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

As Lin Zhiruo was sweeping the corridor of the outer court as usual, an unusual shadow approached her silently.

He was a burly man with anxiety written all over his face. He was the military officer Liu Wu.

He should not have stepped into the territory of Quan Wushuang's study. His visit today must be to discuss important matters.

"Lin Zhiruo, have you heard anything unusual?"

Liu Wu put down the heavy object in his hand, his tone full of urgency.

Lin Zhiruo looked up, her eyes full of questions.

This military officer would not come here easily on normal days, and his actions today obviously had a reason.

"What happened to make you so anxious?"

Lin Zhiruo asked softly, feeling something unusual in her heart.

"Oh, this is really hard to say."

Liu Wu sighed, scratched his head with both hands, and looked a little anxious.

"Do you remember the warehouse that caught fire? Recently, it was discovered that another warehouse was robbed on the same day."

"Oh? Is there such a thing?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhiruo crossed her arms over her chest, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

Since Liu Wu came here specially, this matter must be of great importance.

"What's missing?"

Lin Zhiruo asked, her tone tinged with curiosity and concern.

Liu Wu was silent for a moment, looking a little embarrassed. He gently patted Lin Zhiruo's shoulder and motioned her to follow him to a more private place.

Lin Zhiruo understood what he meant and followed him out of the corridor and into the depths of the courtyard.

In a quiet place hidden by trees, Liu Wu squatted down, touched his lips with his index finger, and whispered:

"Sacrificial vessels, several sacrificial vessels are missing."

"Sacrificial vessel?"

When Lin Zhiruo heard this, she couldn't help but feel surprised.

How could such a precious item be stolen?

“The specific circumstances are still unclear, but there are clearly oversights in management.”

Liu Wu frowned, his tone filled with helplessness.

"The senior official who was originally in charge of this matter passed away last year, and the new one is also not around anymore. It's really a double whammy."

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhiruo secretly speculated that perhaps this was a chain reaction brought about by the personnel changes at the top level.

She asked tentatively:

"Then why not ask the previous manager?"

"He is currently unable to perform his duties. He suffered from food poisoning a while ago and has not yet recovered."

Liu Wu sighed, his expression full of worry.

"This is a really tricky matter."

(Food poisoning?)

Lin Zhiruo's heart moved, as if she remembered something.

After that small fire, it seems that a similar case did occur...

"Your Excellency, are you referring to the official who loves gourmet food?"

Lin Zhiruo asked tentatively.

When Liu Wu heard this, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes:

"How do you know?"

"There are some reasons, which are not worth telling to outsiders."

Lin Zhiruo smiled slightly, but was thinking secretly in her heart.

Minor fires, thefts, absence of managers...are all these just accidents?

Perhaps there is some subtle connection hidden between them.

Liu Wu seemed to have thought of this as well. He rubbed his temples and muttered to himself:

"Speaking of that deceased high-ranking official, he was quite an upright person. But... what was his name? I only remember that he loved sweets..."

"Lord Haoran?"

Lin Zhiruo asked tentatively.

Last year, Quan Wushuang mentioned this person, an upright senior official who was fond of sweets but died due to excessive salt intake.

"Yes, that's him! Hey, how did you know?"

Liu Wu looked at Lin Zhiruo in surprise.

Lin Zhiruo smiled slightly and did not answer directly.

She knew in her heart that all this might not be accidental.

Everything may seem independent, but in fact it may contain hidden mysteries.

She looked at Liu Wu and asked slowly:

"So, what brings you here, Lord Liu?"

Liu Wu took out an item from his arms, which was the mysterious jade pendant that Lin Zhiruo had picked up before.

She had cleaned it, remade it, and handed it to Liu Wu for safekeeping, hoping that he would have the opportunity to return it to the warehouse keeper.

"The guard returned it to me, saying he didn't want it."

Liu Wu explained,

"He was fired because of a minor fire. This jade pendant was originally a gift from someone else, but now it has become a hot potato."

"Oh? Who gave it to me?"

Lin Zhiruo asked curiously.

"It is said that it was a certain female official."

Liu Wu frowned.

"But don't you find it strange? Why would someone specifically send such a valuable item to the warehouse guard?"

Lin Zhiruo nodded, feeling a bit strange.

However, she changed her mind and thought that perhaps there was another hidden story behind this.

She looked at Liu Wu and said slowly:

"If I were to obtain such a precious item, I would definitely be eager to use it. But perhaps, this is exactly what the other party intended..."

Liu Wu seemed to have thought of this as well. He sighed and said:

"The guard said that it was late at night and he couldn't see the lady's face clearly. Also, she seemed to have a scent of spices on her."

"Spicy?"

When Lin Zhiruo heard this, she felt curious.

"Judging from the height, it's obviously not you."

Liu Wu looked at Lin Zhiruo, a smile flashed in his eyes.

"But there's something fishy about this. Do you know anything?"

Lin Zhiruo was silent for a moment, thinking secretly in her heart.

She remembered her father's motto - don't make assumptions.

However, at this moment, she couldn't help but want to find out the truth.

She looked at Liu Wu and said slowly:

"Apart from the accidents and incidents you just mentioned, are there any other inexplicable circumstances?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Wu shook his head, then nodded, his expression full of contemplation:

"If I investigate this, I might find something. Or maybe, I'll find nothing."