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

The sandalwood in Xiangyue Pavilion becomes more intense in the morning light.

Lin Zhiruo stood in front of the door, looking at the place where she had lived for eighteen years.

(The three-day holiday is finally coming to an end.)

As I pushed the door open, the madam came to greet me immediately.

"Miss Lin, that adult is here again."

Her voice was tinged with anxiety.

"He brought more than a dozen people and insisted on buying Yuqin's indenture."

Lin Zhiruo put down the bag in her hand.

"Where is Lord Liu?"

"Thanks to Lord Liu who sent people to guard the place, those people didn't dare to come by force."

The madam wiped the cold sweat from her forehead.

“This is the third time.”

(It seems that this protector was chosen correctly.)

A melodious piano sound came from upstairs.

"Is Lord Liu listening to Yuqin playing the zither?"

“Yes, this is the third day.”

The madam smiled with satisfaction.

"He never oversteps the boundaries and even assigns people to guard him day and night."

Lin Zhiruo nodded and went upstairs.

The sound of the piano is getting closer, and the song "Three Variations on Plum Blossoms" is about to end.

Liu Wu sat upright and listened attentively.

Yuqin's fingers danced lightly on the strings.

(This couple is quite compatible.)

"Miss Lin."

When Liu Wu saw her coming, he immediately stood up.

"I'll leave this to you."

Lin Zhiruo said solemnly.

"I see."

Liu Wu's voice was firm.

"As long as I'm here, I will never let those people hurt the girls here."

Yuqin's fingers paused slightly, and the sound of the piano stopped abruptly.

"It seems like a good dream."

Lin Zhiruo said softly.

(It's time to return to the palace.)

She straightened her clothes and her eyes fell on the Glazed Palace in the distance.

I wonder what changes have taken place in the palace in these three days.

Lin Zhiruo set out on the journey back to the Liuli Palace.

The morning dew has not yet dried and there is still a hint of coolness in the air.

(I've finally settled things at Xiangyue Pavilion.)

The vermilion gate of the Glazed Palace gradually became clear.

The guard at the gate recognized her and let her in immediately.

Caiwei came up hurriedly, looking anxious.

"Miss Lin, you are finally back."

"Empress Yuyao..."

A familiar voice interrupted her.

"I'll wait for you in the reception room."

Quan Wushuang appeared in the corridor at some point, his voice as sweet as honey.

(This sound...sounds like aconite honey, which is poisonous.)

Gao Zhongcheng stood aside, looking embarrassed.

"Master General, Empress Yuyao has given instructions..."

"Let Caiwei handle it."

Quan Wushuang waved his hand, his eyes still fixed on Lin Zhiruo.

Caiwei seemed to want to say something but stopped herself.

"The Queen said that something happened to Pinglan again."

She finally said it.

Quan Wushuang's eyes suddenly turned cold.

"I told you to handle it."

Caiwei was so frightened that she shuddered and quickly retreated.

(Empress Pinglan? Could it be related to my three-day absence?)

Lin Zhiruo looked at Gao Zhongcheng, trying to find the answer from his face.

The latter shook his head slightly, signaling her not to ask more questions.

A fragrance came from the direction of the reception room.

(This fragrance... is a bit like the tea fragrance at Xiangyue Pavilion that day.)

"Let's go."

Quan Wushuang turned and left.

The footsteps in the corridor were particularly clear.

Lin Zhiruo followed behind, thinking in her mind.

(Empress Yuyao is anxious to find me, Empress Pinglan is in trouble again, and Quan Wushuang intervenes.)

What exactly happened in the palace during these three days?

The reception room was filled with the scent of sandalwood.

Lin Zhiruo knelt on the futon, looking at the tea set in front of her.

Quan Wushuang brewed the tea himself, his movements so graceful that he didn't look like a eunuch.

(This fragrance... is exactly the same as the one at Xiangyue Pavilion that day.)

"I heard you had a great time these three days?"

Quan Wushuang's voice is still sweet.

"In reply to the steward, I am only going home to visit my family."

"Yeah?"

He picked up the teacup and shook it gently.

"I heard that you were acting as a matchmaker for someone in Xiangyue Pavilion?"

(Gu? Why do you call me that? You're so brave!)

Lin Zhiruo was stunned.

“It’s just a small effort.”

“It’s just a piece of cake?”

Quan Wushuang suddenly put the teacup down heavily.

"I lost to a favor gift?"

The tea splashed out and spread all over the table.

"The steward has misunderstood."

"I should have given you one, but you didn't even bother to discuss it with me."

There was a hint of anger in his voice.

(Is this...jealousy?)

Lin Zhiruo couldn't help but frown.

"I dare not trouble the steward."

"Don't dare?"

Quan Wushuang stood up and the teacup fell to the ground.

Amidst the crisp cracking sound, the aroma of tea became stronger.

(This tastes... wrong!)

Lin Zhiruo subconsciously took a step back.

“What are you hiding from?”

Quan Wushuang's voice turned cold.

"Butler, this tea..."

"Why, you don't even dare to drink the tea I brewed?"

"I said, sit down."

Quan Wushuang's voice was as cold as ice.

Lin Zhiruo stood there in a daze.

(Why is a eunuch called "Gu"?)

The aroma of tea in the reception room became stronger and stronger.

"Master, this tea..."

"Why, you don't even dare to drink the tea I gave you?"

Quan Wushuang's tone contained a hint of sarcasm.

“It’s not that I don’t dare.”

Lin Zhiruo took a deep breath.

"It's just that the aroma is exactly the same as the tea we had at Xiangyue Pavilion that day."

Quan Wushuang's eyes suddenly became dangerous.

"Are you saying that my tea is the same as the one in that place?"

“No, I mean…”

"I know what you mean."

He stood up and looked down at Lin Zhiruo.

"Do you think I'm not worthy of your elegant friends?"

(The tone... it felt like it had touched a sore spot.)

"The steward has misunderstood."

"Misunderstand?"

Quan Wushuang sneered.

"You haven't touched anything I gave you."

"But you seem to be very interested in the gift from that military officer."

(How did he know about Liu Wu?)

Lin Zhiruo was shocked.

"To answer the steward, that's just..."

"enough!"

Quan Wushuang waved his hand violently.

The tea set was swept to the ground, making a crisp sound of breaking.

"I don't need your explanation."

His voice suddenly became calm.

"Since you like that kind of place so much, then go back."

(This reaction... is so unlike that of a eunuch.)

Lin Zhiruo looked at the tea stains on the ground and suddenly understood something.

(I see... He's jealous.)

"Master, I understand."

She bowed deeply.

"I am very sorry, but I cannot think of any price I can pay to satisfy the steward."

The air in the reception room froze instantly.

Quan Wushuang's expression changed from gloomy to sunny, and then from sunny to gloomy.

"What did you say?"

His voice was terribly low.

"I know that the steward also wants to go to Xiangyue Pavilion."

Lin Zhiruo said cautiously.

"But that kind of place, for someone like the steward..."

"shut up!"

Quan Wushuang slammed the table and stood up.

Gao Zhongcheng rushed over upon hearing the noise and just happened to hear these words.

“Who do you think I am?”

Quan Wushuang's voice was trembling.

(It really hit a sore spot.)

"Please calm down, sir. I just feel..."

“What do you think?”

The voice of Concubine Yuyao suddenly came from outside the door.

"You think it's inappropriate for a eunuch to go to such a place?"

There was a hint of laughter in her voice.

Quan Wushuang turned around and faced away from everyone.

"Empress Yuyao..."

Lin Zhiruo was just about to salute.

"You girl, you are really..."

Imperial Concubine Yuyao shook her head.

Gao Zhongcheng was standing aside, his face flushed red from trying to hold back his laughter.

(What is going on?)

In the study, Concubine Yuyao was drinking tea.

Gao Zhongcheng stood aside, hesitant to speak.

"Tell me, what happened to that girl again?"

Concubine Yuyao put down her teacup.

"My Lady, Miss Lin..."

Gao Zhongcheng held back his laughter.

“She actually thought Quan Wushuang was a eunuch.”

Concubine Yuyao was stunned for a moment, then laughed out loud.

"No wonder he's been so unhappy these days."

She shook her head.

"That girl is really something. She didn't even recognize the word 'Gu'."

Gao Zhongcheng said seriously.

"A character named Quan Wushuang wouldn't respond so childishly, nor would he be obsessed with a toy."

"unless..."

“Unless he’s not Quan Wushuang at all.”

Imperial Concubine Yuyao took over the conversation.

"People in that position always need some entertainment."

She stood up and walked to the window.

"I just didn't expect that he would care so much about a little girl."

Gao Zhongcheng whispered.

"Miss Lin is indeed special."

“So special that he forgets his own identity.”

Imperial Concubine Yuyao sighed softly.

"Go tell him that the matter with Pinglan can't be delayed any longer."

"Yes."

Gao Zhongcheng turned around and was about to leave.

"and many more."

Concubine Yuyao suddenly remembered something.

"That girl said the tea was poisoned?"

"Yes, it's the same tea we had at Xiangyue Pavilion that day."

Concubine Yuyao's eyes suddenly became sharp.

(I see...)

The candlelight in the study flickered.

Quan Wushuang sat at his desk, handling official documents meticulously.

Gao Zhongcheng stood aside and watched him regain his usual dignity.

(This is the usual Quan Wushuang.)

"What's happening with Pinglan..."

Gao Zhongcheng spoke cautiously.

"knew."

Quan Wushuang didn't even raise his head.

"Let Lin Zhiruo investigate."

"But..."

“Isn’t she a good investigator?”

Quan Wushuang's voice contained a hint of sarcasm.

"Everything about Xiangyue Pavilion can be investigated clearly."

Gao Zhongcheng seemed to be hesitant to speak.

Suddenly, a subordinate rushed in.

"grown ups!"

"explain."

Quan Wushuang put down the pen in his hand.

"In Lady Pinglan's tea..."

“Have you found out?”

"It's the same poison as the tea from Xiangyue Pavilion."

Quan Wushuang's eyes suddenly became sharp.

(As expected.)

"Go and ask Lin Zhiruo to come."

His voice returned to calm.

"This time, let her see what real poison is."

Gao Zhongcheng looked at his back.

(This is the real Quan Wushuang.)

In the candlelight, his shadow was very long.

Just like his power in the harem.