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

One afternoon in the hot summer, news suddenly came from the Glazed Palace about the arrival of rare treasures from foreign countries. This news was like a mysterious wind, stirring Lin Zhiruo's curiosity and prompting her to go and find out.

She walked into the magnificent hall of the palace and saw a huge dressing mirror standing in the hall like a guardian god. Concubine Yuyao was standing in front of the mirror, stroking her newly purchased gorgeous clothes in her hands, and showing a satisfied smile to her reflection in the mirror.

Caiwei was standing by, carefully uncovering the cloth covering the mirror like a maid serving a goddess. Every movement she made revealed her respect for the mirror.

This mirror was extraordinary, not only because of its huge size, but also because of the uniqueness of its mirror surface that surprised Lin Zhiruo.

Ordinary mirrors are mostly made of copper, and even the one used by Lin Zhiruo herself is a carefully polished copper mirror.

However, this mirror is not made of copper, but it can reflect the beautiful face of Concubine Yuyao more clearly, with a clarity far exceeding that of an ordinary copper mirror.

"Haha, do you know the secret of this mirror?"

There was a hint of teasing in Concubine Yuyao's voice, and she cast an expectant look at Lin Zhiruo.

Lin Zhiruo pondered for a moment and answered tentatively:

"Could it be a glass mirror from a distant foreign country?"

After hearing this, Concubine Yuyao frowned slightly, and a hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes, as if Lin Zhiruo's answer did not exceed her expectations.

"How clever! It's as if there really are two Jade Goddesses competing for glory here!"

Susu and Guiyuan echoed excitedly, as if they had witnessed a miracle.

"I remember there was a small mirror, but unfortunately Susu accidentally broke it."

Imperial Concubine Yuyao sighed softly, with a hint of helplessness and regret in her tone.

After hearing this, Su Su's face changed slightly, and she quickly waved her hand to stop him:

"Don't say it, don't bring up that sad past."

Although glass mirrors were extremely rare at the time, they were not completely unobtainable.

However, due to the complexity of their production process, these mirrors often had to be brought across the ocean from the far West, and were therefore regarded as treasures.

If a maid accidentally broke it, it would be understandable that she would lose her job.

Fortunately, Concubine Yuyao had a gentle temperament, so Susu was able to keep her position.

Lin Zhiruo stared at the mirror and secretly admired it:

(So ​​that's why. After all, a bronze mirror can't reflect the richness and subtlety of colors, but this glass mirror can truly reflect the person's appearance and charm.)

The surface of the mirror is as smooth as a mirror, as if it can see into people's hearts.

Seeing this, Su Su raised a sly smile and said to Lin Zhiruo:

"Lin Zhiruo, are you also interested in these kinds of rare treasures?"

Lin Zhiruo nodded, her eyes filled with curiosity and desire:

"I'm very curious about its structure and principles. If I can make it myself, maybe I can start a new business."

Hearing this, Su Su patted Lin Zhiruo's shoulder gently and said with a smile:

"Yeah, I think so. However, what attracts me more is your curiosity and desire to explore the unknown."

"Is this mirror a gift from the Emperor?"

Lin Zhiruo asked curiously.

Imperial Concubine Yuyao shook her head, handed the gorgeous dress in her hand to Guiyuan, and then sat gracefully on the Arhat bed:

"This is a gift from a foreign envoy."

When Lin Zhiruo heard this, her heart moved and she remembered the caravan that Wang Dahai had mentioned.

It turned out that the huge caravan was a pioneering team sent to welcome foreign envoys.

"However, it seems that the other concubines have also received gifts."

Su Su said with a hint of dissatisfaction.

Although Caiwei tried to persuade her not to say that, she might have had the same thought in her heart.

Although Imperial Concubine Yuyao holds the same status as the other three superior consorts, envoys must also be treated equally.

However, such a luxurious mirror actually brought four, and Lin Zhiruo knew how difficult it was.

Whether crossing a vast desert or sailing across a rough sea, glass is extremely fragile.

The messengers must carefully protect these mirrors to prevent them from being damaged in the slightest.

Since they were so considerate to the concubines, perhaps they came with some important deal or mission to discuss.

Lin Zhiruo continued to stare at the mirror while thinking.

The next day, Gao Zhongcheng came to discuss an important matter with Lin Zhiruo.

"Master Guard, what is the important matter to discuss?"

Lin Zhiruo asked as she served the fragrant tea.

Besides the two of them, there was also the head maid Caiwei in the room.

Taking into account the differences between men and women, even if Gao Zhongcheng is a eunuch, suspicion must be avoided.

Caiwei looked at Gao Zhongcheng with a slightly scrutinizing look. This maid, who was over thirty years old, originally seemed to have a good impression of this diligent and capable eunuch, but after learning the day before that he was already married, she completely lost interest.

The excellent head maid's wedding date is always far away, and she may also have a subtle loneliness in her heart.

Gao Zhongcheng didn't seem to care about Caiwei's existence. Lin Zhiruo secretly speculated that perhaps this was not a major case.

"There's something I'd like to hear Miss Lin Zhiruo's opinion on."

Gao Zhongcheng's voice was steady and powerful. It seemed that today's events had nothing to do with Quan Wushuang, but he was asked by an acquaintance to come for consultation.

Perhaps it was because Gao Zhongcheng had previously asked Lin Zhiruo for help regarding a strange food poisoning incident that an acquaintance had encountered, so he came to her again this time.

"I am a humble girl, not very knowledgeable, and I wonder if I can help the guard-sir with his worries and difficulties."

Lin Zhiruo said modestly, then sat down on the chair.

Caiwei also prepared a cup of fragrant tea for Lin Zhiruo. Her tea-making skills were perfect, and the tea she brewed was fragrant and intoxicating.

However, whenever Lin Zhiruo mentioned this matter, she would always be blamed by her.

Lin Zhiruo kept in mind that she should not say anything that hinted at one’s age.

"So……"

Gao Zhongcheng spoke slowly and told a bizarre story that happened in a wealthy family.

There were two young girls in that family, of similar age, who had been loved and cared for by their parents since childhood.

However, this love gradually evolved into overprotection.

When the two young ladies reached marriageable age, they were forbidden to go out alone and from then on they stayed at home all day long.

It is said that in order to monitor them, their parents specially arranged for maids to follow them at all times.

Perhaps out of sympathy and pity, the maids were quite tolerant of the two young ladies and often took them out to play when their parents were not paying attention.

However, the good times did not last long. After the incident was exposed, their parents monitored them more closely and even arranged servants to guard outside their boudoirs.

The two young ladies were naturally introverted, gentle and docile. From then on, they spent all day embroidering and no longer had any contact with men other than their father.

The male servant in charge of surveillance must keep a certain distance from the room where the young lady lives.

After nightfall, the father would lock his two daughters' rooms to prevent them from going out.

However, under such close surveillance, a shocking incident occurred.

One of the ladies - my younger sister was actually pregnant.

The father was furious. He didn't understand why such a thing could happen to his daughter under such close surveillance?

The mother was heartbroken and in tears because her daughter got pregnant before marriage.

Only the other lady, the elder sister, came to her younger sister's defense and said something incredible:

"My sister is pregnant with the fairy's child."

When the parents heard this, they found it absurd and unbelievable and were furious.

However, the servants who were monitoring her never slacked off even a little, and all the maids who had previously allowed her daughter to go out were replaced.

In order to prevent the new maids from feeling sympathetic and revealing the secret, the parents tried not to let them get close to their two daughters.

If one does not use magic or sorcery, sneaking into the boudoir would undoubtedly be a pipe dream.

The parents were puzzled and bewildered by this and fell into deep distress.

"This is really a bizarre and incredible thing."

Lin Zhiruo said as she sipped her tea.