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

"Have the delicacies been successfully developed?" Lin Zhiruo could only wander in this corner of the world where she was imprisoned every day, controlled by others, and often taken to Fei Ling's luxurious residence.

The room was magnificent, completely different from the simple scene in the fortress.

The floor is covered with soft blankets from foreign lands, and all the objects placed in the room are brought from far away.

The tea has a fragrant aroma, which has the elegant fragrance of flowers and the sweetness of honey.

Fei Ling sat leisurely in the armchair, a maid carefully trimmed her nails, and a young man knelt at her feet, gently rubbing her legs.

The room was filled with burning incense, and the rich aroma filled the air.

A large bed lay at the back of the room, with several women laughing and playing on it, and wine was everywhere.

There was an indescribable decadent atmosphere in the air.

Lin Zhiruo frowned slightly and sniffed.

(There seems to be something strange mixed in this fragrance.)

She recognized that the incense was made with sandalwood as the base and mixed with other spices.

The women on the bed looked weak and powerless, and it was unclear whether it was due to being drunk or for some other reason.

Shuwan stood behind Feiling, tasting snacks, while the imperial chef was combing her long hair.

The sisters who were once very close to each other are now like master and servant.

"Maybe it will take some time." Fei Ling said lightly, then waved her fan to signal Lin Zhiruo to leave.

Lin Zhiruo sighed helplessly, turned around and left, but suddenly saw a familiar figure - it was Xiang Yu.

He said with a hint of arrogance: "The one who's in charge of the kitchen!"

Xiang Yu was followed by a nanny and four children.

Lin Zhiruo did not introduce herself and no one introduced her, so Xiang Yu and others only called her "the chef".

"What can I do for you?" Lin Zhiruo didn't dare to speak easily in this place, so she could only respond with this question.

She had to remain alert because there was a strong man watching her from behind and the nanny was also beside her, so she couldn't speak carelessly.

Xiang Yu chuckled: "How corny!"

Lin Zhiruo secretly swore in her heart that if she had the chance to be alone with him, she would punch him on the temple.

However, she knew that the chances of doing so were slim.

"If nothing else, I'd like to go back." Despite being in a difficult situation, Lin Zhiruo did not feel annoyed.

Although the ingredients in the room are old, they are not inferior to those in the warehouse.

What delighted her was that there were a wealth of recipes and books here, and she couldn't help but wonder about the skills of the former royal chef.

"Is there any other woman in the room?" Lin Zhiruo asked.

"have."

(However, the atmosphere here is not suitable for children to watch, as it is too decadent.)

Although Lin Zhiruo had experienced all kinds of things between men and women and had no shyness, the scene here still made her feel different.

"Is my mother here too? I heard she is busy on official business." Lin Zhiruo asked tentatively.

"I don't know who your mother is, so it's hard for me to answer." Xiang Yu looked depressed when he heard that.

Lin Zhiruo really couldn't bear to tell him the truth. Everyone here was abnormal.

"My mother is busy on business. Perhaps I should stay in the village and wait for her."

(It was a wise choice indeed.)

Although I don't know whose idea it was, this arrangement seems to be the most appropriate.

As for whether Xiang Yu was left in the hot spring village to avoid his mother or it was his mother's intention, Lin Zhiruo had no idea.

"I'm leaving." Lin Zhiruo said.

Xiang Yu suddenly shouted, "Wait a minute!"

He hesitated to speak, as if he was in some inconvenience.

Although he had something to say, it was not appropriate to speak at this moment.

"Goodbye." Lin Zhiruo responded.

Fei Ling just responded softly.

In the following days, Lin Zhiruo's life remained the same.

The only thing that worried her was the frequent sound of children outside.

(Could it be Xiang Yu and the others?)

Whenever she approached, she was dissuaded by the maid.

They didn't seem to want her anywhere near there.

(That's understandable.)

The servants brought the small animals used for food tasting into Lin Zhiruo's room.

Although they cleaned diligently, the room could hardly be called clean.

(There seems to be a strange smell.)

Perhaps it was the smell of rats, or the occasional smell of corruption, like the stench of rotting food.

On the way to Feiling's room, this smell often lingered in my nose. Perhaps some unknown secret activities were going on downstairs.

Lin Zhiruo recalled the hidden weapon in the hot spring village, and thought that some kind of equipment might be being developed here.

(Hope all is well.)

However, Lin Zhiruo had no time to care about these things.

She looked through the books of the previous royal chef and learned that he had used thirteen spices with great success when developing delicacies to prolong life.

There seems to be some subtle connection between the two, but they are not completely consistent.

However, the imperial chef regained consciousness after eating this delicacy, which shows that his efforts were not in vain.

As for the theory of immortality, the book only records methods such as beauty-enhancing food and body conditioning.

Admittedly, these claims are not groundless.

(There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all food.)

People can delay aging, but they cannot stay young forever.

The most reliable method is to have a regular life, a healthy diet and moderate exercise.

However, what Fei Ling is looking for is a magical delicacy that can make people ten years younger.

(This is simply wishful thinking.)

Although Lin Zhiruo understood this truth, as the imperial chef, her self-esteem prevented her from not trying just because she knew it was impossible.

"You are pitiful too." Lin Zhiruo said to the little white mice used in the experiment.

Although this little white mouse is used for food tasting, it is much fatter than the mice outside because it has food bait.

They must be kept separately or they will multiply rapidly.

(The thought of this makes me dizzy.)

If we want to develop delicious food that can prolong life, we must observe their lifespan.

According to records, mice can live for about three years under normal breeding conditions. There may be some differences, but the longest seems to be four years.

(I don't want to wait that long.)

Despite this, Lin Zhiruo happily started making feed.

Suddenly, she heard voices coming from outside the door. It turned out that it was the guards changing shifts, and the footsteps came one after another.

(It's time to eat.)

Breakfast and dinner are served after the shift changes.

Lin Zhiruo put down the grinder in her hand, stretched and rolled her shoulders.

Suddenly, she heard a strange noise.

(what?)

When she got closer, she saw something falling in from under the door.

She walked closer to pick it up and found that it was a piece of paper that seemed to have been stuffed in through the crack in the door.

Lin Zhiruo opened it and saw the words: "Run away quickly, I will distract the guards."

The handwriting was clumsy, as if written by a child, and there was a ball of wire wrapped around it.

(Is it Xiang Yu?)

He may have known that he was being held hostage, or that he was in danger there.

Although Lin Zhiruo didn't understand his intentions, she must have done this because she was worried about her.

Unfortunately, the wire was too thin and weak to open the door.

And if you really need such tools, there are plenty of them in the room.

This plan is nothing more than a childish idea.

"Let me out! Let me out!" A loud shout came from outside the door.

He had apparently tried to distract the guards but failed.

"What do you mean?" Xiang Yu knelt on the ground, his clothes disheveled, perhaps messed up during the struggle.

The guard called the imperial chef, and when he heard that Xiang Yu wanted Lin Zhiruo to escape, he hurried over.

Lin Zhiruo was also called out.

"I don't understand what you mean." Xiang Yu pretended to know nothing.

The imperial chef looked at him coldly, his eyes glancing at Lin Zhiruo.