Ghostly Surveillance

It had been a few days since Mei was killed and she became a ghost. Thanks to Ling'er, who she'd been joined at the hip with since coming to the other side, Mei had discovered so many secrets and learned so much. She also realized she enjoyed drama, not as much as Ling'er, but with nothing else to do and all the time in the world, she relished it.

They were lounging on the roof of one of the palaces. Being a ghost meant she was cold all the time, but basking in the sun usually drove away the chills. So Mei and Ling'er developed a routine of sunbathing in the midday sun. They felt a swift whoosh, and a smaller ghost came, informing them a letter had arrived. Both immediately started rushing. Mei had been keeping an eye on the Princess, but Ling'er suggested they hire a ghost to monitor the Princess and inform them once she received a letter, which they did.

Ling'er had looked around and found a child ghost, around eight years old, who had no one to offer him joss paper or offerings. So she gave him some joss paper and promised him more offerings, asking him to monitor the Princess and rush to them immediately with information. She gave him possible locations they would be at certain times of the day; for example, in the morning, they'd be at the Empress's palace watching the morning greetings; at midday, they'd be lounging on the roof; and at night, they'd mostly be at the red-light district.

So now the kid arrived with the information they had been expecting, indicating the letter had arrived. Ling'er removed some joss paper from her bosom and offered it to the kid, adding a bit more "money" than they had agreed. He happily thanked them, asking them to hire him again if they ever needed anything.

Mei and Ling'er left immediately and reached the Duke's estate shortly, heading directly to where the Princess was staying. They entered to find her half-sitting, half-lying on a chair while a maid helped her dry her hair, with the letter placed unopened on the table in front of her. They sighed with relief. To know the Princess's intentions and to save the Emperor in case of any conspiracy, they needed to know every piece of information. Mei had suggested keeping an eye on the Princess, but Ling'er, unwilling to stay bored, hired the kid instead. Since Mei had no offerings or joss money to offer, Ling'er said she would pay, as she had some, and Mei was grateful for Ling'er's help.

Once her hair was dried, the Princess opened the letter. Mei and Ling'er huddled behind the Princess to read it. The contents confused them even more. It read: "You can't do a small task as winning someone's heart, and now I have to pay a big price for it. I will send an envoy. Burn after reading."

Mei and Ling'er looked at each other, confused, but at least they knew someone was coming, and they needed to be cautious of him.

The Princess was angry after reading the letter. She called the maid to bring her a candle, and with a red face, she burned the letter.

They went back to the palace, confused, and immediately went directly to the Throne Room. They found the Emperor sitting with another handsome man. Ling'er, entering the room, whistled, rushing to the man as she moved around him, checking him from top to bottom like a butcher choosing a pig in the market. Mei had to physically pull her back from the General.

"Who is this?" she asked, turning to Mei. "He is so handsome," she said, almost salivating. Mei had no idea who he was, but Ling'er was right: he was handsome, not as handsome as the Emperor, but close enough; he didn't pale in comparison.

"General," the Emperor said.

Ling'er shrieked. "Ahh, General Gao? No wonder he's so muscular!" Mei covered her eyes, asking Ling'er to calm down.

"You can have the Emperor, Mei. From now onwards, I am changing my target," she said, looking at him as if he were a piece of meat. Mei felt sorry for the General; he didn't know what he had attracted. He was going to have no privacy moving forward.

"Sorry, Your Majesty," he said, his voice smooth and deep. Ling'er was squealing in her seat. "His voice is good!" she said, looking at Mei. "The virgin ghost of Da Long empire has fallen in love!" Ling'er declared.

Mei rolled her eyes at the declaration. "You fall in love every time you see a handsome guy," she said.

"But this is different, Mei! It's for real this time!"

Ling'er declared.

"If you say so," Mei sighed.

"The investigation took some days, but I found out that the Duke and his mother planned everything," General Gao said. "They drugged both the Duchess and her guard and held a party for the Nobles to witness their 'affair,' and killed them both afterwards."

Mei could see the Emperor's face getting cloudier and cloudier. The hand on his lap was clenched so hard his veins popped. His eyes turned red.

"How did she die?" he asked.

General Gao hesitated.

"I asked you how did she die?" the Emperor repeated.

The General replied with a small voice, "She was drowned."

The Emperor swept everything on the table, teapots and glasses, hitting and breaking against the wall, scaring all three people in the room.

"Whose idea was it?" the Emperor asked. The room was very quiet, with Ling'er patting her chest.

"At first, they only wanted to kill her, but the Princess suggested the plot and the death by drowning," he said.

"Okay. Investigate both the Princess and the Duke. I want everything about them," he said. "You can leave now." He dismissed the General.

As the General was leaving, Ling'er stood up. "Sorry, Mei, I need to follow him. You can stay with the Emperor to learn more about him," she said, and with a whoosh, followed the General. Mei's jaw dropped; she was abandoned by a handsome man.