Chapter 430: the man behind everything

Far from the Imperial Palace, beyond the crowded streets and guarded roads, an abandoned courtyard stood beneath the cover of night.

There were no lanterns burning.

No servants moving through the corridors.

No music.

No sound except the occasional rustle of leaves against the old wooden windows.

A single room at the center of the abandoned residence was illuminated by one small oil lamp.

A hooded man stood before the window.

His face remained hidden beneath the dark hood.

He had been standing there for a long time.

Behind him, two men waited silently.

Neither dared to speak first.

Finally, the hooded man asked,

"How is Shin Gu?"

One of the men lowered his head.

"She is deteriorating."

The hooded man slowly turned.

"Deteriorating?"

"She barely sleeps. She refuses food and suspects everyone around her. She keeps talking about the Empress."

The hooded man’s eyes narrowed beneath the shadow of his hood.

"What exactly is she saying?"

The man hesitated.

"She believes the Empress knows everything."

Silence.

The flame of the oil lamp trembled.

The hooded man walked toward the table.

"And Prince Liang?"

"He has begun investigating her."

That answer changed the atmosphere immediately.

The hooded man stopped.

"Prince Liang?"

"Yes."

"How much does he know?"

"We don’t know."

The hooded man stared at the lamp.

For several moments, he said nothing.

Then he quietly asked,

"Has Shin Gu spoken?"

"No."

"Are you certain?"

"She has not revealed anything publicly."

The hooded man’s fingers slowly tightened.

"That isn’t what I asked."

The servant lowered his head further.

"We believe she may have told someone something."

"Who?"

"We don’t know."

The hooded man turned away.

That was the problem.

They had spent years building everything carefully.

Every connection.

Every secret.

Every false trail.

Every person who could be used.

They had waited patiently.

And now—

One frightened woman could destroy it all.

---

The Woman Who Knew Too Much

Shin Gu had never been the strongest piece on the board.

She had simply been useful.

She had knowledge.

She had access.

She had ambition.

And most importantly—

She had believed she was being rewarded for helping them.

But people who worked with secrets eventually discovered something unpleasant.

Those who knew too much rarely remained useful forever.

The hooded man walked slowly around the table.

"Did she mention the old ritual?"

"No."

"The hidden chamber?"

"No."

"The people involved?"

"No."

"Did she mention me?"

The servant hesitated.

The hooded man’s gaze sharpened.

"Answer."

"No, my lord."

The man released a slow breath.

For the moment—

His identity remained protected.

That was what mattered.

But Shin Gu was becoming unstable.

And unstable people made mistakes.

He looked toward the second servant.

"You were watching her?"

"Yes."

"Then tell me what you saw."

The servant swallowed.

"She keeps looking behind curtains. She checks beneath her bed. She refuses tea unless she watches it being prepared."

The hooded man almost smiled.

Fear had already consumed her.

"And she keeps saying the Empress is coming for her?"

"Yes."

"Interesting."

The servant looked confused.

The hooded man continued,

"She isn’t afraid of the Empress."

He paused.

"She is afraid of what the Empress might discover."

Neither servant responded.

Because both understood the difference.

---

A Dangerous Loose End

The hooded man walked toward the window.

Outside, the courtyard was completely dark.

"Our plans took years."

His voice was quiet.

"We lost people."

He placed one hand against the wooden frame.

"We lost opportunities."

He turned his head slightly.

"And yet we continued."

His voice became colder.

"Because revenge requires patience."

The servants remained silent.

"We were close."

He looked toward the distant horizon.

"So close."

Then his expression hardened.

"But now Shin Gu is frightened."

"Yes."

"She believes someone is hunting her."

"Yes."

"She is talking too much."

"Yes."

The hooded man turned.

"And if she continues?"

The answer came reluctantly.

"She could reveal everything."

Silence.

The hooded man’s face remained hidden.

Then he said,

"Then she cannot remain."

The two servants exchanged a brief glance.

One of them understood immediately.

"My lord..."

"Do it quietly."

The servant lowered his head.

"Yes."

"No spectacle."

"Yes."

"No connection to us."

"Yes."

"And most importantly..."

The hooded man looked directly at him.

"She must not have an opportunity to speak."

The servant bowed deeply.

"Understood."

---

Meanwhile — Shin Gu’s Residence

Shin Gu sat awake.

Again.

The room was dark except for one candle.

Her hair was loose.

Her eyes were swollen from exhaustion.

She had not slept properly for days.

Every time she closed her eyes—

She saw the same things.

The dark chamber.

The symbols.

The candles.

The faces of people who had once stood beside her.

And then—

The Empress.

Sometimes standing silently.

Sometimes staring at her.

Sometimes saying nothing at all.

That frightened Shin Gu more than anything.

She whispered,

"Stop..."

Nothing answered.

She covered her ears.

"Stop!"

A servant outside heard the noise.

"My lady?"

"Leave me alone!"

The servant stepped away.

Shin Gu looked toward the mirror.

Her own reflection stared back.

For one second—

She thought she saw another figure standing behind her.

She spun around.

Nobody.

Her breathing became rapid.

She looked back at the mirror.

Only herself.

"I’m losing my mind..."

She pressed both hands against her face.

"No..."

Then a thought came to her.

Prince Liang.

He had seen something.

He knew.

Perhaps—

If she told him everything—

He might protect her.

But then another thought followed.

If she spoke—

They would know.

They would know she had betrayed them.

Shin Gu began trembling.

She had spent years believing she was protected.

Now she finally understood something.

She had never been protected.

She had simply been useful.

---

The Messenger

Near midnight, a servant entered quietly.

"My lady."

Shin Gu looked up.

"What?"

"A visitor has arrived."

Her eyes narrowed.

"At this hour?"

"Yes."

"Who?"

The servant hesitated.

"He says he carries a message."

"From whom?"

"He wouldn’t say."

Shin Gu immediately stood.

"No."

The servant blinked.

"My lady?"

"Tell him to leave."

"Yes."

The servant turned.

Then—

A sound came from outside.

A soft knock.

Three times.

Shin Gu froze.

She knew that pattern.

Her face lost color.

"No..."

The knock came again.

Three times.

She stepped backward.

The servant looked at her.

"My lady?"

"Send everyone away."

"But—"

"Everyone!"

The servant hurried out.

The door closed.

Shin Gu stood alone.

Her hands were shaking.

She whispered,

"They found me."

---

The Final Warning

A small piece of paper was slipped beneath the door.

Shin Gu stared at it.

She didn’t want to touch it.

She knew better.

But curiosity defeated fear.

Slowly—

She bent down.

Picked it up.

Opened it.

Only one sentence was written.

You have been given enough chances.

Shin Gu’s hands began trembling violently.

Another line appeared beneath it.

Do not speak.

She dropped the paper.

"No..."

Her breathing became uneven.

"They’re going to kill me."

She backed away.

"They’re going to kill me."

She suddenly rushed toward the door.

She grabbed the handle.

Locked.

She tried again.

Nothing.

"Open the door!"

No response.

"Someone!"

She struck the door.

"Help me!"

Outside—

Silence.

Shin Gu looked around desperately.

Her eyes landed on the window.

She rushed toward it.

Locked.

She pulled.

Nothing.

Her breathing became frantic.

"Please..."

She looked toward the ceiling.

"Someone help me..."

But nobody came.

---

The Hooded Man’s Decision

Back at the abandoned residence, the hooded man sat alone.

The two servants had already departed.

A cup of tea rested untouched before him.

His thoughts returned to Shin Gu.

She had been useful.

She had played her part.

But now—

She had become dangerous.

He remembered the years of preparation.

The humiliations.

The losses.

The promises made in secret.

The revenge they had sworn to obtain.

None of it could be destroyed because one frightened woman had begun speaking carelessly.

He closed his eyes.

"Shin Gu..."

For a moment, his voice almost sounded regretful.

Then that feeling disappeared.

"You should have remained silent."

He opened his eyes.

"Now you have become a threat."

The lamp flickered.

He stood.

"End it."

💖 A Heartfelt Thank You 💖

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Dear Readers,

If you’re enjoying Ghost in the Palace, please show your love and support! 🥰 Your comments, Golden Tickets, Power Stones, and votes mean so much to me and motivate me to keep bringing you more drama, romance, comedy, and ghostly chaos. 👻✨

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