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

Chapter 16 Banquet

In the cold and bleak late autumn, a grand banquet was being prepared in the palace.

Imperial Concubine Yuyao and her maids were waiting in a pavilion by the water, with koi swimming in the pond and maple leaves fluttering on the shore.

Lin Zhiruo stood aside, looking at the hand warmer and hot stones she had carefully prepared.

These days she has been thinking about how to keep people warm in the cold, just like making a pot of warming soup, the heat must be just right.

"Zhiruo, your idea is really good." Concubine Yuyao smiled. "At this time of year in previous years, everyone would be shivering with cold."

Lin Zhiruo bowed slightly and said, "Your Majesty, I am too kind. It's just a little trick in the kitchen."

She looked at Princess Ai Ling sleeping in the basket and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

These days she has specially developed a kind of candy that is sweet but not greasy, adding a little mint, which can warm the stomach without irritating the mouth.

"Princess, remember to change the hot stone regularly," she warned carefully, "and don't hold the candy in your mouth for too long."

Imperial Concubine Yuyao's eyes flashed with approval, but also with a bit of cunning: "Speaking of which..."

The other maids all laughed.

"You are my maid." Concubine Yuyao pointed at the jade ornaments on Lin Zhiruo's chest.

"Your Majesty is right." Lin Zhiruo replied with her head down, but in her heart she was thinking about the dishes for the dinner.

At this moment, a burst of footsteps came.

Quan Wushuang came over accompanied by Gao Zhongcheng. Lin Zhiruo subconsciously lowered her head and pretended to sort the hot stones in the basket.

She knew that this steward had been visiting Imperial Concubine Yuyao frequently recently, which always made people feel that he had ulterior motives.

"Hello, Manager Quan." She had to speak and salute.

Quan Wushuang stared at her face for a long time: "Are you wearing makeup?"

"No." Lin Zhiruo denied subconsciously.

In fact, she only put some light rouge on the corners of her lips and the corners of her eyes.

"The freckles are gone." Quan Wushuang continued to ask.

Lin Zhiruo's heart tightened.

Over the years she has used special facial cream to conceal her appearance.

Dry clay is mixed with dye and applied around the wings of the nose, making the tiny tattoos look like ordinary black spots.

This is the way of survival she learned in the red-light district.

"Is it covered up by makeup?" Quan Wushuang narrowed his eyes.

"It's because I took off my makeup." Lin Zhiruo regretted it right after she said it. Her words were contradictory.

"What you said is strange and contradictory." Quan Wushuang's eyes were like tasting a suspicious dish.

Lin Zhiruo sighed secretly,

“No, that’s not the case,” she said softly. “Makeup doesn’t just make you beautiful.”

During her time in Red Mansion Lane, she had to cover her face with special facial cream every day.

At that time, her family's small medicine shop was rented in a brothel, like a simple yam mixed among delicacies.

"Why do you have to wear that kind of makeup? Is there any meaning?" Quan Wushuang asked in confusion.

"Yes, it can help you avoid being dragged into the alley." Lin Zhiruo said lightly.

"Have you ever been dragged in?" Quan Wushuang's voice trembled slightly.

"It was just an attempt." Lin Zhiruo looked at him coldly.

"But he was kidnapped by human traffickers," she added, her tone as if she had tasted a dish that had gone off the flavor.

At that time, she was collecting ingredients for making autumn desserts, but was accidentally kidnapped.

Quan Wushuang held his head and said, "I'm sorry, it's my fault for mismanagement."

His expression was dull, like a delicacy that had lost its luster.

"It doesn't matter. There's no difference between kidnappers trafficking people and people selling themselves because of poverty." Lin Zhiruo said calmly.

She still maintains this disguised look.

"Aren't you angry?" Quan Wushuang asked in confusion.

"Of course I'm angry." Lin Zhiruo looked at him, "But it's not Manager Quan's fault."

“Well, I’m sorry.”

The voice sounded particularly sincere, which surprised Lin Zhiruo.

Just as she was about to look up at him, a cold touch suddenly fell on her head.

"Butler, you hurt me." She frowned and looked at Quan Wushuang.

"Really? For you." Quan Wushuang's smile was a little shy.

Lin Zhiruo touched the cold silver hairpin on her head.

This hairpin looks simple, but it hides exquisite carvings, just like a delicacy that looks plain but has infinite flavor.

"Then see you at the banquet later." Quan Wushuang turned and left, his back like a puff of green smoke.

"Ah - great." Su Su's eyes flashed with envy.

Lin Zhiruo looked at the silver hairpin in her hand and wanted to give it to Susu.

But Caiwei held her hand and shook her head gently, indicating that this "dish" could not be given away at will.

"Really? You're breaking your promise so soon." Concubine Yuyao's voice was filled with a hint of displeasure.

She took the silver hairpin and put it on Lin Zhiruo herself, her movements as gentle as if she was decorating a delicate dessert.

"Now, your maid doesn't belong to me alone, does she?" the imperial concubine said meaningfully.

Lin Zhiruo was confused.

She only knew the cooking skills, but didn't know how to cook the harem dish.

Lin Zhiruo looked at the banquet venue in the distance, but her thoughts drifted back to the imperial kitchen.

She had to prepare a special dessert for tonight's palace banquet, which had to highlight Concubine Yuyao's status and also take Princess Ai Ling's taste into consideration.

As she was pondering the ingredients, the atmosphere in the pavilion grew tense.

Su Su and Cai Wei exchanged meaningful glances.

Imperial Concubine Yuyao's gaze lingered on the silver hairpin on her head, and that expression reminded Lin Zhiruo of a hesitant diner when tasting food.

She didn't understand why a hairpin could cause such a reaction.

In her opinion, this was just a gift from General Quan on a whim.

But obviously, in this deep palace, every action is like a carefully prepared delicacy, full of hidden secrets.

Lin Zhiruo sighed. She would rather go back to the stove. The heat and the smell there were the language she was most familiar with...