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

"The word 'Temple' is clearly visible, but there's another blurry word next to it, like a shadow licked by flames, making it difficult to discern."

"Sir, please punish me." Lin Xiang bowed deeply with a sincere look.

Apart from the word "temple", there was only an indistinguishable character left on the paper, as if it was hastily written in a panic.

The situation must have been critical, as Lin Zhiruo only had time to leave these two words as a reminder.

Judging from the situation, she has not returned yet. I am afraid that she did not come back voluntarily, but was in trouble.

"Do you know if there are any temples nearby?"

"...I'll send someone to investigate right away."

The harem buildings are densely packed, and there are even more temples to the north.

Even the powerful Quan Wushuang couldn't tell the exact number.

As for that vague word, it feels both familiar and unfamiliar, as if it were from another world.

Perhaps it was written too hastily, or perhaps it was damaged by fire, leaving only incomplete strokes.

“What is this word?”

“Completely unrecognizable.”

Regarding this matter, we need to go to the Liuli Palace and ask Concubine Yuyao and others for advice.

Let's talk about——

"Is she desperate?"

“Who knows?”

Lin Xiang blew out the candle and packed up calmly, without any panic on his face.

Compared with the restless catering officer, his calmness seemed particularly abrupt.

"...You're not worried at all?" Quan Wushuang asked doubtfully.

Could it be that this seemingly gentle eunuch Lin Xiang is actually cold-blooded and ruthless?

“Of course I’m worried, but I can only do the best I can. If I miss out on other things because of my anxiety, that would be even worse.”

As Lin Xiang spoke, he began to prepare the ingredients.

"Besides, she's been gone for long periods of time before."

"..."

He was probably talking about the time when she was abducted into the palace.

Quan Wushuang fell silent after hearing this.

He remembered that when Lin Zhiruo first became a palace maid, she was cut off from the outside world and could only endure it silently.

Thinking of this, he felt that the two did have similarities.

It seems that even if Lin Zhiruo is not around, there is no need to worry too much about Concubine Yuyao's meals.

If you want to try the food, you can ask Henghua to do it for you.

However, judging by the reactions of the people in Liuli Palace, they would probably refuse.

Even Caiwei showed signs of timidity.

Quan Wushuang left the imperial kitchen and quickened his pace back to the Liuli Palace.

"Manager Quan." Gao Zhongcheng called out solemnly.

"I already know." Quan Wushuang walked lightly and smiled at the passing palace maids, like a noble lady.

"This handwriting is so ugly." Caiwei frowned.

"Not only is it ugly, but it's also hasty. The scorch marks are glaring and the characters are crooked." Concubine Yuyao commented calmly, while Princess Ai Ling was playing with building blocks at her knees.

"Hmm - what is this word?" Concubine Yuyao pondered.

“It looks like the word ‘zhai’.”

“No, there are fewer strokes at the bottom.”

"Well—after all, Lin Zhiruo's handwriting is special."

If the handwriting is unique, then everyone needs to identify it together.

Caiwei immediately called other maids.

“I also think it’s like ‘zhai’ or ‘tang’.”

"I agree with my sister."

Said the maid with the black and white hairband.

The maid with the red hairband stared at the scorch marks on the paper.

"This should be the word 'guan', right?" said the red-haired maid.

"Look, here, it seems to be crooked due to the movement, but it should be a straight line."

"Yes. But what does that mean?"

Everyone was confused.

"Are you referring to the Guanyin Temple in the harem?"

“Is there any deeper meaning behind mentioning this at this time?”

Everyone was talking about it.

At this time, only the red-haired maid wrinkled her nose.

"...Hu Guanyin?" she whispered to herself.

Everyone's eyes were focused on the maid.

Her shoulders trembled slightly.

“Who are you talking about?”

"Uh, uh, she was the maid that used to be with Lin Zhiruo."

Guanyin Temple or Guanyin Hall? These places are so common that finding them is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

However, Quan Wushuang has a different memory of the word "guan".

"There was also a palace maid named Xiaoguan. The three of them were often together."

Quan Wushuang had seen this lively palace maid many times, and he was surprised that Lin Zhiruo had such a friend.

However......

"Go find this maid quickly!" Quan Wushuang ordered the eunuch beside him.

The eunuch knew all the affairs in the palace and immediately turned and left.

"Manager Quan." Gao Zhongcheng called again.

Quan Wushuang suddenly felt his facial muscles tense, his hands clenched into fists, and his nails left deep marks on his palms.

He tried to put on a mask to hide his emotions, but failed.

After a while, they found an ancient Guanyin temple behind the warehouse.

This dilapidated temple is hidden in the dense grass and is difficult to find without careful searching.

They discovered a secret passage with the temple as the entrance, which was made by converting an abandoned waterway.

After some investigation, they learned that the palace maid Hu Guanyin mentioned was not registered in the harem's roster.

Then she disappeared along with a new eunuch....