The Duke's estate was finally quiet.
Lanterns had been snuffed out, guests long departed, and the courtyard shimmered only with moonlight reflected on empty wine cups.
Inside her chamber, Empress Lian An sat cross-legged on her bed, arms folded, her expression dark enough to make even the shadows flinch.
The air was thick with her annoyance.
"Three days," she muttered to herself. "Three days of peace. And tonight, this chaos. Dancing dumplings, floating ducks, flying chopsticks—why do I even try to live a normal life?"
Her fan snapped open with a sharp click, though she wasn't fanning herself. It was a warning sound.
In the far corner of the room, her three ghostly companions sat huddled together like naughty children awaiting punishment.
Fen Yu, the dramatic ghost girl, peeked out from behind her translucent sleeve.
Wei Rong, the general ghost, looked ready to salute for mercy.
