The morning sun shone brightly over the palace roofs as servants hurried through the corridors carrying baskets of vegetables, jars of spices, and trays of fresh ingredients.

Inside the Empress’s courtyard, activity was everywhere.

Large tables had been set up beneath the flowering trees.

Kitchen servants moved back and forth.

Steam rose from boiling pots.

The scent of herbs filled the air.

At the center of it all stood Lian An.

Her sleeves were tied neatly as she checked ingredients one by one.

Today she was preparing a feast.

Not for a wedding.

Not for a royal ceremony.

But because of a request that had shocked her yesterday.

A request from Lady Chen.

Lian An still remembered it clearly.

---

Yesterday, during a gathering in the palace, Lady Chen had unexpectedly approached her.

To everyone’s surprise—

She had praised her cooking.

Not only praised it.

She had even suggested that one day everyone should eat together in the Empress’s courtyard.

At the time, Lian An had been completely stunned.

Lady Chen praising her?

After everything that had happened between them?

It felt almost impossible.

---

Nearby, the three ghosts floated around her.

Fen Yu crossed her arms.

"I don’t trust her."

General Wei Rong nodded immediately.

"Neither do I."

Scholar Li Shen adjusted his sleeves thoughtfully.

"Her change is too sudden."

Lian An sighed.

"You three are overthinking."

Fen Yu floated closer.

"No."

"We’re thinking exactly enough."

---

Lian An shook her head.

"Maybe she genuinely wants to improve our relationship."

The three ghosts looked at her.

Then looked at each other.

Then simultaneously said—

"No."

---

Lian An rolled her eyes.

"You’re impossible."

General Wei Rong pointed dramatically.

"I survived three wars."

"When someone suddenly becomes nice, danger follows."

Scholar Li Shen nodded.

"Historically speaking, dramatic personality changes rarely lead to positive outcomes."

Fen Yu added,

"And she tried to make your life difficult before."

---

Lian An paused.

She couldn’t deny that.

But still—

Ever since the incident at the lake.

Ever since she had nearly died.

Lady Chen’s behavior had become much better.

She was polite.

Respectful.

Even friendly.

---

"People can change," Lian An said quietly.

Fen Yu looked unconvinced.

"Maybe."

General Wei Rong folded his arms.

"Or maybe they become better at pretending."

---

Before Lian An could answer, a maid hurried over.

"Your Majesty."

"The ingredients have arrived."

Lian An nodded.

"Good."

Immediately she focused on the task.

---

Rows of dishes were being prepared.

Sweet lotus cakes.

Braised duck.

Honey-glazed ribs.

Steamed fish.

Vegetable dumplings.

Fragrant rice.

Soup.

Desserts.

Everything carefully planned.

---

The servants watched her with admiration.

Even though she was the Empress—

She worked alongside them.

Never acting superior.

Never demanding special treatment.

---

One young maid whispered,

"Her Majesty is amazing."

Another nodded.

"No wonder everyone loves her cooking."

---

Meanwhile—

The ghosts continued their suspicious observations.

Fen Yu suddenly pointed toward the courtyard gate.

"See?"

Lian An looked up.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Fen Yu narrowed her eyes.

"But if Lady Chen suddenly arrives smiling, I’ll be suspicious."

---

Lian An laughed.

"You’re suspicious of everything."

---

As the morning progressed, more dishes were completed.

The courtyard became increasingly lively.

The scent of food spread beyond the walls.

Even passing servants slowed down to inhale the aroma.

---

One palace guard whispered to another,

"The Empress is cooking again."

The other guard sighed dramatically.

"We never get invited."

---

Back inside the courtyard—

Lian An sampled a spoonful of soup.

Perfect.

She smiled.

At least the feast was coming together nicely.

---

Yet despite her calm expression—

A small part of her remained thoughtful.

Lady Chen’s sudden kindness.

The strange attack outside the palace.

The hidden enemy everyone was searching for.

The feeling that something unseen was moving behind the scenes.

---

She looked toward the palace walls.

For a brief moment—

A faint unease crossed her heart.

Then it disappeared.

---

Fen Yu noticed immediately.

"What are you thinking about?"

Lian An smiled softly.

"Nothing."

---

The ghosts didn’t believe her.

But they didn’t press further.

---

For now—

The courtyard was filled with laughter, food, and sunshine.

And Lian An chose to enjoy that peace.

Even if somewhere in the shadows—

A storm was still waiting.

The morning sunlight filtered through the carved wooden windows of Lady Chen’s courtyard, casting golden patterns across the floor.

For the first time in many years—

Lady Chen woke up feeling light.

Not excited about the Emperor.

Not worried about palace politics.

Just...

Peaceful.

She sat before her dressing table while her maid carefully arranged her hair.

Today was the day of the banquet announcement.

And most importantly—

Today she would finally taste the famous dishes of Whisper Bowl, personally prepared under the Empress’s supervision.

A small smile appeared on her lips.

"I’ve been wanting to try them for a long time."

Her maid looked surprised.

"Miss, you seem very happy."

Lady Chen laughed softly.

"I am."

The maid blinked.

Recently her mistress had changed.

The sharpness in her eyes was gone.

The constant obsession with the Emperor had disappeared.

She seemed calmer.

Kinder.

Almost like a different person.

After the maid left, Lady Chen remained seated quietly.

Her gaze drifted toward the garden outside.

And for some reason—

Old memories surfaced.

Memories she had spent years avoiding.

---

She remembered the day she first entered the palace.

Young.

Naive.

Full of dreams.

Everyone told her she would become the Emperor’s favorite.

Everyone praised her beauty.

Everyone praised her talent.

Slowly—

She started believing it herself.

Then came the Empress.

At first she expected to hate her.

After all, she was the woman who occupied the position Lady Chen secretly desired.

Yet...

The Empress never harmed her.

Never insulted her.

Never humiliated her.

Lady Chen lowered her eyes.

A bitter feeling rose in her chest.

Because she remembered things she wished she could forget.

---

She remembered accusing the Empress unfairly.

Creating misunderstandings.

Allowing rumors to spread.

Remaining silent when others blamed her.

She remembered watching the Dowager punish the Empress.

And doing nothing.

At the time—

She convinced herself it was justified.

That it was palace competition.

That everyone did it.

But now...

Looking back...

The Empress had never fought back.

Not once.

Not in the way Lady Chen expected.

---

Then another memory surfaced.

Princess Zhi.

The timid princess who always stayed quiet.

Lady Chen sighed.

She had not treated the princess well either.

Not directly cruel.

But dismissive.

Cold.

Sometimes mocking.

Yet Princess Zhi never retaliated.

And recently—

The princess had become close friends with the Empress.

Both of them had every reason to dislike Lady Chen.

Yet neither had sought revenge.

Neither had tried to destroy her.

---

Lady Chen slowly closed her eyes.

"When did I become like that?"

The question lingered.

For years she had blamed others.

The Empress.

The palace.

Fate.

But perhaps—

The problem had also been herself.

---

Her thoughts shifted again.

Toward the Emperor.

And for the first time—

She truly examined her feelings.

Not the fantasy.

Not the dream.

The reality.

---

She thought about every moment she spent with him.

Their conversations.

Their laughter.

The countless meals they shared.

The trust between them.

And suddenly—

A realization hit her.

A simple one.

A painful one.

But also freeing.

---

She had never loved him.

Not truly.

Not the way a woman loved a man.

What she felt was affection.

Comfort.

Friendship.

Admiration.

He was her closest friend.

The person who listened to her.

Protected her.

Trusted her.

But love?

No.

When she imagined him marrying someone else...

The pain came from losing a friend.

Not losing a lover.

---

Lady Chen slowly laughed.

A soft laugh.

Half embarrassed.

Half relieved.

"I was such a fool."

Years.

She had wasted years chasing something that was never truly hers.

Perhaps because everyone expected it.

Perhaps because she convinced herself she wanted it.

But now—

She could finally see clearly.

---

And strangely...

The realization didn’t hurt.

It freed her.

Like removing a heavy burden she didn’t realize she was carrying.

---

Then her thoughts drifted toward the future.

A future she had never seriously considered.

Because all her plans had always centered around the Emperor.

But now...

The path ahead looked different.

Brighter.

Wider.

Open.

---

Perhaps one day—

She would meet someone.

Someone who looked at her the way the Emperor looked at the Empress.

Someone who chose her first.

Someone who loved her completely.

Not because of her family.

Not because of politics.

Not because of expectations.

But because of her.

---

A faint blush appeared on her face.

The thought felt strange.

Yet...

Pleasant.

---

Then another face entered her mind.

Shin Gu.

Immediately her smile disappeared.

A chill ran down her spine.

---

Something about Shin Gu felt wrong.

Very wrong.

At first she ignored it.

But recently—

The feeling had grown stronger.

The woman always seemed calm.

Too calm.

Always watching.

Always knowing things she shouldn’t know.

---

Lady Chen frowned.

And then she remembered something.

Every time something terrible happened—

Shin Gu seemed unsurprised.

Almost prepared.

---

A strange unease settled in her chest.

She couldn’t explain it.

Couldn’t prove anything.

Yet...

She no longer trusted her.

Not completely.

---

Lady Chen stood slowly.

Walking toward the window.

The garden outside was beautiful.

Peaceful.

Bright.

---

For the first time in years—

She wasn’t thinking about becoming Empress.

She wasn’t thinking about winning the Emperor’s affection.

She wasn’t thinking about competing.

---

She simply wanted peace.

Friendship.

A happy future.

And perhaps—

A chance to become a better person than she had been yesterday.

---

A knock sounded at the door.

Her maid entered.

"Miss, it’s almost time to leave for the banquet."

Lady Chen smiled softly.

"I’m coming."

---

As she walked toward the door—

She felt lighter than she had in years.

Outside—

The world was changing.

The palace was changing.

And perhaps—

So was she.

For the first time—

The future no longer felt like a battlefield.

It felt like a new beginning.