When Ji Feiyu returned after changing her clothes, it was almost lunchtime. She was planning to move her quilt to the newly cleaned room right away and avoid any more entanglement with the Noble Consort De. However, as soon as she got back, she found that her quilt and that of the senior maid had been drenched.
The senior maid was so angry that she was about to rush up and argue with those people.
But Ji Feiyu thought it was pointless to argue with them. She tugged at the maid's hand, signaling her to take the quilts and leave.
The Noble Consort De stood aside, sneering, "Oh, so you've made too many enemies and can't stay any longer?"
Ji Feiyu didn't want to stoop to her level and simply ignored her.
The Noble Consort De continued, "Don't act so high - and - mighty. This is the only palace in the Cold Palace where people can sleep."
Ji Feiyu still paid no heed.
Just then, someone came to deliver the meals.
Ji Feiyu lost her appetite again when she saw the almost spoiled food in buckets.
But the Noble Consort De and the other women all rushed forward.
Seeming to notice Ji Feiyu's disgusted expression, the Noble Consort De said, "Don't look down on it. After a few days of hunger, you'll know that it's already good to have something to eat in this hellhole."
Ji Feiyu shook her head at her and left with the senior maid.
As soon as they stepped out, Ji Feiyu said, "Later, take the quilts over there and hang them on the trees to dry. Lock the door tightly tonight. We shouldn't need to keep watch over each other."
The senior maid followed Ji Feiyu closely. She knew that even in the Cold Palace, the Empress would find a way to live well.
When they reached the room that Zhang Fugui had ordered to be cleaned, the meals were already prepared. Although there were only a few vegetarian dishes, they were a world apart from what the others ate. Ji Feiyu thought that this should be the normal rations in the Cold Palace. Humph, a bunch of greedy people embezzling supplies.
Just as they were eating, the Noble Consort De actually followed them. Seeing their treatment, she lost control again. "What's going on with you two? Why do you get such special treatment?"
Ji Feiyu finally responded, "Use your head for everything. Just because you can't do it doesn't mean others can't."
The Noble Consort De was burning with jealousy at this moment. She really hated Ji Feiyu to the core. Why was she beaten up as soon as Ji Feiyu entered? Why did Ji Feiyu get a quilt as soon as she came in? Why could she have a separate living quarters and separate meals? Was it because the emperor still had feelings for her? But if he really did, why was she sent to the Cold Palace?
The Noble Consort De was about to rush up and cause trouble again. The senior maid quickly stopped her and slapped her twice.
"My mistress has endured you for a long time. Please don't challenge our bottom line again and again."
The Noble Consort De was stunned by the slaps. "You dare to hit me, you slut?"
Of course, this was at Ji Feiyu's instruction.
Then, she came to her senses. "You just wait for me!"
The Noble Consort De left in a fit of rage.
Ji Feiyu put down her chopsticks and sighed. "Are you ready? There's probably going to be a fight later."
The senior maid nodded, picked up a broom, and said, "Mistress, I'll protect you. Don't worry!"
Sure enough, the Noble Consort De soon came back with some people! But they didn't come to fight. Instead, they brought several buckets of water.
Ji Feiyu knew something was wrong. Before she could react, she saw the quilts hanging on the trees outside get drenched again!
Ji Feiyu was really angry! She wouldn't have a quilt to sleep on at night again. In this situation, Zhang Fugui definitely wouldn't care.
The Noble Consort De laughed maniacally, just like a crazy person.
She used some childish and low - level tricks, but they always hit the mark. Because in the Cold Palace, eating and sleeping had become the top priorities. Dignity? What was that?
Those elegant and covert palace intrigues seemed redundant here. Brutality and directness were the way to go. This was why for elegant palace concubines, there seemed to be more shrews in the civilian world. Firstly, they were not educated, and secondly, the social levels were different. For someone who might not even have enough to eat, it was far more effective to act than to reason.
Ji Feiyu told the senior maid to take the broom and go out. As soon as the Noble Consort De saw this, she and the other women quickly ran away.
The Noble Consort De's current behavior was no longer that of a palace concubine. Her situation was much more miserable than that of an ordinary civilian woman.
Ji Feiyu had a bit of a headache. The Noble Consort De must have been in the Cold Palace for too long and had mental problems.
After the senior maid drove the people away, she went to wring out the quilts, but it was of no use. She looked at the sun in the sky and thought that the quilts couldn't be used tonight.
"Mistress, what should we do?"
Ji Feiyu was speechless. After thinking for a while, she said, "We won't sleep tonight. Let's go and fetch a few buckets of water and wake them up at night."
The senior maid thought it was a good idea and really went to look for buckets.
Night soon fell. The night breeze in early summer still carried a hint of coolness, which was very comfortable. But it wasn't so comfortable to sleep directly on the floor of a house that didn't get sunlight.
Unable to sleep, Ji Feiyu took the senior maid and carried two buckets of water to the main hall of the Cold Palace.
The people in the hall were completely unprepared and sleeping soundly. Ji Feiyu told the senior maid to start with the Noble Consort De and pour half a bucket of water on each person, drenching them thoroughly.
Then everyone in the main hall screamed.
Ji Feiyu and the senior maid ran away after they were done. Where to run? Of course, to Zhang Fugui's place.
The commotion of the noisy women was too loud. Zhang Fugui was woken up in the middle of the night and was extremely angry. Before he could go out to check what was going on, the two groups of Ji Feiyu and the Noble Consort De had already started fighting in front of his door.
The senior maid waved the wooden ladle with a whistling sound, making it impossible for others to get close.
The Noble Consort De seized the opportunity and pounced on Ji Feiyu to hit her. Ji Feiyu didn't have much strength, so she had to scratch her face and pull her hair. The two of them looked extremely embarrassed.
"You bitch! How dare you pour water on me!" The Noble Consort De bared her teeth and didn't stop.
Ji Feiyu said, "I'm just repaying you in your own coin. Are you enjoying being drenched?" She pulled her hair with all her might and finally heard her scream in pain.
"Let go of me!" The Noble Consort De was now completely wet, with her hair disheveled and her face ferocious, looking like a ghost.
"You let go first."
"Enough! Stop this nonsense!" Zhang Fugui finally rushed out of his room. When he saw the fighting scene outside, his blood boiled. It was late at night and the commotion in the Cold Palace was so loud. Even though it was a remote place, there was no guarantee that no one would hear it. If someone reported the news and he was charged with mismanagement, his future would be over.
"Someone, come here! Tie them all up and gag them."
Ji Feiyu immediately said, "I can keep quiet and not fight. I'll definitely cooperate with you, Father - in - law." After saying that, she shut up and let go, implying that she didn't need to be tied up.
Seeing this, the others also stopped fighting. The Noble Consort De also stopped and rushed towards Zhang Fugui after letting go of Ji Feiyu. "Father - in - law Zhang, you saw clearly. It was her who poured water on us in the middle of the night and started the trouble."