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

The morning light is faint.

The crowing of a rooster broke the silence.

Lin Zhiruo rubbed her sleepy eyes and climbed up from the simple wooden bed.

The dew outside wet the hem of her skirt.

The yard is full of medicinal herbs, and there is order in the chaos.

Each one has a unique aroma.

(These are ingredients carefully selected by my father, some of which are rarely seen in the palace.)

The hoe is gone.

(Dad must have gone to the fields again.)

She sighed softly.

"My legs and feet are not convenient anymore, and I still have to farm."

(My father in my previous life was also so stubborn, always so busy that he even forgot to eat.)

A wooden box in the corner caught her attention.

The four crooked characters "Don't touch" were written by her own hand.

Lin Zhiruo's heartbeat suddenly quickened.

She tiptoed over.

The lid of the wooden box made a slight creaking sound.

There was a lively creature soaking in it, vaguely visible in the medicine.

(It took a lot of effort to catch it last time, and it almost slipped away.)

"It would be interesting if we could raise a Gu."

She muttered to herself, then was shocked by her own thoughts.

(The combination of my culinary knowledge from before the time travel and my current knowledge of pharmacology always makes me think of some dangerous things.)

(However, this may be the reason why I was able to gain a foothold in the palace.)

From a distance came the sound of farmers driving ox carts.

It was just another ordinary morning.

(I just don’t know if there will be any more accidents today.)

"Knock, knock, knock!" The rapid knocks on the door broke the tranquility of the early morning.

The wooden door trembled from the knocks.

(It’s so early, who could it be?)

Lin Zhiruo frowned and walked towards the door.

“It’ll break!”

A panicked little girl was standing outside the door.

She was wearing coarse clothes, and the corners of her clothes were wet with dew.

(He's not from Chunfeng Pavilion. This outfit suggests he's from Xiangyue Pavilion, on the other side of Hualiu Lane.)

"Miss, help!"

The little girl's voice was tearful.

"What happened?"

“Yes…Yes…”

The little girl couldn't speak complete sentences and just kept wiping away her tears.

Lin Zhiruo studied her expression carefully.

"If you're looking for Dad, he's not home."

"I'm not looking for a doctor, I'm looking for you!"

The little girl suddenly grabbed Lin Zhiruo's wrist.

Her hands were cold and trembling slightly.

Something is not right.

"Our girl... and the guests..."

Lin Zhiruo's heart sank.

(Although Xiangyue Pavilion is small, the girls inside are well looked after by respectable guests. If something happens at this hour, it's probably not a simple matter.)

“Wait while I get something.”

She hurried back to the house and grabbed a few commonly used herbs.

(Hopefully not what I think.)

The little girl was stamping her feet anxiously outside the door.

Lin Zhiruo tidied up her messy hair while quickly following.

The morning dew wet the hem of her skirt.

The two walked through several dark alleys.

The early crowing of roosters could be heard in the distance.

The red-willow alley has just awakened.

The back door of Xiangyue Pavilion was closed.

The little girl knocked on the door three times gently.

With a creak, the door opened a crack.

"Come in quickly." A low voice came from inside the door.

"What happened?" Lin Zhiruo asked.

"It's the Oiran and the guests..."

The strong scent of powder hits my face.

(There is a strange smell mixed in with this fragrance.)

The room at the end of the corridor was filled with disheveled women.

"Girls, stop crying and let Miss Lin take a look." An older woman was comforting everyone.

“When was it discovered?”

"Something went wrong just after midnight."

“What did they drink?”

"It's just ordinary Huadiao wine, but..."

“But what?”

"The young man brought his own tobacco."

Lin Zhiruo walked quickly to the center of the room.

A man and a woman were lying on the ground.

The man's face turned blue and drool was dripping from the corners of his mouth.

The woman's eyes were closed and her breathing was weak.

“Who is this guest?”

"The son of a salt merchant in the south of the city."

"Have you offended anyone recently?"

"No, he's a regular customer of the courtesan."

The scattered pipes and broken wine glasses silently tell more stories.

"Go get some warm water and a clean cloth."

"Yes, I'll go right away."

Lin Zhiruo pried open the man's eyelids.

The pupils have dilated.

I put my finger on the pulse, but there was no pulse.

(I'm a step late.)

She turned to the woman again.

Take the pulse, check the pupils, and examine the mouth.

(There is still hope.)

The smell in the room grew stronger.

The aroma of wine, vomit, and a faint hint of bitter almonds mixed together.

"Is the tobacco still there?"

"Here." The older woman handed over a treasure bag.

Lin Zhiruo carefully observed the color of the tobacco leaves.

(The leaf is the wrong color.)

There was a circle of white powder on the broken glass.

(This technique...why does it look so familiar?)

"Does he often bring this tobacco?"

“No, it’s the first time today.”

A terrible thought suddenly flashed through my mind.

"Bring some warm water!"

Lin Zhiruo gave the order while tearing open her sleeves.

(You must clean your mouth first.)

"Girl, do you want to see a doctor?"

“It’s too late.”

She wrapped her fingers with a cloth and carefully cleaned the filth from the woman's mouth.

The atmosphere in the room grew tense.

"Who of you is stronger?"

"I...I'll do it." A plump woman stood up.

"Hold her chest and press hard for three seconds."

(This method has saved many people in Zuixianlou.)

"one two three!"

The woman's chest rose and fell with the compressions.

Lin Zhiruo leaned over and breathed into her mouth.

“Keep pressing!”

"How long will it take?" asked the plump woman.

“Until she responds.”

Sweat slid down Lin Zhiruo's forehead.

(Don't give up, there is still hope.)

"Bring the vinegar!"

The little girl hurriedly found a bowl of vinegar.

Lin Zhiruo dipped it in vinegar and smeared it on the woman's philtrum.

Suddenly, the woman's fingers moved.

"Hurry, help her sit up!"

Several people hurriedly lifted the woman up.

A fishy liquid gushed out of her mouth.

Lin Zhiruo quickly turned her head.

“Don’t let her choke.”

(This is more toxic than you might think.)

"Have you prepared the charcoal powder?"

“Here.”

Lin Zhiruo took the charcoal powder and mixed it with warm water.

“Open your mouth.”

She carefully fed the woman charcoal powder.

(This temporarily absorbs the toxin.)

"The girl is awake!" someone exclaimed.

The woman slowly opened her eyes.

"Be quiet and have a good rest."

Lin Zhiruo wiped the sweat off her face.

(This level is over.)

"That young man..." The plump woman hesitated to speak.

Lin Zhiruo shook her head.

(It’s too late.)

“Zhiruo!”

Familiar footsteps came from the corridor.

Dad appeared at the door, panting and leaning on a cane.

(You're taking so long to come, your legs must be hurting again.)

"let me see."

He put down the medicine box and hobbled over to the bed.

"The pupils are dilated and the pulse is weak..." Dad checked carefully.

"I've given her charcoal powder."

“How much did it take?”

“Three cents.”

Dad nodded.

“It’s the perfect dose.”

He took out some medicinal herbs from the medicine box.

“See this?”

Dad pointed at the marks at the corners of the patient's mouth.

"This is..."

“Key features of intoxication.”

He taught while dispensing medicine.

"It's important to save lives, but we also need to be vigilant."

“These details are key.”

Lin Zhiruo took note of it carefully.

(Dad is always like this, even when saving people he never forgets to teach.)

“Why don’t you let her drink water?”

Dad asked as he prepared the medicine.

(You’re testing me again.)

“Because water will accelerate the spread of toxicity.”

"Tell me the basis for your judgment."

"There was white powder at the corners of the patient's mouth."

"continue."

"This powder dissolves quickly in water."

Dad nodded.

“It’s like the right temperature when cooking.”

“If the timing is wrong, it will be bad.”

Lin Zhiruo listened respectfully.

"Then why did you mix the medicine with warm water later?"

"By that time, the charcoal powder has absorbed most of the toxins."

"good."

Dad picked up a piece of medicinal herb.

“Look at this color.”

“It’s different from usual.”

“That’s the key.”

He explained patiently.

“Using medicine is like seasoning, it requires careful consideration of the level of application.”

(Dad always manages to combine medicine and cooking.)

“Remember?”

“I remember.”

Lin Zhiruo nodded seriously.

The madam led everyone into the inner room.

The air is filled with the fragrance of sandalwood and tea.

"Ms. Lin saved our daughter. I made this dessert myself."

The golden sweet potatoes on the table exude a sweet fragrance.

"Tell me the reason for this."

The madam's hands trembled slightly.

"That young man is a regular customer."

"Um."

"A few days ago, he said he wanted to redeem himself."

Lin Zhiruo picked up the teacup.

(Redemption in brothels usually doesn't end well.)

"Of course the courtesan is willing."

The madam sighed.

"But his family has arranged a marriage for him."

"so..."

"He came with tobacco and said he wanted to end things with the courtesan."

The madam wiped her eyes.

“Who could have imagined it would turn out like this?”

The brothel outside the window has become bustling.

The hawkers’ shouts and the visitors’ laughter and conversation.

(The joys and sorrows here are always so common.)

Lin Zhiruo looked at the scene outside the window.

(Life is unpredictable, but what can we do?)