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

Lin Zhiruo walked lightly, with curiosity and subtle emotions in her heart, into the classical and elegant reception room.

Inside the room, a eunuch was reclining contentedly on the Arhat bed, like a quiet painting, quietly waiting for her arrival.

Lin Zhiruo bowed slightly, then stood respectfully beside Concubine Yuyao, like a quiet sculpture.

"Empress Yuyao, is there something important that you are summoning today?"

Lin Zhiruo's voice was as soft as drizzling rain, and her eyes were gleaming with inquiry.

Imperial Concubine Yuyao opened her red lips slightly, her voice delicate and pleasant: "Actually, it wasn't me who summoned you today."

In her hand, she gently held a warm porcelain cup filled with tempting juice.

She has always loved fruit wine mixed with precious ice cubes, but because she was pregnant, Lin Zhiruo had carefully advised her to abstain from it temporarily.

Caiwei stood by, gently waving a round fan, bringing cool breeze to Concubine Yuyao.

"Actually, I wanted to talk to you."

Quan Wushuang's voice suddenly rang out. His face was still youthful, as if time had not left any traces on it.

Gao Zhongcheng was also gently waving a round fan for him. This was originally the job of low-level servants, but now they were doing it personally. Obviously, this conversation hid some secrets.

"Master General, what are your instructions?"

Lin Zhiruo bowed slightly to show her respect.

Quan Wushuang turned his gaze to Imperial Concubine Yuyao and said slowly, "I'd like to borrow someone temporarily to keep me company for a few days."

"This person" naturally refers to Lin Zhiruo.

The so-called "borrowing" was because Lin Zhiruo was nominally a maid temporarily loaned by Quan Wushuang to Concubine Yuyao, and she had to accompany her until she gave birth.

Those who were expelled from the harem were not supposed to come back, but Quan Wushuang used special means to make this happen, which naturally had many restrictions.

"Oh, this is really difficult... In the meantime, who will test the poison for me?"

Imperial Concubine Yuyao pretended to be worried, with a hint of joking in her words.

Quan Wushuang smiled faintly, appearing confident: "This aspect has been properly arranged, there is no need to worry. I am willing to send another maid here. Although she is not as skilled as this girl, she is also proficient in poisons."

"Can I trust her?"

Imperial Concubine Yuyao raised her eyebrows, her tone filled with doubt.

Quan Wushuang shook his head slightly, with a hint of helplessness in his smile: "The Queen's request is really hard to understand."

A sly smile bloomed on Concubine Yuyao's face, as delicate and charming as a peach blossom blooming in spring.

When mentioning Quan Wushuang's maid, Lin Zhiruo's mind came to the figure of the elderly palace maid Henghua.

Indeed, if she replaced Lin Zhiruo, she would definitely be able to do the job.

Henghua's intelligence and ability are well-known in the harem.

But Lin Zhiruo felt a little doubtful. If Henghua came, who would take care of Quan Wushuang's daily life?

The kind old lady always took great care of Quan Wushuang, and he might not even be able to change his clothes by himself.

"You want to borrow her for a few days, is it for a long journey?"

Imperial Concubine Yuyao's voice sounded again, with a hint of curiosity.

"Exactly. Someone invited me to go hunting together."

Quan Wushuang's answer was brief and clear.

“It’s a great honor.”

There was a hint of teasing in Concubine Yuyao's tone.

(Hunting...)

Lin Zhiruo wondered in her heart whether this noble pastime involved using falcons to chase prey and feel the lightning-fast speed and passion.

"It's an invitation from Lord Xiao Liang."

Quan Wushuang smiled slightly, but that smile was like fog, making it difficult to see into his thoughts.

(Master Xiao Liang?)

Lin Zhiruo murmured to herself, feeling that this matter was not simple, and perhaps she was worrying too much.

Lin Zhiruo prayed secretly in her heart, hoping not to be involved in this complicated dispute.

But then she changed her mind and thought that if she went hunting, she might be able to taste fresh prey, whether it was deer, rabbit, or other animals, which would all be rare delicacies.

(If I had the chance to try it, I would rather try the mochi made by the Moon Jade Rabbit than rabbit meat.)

Lin Zhiruo was daydreaming in her heart, and the beautiful legends and images about the moon and the jade rabbit emerged in her mind.

"This social interaction is so tedious."

Imperial Concubine Yuyao sighed softly, her tone filled with helplessness and fatigue.

"I also have many unspeakable difficulties."

There was a hint of emotion and sigh in Quan Wushuang's voice.

"So, you want to borrow Lin Zhiruo from me, right?"

There was a cunning gleam in Concubine Yuyao's eyes, like a sly fox.

"That's right. I hope Your Majesty can return this girl to me."

Quan Wushuang's answer was filled with a hint of pleading and expectation.

A playful glint flashed in Concubine Yuyao's eyes, as if she had found new fun and amusement.

"Why does it have to be Lin Zhiruo? I have many capable maids here."

There was a hint of provocation and questioning in Concubine Yuyao's voice.

"No, as long as Your Majesty is willing to return this girl, I have nothing else to ask for."

There was a hint of firmness and persistence in Quan Wushuang's tone.

Lin Zhiruo pondered in her heart, and always felt that there seemed to be a silent contest and game going on between Quan Wushuang and Concubine Yuyao.

She gently waved her round fan, trying to ease the slightly tense and delicate atmosphere.

"Oh, which maid do you want to lend me?"

There was a hint of amusement and curiosity in Concubine Yuyao's voice.

"I have already said that as long as the queen is willing to return this girl, it will be fine."

Quan Wushuang's answer seemed a little helpless and lost.

Imperial Concubine Yuyao narrowed her eyes slightly, a faint smile playing on the corner of her mouth: "Haha, you've been calling me 'this girl' and 'this girl' all the time, how boring."

Quan Wushuang's face looked a little embarrassed, as if his worries and soft spots had been touched upon.

"Let me ask you, Gao Zhongcheng, how do you usually address Lin Zhiruo?"

Concubine Yuyao turned her gaze to the taciturn Gao Zhongcheng, with a hint of playfulness and provocation in her tone.

"I always call her Xiaozhi."

Although Gao Zhongcheng's voice was low, it was kind and humorous.

He would occasionally go to the Shangshi Bureau to play and joke with Lin Zhiruo. He was a very funny and humorous uncle.

Imperial Concubine Yuyao stared at Quan Wushuang with the eyes of a hunter examining his prey, her tone tinged with provocation and teasing, "Then let me ask you, how do you usually address Lin Zhiruo?"

Quan Wushuang was silent for a moment, seeming to find it difficult to speak.

"You wouldn't call her Maoqiu, would you?"

There was a hint of teasing and mockery in Concubine Yuyao's voice.

Quan Wushuang looked embarrassed and awkward, and secretly glanced at Lin Zhiruo.

Only then did Lin Zhiruo realize that Quan Wushuang had never called her by her name.

(It doesn’t matter.)

Lin Zhiruo pondered this in her heart, but a trace of doubt and curiosity arose in her heart as to why Quan Wushuang looked so uneasy and perturbed.

Caiwei nudged Lin Zhiruo lightly with her elbow, as if she wanted to say something, but Lin Zhiruo was also confused and puzzled.

After a fierce contest and negotiation, Quan Wushuang finally got permission after two quarters of an hour under the teasing and harassment of Concubine Yuyao.

Lin Zhiruo's arms, which were waving the round fan, were already sore, as if she had gone through a long battle.