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

Gently rotating the mirror may capture more charming scenery in the world.

Lin Zhiruo adjusted the mirror in the concubine's hand with gentle gestures, so that it faced the soft light.

Light and shadow intertwined on the mirror, and then drew a hazy and soft halo on the white wall, causing the people around to marvel.

On the wall, a bright circle quietly appeared, vaguely depicting the portrait of a gentle woman. Her smile was peaceful and indifferent, as if it could dispel all the noise and disturbances in the world.

"Why is this wonder so amazing?" Quan Wushuang was the first to break the silence. His eyes were fixed on the wall, and he almost blurted out "It's unbelievable."

Lin Zhiruo already understood in her heart - she had heard of a mysterious object called a magic mirror, and today, she was fortunate enough to witness its magic with her own eyes.

It is said that this type of bronze mirror can reveal unique patterns or text when illuminated by light, due to the subtle undulations formed on its surface during the production process.

Some people also praise it as the mirror of light and shadow, and its superb craftsmanship is breathtaking.

Lin Zhiruo's adoptive father, Lin Xiang, is not only proficient in food ingredients and cooking, but also knows a lot about the strange things in the world.

Since childhood, he had told her many fascinating stories, and the legend of the magic mirror was one of them.

That night, the moonlight was like silver, quietly flowing in through the gaps in the window lattice, illuminating the ancient mirror and causing it to project the mysterious image on the wall.

Perhaps, the veil covering the mirror accidentally slipped off, allowing this face to be revealed.

All of this is a clever combination of chance and coincidence, but it was misunderstood as the appearance of ghosts, adding a bit of mystery.

"...this face..." Tears welled up in Concubine Dexin's eyes. She sobbed, letting the tears flow freely, just staring blankly at the image on the wall.

"It's so similar to my deceased mother."

She hugged the bronze mirror tightly, a smile on her lips, tears and snot mixed together, showing her true feelings.

Although she was one of the four ladies and had an extremely noble status, at this moment, Lin Zhiruo felt that she was more like a child longing for maternal love, her heart filled with endless longing and attachment.

Lin Zhiruo understood why Concubine Dexin cherished this mirror, as it was most likely a relic of her mother.

For her, this mirror may be the only bond connecting her to her mother. Even though she is in this deep palace, her mother is still with her.

Although Lin Zhiruo didn't know what a mother was, she guessed that for Concubine Dexin, her mother must be the person she admired and relied on the most in her heart.

Concubine Dexin wiped her nose while holding the bronze mirror tightly in her arms.

Although the image on the wall has disappeared, that gentle smile is forever engraved in her heart.

"Mother, are you unhappy because I changed the mirror? That's why you appeared to me like this..."

"This is just a combination of many coincidences." Lin Zhiruo said calmly.

However, Concubine Dexin did not seem to listen to Lin Zhiruo's words.

Sang Ren handed over a handkerchief and wiped the tears from the concubine's face.

At this moment, a voice broke the sad atmosphere.

"The tea is ready." A woman who used to be the head maid, now has emerged in this fierce court struggle. She came over with fragrant tea and exquisite snacks.

She first served tea to Quan Wushuang with a smile on her face, but when she saw the crying Concubine Dexin, her expression changed slightly.

However, she soon regained her smile and slowly walked towards the concubines.

"Empress De Xin, why are you so sad? It's beneath your dignity to lose your composure in front of so many people."

She comforted the concubines and seemed very respectful, but Lin Zhiruo had already seen her true face from many details.

She knew very well that a woman who pretended to be nice in front of men but showed her true colors elsewhere was no different from those prostitutes.

Such women are always the most likely to offend others and cause unnecessary disputes.

"Oh, you still keep this old mirror?" The maid looked at the bronze mirror, a hint of greed flashing in her eyes.

"Since the envoy has given you a new mirror, there's no need to keep this old one, right? How about giving it to one of our servants as a reward?"

After saying that, she snatched the bronze mirror from Concubine Dexin's loosened hands.

She squinted her eyes and looked at the mirror, as if estimating its value, most likely wanting to own it herself.

"...I..." Only a weak voice was heard from Concubine Dexin.

However, the maid paid no attention to it and just admired her "trophy" proudly.

After looking at the bronze mirror, she put it in her arms and prepared to continue serving tea to Quan Wushuang.

"Give it back to me!" Concubine Dexin stretched out her hand and grabbed the maid's sleeve.

"What do you mean?"

"Give it back to me!" Imperial Concubine Dexin grabbed the maid's clothes and snatched the bronze mirror from her hands.

This action made the maid freeze in place.

The maids who arrived later also frowned.

"How can you behave so unbecomingly in front of guests?"

If you only look at Concubine Dexin's snotty and tearful appearance, and her action of forcibly taking back the mirror, people might think that she was being unreasonable.

But Lin Zhiruo, Quan Wushuang and others saw the whole thing and had their own clear judgment.

Quan Wushuang spoke slowly.

"That mirror seems to be a favorite of the Empress. Taking it without permission is truly inappropriate."

His tone was gentle and polite, but contained a hint of reproach.

He walked up to the maid and stretched out his big hand.

The maid blushed, but the hand stopped in her hair and gently pulled it off, removing the hairpin from her head.

The carvings on the hairpin were so exquisite that they were truly amazing.

Quan Wushuang squinted his eyes and looked at the patterns on the hairpin.

"Is this also a gift from the Empress? Even if it is, how can a maid like you be worthy of wearing jewelry with the emblems of a high-ranking concubine? Don't you understand this principle?"

His tone was still polite, his smile was still gentle, but precisely because of this, he seemed even more terrifying.

Quan Wushuang knew very well that the maid had never taken Concubine Dexin seriously, but he did not punish her publicly because that would embarrass Concubine Dexin and would also exceed the duties of a eunuch.

However, as long as he had this physical evidence, he could legitimately intervene in the matter.

This was a small punishment but a big warning to the maid.

"From now on, I hope you will abide by your duties and never do anything so out of line again."

Quan Wushuang finished speaking with a smile, and the maid collapsed to the ground on the spot.

The maids who arrived later also looked guilty and their faces turned pale.

Seeing Quan Wushuang start to taste the tea as if nothing had happened, Lin Zhiruo couldn't help but feel awe in her heart, and she was even more impressed by Quan Wushuang's wit and skills.