Ghost in the palace

The palace had fallen silent.

It was the kind of silence that came only after midnight, when even the busiest courtyards had emptied and the servants had retired behind closed doors.

Moonlight spilled across the tiled roofs.

The ponds reflected pale silver.

The wind moved gently through the bamboo, producing a soft rustling sound that seemed almost like whispers.

But inside the palace, not everyone was sleeping.

Prince Liang stood beside his window, dressed in dark robes.

He had been awake for hours.

His mind had returned again and again to the same problem.

Shin Gu.

And, increasingly—

Mei Lan.

For several days, he had watched the maid carefully.

She was quiet.

Too quiet.

She never spoke unnecessarily.

Never panicked.

Never seemed surprised by anything happening around Shin Gu.

Whenever Prince Liang entered the courtyard unexpectedly, Mei Lan somehow managed to disappear before he could question her.

Whenever a suspicious incident occurred, she was always somewhere nearby.

Yet he had found no proof.

Nothing he could take to the Emperor.

Nothing that would justify an arrest.

No letter.

No forbidden object.

No witness.

Nothing.

Only instinct.

And instinct alone could not condemn someone.

Prince Liang knew that better than anyone.

He needed evidence.

But tonight—

Something had changed.

Earlier in the evening, he had seen Mei Lan leave Shin Gu’s courtyard alone.

She had not taken a lantern.

She had not called another servant.

She had simply walked toward the gardens.

At first, Prince Liang thought nothing of it.

Then he remembered something.

That garden was rarely used after sunset.

There was no reason for Mei Lan to be there.

He narrowed his eyes.

”Interesting.”

He immediately left his chamber.

---

The Empty Garden

Prince Liang moved through the palace corridors without making a sound.

He dismissed his guards before reaching the garden.

He did not want anyone following him.

If Mei Lan was innocent, he would apologize later.

If she wasn’t—

He wanted her unaware.

The garden stretched beneath the moonlight.

Trees stood like dark silhouettes against the sky.

A stone pathway disappeared between flowering bushes.

Prince Liang stopped.

There.

A faint movement.

Someone was standing beneath a tree.

Mei Lan.

She was alone.

Prince Liang watched from the shadows.

She looked around.

Once.

Twice.

Then she reached inside her sleeve.

His expression sharpened.

What was she carrying?

Mei Lan pulled out a small object.

Prince Liang couldn’t see it clearly.

She held it beneath the moonlight.

Then—

She whispered something.

Prince Liang’s eyes narrowed.

He stepped forward.

Silent.

One step.

Then another.

Mei Lan didn’t hear him.

She was too focused on the object in her hand.

Prince Liang moved behind her.

Then—

His hand suddenly covered her mouth.

Mei Lan’s eyes widened.

”Mmm!”

She struggled violently.

Prince Liang held her firmly.

”Don’t scream.”

Her eyes flashed with panic.

He lowered his voice.

”Make one sound, and you’ll wake the entire garden.”

Mei Lan continued struggling.

Prince Liang tightened his grip just enough to stop her from shouting.

”Listen carefully.”

His voice was cold.

”I have been watching you.”

Her body froze.

”I know you’re hiding something.”

Mei Lan’s eyes moved rapidly.

Prince Liang continued.

”Tell me everything.”

She shook her head.

His expression hardened.

”Who are you working for?”

Nothing.

”What does Shin Gu have you doing?”

Silence.

”What is the black magic?”

Mei Lan’s eyes suddenly changed.

For one brief moment—

Prince Liang saw recognition.

Fear.

Not fear of him.

Fear of something else.

He noticed.

”You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

Mei Lan struggled again.

Prince Liang frowned.

”Don’t make this difficult.”

She remained silent.

His patience finally snapped.

”If you don’t tell me everything...”

He leaned closer.

”...I will have you arrested.”

Mei Lan stared at him.

He continued coldly,

”And if you resist, I will assume you are protecting Shin Gu.”

Her breathing became heavier.

Prince Liang watched her carefully.

”Where is the evidence?”

Nothing.

”Who taught her?”

Nothing.

”Who supplies the materials?”

Still nothing.

Prince Liang’s voice dropped.

”Tell me the truth.”

Mei Lan suddenly stopped struggling.

Prince Liang frowned.

For a moment, he thought she had surrendered.

Then—

Her foot moved.

Before he could react—

THUD!

Mei Lan kicked backward.

Prince Liang’s eyes widened.

She had struck him between the legs.

He immediately released her.

Mei Lan spun around and ran.

Prince Liang doubled over for a moment.

”Ah...”

He clenched his teeth.

”That...”

He took a breath.

”...was unnecessary.”

By the time he straightened—

Mei Lan was already several steps away.

”Stop!”

She didn’t.

Prince Liang chased her.

But she was faster than he expected.

She darted between the trees, crossed the stone path, and disappeared behind a pavilion.

Prince Liang followed.

He reached the pavilion—

Empty.

His eyes narrowed.

”Where did she go?”

He searched quickly.

Nothing.

No footsteps.

No movement.

No sound.

Then—

Something caught his attention.

A small object lay on the ground.

The object Mei Lan had been holding.

Prince Liang bent down and picked it up.

His expression changed.

It was not an ordinary ornament.

It was a small token.

Old.

Darkened with age.

A symbol had been carved into its surface.

Prince Liang stared at it.

He knew that symbol.

Not from Shin Gu.

Not from the palace.

From his childhood.

His mother’s people.

His mother’s hidden network.

His mother’s spies.

His eyes widened.

”...Impossible.”

He turned the token over.

There was another mark.

A tiny inscription.

One that only members of that network would recognize.

Prince Liang suddenly remembered countless years ago.

His mother had once told him:

”If you ever encounter this symbol outside our household, do not expose it immediately. First determine whether the person carrying it is friend or enemy.”

He had thought those words belonged to a distant past.

Now—

They were standing in his hand.

Prince Liang stared toward the darkness where Mei Lan had disappeared.

Then he began laughing.

Quietly at first.

Then harder.

He shook his head.

”She...”

He looked at the token.

”...She’s one of Mother’s spies?”

He laughed again.

”I threatened her.”

A pause.

”I threatened my mother’s spy.”

He covered his face briefly.

”What a fool.”

---

The Chase That Never Was

Prince Liang did not continue pursuing Mei Lan.

Instead, he stood beneath the moonlight, still holding the token.

His frustration slowly disappeared.

It was replaced by amusement.

And then—

Relief.

He had spent weeks wondering how Shin Gu had managed to maintain such a carefully protected network.

Now he understood one piece of the puzzle.

Mei Lan wasn’t necessarily Shin Gu’s accomplice.

She was watching her.

For whom?

His mother.

Perhaps even for him.

Prince Liang looked toward the direction of Shin Gu’s residence.

”So...”

He murmured.

”Mother already suspected something.”

That meant his investigation was not as isolated as he had believed.

But another question remained.

Why had Mei Lan been watching Shin Gu?

And why had she been carrying that particular token?

He looked down at it again.

The answer could wait.

Tonight, he had learned something far more valuable.

Mei Lan was not his enemy.

And that changed everything.

---

Mei Lan’s Escape

Several courtyards away, Mei Lan finally stopped.

She pressed one hand against her chest.

Her breathing was uneven.

She looked behind her.

No one.

She slowly exhaled.

”Thankfully...”

She touched her sleeve.

The token was gone.

Her eyes widened.

”The token!”

She almost turned back.

Then stopped.

”No.”

Going back would be foolish.

She knew Prince Liang had found it.

She also knew he would recognize the symbol eventually.

Her shoulders relaxed slightly.

At least now—

The misunderstanding would be resolved.

But she couldn’t help remembering his threat.

I will have you arrested.

Then—

I will kill you if you don’t speak.

Mei Lan’s mouth twitched.

”He really didn’t recognize me.”

She shook her head.

”His Highness has become too suspicious.”

Yet she couldn’t blame him.

The palace had become dangerous.

Too many strange incidents had occurred.

The Empress’s near death.

The strange magic.

The attack outside the palace.

The whispers about ghosts.

The mysterious incidents surrounding Shin Gu.

Anyone who was paying attention would become suspicious.

Mei Lan looked toward the moon.

”Your Highness...”

She smiled faintly.

”You should have asked about the token before threatening me.”

Then she disappeared into the darkness.

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