Zhang Fugui learned about the secret sentries from Father Wang.
And Father Wang happened to be the middleman through whom Father Li wanted to arrange for the Concubines in the Cold Palace and get in touch with Zhang Fugui.
That day, after receiving Father Li's bribes, Father Wang vowed that he would surely reach an agreement with Zhang Fugui right under Father Li's nose and ask him to treat the Queen well. But as soon as he turned around, he told this news to his master behind him.
"Your Ladyship, just now Father Li asked me to make some arrangements in the Cold Palace. What do you think His Majesty means by this?"
The person behind the curtain curled her lips into a cold smile. "His Majesty just can't let her go. Since that's the case, let's give her a 'hand'."
She hooked her finger, and Father Wang stepped forward. She leaned over and whispered something in his ear. Father Wang nodded repeatedly and showed a sinister smile.
When it was time for the appointment with Father Li, Father Wang called Zhang Fugui out. As soon as they met, he greeted Zhang Fugui. "I heard that things haven't been so peaceful in the Cold Palace recently. Is it because there's a new arrival?"
Since Zhang Fugui had a good relationship with Father Wang, he smiled and said, "You're wrong. On the contrary, it's been more peaceful. The new arrival is no ordinary person."
Father Wang said, "Well, I've got something to tell you."
Zhang Fugui said with a smile, "Go ahead."
Seeing this, Father Wang quietly stuffed a large ingot of gold into Zhang Fugui's hand and lowered his voice. "The person behind me hopes that Father Zhang will give the new arrival a hard time."
Zhang Fugui held the gold in his hand, his mind racing, but he asked calmly, "What's the identity of this person inside? Is she worth this much?"
Hearing this, Father Wang laughed. "For Father Zhang, does her identity really matter? Isn't she just someone at Father Zhang's mercy, to be manipulated at will?"
Zhang Fugui also forced a smile.
Father Wang stuffed another thing into Zhang Fugui's hand and whispered, "The person behind me said that if this matter is handled properly, there will surely be rewards for Father Zhang in the future. Maybe after the storm has passed, a lucrative position will be arranged for Father Zhang."
Zhang Fugui pinched the thing in his hand. It was a bag of powder wrapped in paper. He asked curiously, "What's this?"
Father Wang said, "It's just some laxatives. Give her a little every day and make her have diarrhea a few times. It won't cause any serious harm."
Zhang Fugui nodded and quietly accepted it.
Father Wang added, "But don't make things difficult for her for the time being. There may be secret sentries watching."
Zhang Fugui was extremely surprised. He was shocked that there could be secret sentries in the Cold Palace. He thought to himself that he mustn't set up an underground gambling game recently. He was also curious about the identity of the new arrival in the Cold Palace. How could so many people be concerned about her? Although his mind was full of thoughts, he pretended to be calm on the surface. "I'm really grateful to Father Wang for this reminder. You're so well - informed."
Father Wang laughed, recalling what the Lady behind him had said...
"Since Father Li is making arrangements, it must be by His Majesty's order. According to His Majesty's personality, after making the arrangements, he will surely send someone to check. You go and meet Zhang Fugui at the time Father Li mentioned. Tell him not to act rashly. Wait until the storm has passed."
Father Wang said with a smile, "The Lady behind me is really amazing. Father Zhang should be careful in everything."
Zhang Fugui said, "I will surely live up to Father Wang's trust."
From a distance, Father Li watched Father Wang say goodbye to Zhang Fugui and walk towards him. He asked, "Is everything settled? Have you made all the arrangements?"
Father Wang said with a beaming smile, "Of course. Father Zhang will surely treat Her Majesty the Queen well."
Father Li let out a sigh of relief. "That's good." He had a feud with Zhang Fugui, so he was not convenient to go in person. He thought of asking Father Wang, who had a good relationship with Zhang Fugui, to help with the arrangements. But since this task was given to him by the Emperor, he was afraid of causing trouble if he didn't handle it properly, so he personally watched Father Wang go to meet Zhang Fugui. He never thought that Father Wang would act in such a duplicitous way.
"By the way, what did you give to Father Zhang the second time?" Father Li remembered that Father Wang had stuffed something into Zhang Fugui's hand twice.
Father Wang said, "It's silver notes. Father Zhang said it was difficult to handle the matter, so I gave him the reward you gave me."
Father Li frowned. "Is Zhang Fugui so greedy?"
Father Wang said, "It's my honor that Father Li asks me to do this. How can I take the money? Since Father Zhang still wants it, I gave it all to him."
Father Li said, "Don't worry. Your share won't be less. I'll give it to you later."
Father Wang said, "How embarrassing this is!"
After that, Father Li really gave another gift to Father Wang, and then served sweet soup to the Emperor...
A few days later, after confirming that all the secret sentries in the Cold Palace had been withdrawn, Zhang Fugui began to think about the conflict of interests.
The question was whether he should take sides. Should he stand on Ji Feiyu's side so that she could make money for him in the long - term? Or should he stand on the side of the person behind Father Wang to seek better development?
He had a headache, but anyway, after the storm had passed, he decided to first invite Ji Feiyu to gamble. Sure enough, this time he changed different opponents, and Ji Feiyu used the same old trick and won a large sum of money for him.
Out of a sense of unease, after everyone had left, he quietly reminded Ji Feiyu, "Your Ladyship, you should be careful recently. I'm afraid someone will do you harm."
Ji Feiyu raised her eyebrows and said, "Thank you for the reminder, Father." Then she left.
Zhang Fugui began to think about the irrationality of the matter. Logically speaking, even if he didn't deliberately ask about the identity of the person who entered the Cold Palace, with the speed of rumors in the palace, he should have heard which Lady had offended the Emperor and been sent to the Cold Palace. But this time, the news was strictly blocked, and there was not the slightest rumor about the identity of the new arrival. Moreover, when he asked both the person herself and Father Wang, they both avoided the topic.
Zhang Fugui had an advantage. Besides gambling, he didn't dare to make hasty decisions on things he was not sure about. For example, Ji Feiyu's identity was still unclear. If he rashly tried to harm her, would he end up in a big mess? So Zhang Fugui decided to adopt a delaying tactic. As long as Father Wang didn't come to ask, he wouldn't act. He would let Ji Feiyu help him make a few more profits first.
After hearing Zhang Fugui's warning, Ji Feiyu's mind raced. She thought that some concubines must have extended their hands into the Cold Palace. She guessed that the people who wanted to deal with her should be the same ones who had framed her. If she pretended to be unaware and lured the wolves in, maybe she could find the real culprit who had harmed the imperial heir.
So she carried on as usual. But one afternoon, while she was taking a walk, she was faced with a glinting dagger.
At that moment, her senior maid happened to be squatting behind her to pick flowers and was not by her side. The person rushed towards her so quickly that she was caught off guard.
By the time she saw clearly the person who was stabbing at her, the dagger was already very close. She had no way to avoid it and could only block it with her hand. The dagger made a deep cut on the back of her hand, and blood gushed out immediately.