A few days passed like this. Since she didn't have to deal with the affairs or people in the harem, Ji Feiyu actually calmed down. Apart from the annoying cockroaches and rats, the swarming mosquitoes, and the inedible food, Ji Feiyu could accept her reality of being in the cold palace.
These days, she wandered around the cold palace when she was free, just to get familiar with the terrain.
Of course, there were also quite a few episodes between her and Concubine De.
For example, Concubine De deliberately knocked over Ji Feiyu and the senior maid's meals. Another time, she blocked the door of the latrine and wouldn't let Ji Feiyu out. One night, Concubine De gathered a few crazy women and stuffed several fat rats into their quilts. The senior maid was so scared every day that she was on the verge of collapse. Only Ji Feiyu comforted her, saying, "It's not that there's no retribution. It's just that the time hasn't come yet."
Finally, one day, Zhang Fugui took Ji Feiyu and the senior maid away. Ji Feiyu knew that they were setting up a gambling game in the cold palace.
In the palace, eunuchs were not allowed to set up private gambling games. But in the desolate cold palace, a few eunuchs could secretly play a few rounds while delivering supplies, and no one would know.
The cold palace was not a place that attracted much attention, and the concubines here were basically at others' mercy. So, it was not surprising that anything could happen here.
Ji Feiyu was led into a small room and asked to change into eunuch clothes. After the senior maid helped her change, she waited in another room.
Ji Feiyu couldn't help laughing and crying. She thought that she had really worn all kinds of clothes.
When she came out, she whispered to Zhang Fugui that she would lose a few rounds first to attract them to place bigger bets.
Zhang Fugui felt a bit uneasy when he heard this.
The official gambling game started in a remote small room in the westernmost part of the cold palace. Generally, no concubines from the cold palace came here. It was very secluded.
When Ji Feiyu entered, she found that quite a few people had already arrived. The air in the room was not very good, filled with a musty smell.
The current empress gambling with a bunch of eunuchs in a dilapidated room. This scene might be too absurd, but it was a necessary step in Ji Feiyu's escape plan.
After entering the cold palace, all the things she could rely on before were no longer available. The only thing that could save her was a little skill she learned when she was in trouble in the civilian world.
"Yo, there's a new face today. This newcomer is quite good - looking."
In the dim room, it was hard to see each other's faces clearly, but the halo could still outline a person's silhouette.
Ji Feiyu lowered her head and said in a soft voice, "S - Sir, I'm new here. P - Please show mercy."
Everyone burst into laughter. "Yo, it's a stutterer."
Zhang Fugui gave her a look, indicating for her to sit at the table. The gambling game officially started.
Sure enough, Ji Feiyu kept losing in the first few rounds. Zhang Fugui watched his silver decreasing continuously. He felt heart - broken but didn't dare to stand up and stop, saying that the gambling money was his and he didn't want to play anymore.
Ji Feiyu was not in a hurry.
Seeing that this person was an easy target, everyone bet more and more.
Someone began to laugh. "Eunuch Zhang, where did you find this stupid kid to give us money?"
Zhang Fugui forced a smile. His heart was filled with pain.
Ji Feiyu whispered, "D - Don't talk nonsense. I'll win it back!"
Everyone burst into laughter again.
Ji Feiyu started to have wins and losses, but everyone was so excited that no one cared. They just wanted to squeeze this "stupid kid" dry.
In the last round, Ji Feiyu thought her chances of winning were slim, but she said, "I'll g - go all out! I'll definitely get my money back this time!" She pushed all her chips onto the table. Zhang Fugui closed his eyes and didn't even dare to look. He thought that if he lost this round, he would kill "him"!
Everyone was so crazy about gambling at this moment. Inspired by her, they all placed their bets. They just thought that since this kid wanted to give them money, why not take it? As a result, when Ji Feiyu shook the dice for the last time, it was three sixes!
Ji Feiyu immediately pretended to shout excitedly, while Zhang Fugui really shouted excitedly. When the others saw this, their eyes went black. Their expressions were painful, and one of them even fainted.
"Y - You're too kind. Haha." Ji Feiyu replied casually.
Zhang Fugui's eyes sparkled with excitement, as if he was happier than if he had won himself.
"What kind of luck is this? How can he win like this!"
"You kid, wait for me. I'll come back to get my money back next time!"
A group of people left while scolding. The fainted one was also dragged out of the room and slapped awake.
After everyone had left, Zhang Fugui walked forward with a big smile and started to put the silver on the table into a bag. His mood had been on a roller - coaster today, so he couldn't help complaining a bit. "You almost scared me to death in the last few rounds. Wouldn't it be better to win steadily a few times?"
Ji Feiyu explained, "Eunuch Zhang, if I always win, what's the fun for the others? They won't take me to play next time. Then how can you win more money?"
Zhang Fugui thought about it and realized that she was right. He nodded. "Shall we continue next time?"
Ji Feiyu shook her head. "No, no. I haven't been eating or sleeping well these days. My hands are too weak to shake the dice."
Zhang Fugui thought this was easy. So he ordered his subordinates to clean up a room for them to live in and prepare separate meals for them.
Ji Feiyu pretended to be concerned. "Will this be difficult for you, Eunuch Zhang?"
Zhang Fugui said, "No, no. This is what Your Majesty deserves."
At the same time, on the other side, Yong Yaxuan was reviewing memorials. He was in a very bad mood.
Eunuch Li quickly changed the incense in the room to a kind that could calm the nerves. He walked over and said, "Your Majesty, take a break. This old servant will give you a massage."
Yong Yaxuan agreed and propped his head up on the table, closing his eyes to rest.
Eunuch Li stepped forward and gently massaged the sides of his head.
Yong Yaxuan asked with his eyes closed, "Is there any news from the empress recently?"
Eunuch Li said, "Eunuch Zhang Fugui in the cold palace hasn't reported anything special. Everything should be normal."
"Didn't she cry and make a fuss in the cold palace? Didn't she ask someone to send a message to me, saying that she was wrong and begging me to let her out?"
Eunuch Li was sweating. "This... I haven't heard of it."
Yong Yaxuan suddenly opened his eyes. "Have you taken care of things for her? Will she be hungry or cold? What's the standard for food, clothing and daily necessities in the cold palace? Bring the accounts for me to take a look."
Eunuch Li didn't know how to answer. He had no choice but to find someone to bring the accounts. Yong Yaxuan took a look and said, "It's okay. There are beds and thin quilts. The food is a bit ordinary, but it can still fill the stomach. Then I won't worry about her for now. Let her suffer a bit and think about her mistakes for a few days."
Eunuch Li heaved a big sigh of relief. But how could he dare to say that after layers of exploitation, the food and clothing in the cold palace were far from enough to keep people well - fed and warm. Just like what was written in the ledger, the breakfast was porridge, steamed buns and a small dish of pickles. By the time it reached the cold palace, there might only be a bowl of rice soup left. But he couldn't break this layer of pretense because he himself had also benefited from it.
Eunuch Li thought that if the emperor still cared about the empress, he should ask Zhang Fugui to take care of her. But Zhang Fugui had some grudges with him and was very stubborn. If he wanted to take care of the empress, he had to think of another way.