

Yet the unease remained.

Far away, inside another wing of the residence, preparations for the wedding continued with laughter and music.

No one among the noble family knew what conversation had just taken place among their servants.

No one realised that the name Shin Gu alone was enough to fill ordinary people with fear.

And somewhere beyond the walls of the Duke Residence...

In a quiet palace courtyard...

A beautifully dressed maid stood beside Shin Gu.

Her posture was perfect.

Her expression cold.

As another servant accidentally brushed against her sleeve, the maid slowly turned her head.

The terrified servant immediately fell to her knees.

”I... I beg your pardon.”

The maid simply smiled.

A small, emotionless smile.

”Be more careful next time.”

Her voice was gentle.

Almost pleasant.

Yet everyone nearby lowered their heads.

Not because she had shouted.

Not because she had threatened them.

But because no one wished to become the next subject of another frightening rumour.

And as the maid walked away behind Shin Gu, the palace servants waited until she was completely out of sight before daring to breathe normally again.

The whispers continued long after she had disappeared. Some insisted the stories were only superstition. Others believed there was something far darker at work.

Whatever the truth might be, one thing had become certain throughout the palace—

No servant wanted to earn the hatred of Shin Gu’s arrogant personal maid.

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