Back when Ji Feiyu was down and out and living among the common people, unfortunately, she got to know some rather shady friends. They taught her some skills in listening to the dice and shaking them. Since Ji Feiyu had been practicing music since childhood, she was naturally better at discerning sounds than others. Since they were willing to teach, she was happy to learn. As the saying goes, one is never over - skilled.
Zhang Fugui looked at her confident expression and thought, so what if he really gambled with her? He took out two dice from his pocket; he always carried them with him. Then he told the little eunuch to fetch a dice cup and said, "So what do you want to bet with me on?"
Seeing him take out the dice, Ji Feiyu thought there was a chance and said, "Naturally, two thin quilts. If I lose, it's up to you, Father - in - law."
Zhang Fugui thought the stake wasn't anything important and that he would be the one more likely to benefit. So he really agreed. "Fine." But in his heart, he didn't believe that a lady who had lived in the deep palace for so long could pull off anything special.
The two of them just played the usual game of comparing the sizes of the dice. They took turns shaking the dice, and the one with the larger number would win.
This was a piece of cake for Ji Feiyu. She won three rounds in a row, with her number being one point larger than Zhang Fugui's each time.
"Hey! This is really strange." Zhang Fugui wasn't angry even though he lost. He just didn't expect that there was really a concubine in the harem who knew this.
Zhang Fugui had lived in the Cold Palace for a long time and had no contact with other eunuchs in the palace. Others thought he was unlucky. So no one told him who came to the Cold Palace and what their status was. Of course, he didn't want to know either, because in his eyes, these people would never make a comeback. No matter how prominent their previous status was, it was useless.
But this time, he was actually a bit curious about this person's origin.
"Father - in - law, will you keep your word now that you've lost?" Ji Feiyu asked casually. After coming to the Cold Palace, she was quite calm about her situation. She had, of course, anticipated the problems she might encounter in the Cold Palace and had thought of solutions, but she just didn't expect to use them in such a situation.
Zhang Fugui quickly did some mental calculations and immediately understood what Ji Feiyu could bring to him. He immediately said with a smile, "Naturally, I'll keep my word. Go! Fetch two quilts."
He told the little eunuch to fetch the quilts and then rubbed his hands and said to Ji Feiyu, "I wonder which palace this lady used to live in?"
Ji Feiyu evaded the question. "Hey, didn't you say when you first came that the previous status doesn't matter? Isn't it enough that I can help you win more money?"
Seeing that she didn't want to say, Zhang Fugui didn't force her and said, "Alright. When the gambling game starts, I'll come and call you."
Ji Feiyu nodded. At this time, the little eunuch had brought two quilts. The senior maid quickly took them.
"I'll take my leave." Ji Feiyu turned around and left as soon as she got the quilts. Zhang Fugui looked at her departing back curiously, really unable to figure out her origin.
When Ji Feiyu and the senior maid were on their way back with the quilts, the other women in the Cold Palace went crazy.
"Why does she get the quilts?"
"How did she do it!"
Concubine De was even more resentful. She gave a cold snort.
Ji Feiyu ignored them.
At night, the senior maid found an open space and started to spread out the quilts. Then she said to Ji Feiyu, "Your Ladyship, take a rest first. I'll keep watch for you."
Ji Feiyu was extremely tired and didn't decline. She just lay down and fell asleep. But in the middle of the night, she was woken up by the senior maid's scream.
"What's going on?" Ji Feiyu opened her eyes groggily.
"There's a rat! A huge one!" The senior maid was terribly scared.
Some other women woke up and shouted, "What are you screaming about in the middle of the night? Are you crazy?"
Ji Feiyu took a look at the rat scurrying across the floor and woke up completely. She sat up. Although she had anticipated such a situation, the real experience was still different. At this moment, she couldn't panic. Instead, she had to comfort the frightened senior maid. "It's okay. You go to sleep now. I'll sit for a while."
"I'm so sorry, Your Ladyship. I woke you up." The senior maid lowered her head in shame. Although she was born into a poor family, her home used to be clean and tidy, and she had never shared a bed with rats. After entering the palace, she served the queen soon and had a very comfortable life. So she really wasn't used to the environment in the Cold Palace.
Ji Feiyu wasn't used to it either, but she always comforted herself with her strong will. "Don't be afraid. Since we're here, we should know that it's not strange to see anything here."
Yes, that's why the Cold Palace was the most terrifying place for the women in the harem. The senior maid nodded and said, "Your Ladyship, you'd better sleep. I'm not afraid anymore."
Ji Feiyu said, "If we need to guard against some people in this room, we may have to take turns sleeping all the time. In that case, it doesn't matter when we take the shift."
The senior maid had no choice but to say, "Your Ladyship, I'll take a short nap first and then replace you."
Ji Feiyu nodded.
The senior maid soon fell asleep. In the desolate night of the Cold Palace, Ji Feiyu was left alone.
She started to sort out her thoughts and think about what had happened before. She didn't deny that at the moment when she was sent to the Cold Palace, her heart was filled with surprise and dissatisfaction. Then, after being forced to drink the tendon - softening powder and being at the mercy of others, she felt desperate and sad. But after Concubine De grabbed her throat, she woke up. That man's promises were all lies! All his words about loving her, protecting her, and believing in her were empty. If she wanted to survive, she could only rely on herself.
Now was obviously not the time to be sad. No matter how painful her heart was, she had to first find out the person who framed her. She could leave, but she wanted more to clear her name and find out the truth.
She slowly sorted out her thoughts and recalled the whole incident from beginning to end.
It all started when Concubine Zhen asked for her advice on needlework. Then Concubine Xin also came. When Concubine Xin came, there was a little conflict between them, which was seen by all the maids and eunuchs. Then there was the mountain - and - river picture that hurt her, and then it started to rain. After that, she fainted.
The emperor said that she had put hallucinogenic powder and safflower in the incense. So the dream about Cheng Xuan should have been caused by the hallucinogenic powder. The hand she felt at night belonged to Yong Yaxuan. So he should have heard her calling Cheng Xuan, which was one of the reasons for his anger.
Then Concubine Xin had a miscarriage. When the matter was exposed, someone spread rumors that she had caused Concubine Xin's miscarriage and the death of the emperor's unborn child. This was the second reason for his anger.
These two reasons were enough to make the usually calm Yong Yaxuan lose his mind and make some extreme decisions. As long as he still had feelings for her, love could turn into resentment and hatred. So it was inevitable that she would be sent to the Cold Palace.
Ji Feiyu couldn't help but admire the person who had set this trap. Because if they didn't know that there was still a shadow of someone else in her heart, with the five - year relationship between her and Yong Yaxuan, no one should have been able to find that tiny crack between them and force their way in.
Some people's faces flashed through Ji Feiyu's mind, but she rejected them one by one.
Concubine Xin was the most suspected, but Ji Feiyu didn't think it was her. Because no woman would use her own child as a tool to compete for favor, especially when the child was so hard - won. Although Concubine Xin was a bit arrogant usually, she wasn't as cruel as Empress Lu.
Ji Feiyu slowly closed her eyes. She really didn't know who was trying to harm her. She just felt weak all over and her heart was empty.
Yong Yaxuan, why are you so on guard against me? Do you know that I had already decided to stay?