Ghost in the palace

The palace had not slept that night.

By morning, everyone knew one thing.

Shin Gu was dead.

But another matter troubled the Emperor even more.

No messenger had arrived from her kingdom.

No letter.

No condolences.

No demand for an explanation.

Nothing.

Shin Gu was not an ordinary woman.

She was the daughter of the neighboring kingdom’s king.

Yet after receiving the news of her death, her family had remained completely silent.

The Emperor stood in the imperial study, staring at the sealed report on his desk.

”Still nothing?” he asked.

The imperial guard lowered his head.

”Nothing, Your Majesty.”

”Not even a messenger?”

”No.”

”A letter?”

”No, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor’s fingers slowly tightened around the edge of the table.

That was strange.

Very strange.

A princess had died inside another kingdom.

Even if the relationship between the two royal families had been complicated, her parents should have reacted.

They should have demanded answers.

They should have sent representatives.

They should have asked for her body.

But there had been nothing.

The Emperor looked toward the window.

”How long has it been since the news was sent?”

”Enough time has passed for the fastest messenger to reach their border.”

The Emperor’s expression darkened.

”Then why are they silent?”

The guard lowered his eyes.

”We don’t know.”

The Emperor dismissed him.

When the doors closed, the room became silent again.

---

The Empress Arrives

Lian An entered the study a short while later.

She immediately noticed the Emperor’s expression.

”What happened?”

He looked at her.

”Still no response from Shin Gu’s family.”

Lian An stopped.

”None?”

”None.”

She slowly walked toward the desk.

”Not even a message?”

”No.”

She frowned.

”Her parents don’t know?”

”They were informed.”

”Then why haven’t they come?”

”I don’t know.”

Lian An became thoughtful.

She remembered Shin Gu.

She remembered the dark magic.

She remembered the strange behavior surrounding the woman.

But now another question appeared.

Why would her family remain silent?

A daughter had died.

A princess had died.

And her parents had not even sent someone to ask what happened.

Lian An looked at the Emperor.

”Could the message not have reached them?”

”The messenger was sent through the official route.”

”Could something have happened to the messenger?”

”We checked.”

The Emperor paused.

”He reached the first military station.”

Lian An’s expression changed.

”Then the message should have reached them.”

”Yes.”

Silence settled between them.

---

The Palace Rumors

By noon, rumors had already begun spreading.

Some nobles whispered that Shin Gu’s family was furious.

Others claimed the neighboring kingdom was preparing retaliation.

Some servants said the royal family was refusing to acknowledge her death.

Nobody actually knew.

And because nobody knew, the rumors multiplied.

One servant whispered,

”I heard her family blamed the Empress.”

Another immediately shook her head.

”Don’t repeat that.”

”But that’s what people are saying.”

”People say everything.”

Elsewhere, another group whispered that the neighboring king had already sent soldiers.

That rumor was false.

No soldiers had appeared.

No official warning had arrived.

Nothing had happened.

The silence itself was becoming the most frightening thing.

---

The Empress’s Courtyard

Lian An sat beneath the large tree in her courtyard.

Fen Yu floated nearby.

Wei Rong stood with his arms folded.

Li Shen sat on the stone bench, examining a book.

Fen Yu frowned.

”Something feels strange.”

Lian An looked at her.

”You noticed it too?”

Fen Yu nodded.

”If my daughter died, I’d be screaming.”

Wei Rong glanced at her.

”You don’t have a daughter.”

”That’s not the point!”

Li Shen closed his book.

”The point is that no parent would ordinarily remain completely silent after receiving news of their child’s death.”

Lian An nodded.

”Exactly.”

Wei Rong looked toward the palace walls.

”Maybe they haven’t received the message.”

Li Shen shook his head.

”The Emperor confirmed that the messenger reached the border.”

Fen Yu’s expression became serious.

”Then why are they silent?”

Nobody answered.

---

Another Question

Lian An looked at Li Shen.

”Could Shin Gu’s family already know something?”

Li Shen thought for a moment.

”Possible.”

”Something about her death?”

”Perhaps.”

Wei Rong frowned.

”But if they knew, wouldn’t they send someone?”

”Not necessarily.”

Li Shen’s voice remained calm.

”They could be investigating privately.”

Fen Yu crossed her arms.

”Or they’re hiding something.”

Lian An looked at her.

”That’s only a possibility.”

Fen Yu nodded.

”I know.”

Lian An looked toward the distant palace gate.

She didn’t want to accuse an entire royal family without evidence.

But the silence bothered her.

Something about it felt wrong.

---

The Emperor Makes a Decision

That evening, the Emperor summoned his ministers.

Everyone gathered inside the main hall.

The Emperor sat upon the throne.

His expression was stern.

”How many official messages have we received from the neighboring kingdom regarding Princess Shin Gu?”

The minister responsible for foreign affairs bowed.

”None, Your Majesty.”

”Any private communication?”

”None.”

”Any border movement?”

”Nothing unusual.”

The Emperor leaned back.

”Then we wait.”

The ministers exchanged glances.

One finally asked,

”Your Majesty, should we send another messenger?”

The Emperor thought for a moment.

”Yes.”

”Another?”

”Send two.”

The minister bowed.

”Yes, Your Majesty.”

”And make sure they travel by separate routes.”

The minister looked surprised.

”Your Majesty?”

”If one messenger disappears, the second must still reach them.”

”Understood.”

The Emperor’s gaze swept across the ministers.

”And until we receive a response, nobody is to make public accusations against Shin Gu’s family.”

Everyone bowed.

”Yes, Your Majesty.”

---

That Night

Lian An stood beside the Emperor on the palace balcony.

The moonlight covered the courtyard.

For a while, neither spoke.

Then Lian An quietly said,

”I keep thinking about her parents.”

The Emperor looked at her.

”Why?”

”Because I can’t imagine receiving news like that and saying nothing.”

He nodded.

”Neither can I.”

She turned toward him.

”Do you think they’ll come?”

”I don’t know.”

”What if they never do?”

The Emperor’s eyes hardened slightly.

”Then we will have to find out why.”

Lian An looked toward the dark horizon.

There was no messenger.

No royal envoy.

No letter.

Nothing.

Only silence.

And somewhere beyond those mountains, the family of the dead princess remained completely silent.

Lian An slowly whispered,

”Something isn’t right.”

The Emperor looked at her.

”I know.”

Neither of them knew what that silence meant.

But one thing was becoming clear.

Shin Gu’s death was not the only mystery surrounding her.

Her family’s silence was becoming a mystery of its own.

💖 A Heartfelt Thank You 💖

I just want to take a moment to sincerely thank everyone who has been supporting my story and cheering me on. 🥹❤️ Every gift, Golden Ticket, Power Stone, comment, review, and kind message means so much to me.

Seeing you enjoy the characters and continue reading gives me even more motivation to keep writing and bringing new Chapters, emotions, twists, and surprises to the story. ✨📖

Your support may seem like a small gesture, but for an author, it means so much. Every time you send a gift or leave a comment, it reminds me that my story has found wonderful readers. 🥰

Thank you for staying with me, supporting my work, and being part of this journey. I truly appreciate every single one of you. ❤️

Keep reading, keep supporting, and let’s continue this beautiful journey together! 👑✨📚

With lots of love and gratitude,

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. ❤️

Dear Readers,

If you’re enjoying Ghost in the Palace, please show your love and support! 🥰 Your comments, Golden Tickets, Power Stones, and votes mean so much to me and motivate me to keep bringing you more drama, romance, comedy, and ghostly chaos. 👻✨

Every little bit of support helps the story reach more readers. Thank you for staying with Lian An and her three chaotic ghost friends through this journey. ❤️

Keep reading, keep commenting, and let’s make the palace even more chaotic together! 👑👻💕

💖 A Heartfelt Thank You 💖

I just want to take a moment to sincerely thank everyone who has been supporting my story and cheering me on. 🥹❤️ Every gift, Golden Ticket, Power Stone, comment, review, and kind message means so much to me.

Seeing you enjoy the characters and continue reading gives me even more motivation to keep writing and bringing new Chapters, emotions, twists, and surprises to the story. ✨📖

Your support may seem like a small gesture, but for an author, it means so much. Every time you send a gift or leave a comment, it reminds me that my story has found wonderful readers. 🥰

Thank you for staying with me, supporting my work, and being part of this journey. I truly appreciate every single one of you. ❤️

Keep reading, keep supporting, and let’s continue this beautiful journey together! 👑✨📚

With lots of love and gratitude,

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. ❤️

Dear Readers,

If you’re enjoying Ghost in the Palace, please show your love and support! 🥰 Your comments, Golden Tickets, Power Stones, and votes mean so much to me and motivate me to keep bringing you more drama, romance, comedy, and ghostly chaos. 👻✨

Every little bit of support helps the story reach more readers. Thank you for staying with Lian An and her three chaotic ghost friends through this journey. ❤️

Keep reading, keep commenting, and let’s make the palace even more chaotic together! 👑👻💕