It was the night the Emperor was supposed to spend with the Empress, but his favourite consort caught his eye after pretending to have a twisted leg. He had sent a eunuch to inform the Empress that he would not be visiting that night.
"How did you let that hussy take the Emperor right under your noses?" she thundered.
The servant cowered and dropped to her knees.
"Your Majesty, please calm down. Consort Rui was there when we reached the Emperor's hall. There was nothing we could do," she said.
Mei froze the moment she heard the name.
Sun Rui was her half-sister—one year older, and their father's favourite child. She had something Mei never did: his attention and affection.
Mei's mother passed away giving birth to her, and she was raised by a nanny. Rui was raised by her own mother, who was later promoted to wife. Mei was supposed to enter the palace as a consort, but Rui met the Emperor and fell in love. Their father, who would do anything for Rui, arranged a marriage for Mei with the Duke—to fulfil Rui's wishes.
It was early on that Mei realised her father didn't hate her or love her. He was simply indifferent. And somehow, she would have preferred hatred.
She left the Empress's palace and drifted through the halls. Ling'er sensed her mood and followed silently.
They reached a beautiful palace—not as grand as the Empress's, but still magnificent in its own right. As they entered, giggling echoed from within, followed by moaning.
Mei turned to leave, but a swish of air passed her—lightning-quick. She turned back to find Ling'er already disappearing into the chamber.
Her jaw dropped.
Her new friend was quite perverted.
With no better option, she followed. The scene before her made her nonexistent heart beat faster. If she'd still been alive, she would have blushed.
Two bodies were tangled in bed.
The man's back was muscular, his waist slim. Though the only man Mei had ever seen naked was her husband, he paled in comparison to the specimen before her.
The woman?
Her sister.
Rui.
Despite the shocking scene, Mei left the chamber immediately. Seeing her husband in bed had never bothered her—but this was different. This was personal.
She looked back once and saw Ling'er in the corner of the room, eyes glued to the Emperor, visibly salivating.
Outside, she waited a long time, watching red-faced servants shuffle awkwardly at the door. Finally, Ling'er emerged, fanning her cheeks.
Mei touched her own. They were cold—just like her.
Ling'er drifted to her side, a questioning look in her eyes.
"Why did you leave?" she asked.
"It's always a treat to watch the Emperor in action."
She laughed at Mei's horrified expression.
"He's number one on the list. Unanimous vote. All the women ghosts in the capital agree."
"I got uncomfortable… that's my second sister," Mei said.
Ling'er's eyes widened. "If that's your sister, then… you're the daughter of the Minister of Agriculture?"
She froze, then buried her face in her hands.
"Oh no. I told you about your father's bed affairs. Ugh. I want to disappear."
"Sorry, I don't know much about family relationships," she added, scratching her head.
Mei laughed. "But you do know who's sleeping with whom."
Ling'er grinned like a cat caught sneaking milk.
"That's different. Way more interesting than family drama."
Mei's expression darkened. The moment the Duke told her that her father gave him permission to get rid of her, he became dead to her.
She turned and began to float away. Ling'er followed, chattering about how handsome the Emperor was.
The night was still young.
They hopped from place to place, listening to the drama and whispered scandals of the noble city.
Eventually, they ended up at the most popular brothel.
Ling'er, gleeful, began introducing the girls one by one. Mei's lips twitched. Her new friend had a strange hobby—she knew the brothel and its occupants very well.
Mei saw many familiar faces—married nobles. She shook her head, marvelling at the hypocrisy.
They demanded female virtue. A woman's ankle couldn't even be seen in public.
Meanwhile, these same men spent their nights in brothels, laughing and drinking in the arms of beautiful courtesans—while their wives waited alone in cold, empty beds.
The irony.
"You know," Ling'er said, her tone suddenly serious, "I find the palace and the brothel the same. Both are cages for beautiful women, forced to compete for a man's favour."
Mei turned, surprised.
"At first I was angry at the world—how young I died. And… dying a virgin."
She laughed nervously.
"Maybe that's why I'm obsessed with watching people in bed."
Mei blinked. The first part sounded absurd—but the more Ling'er continued, the more it made sense.
The air turned quiet, almost too suffocating.
They sat on the red-tiled roof of the brothel, watching the buzzing world below—a world they had both disappeared from.
A world that, perhaps, had already forgotten them.
The moon sank behind the rooftops, and the sun began to rise—soft orange light reflecting against Mei's back.
They didn't feel tired. They had no responsibilities. Time stretched long and hollow.
Mei didn't know how long she would remain a ghost. Or if she would someday fade into nonexistence. But one thing was clear.
She had access now. Unlimited movement. Secrets are not meant to be heard.
She would collect information. On every person. Every household. Someday, she might need it.
She rose to her feet, the morning sun casting her shadow long across the roof tiles—her face darkened, unreadable.
She looked like a demoness from hell, ready to drag down her enemies with her.
"I need to go back to the estate," she said.
Ling'er, having nothing else to do, followed.
She didn't say it aloud, but Mei knew;
In both the mortal and immortal worlds, she had earned something she never had before—
A friend and maybe a little sister.