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

In a quiet corner of the food shop, the kitten Rongrong curled up at Wang Dahai's feet, his eyes revealing his desire for dried fish.

In this usually deserted place, Lin Zhiruo was concentrating on selecting ingredients that might be used to make delicious food. Her expression was focused and profound, as if she was performing a silent ritual.

As soon as she stepped into the harem, Lin Zhiruo eagerly asked Wang Dahai about the secret of eunuchs' castration.

Although she had heard a few things from her father, the scattered information was difficult to piece together into a complete picture.

She had expected Wang Dahai to uncover more mysteries. However, this so-called quack doctor was not worthy of his reputation and knew no more than her father.

"Little girl, are you still studying these old things?" Wang Dahai muttered in a low voice, his face full of fatigue and helplessness.

The dried fish in his hand was gently knocked down by Rongrong, and then the kitten nimbly picked it up and put it into its mouth.

The fluffy fur becomes more and more shiny due to the owner's careful care, just like the finest silk, and also the perfect material for high-quality brushes.

However, due to the obstruction of Wang Dahai and Gao Zhongcheng, Lin Zhiruo was never able to obtain even a strand of it.

"Now that the palace no longer recruits eunuchs, what's the point of you studying these things?" Wang Dahai's eyes were a little empty, as if he was hiding an unspeakable past.

A question suddenly arose in Lin Zhiruo's mind: "How on earth did the eunuch get into this forbidden area of ​​the harem?"

Facing Lin Zhiruo's question, Wang Dahai nonchalantly replied, "Apart from that sharp blade, what other means are there?" while gently teasing Rongrong with foxtail grass.

"No, that's not what I'm asking." Lin Zhiruo quickly clarified. What she really wanted to know was how to identify a person's eunuch identity.

"Well, in the past, as long as you had a surgery certificate, you could enter the palace, but now..." Wang Dahai's words were a little shy, and his innocent look was somewhat similar to Concubine Dexin. "How should I put it? It is confirmed through a special palpation." There was a hint of embarrassment in his voice that was hard to conceal.

"Is it just such a simple touch?" Lin Zhiruo asked bluntly.

"Little girl, your words are too direct." Wang Dahai said in a reproachful tone.

He recalled the past when cheating was rare, but now cheating is growing like weeds.

Therefore, the court began to pay attention to inspections to prevent any accidents.

Some people forged certificates, and some people found someone to replace them, just to get away with a little profit.

The imperial court would send three officials from different government offices to conduct strict inspections. In the past, it was required that the operation be witnessed in person, but this caused some officials to have evil thoughts, and this rule was later cancelled.

Lin Zhiruo tilted her head, lost in deep thought, her gaze once again fixed on the ingredients: "Could it be..."

Before Lin Zhiruo could finish her words, she was interrupted by Wang Dahai.

He let go of the kitten and changed the subject: "Speaking of eunuchs, have you heard about the new eunuch?"

"I've heard a little bit about it." Lin Zhiruo replied.

"Well, it's been a while since young people came here. Everyone is very happy." Wang Dahai twirled his mustache and sighed.

Although eunuchs usually lose their masculine features after becoming eunuchs, occasionally some will keep their beards like Wang Dahai, which may be the only thing he can be proud of in this harem.

Many young girls, especially unmarried girls, are obsessed with cleanliness.

Some of them prefer the androgynous beauty of eunuchs to those men with thick or rough body hair.

"There are quite a few handsome young men here this time, so that's why there's so much commotion. They're still helping out right now, so it's quiet for now. But once the best among them are promoted, things will get really busy.

I hope I can remain calm until then." Wang Dahai himself was always uneasy and uneasy when Quan Wushuang came, yet he still commented on others in this way.

However, judging from the fact that he expressed his admiration for the appearance of those people, he had obviously made a careful confirmation.

"Last time, someone was pestered by a lower-level concubine when he was preparing to boil water for a bath. It seemed that he was in a very difficult situation." Wang Dahai said.

"We can't just sit back and watch." Lin Zhiruo responded.

Although she was a concubine of lower rank, she must have been one of the concubines who had never been favored by the emperor.

It is not uncommon to see people like this in the harem who are lonely and unbearable.

It was probably inevitable that a few concubines would regard palace maids or eunuchs as objects of extramarital affairs to comfort their empty hearts.

This is really a headache - Lin Zhiruo started to prepare the ingredients while thinking about these troubles.

"When are you going to tell her the truth?" I have heard this question countless times.

Quan Wushuang asked with half-opened eyes looking at the follower in front of him.

"Let's wait for some time." Quan Wushuang replied.

"Oh? Then how long will it take to wait?" Gao Zhongcheng asked Quan Wushuang calmly while standing beside the desk in the study.

Although his brows were furrowed, this was his normal state.

"I understand that you will be nervous, but your attitude is too obvious and it will easily reveal your flaws," Gao Zhongcheng said.

"...That's enough for other palace maids." Quan Wushuang replied.

"Lin Zhiruo looks at you as helpless as a deer that has lost its protection." Gao Zhongcheng's words were a little teasing.

"...You are really too long-winded." Quan Wushuang said impatiently.

Quan Wushuang examined the documents on the table, divided them into two categories: feasible and infeasible, and then stamped them one by one.

There was no one else in the study except the two of them.

There must be a military officer yawning outside guarding the gate. He would immediately notice anyone approaching.

Gao Zhongcheng would only bring up such matters on occasions like this.

"I understand." Quan Wushuang stamped the paper vigorously and handed the pile of papers to Gao Zhongcheng.

Gao Zhongcheng silently took the pile of papers, sorted them out, and put them into the cage for his subordinates to carry.

"If we don't make a decision in time, we will probably cause more troubles in the future," said Gao Zhongcheng.

"It would be more troublesome to make a decision in time, right?" Quan Wushuang asked back.

Quan Wushuang naturally knew what Gao Zhongcheng was thinking.

Gao Zhongcheng seemed to be suggesting that he should completely bring the cook, Lin Zhiruo, into his camp.

And doing so means—

"Your Excellency the wise general will definitely interfere." Quan Wushuang said.

He seemed to have already seen the monocled man who doted on his daughter running over and pointing fingers and obstructing things.