Why am I, a cook, always involved in cases?

Then, Lin Zhiruo learned the identity of the woman who caused the commotion yesterday. She was a lowly palace concubine.

According to legend, she came from a prominent family, had a gentle personality, and was once favored by the emperor.

But at this time two years ago, she suffered misfortune and contracted a rare disease. Her face became red, swollen and ulcerated, and her hair gradually fell out.

Some people suggested that she be expelled from the palace, but her damaged appearance made it impossible for her to return to her hometown, let alone remarry.

Out of kindness, the emperor allowed her to stay in the palace and continue to receive her salary.

However, why did this concubine utter such a vicious curse on the deceased mid-ranking concubine?

The answer seems obvious. As long as you think that the sores on her face might have been caused by a mid-level concubine, you can understand the anger in her heart.

The low-ranking concubine's illness began two years ago, and the middle-ranking concubine also passed away at that time.

Lin Zhiruo still remembers the symptoms clearly.

When she went to the place she suspected, she found what she expected, which turned her guess into conclusive evidence.

What she was looking for was a brightly colored, venomous red mushroom.

Lin Zhiruo carefully wrapped it in cloth and took the fruit home.

She was almost certain that this was the poison Quan Wushuang was looking for.

Lin Zhiruo passed the message to Gao Zhongcheng through the eunuch, and the next day, Quan Wushuang also arrived at the scene.

Since the items they brought this time were of great importance, everyone decided to wait in the Shangshi Bureau.

Wang Dahai poured tea and water for everyone with both excitement and anxiety.

After combing her hair, Lin Zhiruo sat on her small couch.

Although Wang Dahai knew nothing about medicine, the tea he brewed was excellent.

However, Lin Zhiruo did not want him to place snacks next to the poisonous mushrooms, so she politely declined.

Wang Dahai walked out of the room dejectedly, looking a little lonely.

Lin Zhiruo closed the door tightly and ignored his disappointment.

"Mr. Quan, please wrap your hands with this handkerchief, and also cover your mouth with this purse."

Lin Zhiruo handed a handkerchief and a purse to Quan Wushuang and Gao Zhongcheng.

She also covered her mouth with a handkerchief and put her hands into her purse.

She wanted to prepare gloves, but she couldn't find any thick enough.

Although Quan Wushuang and Gao Zhongcheng looked puzzled, they still dressed up in the same way.

Then, Lin Zhiruo took out the wooden box.

"This is..."

Quan Wushuang's voice sounded a little unclear through the handkerchief.

"Exactly. This is an extremely poisonous mushroom."

Lin Zhiruo opened the lid of the box, peeled off the layers of cloth, and revealed the gorgeous red poisonous mushroom.

This poisonous mushroom is shaped like a swollen fingertip, and its color and shape are both intimidating.

Just a small piece can be fatal.

This poisonous mushroom grows on dead broad-leaved trees. What's worse is that even the slightest touch can still exert its toxicity.

"This was found in the woods to the north."

Unlike the south side of the harem, the emperor rarely sets foot on the north side.

Therefore, the scenery there is poorly maintained, and a few dilapidated buildings can be seen occasionally.

The original garden landscape has been abandoned and has become devastated and unbearable to look at.

Perhaps it is this kind of environment that causes this red poisonous mushroom to grow like mushrooms after a rain.

It can only be said that she was unlucky. Although Lin Zhiruo explored everywhere in the harem, she had never set foot in all areas.

If she had discovered it earlier, she would have warned Quan Wushuang, because this poisonous mushroom is too dangerous.

This poisonous mushroom was originally extremely rare. If it weren't for this incident, Lin Zhiruo would never have thought that it would grow in the harem.

It is extremely lucky to be able to find it this time.

"This mushroom is poisonous. Just touching it can cause skin ulcers. Please stay away."

Lin Zhiruo raised her left sleeve to let them see the consequences of the touch.

She gently untied the white cloth, revealing the red and swollen scar on her wrist.

Yes, it was exactly the same as the face of that low-ranking concubine, and - also similar to the scar on the arm of the maid who was distributing flowers.

"I just touched it out of curiosity, and it became like this."

At that time, Lin Zhiruo tried the poison as usual.

She would go up the mountain with her father several times a year to pick food, and that was when she discovered this poisonous mushroom.

What’s worse is that Lin Zhiruo’s skin became red, swollen and ulcerated with just a slight touch.

As soon as her father discovered it, he hurriedly washed Lin Zhiruo's hands with running water, but the redness and swelling never disappeared.

"No wonder you're always wrapped in white bandages... Do you have the same scars down there?"

Quan Wushuang stared at Lin Zhiruo, his expression somewhat stiff.

Only then did Lin Zhiruo realize that this was the first time she had let the eunuch see her scars.

"No, the others are just traces of my own experiments."

Lin Zhiruo rewrapped the white cloth strips, then carefully rewrapped the cockscomb-like poisonous mushroom and put it into the box.

She needed to find time to deal with it properly.

"Uh, what do you mean by experiment?"

"It's just a matter of interest."

"What is interest?"

Quan Wushuang asked with a grim face, but Lin Zhiruo wanted to end the topic as soon as possible.

She pretended not to hear and continued:

"The person in the coffin has ulcers on his face and his hair is falling out. In my opinion, he was probably poisoned by this poisonous mushroom. Is this the poison that Chief Quan wants to find?"

"...You are still so smart."

Gao Zhongcheng answered on behalf of Quan Wushuang, with a hint of bitterness on his face.

Perhaps he did not want Lin Zhiruo to know that the cause of death of the mid-level concubine was poisoning by poisonous mushrooms.

But this made Lin Zhiruo feel a little unnatural.

"Could you tell me the details?"

Perhaps it would be better not to ask, but Lin Zhiruo found it hard to let go.

Quan Wushuang frowned and glanced at Gao Zhongcheng.

Gao Zhongcheng remained expressionless.

Quan Wushuang sighed.

"About a year ago, Lanpin fell ill. She developed facial ulcers and couldn't even speak."

Quan Wushuang would visit the mid-level concubines once a month, and would also visit the sick woman, a concubine named Lan.

Quan Wushuang said that every time he went to see her, he always saw Concubine Lan lying on the couch in pain, and her appearance was heartbreaking.

Another low-ranking concubine also showed the same symptoms. With the emperor's grace, both Concubine Lan and that concubine remained in the harem.

Although there were many rumors about the concubine, what would her father, a high-ranking official, think if she was sent back to her parents' home because of her ugly appearance?

Perhaps it was her illness that made her disheartened, and it is said that Lanpin later became much more gentle.

I heard that before that, she often relied on her father's power to bully others and her temperament was quite controversial.

Quan Wushuang must be extremely concerned about this person.

In addition to the matter of Imperial Concubine Yuyao and the low-ranking concubine at the funeral, she cannot be neglected in the slightest.

Maybe she wanted to use the poison that had harmed lower-ranking concubines to harm others, but accidentally touched it.

As a result, her appearance was ruined and she could no longer hope for the emperor's mercy.

As long as there is no trouble in the future, keeping her alive and waiting for death should be the simplest approach for the harem.

Although it is a bit bad, this is sometimes the only way to govern.

But Lanpin is a person who thinks highly of herself...