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

Lin Zhiruo's cheeks trembled slightly. She gripped the rag tightly in her hand and twisted it hard. Water droplets splashed everywhere and fell on the smooth floor, making a subtle and crisp sound.

Compared with the head maid in the Liuli Palace, Henghua is obviously more cunning and difficult to deal with.

"If you think this room is too small, why don't you ask Manager Quan for a more spacious one? There are many empty rooms here. As long as you ask, you may get what you want."

There was an indescribable joy and encouragement in Henghua's voice.

Lin Zhiruo recalled that she had asked to borrow the stable but was politely declined, and her heart was filled with ripples.

"No, how dare I dream of using your residence as a place to store food."

Lin Zhiruo's voice was firm and resolute, without the slightest hesitation.

"Oh My God."

Henghua chuckled, covered her red lips with her palm, and her eyes flashed with a hint of teasing and emotion.

"It seems that although our little Zhiruo looks rough on the outside, she is very clear-headed and not vague at all."

After saying this, she slowly sat down, her expression revealing memories and emotion of the past years.

"Although you come from a humble background, it is a rare and wonderful fate that you are here."

Lin Zhiruo nodded slightly, feeling inexplicably moved.

Henghua's gaze suddenly became deep and distant, as if penetrating the snow-covered window lattice and looking into the endless distance.

"Even if you come from a prominent family, don't treat others as different from you right from the start. The world is unpredictable and unpredictable. It would be a shame to distinguish between close and distant relatives based solely on status."

After hearing this, Lin Zhiruo nodded slightly, thinking about something.

"I see."

"exactly."

Henghua smiled as brightly as a flower and slowly stood up from the chair, holding a huge cage in his hand. The cage was full of miscellaneous items and made a rustling sound.

The cage was almost as tall as Lin Zhiruo, and it felt heavy, as if it was filled with the sediment of time.

"Come, Xiao Zhiruo, help me throw this away."

Her tone was gentle and tactful, yet revealed an unquestionable firmness.

Lin Zhiruo reluctantly carried the cage on her back, her cheeks trembling again, and she almost couldn't stand.

How much garbage is in this cage?

She thought to herself, her eyes falling on the clear marks of the straps on her shoulders, and an inexplicable sadness welled up in her heart.

At the garbage dump on the east side of the outer court, Lin Zhiruo handed the cage to the servant waiting there, gently pulled her clothes, and turned to leave.

The garbage of a noble person turned into ashes without anyone knowing, as if it had never existed.

Lin Zhiruo couldn't help but sigh in her heart, how sad and lamentable it is that so many people in this world are confused by meaningless identities.

Just as Lin Zhiruo was about to leave, a touch of green came into view.

Not far from the garbage dump, there were bursts of horse neighing sounds, which might be the stable.

In the corner of the stable, there was an indescribable plant growing, and Lin Zhiruo felt curious and impulsive.

She looked around, confirmed that there was no one around, and then ran towards the greenery.

Beneath the seemingly withered grass leaves, there are actually roots and small potato parts.

Lin Zhiruo dug out the roots, looked at them carefully, and felt an inexplicable surprise in her heart.

It's incredible that this root vegetable can coexist with weeds.

Lin Zhiruo continued to move forward and found a low hill not far away.

The hill seemed to be covered with similar herbs. She had an idea, put down the cage, and rushed up the hill.

The soil had been tilled to be soft and fertile, and growing on it were not vegetables, but flowers and plants with strong scents.

Although it was late autumn and the colors were a bit monotonous, the rich variety still made Lin Zhiruo's eyes light up.

She was happily identifying each spice when suddenly, she heard the sound of rustling footsteps.

Lin Zhiruo looked back and saw a tall female official holding a sickle and a basket standing behind her.

It was the dietary medicine officer whom I met a few days ago.

Lin Zhiruo's heart tightened, fearing that she would be mistaken for a thief.

But the food and medicine officer did not swing his knife at her. Instead, he put the sickle and basket on the ground and looked at Lin Zhiruo calmly.

"what are you doing here?"

There was a hint of curiosity and scrutiny in her tone.

Lin Zhiruo's heart moved and she decided to explain herself.

"Don't worry, I didn't intend to take anything."

The dietary medicine officer smiled slightly, with a sly look in his eyes.

"May I take it you're about to pick it?"

Lin Zhiruo shook her head helplessly, feeling powerless.

The dietary medicine officer did not pursue the matter further but started to pull out the weeds.

“I am responsible for this land.”

"Oh?"

Lin Zhiruo asked curiously,

"So what did you plant?"

The food and medicine officer was silent for a moment, his eyes fell on Lin Zhiruo again, and then turned to the ground.

"Thirteen spices."

When Lin Zhiruo heard this, her heart trembled violently, and she almost couldn't help but grab the food and medicine officer to ask for clarification.

But she still suppressed the impulse in her heart and controlled her words and actions with reason.

Seeing this, the dietary officer curled up a cruel smile.

"Kidding."

Lin Zhiruo lowered her eyes in disappointment, but the food and medicine officer suddenly laughed.

"I heard you are the cook?"

Lin Zhiruo was shocked and didn't know how the food and medicine official knew this, but she nodded anyway.

The dietary officer became expressionless again and began to pull out the dead leaves.

She left only the thick rhizomes and cut off the leaves with a sickle.

"I wonder how good are your cooking skills?"

Lin Zhiruo tilted her head and thought for a moment, then shook her head.

"I don't know."

The dietary medicine officer stood up and looked at Lin Zhiruo with a firm gaze.

"I grow spices here every year, but I'll have to wait a while before I get started."

After saying this, she picked some spices she needed, walked down the hill and left.

Lin Zhiruo looked at the departing figure of the dietary medicine official, her heart still immersed in the fantasy of "Thirteen Spices".

If such a fragrance really existed, she would definitely take it for herself.

Did the spiritual incense sought after by the most noble and powerful people in history really exist?

Lin Zhiruo believes that it cannot be easily denied.

But she shook her head again, thinking that it might not be called "Thirteen Spices".

She looked at the field absentmindedly, feeling undecided.

In the end, reason overcame impulse and she turned and left.