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

Lin Zhiruo pondered silently in her heart that the "they" she was referring to were undoubtedly the three graceful maids in front of her.

Today's snack was actually a simple and plain white flour pastry, eaten without any filling, but it just happened to cater to Lin Zhiruo's taste. She has never been partial to those sweet and greasy things.

She preferred to dip her pastries in the sauce, considering it a unique "seasoning" whose taste was so unexpected and wonderful.

In the deep courtyard of the Glazed Palace, the maids took turns to rest. At this time in the past, Lin Zhiruo might choose to go out for a leisurely stroll, or chat with Caiwei and Susu.

However, today, she was gathered with these three new maids, and the atmosphere was a little awkward.

Lin Zhiruo was not good at socializing. These new maids had been in the palace for a long time, and more than a month had passed in a hurry. It was only recently that she could barely remember their names.

These three maids looked so similar that Lin Zhiruo initially thought they looked alike because they were from the same hometown. Later, she found out that they were actually three sisters related by blood.

The names were easy to remember - Baiyu, Heiyu, Qinxiang, but Lin Zhiruo always found it difficult to distinguish their respective identities.

It was not until they tied their hair with ties of the same color as their names that Lin Zhiruo was finally able to distinguish them, just like the various flowers in a field of flowers in spring, competing for beauty.

They are not triplets, but sisters who are one year apart in age. In order of age, they are Baiyu, Heiyu, and Qinxiang.

As maids serving the concubines of higher rank, they all possessed stunning looks, with picturesque curved eyebrows and sparkling phoenix eyes, revealing an otherworldly temperament.

Among the three, Lin Zhiruo felt that her second sister Heiyu's eyes were the most determined, as if they contained a power that could not be underestimated, which made people feel awe.

"Why haven't you tasted the cakes yet?" Lin Zhiruo had already sat down in the chair and started to savor the cakes carefully.

The tea was brewed by your Excellency during the previous break. Although it has cooled down a little, it still retains its light fragrance that is refreshing.

Upon hearing this, the eldest sister Bai Yu sat down gently, followed by Hei Yu and Qin Xiang.

However, the room fell into silence, so quiet that even the sound of a pin drop could be heard clearly.

Lin Zhiruo didn't care about it, but she couldn't help feeling a little uncomfortable when others were watching her while she was eating.

Do they have anything they want to say?

If you have something to say, just say it.

Lin Zhiruo hated trying to guess what other people were thinking and then trying to deal with it.

If it was her boss, it would be fine, but since they were colleagues, she was unwilling to make such considerate gestures unless she particularly liked them.

So, everyone ate the cakes in silence. Perhaps because of Lin Zhiruo's silence, the three people opposite also remained silent.

Lin Zhiruo felt that they could just ignore her and chat on their own.

After eating the cakes and drinking the tea, Lin Zhiruo breathed a long sigh of relief and felt refreshed.

At this time, among the three people who had been silent, Bai Yu, who had a white hair rope tied around his head, suddenly looked at Lin Zhiruo, with a questioning look in his eyes.

"I have something to ask you, is it convenient for you?" Her tone was calm and steady, revealing an unquestionable majesty that made people feel awe.

Lin Zhiruo remembered having heard that her youngest sister Qin Xiang was the same age as herself, so she should also be twenty years old this year, the same age as Imperial Concubine Yuyao, and a little older than Susu and the others. She did look more calm and reserved, with quite a bit of the demeanor of a lady from a noble family.

"How did you manage to secure a place in this Glazed Palace?" Bai Yu's question was direct and pointed, like a sharp blade, pointing straight to the heart.

How to answer this question?

Lin Zhiruo pondered in her heart.

Because the Liuli Palace was short of staff, Quan Wushuang took the opportunity to arrange her in as the food tasting maid.

But she thought there was no need to mention this matter so as not to cause unnecessary trouble.

"As for this matter, I already knew a little about it. However, I still find it hard to be convinced based on just this. How could that suspicious Yuyao trust you so much?" Bai Yu's words revealed a hint of doubt. She accidentally called out the name "Yuyao" and the expression on her face was slightly distorted, as if she was hiding some unspeakable secret in her heart.

So that's how it is. Since she and Concubine Yuyao are the same age, perhaps they were close friends in the past.

The sudden appearance of a person of unknown origin next to a close friend will naturally arouse suspicion and vigilance.

“I’m just a food-tasting maid.

If anyone poisons Imperial Concubine Yuyao, I will be the first to fall. You just need to treat me as such."

Lin Zhiruo answered frankly that she felt there was no need to mention the heroin incident that had initially brought her and Imperial Concubine Yuyao together, so as not to stir up the past.

"Although I've heard of it before, you are really straightforward and honest." Hei Yu commented. There was no obvious emotional fluctuation in her tone, but it made Lin Zhiruo feel a hint of invisible pressure, like a dark cloud pressing down on her head.

"Thank you." Lin Zhiruo wasn't sure if this could be considered a compliment, but she still chose to bow her head in thanks.

After all, although the other party is new, his status in the palace is obviously much higher than hers, and he should not be offended easily.

In the subsequent conversation, Lin Zhiruo gradually realized that the relationship between these three maids was complex and subtle.

They are adapting to the strange and intrigue-filled environment of the harem, but the senior palace maids are always running away, which makes them feel lonely and confused.

Especially the third sister Qin Xiang in the family, she is introverted and shy, and seems to have more difficulty integrating into this new group.

Lin Zhiruo thought that she should indeed be more restrained, reduce contact with the outside world, and focus on the affairs of the palace.

However, today she had made an appointment with Xiao Cui and Hu Lan'er to go out together.

Now is the time when Lin Zhiruo is responsible for preparing food for the concubines. If she withdraws, it will undoubtedly increase the burden and pressure on both of them.

Just when Lin Zhiruo was worried about this, a thought suddenly came to her mind.

Simply put, wouldn't it be enough if someone could monitor Lin Zhiruo's every move and make sure she didn't do anything unusual?

In this way, you can keep yourself safe and avoid unnecessary suspicion and disputes.

Although the three sisters look very similar, like three lotus flowers blooming side by side, Qin Xiang is obviously the youngest one, showing a bit of immaturity and innocence.