The ghostly laughter only grew louder at her frantic shouts, echoing off the tapestried walls with cruel amusement. "Go away? But we've only just arrived," Bella's voice chimed mockingly from somewhere near the canopy bed. "We thought you might appreciate some company."
Cheng whirled around, knife held out defensively, but saw nothing except the billowing curtains. "This isn't real! You're dead! You can't be here!"
She could recognize two of the voices, concubines who met untimely deaths "Oh, but we are very real tonight, Your Majesty," one of them purred. "Real enough to watch you squirm."
The temperature in the room dropped noticeably, and Cheng could see her breath misting in the cold air. The pearl she threw away to the floorboard pulsed faintly with an inner light, casting eerie shadows across the floors.She felt a surge of breeze and strong invisible hands around her neck .
She gagged as she tried to fight aimlessly against the force around her neck. As her eyes were about to roll back, Gen barged into the room, as he heard her screams and gagging. Immediately the force disappeared. She fell to the ground weak as she coughed, her eyes glassy with tears.
General Gen rushed into the chamber, sword drawn and ready for combat. His eyes scanned the room wildly before landing on Cheng collapsed on the floorboards, coughing violently. The ghostly laughter ceased abruptly as the spectral presences vanished into thin air.
"What happened here?" Gen demanded, sheathing his blade and kneeling beside her. "I heard your screams from the hallway."
He helped her sit upright against the marble pillar, his brow furrowed with concern. "Are you injured? Who attacked you?"
His gaze darted around the room suspiciously, noting the overturned wine glass and scattered pearls on the floor. "Your Highness, speak to me. Was it rebels? Assassins?"
Cheng gasped for air, rubbing her bruised throat where invisible hands had constricted moments ago. Her face was pale and tear-streaked as she pointed weakly toward the window.
"It was... ghosts," she whispered hoarsely.
"Ghosts?" He asked her bewirled by her explanation. "My empress, you must be so stressed from handling the empire's matter and taking care of the princess" he suggested with a worried tone.
He carefully carried her in his arms and placed her on her bed. He gently feeds her water.
Gen settled Cheng carefully onto the edge of her bed, his movements gentle but firm. "Stress can play tricks on the mind, Your Majesty. Perhaps you haven't slept properly lately."
He poured water from a pitcher into a crystal cup, supporting her hand as she drank gratefully. "The Emperor's withdrawal has placed a heavy burden upon your shoulders. It's natural for your nerves to fray under such pressure."
His gaze remained steady and reassuring as he dabbed at her tear-streaked cheeks with a silk handkerchief. "You've been managing everything - the councils, the borders, even the household accounts. Any woman would be exhausted by such responsibilities."
The general straightened slightly, though his voice retained its comforting tone. "I'll station extra guards outside your door tonight. If you feel threatened again, simply call out and they'll investigate immediately."He was about to get up, when Cheng held onto Gen's arm. "Please stay! Lay with me tonight" she looked at him with pleading eyes. "My empress, this is inappropriate" he responded.
Cheng tone turned a bit annoyed " you enjoyed it last time" that alone shut Gen up. "Please just this one last time. I need your comfort and warm body tonight "she pleaded more.
Gen hesitated, his disciplined nature wrestling with the temptation in her eyes. The last time they shared a bed was nearly six months ago - a drunken encounter fueled by happiness of Bella's death.
"You're playing a dangerous game, Empress," he warned softly, though his resolve was weakening. "If the Emperor were to discover..."
"Let him discover," she interrupted defiantly, pulling him closer by the lapels of his uniform jacket. "What can he do? Cry harder? Beg for me to stop every time I remind him of his duty?"
Her fingers traced along his jawline appreciatively. "Besides, I'm not asking for marriage vows or eternal devotion. Just one night to forget ghosts and rebellions and a husband who wishes I were dead."