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

"Has the secret letter sent by Concubine Yuyao arrived?" the plump Qingluo asked softly.

"That's right. The imperial concubine specifically instructed that it be delivered to Her Majesty personally." The palace maid next to her answered respectfully.

"It's just that Empress Si Lan is attending a banquet right now." Qingluo looked embarrassed and cast her eyes on Lin Zhiruo beside her.

Lin Zhiruo carefully opened the sandalwood box that was handed to her. There was no letter inside, only an exquisite glass bottle and a white flower that looked like a lily of the valley.

A sweet osmanthus fragrance emanated from the bottle, and Qingluo's body trembled slightly when she smelled it.

(If so)

Lin Zhiruo gently lifted the cork and found a note hidden underneath. Written in handwriting that Qingluo could understand, it read: "I have something important to discuss with the head maid Qingluo."

Qingluo's expression changed slightly after seeing this, but she still said calmly, "I understand."

(It's easy to deal with such a smart person)

Qingluo led Lin Zhiruo to Zixiao Palace. The furnishings here were similar to Caiwei's residence, except that all kinds of items were piled in the corner, as if they had been packed up and prepared for moving.

(It seems the rumors are true)

Lin Zhiruo was invited in, and the two sat on either side of the round table.

On the table stood a pot of osmanthus oolong tea, accompanied by freshly baked honey cakes dotted with candied apricots, the aroma filling the air.

"What's the important matter? Isn't the general cleaning of the palace already completed?" Qingluo's tone was gentle but tentative.

"When does the head maid plan to move out?" Lin Zhiruo asked directly, looking at the neatly arranged luggage in the corner.

"I can't hide it from you." Qingluo's tone turned cold.

The spring cleaning was just an excuse. The actual reason was that the New Year was approaching and the palace was going to welcome new concubines, so Concubine Si Lan had to move out of the palace.

In this deep palace, it is difficult for a concubine without children to gain a foothold, even if she has a deep friendship with the emperor.

Although Concubine Si Lan was favored by the emperor, her position was unstable because she had no children.

If she could give birth to a prince, there might be hope.

(I'm afraid Si Lanfei has already...)

Qingluo's figure is as straight as a bamboo. She does not have the delicate posture of an ordinary palace maid, nor does she have the fragrance of cosmetics. Her demeanor reveals a heroic spirit.

Lin Zhiruo didn't like to make assumptions, but the facts before her were already clear.

"Empress Si Lan is no longer able to bear children, right?" Lin Zhiruo asked directly.

Qingluo was silent for a long time, her expression growing increasingly gloomy.

"There was an accident during childbirth, right?" Qingluo asked back, a cold glint in her eyes.

"This matter has nothing to do with me." Lin Zhiruo replied calmly.

Qingluo narrowed her eyes, her gentleness gone. "You're wrong. It was your father who delivered the Empress."

The imperial kitchen was short of staff, and mediocre chefs took the opportunity to sneak in. Without real skills and knowledge, it was impossible for them to gain a foothold in the palace.

Lin Zhiruo's father is an upright man and is unwilling to go along with the corrupt people.

"It happened to be the time when the prince was born. After weighing the pros and cons, Concubine Si Lan's delivery was delayed."

Although the child was born safely, Concubine Si Lan had difficulty getting pregnant again, and the baby did not survive more than three days.

Some people suspected that it was related to the cakes presented by the imperial kitchen at that time, but Lin Zhiruo was convinced that her father would never let the Eastern Palace Concubine eat any inappropriate ingredients.

"Does the head maid think this is all her fault? It was you who was taking care of the prince at that time." Lin Zhiruo asked.

"So you know everything. You are indeed the daughter of that mediocre chef." Qingluo sneered.

"The head maid is right." Lin Zhiruo nodded.

How can I say I am helpless when it comes to the imperial meal? This is what my father often says.

He would rather bear the reputation of a mediocre chef than not stick to his original intention.

"Father once warned me that certain ingredients are not suitable for babies. With your intelligence, you wouldn't have known that, right?"

Lin Zhiruo opened the wooden box and took out a glass bottle filled with golden honey.

She savored the white flower gently, caressing the petals with her fingertips.

"Although some nectars are sweet, they are dangerous, such as datura and oleander." Lin Zhiruo said slowly.

"Of course I know this." Qingluo replied coldly.

“I think so.”

Lin Zhiruo's father was the candied fruit chef in the imperial kitchen and knew all this very well.

Foods that are safe for adults may not be suitable for babies.

"But what you may not know is that some seemingly ordinary honey may also contain ingredients that are harmful to babies."

Lin Zhiruo explained that although this situation is rare, it does exist.

"You thought you had tried these ingredients and nothing happened, so you assumed they were good for your baby. Little did you know, it was actually the opposite of what you thought."

In this way, Concubine Si Lan's child died and the cause of death remained a mystery.

Lin Zhiruo's father was expelled from the palace and severely tortured.

"The head maid doesn't want Concubine Si Lan to know about this, right?"

Qingluo knew that she was the real murderer who killed her master's children.

"That's why you want to deal with Concubine Dexin."

During the reign of the previous emperor, Concubine Dexin and Concubine Silan were like mother and daughter.

However, one day, Concubine Si Lan suddenly refused to see Concubine De Xin.

No matter how Concubine Dexin asked for a meeting, she was blocked outside the door by Qingluo.

After the death of the previous emperor, Concubine Dexin became a nun and practiced Buddhism.

Who would have thought that she would return to the harem and her status would be almost as high as that of Concubine Si Lan.

This shameless woman still wants to regain Concubine Si Lan's love.

Seeing this, Qingluo began to feel murderous intent.

The gentle and virtuous head maid of the past has disappeared, and only a cold and ruthless woman remains.

"What do you want to do?" Qingluo asked coldly.

"I don't intend to do anything." Lin Zhiruo replied.

She felt a chill on the back of her neck.

On the shelf behind him was a sharp carving knife.

Although it looks ordinary, it is a deadly threat to the petite Lin Zhiruo...