Chapter 426: The Ghosts’ Trap

The Dawgress looked toward the actors standing silently in the courtyard.

The atmosphere had changed.

A few moments ago, the courtyard had been filled with laughter and confusion.

Now—

Everyone was serious.

The General folded his arms across his chest.

Lady Chen stood beside him, waiting for an explanation.

The Dawgress slowly raised her teacup and took a sip.

Then she said calmly,

"These fake ghosts are going to frighten Shin Gu."

Lady Chen blinked.

The General’s eyes narrowed.

Neither of them spoke for several seconds.

Finally, Lady Chen asked,

"Frighten her?"

"Yes."

The Dawgress placed her teacup on the table.

"Until she makes a mistake."

The General immediately understood.

"You want Shin Gu to believe the ghosts have returned."

The Dawgress smiled.

"Exactly."

---

A Dangerous Game

Lady Chen looked toward the performers again.

The young woman dressed as a ghost was standing near the wall, her pale robe motionless in the morning breeze.

Even knowing that she was an actress, Lady Chen had to admit—

She looked frightening.

"If Shin Gu truly believes in ghosts," Lady Chen said slowly, "she may panic."

"Not immediately," the Dawgress replied.

"She is too careful for that."

The General nodded.

"She has hidden herself for a long time."

"Which is why," the Dawgress continued, "we cannot simply accuse her."

Her expression became colder.

"We need her to reveal herself."

Lady Chen’s eyes sharpened.

"And if she thinks the ghosts are attacking her?"

"She may use the dark magic she has been hiding."

The General’s expression changed.

"That could expose her."

"Yes."

The Dawgress leaned back.

"That is precisely what we want."

---

The General looked at the performers.

"What exactly are they supposed to do?"

The Dawgress answered,

"Appear where Shin Gu least expects them."

"Whisper her name."

"Move objects."

"Appear behind her."

"Disappear before anyone else arrives."

The General raised an eyebrow.

"That sounds difficult."

The older actor stepped forward.

"Your Highness, we can do it."

The Dawgress looked at him.

"You are certain?"

The man bowed.

"We have performed ghost dramas for years."

Another performer smiled.

"We can imitate voices as well."

The young woman added,

"We can even make it appear as though someone is walking behind a curtain when no one is there."

Lady Chen stared at them.

"You really are professional."

The actors smiled.

The General, however, remained serious.

"What if Shin Gu attacks them?"

The courtyard became silent.

That was the important question.

The Dawgress’s expression didn’t change.

"They will never be alone."

She looked toward the hidden guards.

"And they will never actually approach her."

The General nodded.

"Good."

Lady Chen’s face remained thoughtful.

"What if she realizes they’re fake?"

The Dawgress smiled faintly.

"Then we learn something."

"And if she doesn’t?"

"We learn something more."

---

Lady Chen Understands

Lady Chen slowly walked toward the Dawgress.

"Your Highness..."

"Yes?"

"You believe Shin Gu can actually see ghosts?"

The Dawgress was silent for a moment.

"I believe she has dealt with forces that most ordinary people do not understand."

Lady Chen lowered her voice.

"And if she can see them?"

"Then our actors must be even more convincing."

The General frowned.

"But if she truly possesses dark magic, ordinary tricks may not fool her."

The Dawgress looked at him.

"That is why we have another part of the plan."

The General waited.

Lady Chen waited too.

The Dawgress’s lips curved into a small smile.

"We are going to get protection powder from a monk."

Lady Chen’s eyes widened.

"A monk?"

"Yes."

The General immediately understood.

"If the actors carry the powder..."

"They will be protected," the Dawgress said.

Lady Chen’s expression became serious.

"And Shin Gu won’t know?"

"No."

The Dawgress shook her head.

"She will believe that the ghosts themselves have become stronger."

The General slowly nodded.

"That could make her desperate."

"That is the purpose."

---

The Powder

Lady Chen looked toward the courtyard doors.

"When will the monk arrive?"

"He will not come here."

The Dawgress shook her head.

"That would attract too much attention."

She reached for another cup of tea.

"He will prepare the protection powder outside the palace."

The General asked,

"How will we receive it?"

"A trusted servant will collect it."

"And then?"

The Dawgress looked directly at him.

"Each performer will carry a small amount."

The General considered the plan carefully.

"What does the powder do?"

The Dawgress answered,

"It is meant to protect the wearer from harmful spiritual influence."

Lady Chen frowned.

"Will it actually work?"

The Dawgress did not immediately answer.

Instead, she said,

"Whether its protection is supernatural or simply gives the performers confidence is not the only thing that matters."

She looked toward the actors.

"What matters is that we do not send anyone into danger without precautions."

The General nodded approvingly.

"That is sensible."

---

Lady Chen’s Question

Lady Chen suddenly thought of something.

"Your Highness."

"Yes?"

"If these ghosts appear before Shin Gu..."

She hesitated.

"Will she be able to see that someone is controlling them?"

The Dawgress smiled.

"That is why we will never control them in front of her."

Lady Chen frowned.

"Then how?"

"We create the illusion that they appear naturally."

The Dawgress pointed toward the palace corridors.

"A ghost should never arrive exactly when someone expects it."

She looked at the performers.

"They should appear unexpectedly."

The older actor nodded.

"And disappear unexpectedly."

"Correct."

Another actor asked,

"Should we speak?"

"Yes."

"What should we say?"

The Dawgress thought for a moment.

"Nothing that gives away our purpose."

The General added,

"Do not mention Lady Chen."

"Do not mention the Emperor."

"And do not mention the Empress."

The actors nodded.

The Dawgress’s voice became firm.

"You are ghosts."

"You know nothing about palace politics."

"You only want to frighten the person who harmed you."

The actors exchanged looks.

One of them bowed.

"Understood."

---

Shin Gu

Lady Chen’s expression became complicated.

"Do you think Shin Gu will really become frightened?"

The Dawgress gave a small laugh.

"Fear makes people careless."

The General looked toward her.

"And carelessness reveals secrets."

"Exactly."

Lady Chen slowly nodded.

Suddenly she understood the entire plan.

They weren’t trying to prove ghosts existed.

They weren’t trying to frighten Shin Gu for revenge.

They were creating pressure.

A controlled pressure.

Enough to make Shin Gu react.

Enough to make her use whatever power she had hidden.

Enough for the Emperor’s guards to witness it.

And if possible—

Enough to catch her red-handed.

Lady Chen whispered,

"So this is a trap."

The Dawgress smiled.

"Yes."

---

A Dangerous Question

Lady Chen suddenly looked worried.

"But what if Shin Gu realizes the ghosts are fake?"

The General answered before the Dawgress could.

"Then we retreat."

Lady Chen looked at him.

The General continued,

"No matter how important the evidence is, nobody will be sacrificed."

The Dawgress nodded.

"Correct."

Her eyes moved toward the performers.

"The moment anything becomes genuinely dangerous, the operation ends."

The actors bowed.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Lady Chen released a quiet breath.

She had expected something reckless.

Instead—

The Dawgress had thought through every detail.

---

The General’s Concern

The General suddenly asked,

"Your Highness, what about the palace guards?"

"They will know only what they need to know."

"And the Emperor?"

"He already knows."

The General nodded.

"Then this is officially sanctioned."

"Yes."

Lady Chen looked surprised.

"The Emperor agreed to this?"

The Dawgress smiled.

"He wants the truth as much as we do."

The General’s expression hardened.

"And the Empress?"

The Dawgress’s face softened.

"She will not know the details."

Lady Chen looked at her.

"Why?"

"Because if Shin Gu somehow discovers that the Empress knows, the entire trap may collapse."

The General agreed.

"That is wise."

The Dawgress nodded.

"We protect her by keeping her away from the operation."

---

Meanwhile...

Far away in another part of the palace—

Shin Gu stood alone inside a quiet chamber.

She was arranging several small containers on a table.

Her expression was calm.

Her hands moved carefully.

She had sensed something strange in the palace recently.

Not enough to identify.

Not enough to prove.

But enough to make her suspicious.

She slowly turned toward the window.

The curtain moved.

She stared.

Nothing.

Her fingers tightened around the container in her hand.

For a moment, she thought she heard—

A whisper.

"Shin Gu..."

Her face immediately changed.

She turned sharply.

Nobody was there.

Silence.

She stood motionless.

Then she slowly walked toward the curtain.

She pulled it aside.

Nothing.

Only the courtyard beyond.

Shin Gu narrowed her eyes.

"Was that...?"

She stopped.

Her expression became guarded.

She did not like unexplained things.

Especially not now.

---

Back in the Dawgress’s Courtyard

The Dawgress received a message from a servant.

She opened it.

Her eyes scanned the words.

Then she smiled.

"The protection powder will be ready."

Lady Chen leaned closer.

"When?"

"Tonight."

The General nodded.

"Then we can begin tomorrow."

The Dawgress shook her head.

"No."

Both looked at her.

"Not tomorrow."

She folded the message.

"Tonight."

Lady Chen’s eyes widened.

"Tonight?"

"Yes."

The Dawgress’s voice remained calm.

"Fear is stronger when the palace is quiet."

The General immediately understood.

"At night, fewer people will be around."

"And Shin Gu will have fewer witnesses."

The Dawgress nodded.

"Exactly."

---

The Final Instructions

The performers gathered around.

The Dawgress looked at each of them.

"You will not hurt anyone."

"You will not touch Shin Gu."

"You will not enter her private chamber."

"You will not reveal your identities."

"And you will never act alone."

Everyone nodded.

The Dawgress continued,

"If she becomes frightened, do not chase her."

"If she runs, let her run."

"If she calls for guards, disappear."

"If she uses magic..."

She paused.

"Withdraw immediately."

The General stepped forward.

"And the guards will follow."

The Dawgress nodded.

"Exactly."

Lady Chen smiled slightly.

"So we are not hunting her."

The Dawgress looked at her.

"We are giving her an opportunity to expose herself."

Lady Chen understood.

"And if she does?"

The Dawgress’s eyes became cold.

"Then we catch her red-handed."

Silence settled over the courtyard.

The General exchanged a glance with Lady Chen.

They both understood.

The plan was dangerous.

But it was carefully designed.

The actors were prepared.

The hidden guards were ready.

The monk would provide the protection powder.

And Shin Gu—

Had no idea that the palace itself was preparing a trap around her.

Lady Chen slowly smiled.

"Your Highness..."

"Yes?"

"I think this might actually work."

The Dawgress smiled.

"It will work only if everyone follows the plan."

The General bowed.

"We will."

The actors bowed as well.

Lady Chen nodded.

"Understood."

The Dawgress looked toward the darkening sky.

The first evening lanterns were being lit across the palace.

Soon—

Night would fall.

And with it—

The ghosts would appear.

Not real ghosts.

Not spirits from the afterlife.

But convincing enough to make one dangerous woman believe that the dead had come back for her.

The Dawgress picked up her teacup again.

A faint smile appeared on her lips.

"Let us see," she murmured,

"what Shin Gu does when she believes the ghosts have found her."

And somewhere beyond the courtyard—

A palace bell rang.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

The game had begun.