Ghost in the palace

The night had barely surrendered to the morning when a faint rustling sound came from beneath the trees.

The sky was still dark blue, and a thin layer of mist floated above the nearby river. The air was cold enough to make the sleeping travelers pull their blankets closer around themselves. The ashes from the previous night’s fires lay scattered across the ground, and the occasional cough or sleepy murmur broke the quiet.

Most of the refugees were still asleep.

Unfortunately, the same could not be said for the Emperor’s group.

”Your Majesty.”

A soft voice broke the silence.

The Emperor opened his eyes.

Beside the cart, Princess Zhi was sitting upright with her blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Her hair was disheveled, and her expression suggested that she had been awake for quite some time.

”What is it?” he asked quietly.

Princess Zhi looked toward the eastern sky.

”It’s almost dawn.”

The Emperor glanced at the sky through the branches.

”And?”

Princess Zhi stared at him as though he had asked the most unreasonable question in the world.

”And we need to wash ourselves!”

Her voice was not particularly loud, but it was enough to wake Prince Liang, who was sleeping nearby.

He raised his head, his hair sticking up in several directions.

”Who died?”

”Nobody died,” Princess Zhi replied.

”Then why are you shouting before sunrise?”

”Because we need to bathe!”

Prince Liang blinked.

Then he slowly lowered his head onto his folded blanket.

”Wonderful. Wake me when the river starts serving breakfast.”

”Prince Liang!”

”What? I am conserving my strength for the journey.”

General Guo Han, who had been sleeping on the other side of the cart, opened one eye.

”If you conserve any more strength, someone will have to carry you to the next resting place.”

Prince Liang pulled the blanket over his head.

”Then I shall consider it a privilege.”

A few quiet laughs escaped from the others.

The Empress, who had been awake for several minutes, finally sat up.

She rubbed her eyes and looked around at the group.

”What is all this noise about?”

Princess Zhi immediately turned toward her.

”Sister-in-law, how are we supposed to bathe here?”

The Empress looked at the river.

Then she looked at the open ground.

Then she looked at the trees.

Finally, she looked at the Emperor.

He was already sitting upright, watching her with an expression that suggested he was waiting to see what she would say.

The Empress sighed.

”You’re right. We cannot simply walk into the river and bathe in front of everyone.”

Prince Liang’s head emerged from beneath his blanket.

”Excellent. The matter has been settled. Everyone may return to sleep.”

The Empress gave him a look.

”I didn’t say that.”

His head disappeared again.

”Why did I open my mouth?”

General Yao Qing laughed softly.

Princess Zhi moved closer to the Empress.

”We have been traveling for days. My hair is dusty, my face feels sticky, and I don’t even want to think about the condition of my clothes.”

Lady Chen, who had just awakened, nodded in agreement.

”Mine too. I barely slept because I could feel the dust on my neck.”

The twins began examining their sleeves.

The girl grimaced.

”I don’t want to wear these clothes another day.”

Her brother sniffed his collar and immediately pulled a face.

”Neither do I.”

Prince Liang sat up again.

”Now that everyone has started discussing their clothes, I would like to announce that I am suffering the same tragedy.”

General Guo Han looked at him.

”You complained about walking yesterday, complained about dinner last night, and now you are complaining about your clothes.”

Prince Liang folded his arms.

”I am a man of many talents.”

”Complaining is certainly one of them.”

”General Guo Han, I shall remember this insult.”

”Please do. It may keep you occupied during the journey.”

The Empress laughed despite herself.

For a moment, the cold morning seemed less unpleasant.

Then she stood, wrapped her outer robe around herself, and examined the area around their cart.

There were several sturdy wooden poles lying near the supplies. Some had been collected for repairing the cart, while others had been brought along for makeshift shelters.

Her eyes brightened.

”Wait. I have an idea.”

Everyone turned toward her.

Even Prince Liang pushed his blanket aside.

”Does your idea involve breakfast?”

”No.”

His expression immediately darkened.

”Then I shall listen without enthusiasm.”

The Empress ignored him.

”Bring me four sturdy poles and the largest bedsheet we have.”

Princess Zhi blinked.

”What are you planning?”

”A bathing tent.”

For a moment, everyone stared at her.

Then the twins exchanged excited looks.

”A tent?”

”With a bedsheet?”

The Empress nodded.

”We can place four poles around a small patch of ground and stretch a large sheet around them. It won’t be as comfortable as a proper bathing room, but it will provide privacy.”

Lady Chen’s eyes lit up.

”That would work!”

Princess Zhi immediately stood.

”I’ll help.”

”So will I,” the girl declared.

Her brother hurried after her.

”I’ll find the poles!”

Prince Liang watched them rush away.

Then he looked at the Empress.

”Why does everyone suddenly have so much energy?”

”Because they want to bathe.”

”And I want to sleep.”

The Emperor finally stood.

”Then sleep while the others prepare.”

Prince Liang considered the suggestion.

It sounded reasonable.

Unfortunately, the Empress turned toward him.

”After everyone has finished bathing, you can help distribute breakfast.”

Prince Liang froze.

”...Why me?”

”Because you have so much energy for complaining.”

General Guo Han burst out laughing.

Prince Liang looked toward the sky as though silently asking the heavens why they had abandoned him.

”This family has no compassion.”

The Emperor walked past him.

”Get up, Liang.”

Prince Liang sighed dramatically and rose.

His peaceful morning had officially ended.

### The Bathing Tent

Within a short time, the small clearing beside their cart had transformed into a place of frantic activity.

The twins brought four wooden poles.

General Yao Qing helped them position the poles far enough apart to create a reasonable amount of space. Lady Chen and Princess Zhi searched through their belongings for a large bedsheet, while the Empress inspected the ground to make sure it was relatively level.

They chose a spot a little distance from the main resting area, behind a cluster of trees that provided additional cover.

The Emperor watched as the poles were pushed firmly into the earth.

”Will they remain standing?”

The Empress tested one of them with her hand.

”If we secure them properly.”

She tied a length of rope around the first pole and pulled it tight.

”Hold this side, please.”

The Emperor immediately stepped forward.

He held the rope steady while she tied it.

Their hands brushed briefly.

The Empress glanced at him.

He was looking at the knot.

She quickly looked away and concentrated on her work.

Ever since the previous night, she had found herself becoming unnecessarily aware of his presence.

The Emperor had not done anything improper. He had simply treated her with a tenderness that still made her uncertain how to respond.

She tightened the knot.

”There. That should hold.”

The Emperor examined it.

”You’re good at this.”

”It’s a rope, Your Majesty.”

”And you have tied it better than I would have.”

She gave him a suspicious look.

”Are you teasing me?”

”Would I dare?”

The Empress narrowed her eyes.

”Yes.”

He smiled.

She immediately turned away before he could notice the small smile tugging at her own lips.

When the bedsheet was finally secured around the poles, it formed a simple enclosed space. The bottom edges were weighed down with stones, and an extra cloth was hung across the entrance to serve as a curtain.

It was hardly luxurious.

But it was private.

Princess Zhi walked around the little structure, examining it from every angle.

”I cannot believe we have built a bathing room out of a bedsheet.”

Lady Chen laughed.

”Don’t call it a bathing room. If the wind blows too hard, the entire room may fly away.”

The twins immediately looked alarmed.

The Empress waved a hand.

”It won’t fly away if we secure the ropes properly.”

Prince Liang circled the tent.

”How many people can fit inside?”

”One person at a time,” the Empress answered.

He looked disappointed.

”Then what is the point? We shall be here until noon.”

”Unless you intend to bathe with everyone else watching,” General Guo Han remarked.

Prince Liang immediately backed away.

”One person at a time sounds perfectly reasonable.”

The group laughed.

The Empress turned toward Princess Zhi and Lady Chen.

”You two can use it first. We will prepare the water while you bathe.”

Princess Zhi looked relieved.

”Thank you, Sister-in-law.”

Lady Chen clasped her hands together.

”I was beginning to think I would have to wash behind a tree.”

”You may still have to wash your hair behind a tree if the tent collapses,” Prince Liang remarked.

Lady Chen picked up a small cloth and threw it at him.

He dodged.

”Violence! In front of the Emperor!”

The Emperor didn’t even look at him.

”Perhaps you should be quieter.”

Prince Liang stared at his brother in disbelief.

Even his own Emperor had abandoned him.

### Gathering Firewood

While the women prepared their bathing things, the Emperor and General Wei Rong went to collect firewood.

The morning air was cold, and heating water would make bathing far more comfortable.

General Wei Rong picked up a bundle of dry branches.

”Your Majesty, we could simply use the water from the river.”

The Emperor shook his head.

”The river is cold. Besides, not everyone will be comfortable washing in it at this hour.”

Wei Rong nodded.

”Then we should gather enough wood to keep a fire burning for some time.”

They moved toward a patch of trees where fallen branches had collected beneath the shrubs.

The Emperor bent to pick up a few dry pieces.

Wei Rong looked at him.

”Your Majesty, I can carry the wood.”

”I am aware.”

”Then why are you gathering it yourself?”

The Emperor glanced at him.

”Because I have two hands.”

Wei Rong was momentarily speechless.

Then he smiled.

”Your Majesty has become very different since beginning this journey.”

The Emperor continued gathering branches.

”Have I?”

”You would once have summoned servants to do this.”

”Would that have made the work disappear?”

”No, Your Majesty.”

”Then there is no harm in helping.”

Wei Rong nodded thoughtfully.