Li Zhaoting watched her leave the door and didn’t speak for a long time, but everyone could see that this ruler, who was at least gentle and refined on the surface, was furious to the extreme. Princess Consort Jin frowned tightly. The meal that followed was eaten in considerable silence. Li Zhaoting barely spoke.

That day, Li Zhaoting had originally been staying at A Luo’s palace, but after the evening meal, he didn’t take her with him and only returned to his own sleeping quarters to rest alone.

After returning to the palace, Mei Er was greatly indignant, saying: “Your Ladyship, the yellow dog steals food while the black dog gets blamed. His Majesty was originally supposed to come to our place, but now—”

A Luo interrupted her: “Enough. It’s natural that His Majesty is in poor spirits after these serious criminals escaped. Besides, you were meddlesome today – who told you to trip that person!”

“This servant was just beating a dog that fell in the water!” Mei Er said somewhat aggrievedly.

A Luo smiled slightly: “Didn’t you see clearly in the Empress Dowager’s palace today? Do we still need to personally take action against her now? There are others to handle it. What we need to do is just push the waves and fan the flames.”

Only then did Mei Er break into tears and laughter: “I heard that His Majesty also went to Feng Suzhen’s sleeping quarters that time, but I don’t know if it was Feng Suzhen’s appearance and figure that couldn’t arouse His Majesty’s interest, or how she turned His Majesty’s stomach. But this time she’s finally gotten her comeuppance.”

A Luo was quiet for a long time before finally snorting with laughter: “They say Heaven is fair. I waited bitterly for many years while she seized what was mine. Now retribution has finally come to her.”

She continued with instructions: “Since His Majesty isn’t here, go prepare some paper money for me.”

“Your Ladyship, this is…” Mei Er didn’t understand.

A Luo said quietly: “Though he was heartless, I cannot be completely… Tell him that his brothers seem to have escaped safely. If he knows this in the underworld, he should be at peace.”

Incense smoke filled the air, and ash flew low. At this time, Wei Wu Lei was just seeing off Wei Chenghui and his son to the palace gates. Wei Chenghui said: “Your Ladyship, please stop here. Your father and elder brother can leave on our own.”

Wei Wu Lei smiled and nodded, then heard her father lower his voice: “Your Ladyship handled today’s matter beautifully.”

“Father flatters me. It was because Father sent news in time that Wu Lei was able to approach the Empress Dowager under the pretext of dining. The Empress Dowager must have thought Wu Lei was seeking opportunities to spend time with His Majesty, so Wu Lei could conveniently suggest having His Majesty and the various palaces come over.”

Wei Wujun listened from the side, his eyes showing sudden understanding, then smiled: “Excellent. Father and sister played a good game. You calculated the timing – with His Majesty there, and Father coming to report the incident, this was to let the Empress Dowager see with her own eyes what good deeds Feng Suzhen had done.”

“What is lost in the east may be gained in the west.” Wei Chenghui’s eyes flashed with cold light: “She, like her dead father, has considerable ability, but even her father fell into my hands. I don’t believe she could be more formidable than her father.”

“Father, rest assured. This great threat to our Wei family, your daughter will definitely find a way to eliminate for you.” Wei Wu Lei said in a low voice.

Wei Chenghui pressed his daughter’s arm: “Father trusts in your ability. But there’s the Empress Dowager now – you needn’t act openly, just coordinate from the shadows. The Empress Dowager is His Majesty’s birth mother – she’s different, understand? Also, Father hopes you’ll quickly bear a dragon son with His Majesty. That way, no one can shake our Wei family – not Gu Xi Luo, nor Miao Yin.”

“Yes, daughter understands.” Wei Wu Lei straightened, then her face flushed red.

Since A Luo was head of the six palaces, Suzhen’s affairs were handed over to her subordinate female officials to arrange. Therefore, when Suzhen packed her belongings, it was Senior Food Supervisor Xiao who came to lead her away.

Little Luzi wanted to see her off tearfully, but Suzhen wouldn’t allow it. Supervisor Guo was an old hand in the palace after all, and her relationship with Suzhen hadn’t reached the point of life-and-death friendship, so she was somewhat calmer.

The Laundry Bureau was much worse than the sleeping quarters in environment – three or four courtyards in a row, all housing laundry palace maids, no fewer than a hundred people. Senior Food Supervisor Xiao led Suzhen to one of the courtyards.

One of the supervising palace maids here had apparently received advance notice and was waiting at the courtyard gate. Following along to watch the excitement were more than ten palace maids.

Senior Food Supervisor Xiao smiled: “A Qi, this person is handed over to you. This lady once could compete briefly with Her Majesty the Empress and was an old friend of Her Ladyship’s. It’s just that she now disobeyed His Majesty and was demoted to palace maid. You should, for the sake of Her Majesty the Empress, look after her somewhat. But of course, she should do whatever work needs doing – His Majesty gave these instructions.”

Female Official Qi was about thirty, with a kind-looking face. Upon hearing this, she said nothing, only smiled: “Senior Supervisor Xiao, rest assured. Just leave the person with this servant.”

Senior Food Supervisor Xiao looked at Suzhen rather meaningfully, then took her leave.

Supervisor Qi smiled slightly: “Your Ladyship, please follow this servant. I’ll arrange lodging for you first.”

Before leaving, Supervisor Guo had secretly slipped some silver to her. After thinking briefly, Suzhen didn’t immediately take it out to give to this female official. She only smiled and nodded, saying “Thank you, Auntie,” then followed her inside.

The palace maids who had followed to watch the excitement exchanged glances and followed them in.

The courtyard had four or five side rooms. Supervisor Qi led Suzhen to one on the left, lifting the curtain to enter. Inside were seven or eight palace maids eating at a table. Seeing this, they quickly stood up. Supervisor Qi said: “Your Ladyship, from today you must condescend to live with us here. Look, that’s your bed.”

She pointed to the innermost bedding.

At this moment, a palace maid gasped coldly. Suzhen looked over and saw that bed was covered with dust, with a torn quilt stuffing showing, and many black, hard things had fallen on the mat – apparently dead cockroaches and various insect droppings.

Though this person looked kindly, Suzhen remembered the scene at Consort Yu’s former residence and couldn’t help but smile inwardly. Old friend of Her Ladyship, for Her Majesty the Empress’s sake… Senior Food Supervisor Xiao’s words sounded pleasant, but the phrase “could compete briefly with the Empress” – daring to compete with the Empress was unforgivable! Moreover, there was the phrase “His Majesty’s instructions.” Whether she gave silver or not made no difference. Besides, the silver wasn’t much – she needed to save it.

Enduring her disgust at the bedding, she nodded: “Thank you, Supervisor Qi. Suzhen is new here and will need your help in the future.”

Supervisor Qi seemed somewhat surprised that she didn’t get angry, then said coolly: “Your Ladyship should rest early. The Laundry Bureau isn’t like other places – there’s a pile of heavy, tiring work. Tomorrow you’ll be busy, and it won’t be like before.”

“Yes.” Suzhen nodded again, then said: “Supervisor, this servant is no longer what she once was. In the future, Supervisor can just call me by my pre-marriage name, Suzhen.”

Upon hearing this, Supervisor Qi looked at her once before leaving. Hearing Supervisor Qi address Suzhen as “Your Ladyship,” the various palace maids were obviously quite curious and all followed Supervisor Qi out, apparently to inquire.

Only Suzhen remained in the room. She walked to the bedside. Her life hadn’t been going well, and Little Lotus Seed seemed to sense this too. Knowing she had no capital for being pampered and troublesome, the child had been much more well-behaved. Unlike when Lian Yu was still there, these days she hadn’t been vomiting or nauseated – until she saw this bed. She suddenly covered her mouth, forcefully suppressing that queasy feeling.

Child, be good. We absolutely cannot have any mishaps or let anyone notice! she thought.

At this time, the palace maids returned one by one. Suzhen stood by the bed and asked: “May I ask, has the girl who slept in this bed already passed away?”

Everyone was slightly stunned. Someone quick-mouthed blurted out: “How did you know? That girl died of consumption.”

Suzhen said: “This is where everyone eats and sleeps. If it weren’t someone who had passed away, most girls love cleanliness and would never allow such filth.”

“Tsk tsk, indeed someone who was once a lady. Look, what she thinks and says is obviously superior to us.” At this time, a woman pushed through the crowd, arms crossed, eyes mocking.

The other had lovely features and considerable beauty.

Suzhen purely wanted to know if this bed had really been slept in by a dead person. But it seemed Supervisor Qi had explained her background to these palace maids and even “explained” some additional things. Originally, toward someone who had once held a consort position but was now in trouble, these palace maids inevitably felt both jealous and schadenfreude.

She wasn’t a pushover, but at this time, she couldn’t conflict with them or cause more trouble. So she smiled: “Miss speaks too highly. I was originally unfavored and couldn’t compare with other ladies in the palace.”

She took some broken silver from her bosom, placed it on the table, and said: “I’m new here and don’t understand anything. This is a small token for all the sisters. I hope you’ll be tolerant in the future.”

The silver was quickly swept away by everyone, leaving only that pretty palace maid who didn’t take any, staring at her with a half-smile.

Suzhen heard everyone call her “Ji Er” with much flattery in their words, confirming she was indeed the leader here.

She asked for a cloth to clean with, but no one paid attention. However, at least no one caused her trouble. Later, she simply tore up one of her own garments, went to the stone well in the courtyard to fetch a basin of water, brought it back to scrub the mat clean, then rolled up the quilt and pillow to throw outside.

She had a very bad feeling in her heart, but at least this first night, aside from having to sleep on this bed that made her feel uncomfortable all over, passed peacefully enough.

The next day when she got up, her premonition was indeed confirmed. She was awakened by Ji Er at the fifth watch. When she got up, the other palace maids were still sleeping. Ji Er said she was new and needed to get up to speed quickly, then pointed to a pile of dirty clothes in the courtyard for her to wash.

Suzhen looked and estimated sixty or seventy pieces.

Suzhen had never done such work at home. When she and Leng Xue went to the capital, they managed themselves. At the Criminal Investigation Bureau, besides personal garments, outer robes, jackets, and official uniforms were all taken care of by Uncle Fu and handed to servants below for washing. Now having her starch and wash this huge pile of clothes was undoubtedly difficult.

She knew they were deliberately making things difficult. These clothes had been worn by unknown people, and as soon as she approached, a sour, stinking, fishy, rancid smell assaulted her nose.

But she said nothing. She took the bucket to the well to draw water, carried it back with some difficulty, sat on a small stool, took the clothes from the mat on the ground, and began washing silently.

Little one, your mother knows you’re uncomfortable too, but look – at least this isn’t the harsh cold season, and our situation isn’t too bad, is it? Since mother could get your father’s brothers out, she’ll definitely think of a way to bring you out safely too. She smiled inwardly, occasionally shifting her body to sit more comfortably without pressing on her belly. Even though it was only about two months now, her belly hadn’t shown yet.

After half an hour, she heard palace maids in the courtyard getting up. People came and went from several main rooms. Seeing her, they glanced several times. Soon they brought back breakfast from outside. Her hands ached and her stomach was terribly hungry, but naturally no one came to call her. She drew water to wash her hands briefly, wiped them on herself, then lifted the curtain to enter.

The palace maids in the room all looked over in unison. Ji Er pursed her lips and said coolly: “There’s no bowl for you here.”