Morning sunlight spread across the Imperial Palace.

Golden rays filtered through carved windows and illuminated the endless palace corridors.

Servants moved quietly.

Officials hurried toward court.

Everything appeared normal.

Yet inside the Emperor’s mind—

Nothing was normal.

---

The mysterious letter remained hidden inside his sleeve.

Its weight felt heavier than iron.

---

After a sleepless night, he had reached a decision.

There was only one person left to ask.

His mother.

The Dowager Empress.

---

Soon—

The Emperor arrived at the Dowager’s courtyard.

---

The palace maids immediately bowed.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

---

The Emperor nodded.

"Is Mother awake?"

---

"Her Majesty is having tea."

---

Without delay, he entered.

---

Inside the elegant hall, the Dowager Empress sat gracefully beside a low table.

Fresh tea steamed from delicate porcelain cups.

She appeared calm.

Peaceful.

As she always did.

---

The moment she saw her son, a smile appeared.

"You came early today."

---

The Emperor sat down.

His expression serious.

---

Immediately—

The Dowager noticed.

---

Her smile faded.

"What happened?"

---

Without answering, the Emperor reached into his sleeve.

Then—

Placed the letter on the table.

---

The Dowager’s gaze fell upon it.

---

At first—

Nothing happened.

---

Then—

Her expression changed.

---

The color drained from her face.

---

Her fingers froze.

---

For the briefest moment—

Shock appeared in her eyes.

---

The Emperor noticed immediately.

---

His gaze sharpened.

---

"Mother."

---

The Dowager quickly picked up the letter.

Reading.

Then rereading.

---

Her hands trembled slightly.

---

Only slightly.

But enough.

---

The Emperor had seen it.

---

Silence filled the room.

---

Finally—

The Dowager put the letter down.

---

Her expression returned to normal.

Too normal.

---

"This is nonsense."

---

The Emperor stared at her.

---

"Nonsense?"

---

The Dowager nodded immediately.

---

"Your father was one of the best rulers this empire has ever known."

---

Her voice became firm.

---

"He was honest."

"He cared for the people."

"He never harmed anyone."

---

The Emperor listened.

---

Those words were true.

---

He knew they were.

---

The Dowager continued.

---

"Someone is playing tricks."

"This is a prank."

"Nothing more."

---

Yet despite her words—

The Emperor wasn’t convinced.

---

Because he had seen her reaction.

---

That fear.

---

That brief moment of panic.

---

It had been real.

---

"Mother."

---

His voice lowered.

---

"Are you hiding something?"

---

The room became silent.

---

The Dowager looked at him.

---

For several moments—

Neither spoke.

---

Then she smiled.

---

A perfect smile.

---

"No."

---

The answer came immediately.

---

Too immediately.

--- 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"I’m not hiding anything."

---

The Emperor continued watching her.

---

His instincts screamed otherwise.

---

Yet he couldn’t prove it.

---

Finally—

He nodded.

---

"Very well."

---

The conversation shifted.

---

They spoke briefly about court affairs.

The harvest.

Military reports.

Minor palace matters.

---

Yet throughout the entire discussion—

The Emperor remained distracted.

---

Because something felt wrong.

---

Very wrong.

---

After some time—

He stood.

---

"I should go."

---

The Dowager smiled.

---

"Take care of yourself."

---

The Emperor nodded.

Then left.

---

The moment the doors closed—

The smile vanished from the Dowager’s face.

---

Completely.

---

Silence filled the hall.

---

The servants nearby immediately lowered their heads.

---

Because they had never seen such an expression before.

---

Fear.

---

Real fear.

---

The Dowager stared at the letter.

---

Her hands slowly tightened.

---

"Who..."

---

Her voice was barely a whisper.

---

"Who sent this?"

---

Memories surfaced.

Memories she had buried long ago.

---

Things nobody should know.

---

Things that should have remained forgotten.

---

The late Emperor.

The old palace.

The secrets of the previous reign.

---

Her breathing became heavier.

---

"No..."

---

She immediately shook her head.

---

"No one should know."

---

The room suddenly felt colder.

---

The Dowager looked toward the window.

---

For the first time in years—

She felt uneasy.

---

Not for herself.

---

For her children.

---

For her son.

---

For Princess Zhi.

---

For the imperial family.

---

Because if those secrets resurfaced—

Everything could change.

---

Everything.

---

Slowly—

The Dowager stood.

---

Her gaze hardened.

---

The fear disappeared.

---

Replaced by determination.

---

She had survived decades of palace struggles.

---

She would not allow anyone to threaten her family now.

---

Whoever sent that letter—

Had a purpose.

---

And that purpose was dangerous.

---

The Dowager clenched her fists.

---

"I need to find them first."

---

Before the Emperor discovered too much.

---

Before the hidden enemy moved again.

---

Before the past awakened completely.

---

Outside—

The palace remained peaceful.

---

The Emperor walked toward the court, still troubled.

The Empress remained unaware of the morning conversation.

The ministers continued their duties.

---

Nobody knew.

---

Nobody realized.

---

That the Dowager’s reaction had confirmed one thing.

---

The letter was not a prank.

---

And somewhere within the shadows of the empire—

A forgotten secret had begun to rise once more.

Smiling in the Shadows

The night air was cold.

Moonlight poured over the palace rooftops like silver water, illuminating the silent courtyards and empty pathways.

Most of the palace had gone to sleep.

But not everyone.

Inside Shin Gu’s courtyard, lanterns burned softly.

The atmosphere was peaceful.

Too peaceful.

Shin Gu sat beside a stone table, slowly sipping tea.

Across from her sat Lady Chen.

The two women had already received news from the Duke residence.

The Emperor was staying there.

The Empress was surrounded by her family.

The wedding preparations were proceeding smoothly.

The banquet invitations had already been sent to noble families throughout the capital.

Everything seemed perfect.

Lady Chen’s expression darkened every time she thought about it.

"Why does she always survive?" she muttered.

"Why does everything go in her favor?"

Shin Gu smiled.

A calm.

Unsettling smile.

"Does it?"

Lady Chen frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Shin Gu placed her teacup down.

"The Empress survived."

"Yes."

"Her family loves her."

"Yes."

"The Emperor is becoming attached to her."

Lady Chen’s face twisted.

"Don’t remind me."

But Shin Gu simply laughed softly.

"You only see what is in front of you."

The courtyard fell silent.

A cold breeze passed through the trees.

The lantern flames flickered.

Shin Gu’s eyes lifted toward the moon.

"The more people focus on one thing..."

"The easier it becomes to hide another."

Lady Chen stared.

"I don’t understand."

Shin Gu looked back at her.

"You don’t need to."

"Just watch."

Lady Chen suddenly felt uneasy.

It wasn’t the first time.

Lately—

Every time Shin Gu smiled like that, she felt a strange chill.

As though she were speaking to someone she didn’t truly know.

"Something is going to happen?" Lady Chen asked quietly.

Shin Gu’s smile widened.

"Many things."

Outside the courtyard walls, the kingdom appeared peaceful.

Nobles were preparing for the upcoming banquet.

Merchants were discussing the famous Whisper Bowl restaurant.

Families were excited about the marriage alliance.

Even the palace gossip had shifted.

People spoke of the Emperor’s growing concern for the Empress.

People spoke of the Empress returning from death.

People spoke of miracles.

They were distracted.

All of them.

Shin Gu found it amusing.

Humans were always the same.

Show them one spectacle—

And they would ignore everything else.

Lady Chen watched her carefully.

"You seem happy."

"I am."

"Because your plan succeeded?"

Shin Gu laughed.

"No."

The answer surprised Lady Chen.

"No?"

Shin Gu shook her head.

"The attack failed."

"The Empress survived."

"Again."

Lady Chen clenched her fists.

"Then why are you smiling?"

For several moments, Shin Gu said nothing.

Then she spoke softly.

"Because chaos is growing."

The words felt strange.

Almost wrong.

Lady Chen frowned.

"What chaos?"

Shin Gu leaned back.

"The Emperor is investigating."

"The Duke is investigating."

"The Empress is investigating."

"The palace is suspicious."

"The kingdom is restless."

"Everyone is looking for answers."

She smiled.

"And the harder they search..."

"...the more confused they become."

Lady Chen didn’t fully understand.

But she nodded anyway.

Shin Gu’s gaze moved toward the distant palace walls.

Her eyes darkened.

The banquet.

The wedding.

The nobles.

The palace.

The capital.

Everything was moving exactly where it needed to move.

A piece here.

A piece there.

Like stones on a game board.

Soon—

Very soon—

The next move would begin.

And when it did—

The entire kingdom would be forced to notice.

Shin Gu slowly closed her eyes.

The night wind whispered through the trees.

Somewhere far away, laughter echoed from the Duke residence.

Family.

Love.

Happiness.

For now.

Only for now.

Because Shin Gu knew something none of them knew.

The darkness beneath the kingdom had not disappeared.

It had only been waiting.

And soon—

It would move again.

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