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

"What is the current situation?"

"No one knows."

Quan Wushuang responded to Gao Zhongcheng's inquiry with an indifferent attitude.

This scene took place in front of the door of the harem lecture hall.

In order to fulfill their duties as concubines, the senior concubines were listening to instructions at this time.

The eunuchs and personal maids who were turned away had confused expressions on their faces, just like Quan Wushuang.

People are always curious about secrets, and some even put their ears close to the door, trying to get a glimpse.

What secrets are hidden in this?

One of the reasons why this incident attracted attention was that the lecturer was a young palace maid with freckles on her face, which was surprising.

The beginning of all this can be traced back to ten days ago.

---

On this day, Lin Zhiruo was as energetic as a cat and eager to work diligently. While she was cleaning, Quan Wushuang, wearing pajamas, stared at her intently.

"Lord Henghua is already preparing breakfast."

Henghua alone was enough to take care of breakfast, so Lin Zhiruo cleaned the room first.

Once time is wasted, it will be impossible to complete the many chores in the pavilion in the morning.

The older maid was quite helpful to Lin Zhiruo.

(Did I make a mistake?)

If there was any mistake, it was just secretly burying some food seeds in the courtyard, and it should not have been discovered; Lin Zhiruo felt uneasy.

At this time, Quan Wushuang said:

"Because the new concubine has entered the palace, the harem plans to open a lecture hall to teach the concubines."

Concubine Shuwan was one of the four senior concubines, and her position had been vacant only last year.

"I see."

Lin Zhiruo responded with a lack of interest and continued to mop the floor.

She scrubbed the floor desperately as if it were an enemy. This had become Lin Zhiruo's daily task after she became Quan Wushuang's personal maid.

Although there seemed to be other things to do, Lin Zhiruo only took on the work of a low-level maid.

Frankly, she didn't really know what to do.

“All I have to do is clean,” she thought, and so she toiled away.

Quan Wushuang would occasionally be dissatisfied, but Lin Zhiruo believed that as long as he didn't give any orders, there was no need to interfere.

Facing Lin Zhiruo like this, Quan Wushuang squatted down, his eyes level with hers, holding a scroll tightly in his hand.

"We need to find a lecturer."

"Oh, who could it be?"

"That's you."

Lin Zhiruo couldn't help but half-open her eyes and stare at Quan Wushuang.

Even after becoming a direct maid, she still found it difficult not to look at Quan Wushuang with contempt.

Seeing this, Quan Wushuang had an indescribable expression on his face.

"Is the steward joking?"

"Who's kidding you?"

Quan Wushuang handed the scroll in his hand to Lin Zhiruo to read.

Lin Zhiruo squinted her eyes and took a closer look, only to see that what was written there was extremely unfavorable to her.

It's such a hassle. It would be nice if we could just pretend it never happened.

"Hey, don't look away."

"I don't understand what the steward means."

"Didn't you see it clearly just now?"

"The steward must be worrying too much."

Quan Wushuang unfolded the scroll and pointed out the points that were disadvantageous to Lin Zhiruo.

He forced the scroll in front of Lin Zhiruo, making her feel annoyed.

“Isn’t the name of the recommender written here?”

"..."

Where Quan Wushuang pointed, it was written "Xian Fei, Guifei Pinglan".

Oh no—Lin Zhiruo thought.

"This matter has nothing to do with me."

She only told Quan Wushuang this sentence, and passed it off that day, but she didn't expect that -

The next day, a letter with the same content was delivered again, and this time the recommender was Concubine Yuyao.

Since in addition to Concubine Pinglan, Concubine Yuyao's signed letters continued to arrive, Lin Zhiruo really could no longer turn a blind eye.

She could easily imagine the red-haired concubine with evil intentions and a smile on her face.

Moreover, even the amount of the reward was not omitted.

Lin Zhiruo could only accept her fate. Although she sighed, she still sent a letter to her hometown to prepare for the task entrusted to her.

The so-called hometown is not the place where the general is wise and resourceful, but the Hongxia Tower where one is taken care of like one’s parents.

A few days later, Lin Zhiruo received the package and the required funds listed by the brothel owner.

The price has actually risen to this level - Lin Zhiruo thought to herself, but quietly added a sum next to the number and handed it to Quan Wushuang.

Quan Wushuang looked at the number in confusion, thinking that it was about right. Unexpectedly, Henghua suddenly appeared and looked at the amount written by Lin Zhiruo with a smile on his face.

"Haha, it seems that only the ink here is a different color."

She snatched the receipt from Quan Wushuang's hands and returned it to Lin Zhiruo.

(How cunning.)

With this old lady around, it would be extremely difficult to do anything to this ignorant young master.

In desperation, Lin Zhiruo showed Quan Wushuang the original price.

If even this required bargaining, Lin Zhiruo would have to pay for it out of her own pocket.

Fortunately, he paid promptly.

When the items were delivered from Hongxia Tower, Lin Zhiruo pushed Gao Zhongcheng away and accepted the package.

For some reason, Quan Wushuang watched anxiously like a dog.

But Lin Zhiruo refused to open the package. She took a cart and moved the items away.

"Do you need help?"

Gao Zhongcheng came to ask, but Lin Zhiruo resolutely refused and took the items back to the room.

Quan Wushuang wanted Lin Zhiruo to show it to him, but Lin Zhiruo stared at him with her eyes wide open, so he gave up silently.

Lin Zhiruo didn't want anyone to see the precious cooking recipe.

Since you are going to do it, you have to do it to the best of your ability; Lin Zhiruo has made up her mind.

Then, on that day, Lin Zhiruo walked into the inner court harem after a long absence.

Surprisingly, this place full of feminine atmosphere actually made her soul feel peaceful.

The lecture hall prepared for her was quite spacious and could accommodate hundreds of people.

During the reign of the previous emperor, the number of concubines in the harem increased dramatically, and this place was used as a resting place for maids who did not have rooms prepared for them. However, it is now almost abandoned.

I heard that although they think it is a waste of space, it would be a shame to demolish it.

There are many such buildings here.