In the years of famine, I led a comfortable life with my husband

Seeing that they had arrived at the palace smoothly, Su Zhizhi jumped off the carriage and said gratefully to the driver, "Sorry for the trouble."

Su Zhizhi handed the silver in her hand to the driver and said, "This money is for your morning tea."

After saying that, Su Zhizhi walked towards the imperial kitchen. Along the way, she deliberately avoided the palace maids and eunuchs. She arrived at the imperial kitchen safely, and Su Zhizhi breathed a sigh of relief.

Chef Su hadn't expected to see Su Zhizhi the next day. He couldn't help but feel curious and asked, "Why are you back today? Is Mr. Xie okay?"

Hearing Chef Su mention Xie Chengjin, Su Zhizhi could no longer hide the worry in her eyes. She shook her head and said dejectedly, "No, I didn't see Xie Chengjin when I left the palace this time. He didn't go home, so I think he should still be in the palace. Can you do me a favor and ask around in the palace where Xie Chengjin might be?"

Chef Su looked at Su Zhizhi like this, then glanced at Su Zhizhi's hands. He couldn't help but sigh, but still spoke softly: "Forget it, you are also a person of temperament. Fortunately, I have some connections in this palace. I will ask around for you. But your hands are in such a state now, I don't think you can cook anymore. Come and help me, it will be easier."

Su Zhizhi agreed with many thanks, but three days passed and Chef Su still hadn't received any news. Su Zhizhi was also not idle and had been inquiring about Xie Chengjin's whereabouts.

However, it was as if this person did not exist in the entire palace. Not a single piece of news had been heard, and many people did not know who Xie Chengjin was.

The people in the palace were treacherous. Even though Su Zhizhi had been comforting herself that "no news is the best news", she still couldn't help but wonder, what if Xie Chengjin had already been killed? The more she thought about it, the more scared she became. Finally, she suddenly thought of someone - Wanpin.

Wanpin was the last person Su Zhizhi could think of, but the previous conflict with Wanpin had created a huge gap between the two. Su Zhizhi felt a headache when she thought about asking Wanpin for help.

But no matter what, Su Zhizhi didn't want to give up. After thinking it over, she went to Zhongcui Palace. Along the way, Su Zhizhi prayed that Concubine Wan would not torture herself too much.

Seeing Su Zhizhi approaching, a hint of sarcasm flashed across Wanpin's face. Before Su Zhizhi could say anything, Wanpin sarcastically said, "Hey, isn't this our Miss Su? How come you have time to come and sit with me today? You're just a seductive creature who only knows how to seduce His Majesty. You're really polluting this Zhongcui Palace of mine."

Su Zhizhi suppressed her anger and bowed to Wanpin according to etiquette. However, Wanpin just looked at Su Zhizhi kneeling on the ground without saying anything to let her get up. Seeing this, Su Zhizhi could only endure the discomfort in her knees and kneel quietly on the ground.

After a long while, Su Zhizhi saw that Wanpin still had no intention of speaking. She struggled for a while before finally speaking, "Madam Wanpin, I have come here this time and hope that you can help me."

Wanpin played with her fingers and said sarcastically, "Isn't our Miss Su very capable? Why does she need me to intervene? However, I do know a little about what Miss Su has been asking about in the palace. However, if Miss Su wants to know, she will have to pay a price."

Su Zhizhi gritted her teeth and looked up at Concubine Wan. "Your Majesty has ordered this. If this humble minister can do it, I will do it without hesitation."

Wanpin smiled sweetly and said, "I didn't expect Miss Su to be so affectionate. Well, I'll grant your wish. It just so happens that I need to wash my feet today, so why not have you serve me instead?"

Su Zhizhi's pupils suddenly shrank, as if she heard something extremely surprising, and she froze in place. Then Su Zhizhi realized what Wanpin had just said, and an expression of humiliation gradually appeared on her face.

Seeing Su Zhizhi's reaction, Wanpin seemed very satisfied. She casually picked up a grape beside her and put it in her mouth, saying disdainfully, "Why, is it that Miss Su is not happy? I think so. How could someone who can serve His Majesty be willing to wash the feet of a mere concubine like me? Come on, send Miss Su out. If she doesn't want to, I can't force her, right?"

After saying that, two guards came in from outside, pretending to drag Su Zhizhi out. Seeing this, Su Zhizhi seemed to have made up her mind. She kowtowed to Wanpin and said, "Your humble servant... is willing..."

Su Zhizhi's voice was not loud, but the people around her could still hear it clearly. Wanpin's face blossomed with a smug smile. Then she waved her hand, and the guards retreated. Then a basin of water was placed next to Su Zhizhi. The maid next to Wanpin said, "Miss Su, please."

Su Zhizhi took a deep breath with trembling hands, and regardless of the wound on her hand, she picked up the basin of water next to her and placed it at Wanpin's feet.

For the next step, Su Zhizhi did not move for a long time. She had been preparing herself mentally, while Wanpin just sat there, looking at Su Zhizhi jokingly, waiting for Su Zhizhi's next move.

Until Wanpin's patience was almost exhausted, Su Zhizhi tremblingly untied the gauze wrapped around her hands, but seemed to think of something and wrapped the gauze back on. She carefully took off Wanpin's shoes and socks and gently put them into the water.

Su Zhizhi also put her hand in. The slightly hot water seeped through the gauze and the wound began to hurt again, but Su Zhizhi did not stop her movements. She forcibly endured the psychological humiliation and physical torture. She tried her best to make Wanpin less hostile to her.

After about an incense stick of time, Su Zhizhi's torture finally ended. Wanpin looked at the top of Su Zhizhi's head with satisfaction and chuckled, "I didn't expect Miss Su's cooking skills to be quite good. Why don't you stay in the imperial kitchen in the future and come to my Zhongcui Palace to be a foot washer maid? That would be a good idea, Miss Su?"

Su Zhizhi's face turned pale for a moment, but she still forced a smile, "Your Majesty, you are joking. I am doing quite well in the imperial kitchen. Thank you in advance for your kindness."

Wanpin sneered, "Alright, there's no need to pretend to be nice to me. Leave now. I'll send someone to look for you in a few days."

After saying that, Wanpin turned and walked towards the inner room, while Su Zhizhi was asked to leave Zhongcui Palace by Wanpin's maid.

After walking out of Zhongcui Palace, Su Zhizhi took a deep breath and looked down at the gauze on her hand that was still wet. She suddenly felt that her idea of ​​coming to find Wanpin was ridiculous.

She knew very well in her heart that coming to see Wanpin would only lead to her humiliation. As for her request, it was nothing but a joke to Wanpin.