The Imperial Palace slept beneath a silver moon.

Lanterns flickered softly along stone pathways.

The guards patrolled quietly.

The maids rested.

Even the endless palace politics seemed to have paused for one peaceful night.

—

Inside the Empress’s chamber—

The room was silent.

The Emperor slept on one side of the bed.

The Empress on the other.

Not close.

But no longer as distant as before.

—

Outside the curtains—

The three ghosts sat around a table.

The female ghost Fen Yu was lazily eating spiritual fruit she somehow obtained.

The scholar ghost was reading.

The general ghost was polishing his spectral sword.

—

Everything was peaceful.

—

Then—

A cry echoed through the darkness.

—

"Waaaaah—!"

—

The sound was sharp.

Piercing.

Heartbreaking.

—

The female ghost immediately jumped up.

"What was that?!"

—

The scholar ghost looked up.

His expression changed.

—

The cry came again.

—

This time louder.

—

As if someone was weeping in agony.

—

"Waaaaah—!"

—

The sound echoed through the palace grounds.

Traveling through every courtyard.

Every hall.

Every residence.

—

The Emperor’s eyes opened instantly.

—

Beside him—

The Empress also sat upright.

—

The two exchanged a glance.

—

"What was that?"

The Empress asked quietly.

—

Outside—

More cries followed.

—

Then suddenly—

Another sound.

—

A woman sobbing.

—

A child crying.

—

A man’s voice shouting.

—

All mixed together.

—

The sounds echoed through the night like restless spirits mourning.

—

Even the three ghosts looked uneasy.

—

"I don’t like this."

Fen Yu whispered.

—

The general ghost stood.

Hand already reaching toward his sword.

—

Meanwhile—

Across the palace—

Doors opened everywhere.

—

Maids rushed outside.

Servants gathered.

Guards looked around nervously.

—

No one understood what was happening.

—

In Princess Zhi’s courtyard—

The princess emerged in her night robe.

—

"What happened?"

She asked.

—

No one knew.

—

At Lady Chen’s courtyard—

The maids huddled together.

Terrified.

—

Lady Chen herself looked pale.

—

The crying seemed to come from everywhere.

And nowhere.

—

Even the Emperor could hear it clearly.

—

He quickly put on an outer robe.

—

"I’m going outside."

—

The Empress immediately stood.

"So am I."

—

A few moments later—

The palace courtyards were filled with people.

—

Everyone searching.

Listening.

Looking.

—

But finding nothing.

—

No crying child.

No mourning woman.

No injured servant.

—

Nothing.

—

Only darkness.

And the strange sounds.

—

The Emperor’s expression became colder with every passing moment.

—

The cries continued for nearly half an hour.

—

Then—

Without warning—

They stopped.

—

Completely.

—

The sudden silence felt even stranger.

—

Everyone looked around nervously.

—

The palace seemed normal again.

—

Almost as if nothing had happened.

—

At that moment—

The Dowager Empress arrived.

Surrounded by attendants.

—

Unlike everyone else—

She appeared calm.

—

Her gaze swept across the gathered crowd.

—

"What are all of you doing standing here?"

She asked.

—

No one answered immediately.

—

Princess Zhi finally spoke.

"Mother, did you hear those sounds?"

—

The Dowager Empress nodded.

—

Then surprisingly—

She waved her hand dismissively.

—

"It is probably some animal."

—

Everyone stared.

—

"Animal?"

Princess Zhi repeated.

—

The Dowager Empress nodded.

—

"Birds."

"Cats."

"The palace is large."

—

Her expression remained indifferent.

—

"There is no need to panic."

—

The Emperor frowned slightly.

—

Even he didn’t fully believe that explanation.

—

Those sounds were far too strange.

Too human.

Too sorrowful.

—

But there was no evidence.

No source.

Nothing.

—

The Dowager Empress looked around firmly.

—

"Everyone return to your chambers."

—

"Get some rest."

—

"Stop frightening yourselves."

—

The servants immediately bowed.

—

"Yes, Your Majesty."

—

One by one—

People began leaving.

—

Though none of them looked convinced.

—

The Empress stood quietly.

Watching the empty pathways.

—

The crying had stopped.

Yet something felt wrong.

—

Very wrong.

—

Beside her—

Fen Yu shivered.

—

"Did you hear that?"

She whispered.

—

The Empress looked at her.

—

"Hear what?"

—

The female ghost hesitated.

—

Then pointed toward the darkness beyond the palace walls.

—

"There was another voice."

—

The scholar ghost nodded slowly.

—

"We heard it too."

—

The general ghost’s expression had become unusually serious.

—

"A voice beneath the crying."

—

The Empress frowned.

—

"What did it say?"

—

The three ghosts exchanged glances.

—

Then the scholar answered quietly.

—

"It kept repeating one sentence."

—

The night breeze suddenly felt colder.

—

The Empress felt a chill crawl down her spine.

—

"What sentence?"

She asked.

—

The scholar ghost looked toward the distant darkness.

—

His face pale.

—

And for the first time since she met him—

The enlightened ghost looked afraid.

—

"It said..."

—

"...it’s waking up."

—

Silence fell.

—

Far away—

Beyond the palace.

Beyond the capital.

—

Something hidden in darkness opened its eyes.

The strange cries had stopped.

But the fear remained.

Like a shadow clinging to every corner of the palace.

The moon hung high above the Imperial Palace, casting silver light over tiled roofs and stone courtyards.

Yet no one felt at peace.

—

Servants gathered in small groups.

Maids whispered behind sleeves.

Even guards exchanged uneasy glances.

The crying had sounded too real.

Too human.

And most importantly—

No source had been found.

—

Near one corridor, several young maids huddled together.

Their faces pale.

"I heard my grandmother talk about this before."

One maid whispered nervously.

—

The others immediately leaned closer.

—

"Talk about what?"

—

The maid swallowed.

Then lowered her voice even further.

—

"Death cries."

—

Silence.

—

The other maids looked horrified.

—

"My grandmother said strange crying appearing at night is a bad omen."

—

"A warning."

—

"A warning that someone important is going to die."

—

One of the younger maids immediately covered her mouth.

"Don’t say that!"

—

"But it’s true."

—

Another servant joined the conversation.

"I heard the same thing."

—

"When spirits cry at night..."

—

He shivered.

—

"Someone dies."

—

The rumor spread quickly.

Far too quickly.

—

Within minutes—

Entire groups of servants were discussing it.

—

Some spoke about curses.

Some spoke about angry spirits.

Some spoke about ancient legends buried within the palace.

—

Fear grew.

Like a spark becoming a wildfire.

—

Meanwhile—

The Emperor stood in the central courtyard.

Watching.

Listening.

—

His expression darkened with every passing moment.

—

The crying itself was troubling enough.

—

But panic?

—

Panic was far more dangerous.

—

Because panic spread faster than truth.

—

Soon—

One of the palace attendants approached nervously.

—

"Your Majesty..."

—

The Emperor looked at him.

—

The attendant hesitated.

—

"The servants are becoming frightened."

—

The Emperor already knew.

—

He could hear the whispers himself.

—

Curse.

Death.

Spirits.

Omen.

—

Ridiculous.

—

Or perhaps not.

—

But either way—

Allowing fear to spread would help no one.

—

The Emperor stepped forward.

His presence immediately drew attention.

—

The surrounding servants quickly fell silent.

Then knelt.

—

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

—

The Emperor’s gaze swept across them.

—

Cold.

Sharp.

Commanding.

—

"Enough."

—

His voice echoed through the courtyard.

—

Every whisper disappeared instantly.

—

The Emperor continued.

—

"There is no curse."

—

Silence.

—

"There is no omen."

—

More silence.

—

"There is no spirit announcing death."

—

The servants lowered their heads.

Too afraid to respond.

—

The Emperor looked toward the dark palace gardens.

—

"Palace grounds are large."

—

"There are birds."

—

"Animals."

—

"Strange sounds occur."

—

His voice remained calm.

Steady.

Certain.

—

"And yet all of you are frightening yourselves."

—

The servants exchanged nervous glances.

—

The Emperor’s expression hardened.

—

"Instead of sleeping."

—

"Instead of working."

—

"You spread rumors."

—

The courtyard became even quieter.

—

No one dared speak.

—

The Emperor continued.

—

"If anyone continues spreading stories of curses and death..."

—

His voice dropped.

—

"They will be punished."

—

The threat was simple.

Clear.

Effective.

—

Several servants immediately bowed lower.

—

"This servant understands."

—

"We understand, Your Majesty."

—

The Emperor nodded.

—

"Good."

—

Then he raised his hand.

—

"Return to your courtyards."

—

"Sleep."

—

"Tomorrow begins as normal."

—

One by one—

The servants obeyed.

—

Groups slowly dispersed.

—

The whispers faded.

Though not entirely.

—

Fear rarely disappeared that quickly.

—

Nearby—

The Dowager Empress watched quietly.

—

She nodded once.

—

Whether the Emperor truly believed his own explanation—

She wasn’t sure.

—

But he had done the correct thing.

—

The palace needed calm.

Not hysteria.

—

Across the courtyard—

The Empress stood silently.

Watching the departing servants.

—

Beside her floated the three ghosts.

—

Fen Yu crossed her arms.

—

"They don’t believe him."

—

"No."

The scholar ghost replied.

—

"They don’t."

—

The general ghost looked toward the distant darkness beyond the palace walls.

—

His expression remained grim.

—

"Unfortunately..."

—

He paused.

—

"They may have a reason not to."

—

The Empress frowned slightly.

—

The strange sentence echoed again in her mind.

—

It’s waking up.

—

She still didn’t understand what it meant.

—

And somehow—

That uncertainty frightened her more than the crying itself.

—

The Emperor approached.

—

His gaze briefly met hers.

—

For a moment—

Neither spoke.

—

But they both understood something.

—

Whatever happened tonight—

It wasn’t normal.

—

And despite his public confidence—

The Emperor was thinking the same thing.

—

Something was changing.

—

Something hidden beneath the surface.

—

And sooner or later—

It would reveal itself.

—

Above them—

The moon disappeared behind dark clouds.

—

The palace gradually returned to sleep.

—

But in countless chambers—

Many eyes remained open.

—

Listening.

Waiting.

Wondering.

—

Whether the cries had truly been animals.

—

Or the first warning of a storm yet to come.

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