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

(Um?)

Lin Zhiruo gently stroked her smooth chin, and gradually formed an image of the most suitable candidate in her mind.

(But……)

She frowned in thought, unconsciously tangling her hair with her fingers.

After some hesitation, Lin Zhiruo finally realized the urgency of the situation and turned to Concubine Yuyao with a determined light in her eyes:

"I have a suitable candidate in mind. This person is a master in both cooking and medicine. He has successfully performed Caesarean sections many times and is very experienced."

"Oh, really..."

When Imperial Concubine Yuyao heard this, she couldn't help but express her sincere admiration, but Caiwei was horrified and asked in a trembling voice:

"There's actually such a person? Could it be one of Quan Wushuang's maids?"

There was a hint of sincere admiration in Concubine Yuyao's praise, while Caiwei seemed a little timid.

What kind of legend did Henghua leave in this deep palace?

"This person is not a maid, but a real food and medicine official."

Lin Zhiruo said slowly, and the image of her adoptive father Lin Xiang involuntarily appeared in her mind.

Imperial Concubine Yuyao's expression remained unchanged, but Caiwei's face changed on her behalf, with a look of disbelief on her face.

"I will never agree to let such a person deliver the Empress's baby!"

Caiwei flatly refused, with no anger in her tone, only firmness and determination.

"This matter concerns the safety of Empress Yuyao, so it must be handed over to someone trustworthy."

Caiwei's words made sense. Under normal circumstances, Lin Zhiruo would definitely obey, but this time the situation was special.

For the safety of Concubine Yuyao, Lin Zhiruo firmly believed that this was the best choice, not to mention that she had great respect for her adoptive father.

Although he had a tragic fate, a strange temperament, and was even a little old, none of this mattered.

Lin Zhiruo firmly believed that he was the most outstanding dietitian and pharmacist in the entire country.

"This person is absolutely trustworthy. Even ten mediocre food and medicine officials can hardly compare to him."

Although Lin Zhiruo's words were not what she usually said, this was indeed an indisputable fact.

However, Caiwei still refused to give in.

"But he is a criminal, isn't he? I don't care what crime he committed, but I can't turn a blind eye to it."

Facing the calm and persistent Caiwei, Lin Zhiruo's eyes gradually became cold.

Seeing that the two people's positions were completely different from before, Imperial Concubine Yuyao couldn't help but interrupt and said:

"Alas, what crime did that man commit? Caiwei, don't rush to refute, and listen to Lin Zhiruo's explanation first. Lin Zhiruo, you also need to calm down and explain the whole story clearly."

Hearing this, Lin Zhiruo's anger, which was about to explode, gradually subsided.

She sighed softly, her expression returned to calm, and her eyes moved between Concubine Yuyao and Caiwei.

"This man was once a eunuch and also a food and medicine official. He served as a midwife to the Emperor, the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, and the princes of Concubine Si Lan. As for the reason for his expulsion from the harem, I only heard that it was related to Concubine Si Lan, but I don't know the specific details."

Although Lin Zhiruo had some guesses in her mind, she had no solid evidence and had no intention of making any unwarranted assumptions.

However, the person who asked the question was Concubine Yuyao.

In the harem, she was not only a respected senior concubine, but also the emperor's favorite.

Such a person naturally couldn't be completely ignorant of the gossips in the harem.

"So that's how it is. That's how it is."

She looked at Lin Zhiruo quietly, as if she had already seen through everything.

"Lin Zhiruo, what is your relationship with this former food and medicine official?"

Obviously, what Concubine Yuyao cared about was not his past crimes, but his character.

"He is my daughter's adoptive father and also her teacher in learning food science."

Upon hearing this, Imperial Concubine Yuyao seemed to be pondering over it carefully. After a moment, she slowly opened her eyes and said:

"I understand. I will mention this to Quan Wushuang."

"Empress Yuyao!"

Caiwei was immediately panicked when she heard this.

Imperial Concubine Yuyao smiled at her and said:

"Caiwei, I believe that anyone with extraordinary talent should be employed, especially if they are trustworthy. This wild-looking girl respects him so much, so he must not be a bad person."

(You said I was a wild girl?)

This is really unpleasant to hear.

"But he is a sinner after all."

"Although you are a criminal, you know a thing or two about the affairs of the harem at that time, right? How many people were exiled during the era of the great empress? Shouldn't we think carefully before refusing so easily?"

Imperial Concubine Yuyao spoke in a soft but firm tone, her words revealing unquestionable majesty.

(They actually called her the Empress...)

She is truly worthy of being Concubine Yuyao. Even when she is not angry, she can still inspire awe in people.

"If you have any concerns, please ask the steward to send someone to monitor you. This request shouldn't be too much, right?"

After Imperial Concubine Yuyao had finished speaking, she took out a piece of paper and pen from the table, and with a quick stroke of her pen, a letter took shape.

Two days after mentioning this to Caiwei, an old man who looked like an old woman quietly came to the harem.

Lin Zhiruo was surprised that things were done so quickly.

Led by Gao Zhongcheng, my father came in and after paying his respects to everyone in the Liuli Palace, he went straight to the food shop, saying that he would stay with Wang Dahai for the time being.

Dad is also a cat lover, so the cat's fluffy fur must be even more shiny and smooth now.

Lin Zhiruo was originally worried that this move would cause Wang Dahai to lose his job, but now it seems that this worry is unnecessary.

After all, this is just a temporary measure and can be considered a compromise.

(That’s very good.)

If my father leaves, there will be no one in Red Mansions who can treat patients.

Although it was Lin Zhiruo who invited the person here, she may not be qualified to say this. But if she cannot invite her father back before next year, the madam might really rush into the harem.

Lin Zhiruo was thinking about these trivial matters while cleaning the Glazed Palace.

At this time, Susu came over with a new bucket of water.

Perhaps because she had to arrange for her father to introduce himself, today's work was particularly busy, and Lin Zhiruo had to work hard.

"Is that man Lin Zhiruo's father?"

"Well, sort of. You could say that."

For some reason, Su Su had a look of doubt on her face.

Strictly speaking, my father is Lin Zhiruo's great uncle. Susu must be puzzled by the fact that the two look so different.

Anyway, it was almost the same, so Lin Zhiruo didn't explain any more.

It would be too troublesome to explain too many details, so she simply omitted them.

"I always feel that he is completely different from what I imagined. How should I put it? Is it that he is too ordinary, or... could it be that someone like that really raised Lin Zhiruo?"

"...What do you imagine him to be like?"

"Hey, what does it look like...what do you think?"

As if agreeing with Susu's opinion, Xiaomeng and Qin Xiang, who were cleaning together, looked at each other and nodded.

Qin Xiang didn't know much about Lin Zhiruo, so she just smiled and agreed with everyone.

"Looks pretty ordinary, doesn't it?"

"That's right."

The two said in unison.

(I really don’t understand.)

What on earth did they imagine it to be like?

Lin Zhiruo really couldn't understand.