The first bell of dawn had barely rung when pale sunlight began to creep through the silken curtains.
A faint chill lingered in the air, carrying the scent of dew and sandalwood from the garden outside.
Ananya sat by the mirror, dressed in a plain robe of dull brown — the kind a servant might wear. Her long hair was braided simply, tucked beneath a faded scarf. Her reflection hardly looked royal; it looked… invisible.
Behind her stood Meilin, the young servant who had followed her since childhood, now clutching one of Ananya's embroidered gowns with trembling fingers.
"My lady," Meilin whispered, her voice shaking, "if they find out—"
"They won't," Ananya said firmly. "You'll wear my robe, lie in my bed, and tell anyone who enters that I've taken a fever from last night's chill."
Meilin's eyes widened. "A fever?"
"Make it convincing," Ananya said, handing her a damp towel. "Sweat a little if you must."
Fen Yu appeared near the bedpost, floating upside down. "Oh, I can make her look feverish! I'll rattle the windows so the maids think a ghost's angry!"
Wei Rong grumbled. "Please don't. We're trying to avoid attention."
Li Shen, ever calm, turned his fan once. "Better yet, scatter the herbs near the brazier. It'll smell like medicine. No one questions medicine."
Ananya smiled faintly at their chatter. "You see? Even my afterlife advisors agree."
Meilin blinked at the empty air, clearly unable to see the ghosts but sensing the strange chill around her mistress. "You… really plan to leave the estate like this?"
"I must," Ananya said, tying the scarf tightly under her chin. "There's someone waiting for me in the market — and if I don't go, she'll be lost forever."
"But the Duke—"
"My father will forgive me," Ananya interrupted softly. "The palace won't. But some debts must be paid in person."
---
The Plan in Motion
She turned to her small chest, opened it, and drew out a modest pouch of silver coins and a simple hairpin carved with peach blossoms. She pressed the hairpin into Meilin's hand.
"Keep this near you. If anyone doubts you're me, show them this. And remember: cough occasionally. Convince them I'm too weak to receive visitors."
Meilin swallowed hard. "I'll do it, my lady."
Ananya gave her a small smile. "You always do."
Fen Yu whispered dramatically, "It's like a play! She's the decoy princess!"
Wei Rong smirked. "More like the terrified heroine."
Li Shen's lips curved faintly. "And our queen plays both parts well."
Ananya glanced at the window where pale dawn light shimmered through the lattice. "We have little time. The outer servants will rise soon."
She crossed to the hidden panel behind the screen — a small servant's passage used by gardeners and delivery boys. It smelled faintly of dust and oil.
Fen Yu drifted ahead, peering down the corridor. "All clear! Except a sleepy cat and one snoring guard!"
Wei Rong cracked his knuckles. "I can handle the guard."
Ananya frowned. "No haunting."
Wei Rong sighed. "Just… gentle intimidation?"
"None," she said firmly, suppressing a smile.
---
The Disguise
Before stepping into the passage, she pulled her scarf higher, covering half her face. The plain robe hung loosely around her shoulders, hiding the fine silk beneath.
For a brief second, she paused, looking back at the room — at the bed where Meilin now lay, feigning illness under a thin blanket, her face pale under a sheen of water.
"Thank you," Ananya whispered.
Meilin bowed her head, voice trembling. "Come back safe, my lady."
Ananya hesitated just long enough to let the words sink in — then slipped into the passage, closing the panel behind her with a soft click.
---
Through the Servant Halls
The narrow hallway smelled of damp wood and tea leaves.
Morning light filtered through cracks in the shutters, drawing thin golden lines across the floor.
Ananya moved quickly but quietly, her steps practiced and measured. Every corner felt like a heartbeat too loud, every sound a threat.
Fen Yu floated ahead, darting from shadow to shadow like a mischievous lantern. "The coast is clear! Oh wait—no—two maids coming with buckets!"
Ananya ducked behind a stack of rice sacks, holding her breath. The maids passed, yawning and gossiping.
"…the Queen Consort hasn't come down yet. They say she caught a chill last night."
"Again? Poor thing. She's so fragile."
The maids laughed softly and vanished down the hall.
Ananya let out the breath she'd been holding. "Looks like Meilin's doing her part."
Li Shen's tone carried quiet admiration. "Efficient. You trained your people well."
Wei Rong snorted. "They think she's fragile. If only they knew."
---
The Escape
They reached the back garden gate — a small wooden door hidden behind rows of jasmine vines.
A single sleepy guard leaned on his spear, fighting to keep his eyes open.
Fen Yu peeked around the corner. "He's half-asleep. One push and he'll nap standing up."
Ananya smiled faintly. "No violence. Just distraction."
She picked up a pebble and tossed it gently toward the opposite wall. It clinked softly, echoing down the corridor.
The guard straightened. "What was that?"
Fen Yu darted ahead, swirling the vines with ghostly wind. The jasmine flowers rustled.
The guard blinked, rubbed his eyes, and stumbled off toward the noise.
"Good work," Ananya whispered.
Fen Yu puffed out her chest proudly. "Team effort!"
She slipped through the gate, the cool air outside brushing against her face.
For the first time in months, she stood beneath open sky — no palace walls, no painted ceilings, only the endless blue-grey dawn stretching before her.
Wei Rong's voice softened unexpectedly. "You're free. For now."
Ananya pulled her scarf tighter, stepping onto the narrow path that wound down toward the market road. "Not free," she murmured. "Just unseen."
---
A New Morning
As she walked, the sun finally broke over the horizon.
Golden light spilled across the roofs of the sleeping city. Merchants were just beginning to open their stalls, the sound of wooden shutters creaking like yawns.
Li Shen's tone held quiet amusement. "You realize the Emperor would burn the heavens if he saw you walking like this."
Ananya smiled faintly beneath her scarf. "Then it's good he can't see everything."
Fen Yu twirled beside her, giddy with the morning breeze. "We're really going to buy a shop! You'll be a secret businesswoman, Ananya!"
"Not me," she said. "Her. Yao Qing. I'll just… guide her from the shadows."
Wei Rong chuckled low. "You sound like a ghost yourself."
Ananya looked toward the city gates, where the scent of fresh bread drifted faintly in the air. "Then perhaps that's the safest way to live."