Night had fallen over the palace.
The corridors were quiet, the lanterns burning low as most of the palace settled into sleep.
But inside Shin Gu's courtyard, there was no peace.
A strange laughter echoed through the chamber.
"Ha… ha… ha…"
Shin Gu sat beside a small table, her shoulders shaking as she laughed.
Anyone who had known her during the day would never have believed that the same calm, gentle, down-to-earth woman could look like this.
Her usually composed face was twisted with satisfaction.
Her eyes shone with excitement.
Her fingers trembled as she poured herself tea, yet she was smiling so widely that she barely seemed aware of what she was doing.
"It worked…"
She whispered.
"It actually worked."
She began laughing again.
"If anyone saw me now…"
She covered her mouth, trying to control herself.
"They would never believe I am the same Shin Gu who spends her days pretending to be harmless."
Her laughter slowly faded.
