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

"It seems that I have understood the effect of this thing." Quan Wushuang stood in the imperial kitchen, his tone revealing helplessness.

"Me too." Lin Zhiruo replied softly.

The chaotic scene in front of him made Quan Wushuang a little dazed.

The usually radiant face was now full of fatigue.

“How did it turn out like this?” he sighed softly.

It all started a few hours ago.

In the kitchen of the Liuli Palace, palace servants brought in various ingredients one after another.

In addition to the precious tonka beans, there is also specially ground tonka bean powder.

Three young palace maids gathered around to watch the fun, and only left reluctantly after Caiwei reminded them.

The counter was filled with delicacies: fine milk, fresh butter, honey, fruit wine, and fragrant seasonings.

Lin Zhiruo was no stranger to fragrant beans.

She had tasted it once in a red-light district. It was a dessert made by mixing tofu bean powder into a paste and adding sugar. The brothel girls called it "sweet chocolate".

Although she only ate a piece the size of her fingertip, it made her feel as if she had drunk strong liquor, and her whole body felt dizzy.

That was a lecher who wanted to seduce a famous prostitute, but unexpectedly he gave her a taste of his own medicine.

When the courtesan saw her strange expression, she immediately understood what was going on and kicked the man out on the spot.

Later I found out that it was an aphrodisiac spice sold by merchants.

Since then, she has obtained a few seeds, but has never dared to use them in cooking.

Few people are willing to buy such expensive items in food stores on the market.

In Lin Zhiruo's memory, sweet chocolate was made from solidified oil.

As a cook obsessed with ingredients, she remembers the smell and taste of each ingredient vividly.

It is the height of summer and it is not easy to let the oil solidify naturally.

She wanted to use ice cubes, but all the ice cubes in the palace were tributes, so she didn't dare to ask for it easily.

So she came up with a solution.

She found a ceramic water tank and filled it halfway with water.

Due to the evaporation of water, the temperature inside the tank will be lower than outside, which should be enough to solidify the grease.

She scooped up the paste with a silver spoon and tasted it carefully.

The tip of the tongue first felt bitterness and sweetness, and then a feeling that made the heart beat faster came over.

Although she was already accustomed to all kinds of spicy ingredients, the effect this time still surprised her.

"It has to be made smaller," she said to herself.

She cut the dried fruit into small pieces and dipped them into the prepared brown liquid.

Then hang the plate in the water tank.

Finally, cover it with a coarse cloth and wait for it to solidify.

Quan Wushuang will come to take it in the evening, and it should have solidified by then.

“There’s still this much left.” She looked at the brown liquid in the bowl.

These are precious tributes and cannot be wasted.

She thought for a moment and poured the remaining liquid over the bread.

Anyway, for her, this level of stimulation is nothing.

She placed the soaked bread on the rack and closed the lid.

After gathering the remaining materials and putting them back in her room, she went to the sink to do some laundry.

In fact, she should have taken the bread away, but the excitement after tasting it made her forget about it.

Who knew that this would happen later.

When Lin Zhiruo went to do what Caiwei asked her to do, she also picked some wild ingredients.

She had completely forgotten that the bread was on the shelf.

Just as she was walking back happily with a bamboo basket full of wild vegetables, she saw an unusual scene.

Caiwei stood there with a grim face, and Concubine Yuyao looked worried.

Gao Zhongcheng was also present, which meant that Quan Wushuang was here too.

Seeing Caiwei pointing in the direction of the kitchen, she quickly handed the basket to Gao Zhongcheng and rushed in.

The scene before her made her freeze in place.

Several palace maids huddled together in disheveled clothes and fell into a deep sleep.

Their skirts were lifted up messily, revealing large areas of snow-white skin.

"What is going on?" Caiwei asked sternly.

"I don't know either..." Lin Zhiruo squatted down to check their condition.

"It shouldn't be a big deal—"

Before he could finish his words, Caiwei hit him on the back of the head.

There were obviously a few pieces of bread missing from the table.

Apparently these greedy palace maids treated it as a snack.

After settling a few people, Lin Zhiruo was exhausted.

In Concubine Yuyao's living room, she explained to everyone the origin of those snacks.

"Is this the aphrodisiac spice?" Concubine Yuyao asked with interest.

"No, that's here." Lin Zhiruo took out the pastry wrapped in dried fruits.

There was a handful of thumbnail-sized particles on the table.

As soon as she said this, everyone else looked at her strangely.

"I've been researching various ingredients for years and am used to these stimulating foods."

Lin Zhiruo explained, but seeing everyone's surprised looks, she knew she had said the wrong thing again.

"Just like some people get drunk after just one drink, while others can drink a thousand without getting drunk, everyone's tolerance is different."

Quan Wushuang picked up a piece of dessert and looked at it carefully.

“How about I try it?”

"Shut up! Absolutely not!!"

Caiwei and Gao Zhongcheng shouted in unison.

Lin Zhiruo was stunned for a moment. This was the first time she heard Gao Zhongcheng speak.

"It's just a joke." Quan Wushuang put the snack back on the plate.

It is indeed inappropriate to take this kind of thing in front of the emperor's favorite concubine.

What's more, with his stunning looks, if his face was flushed and he looked charming, no one would be able to resist him.

"Why not prepare some for the emperor to add some fun?" Concubine Yuyao said with a smile.

"The effect is much stronger than ordinary medicine." Lin Zhiruo told the truth.

"So powerful..." Concubine Yuyao's expression was a little subtle.

Lin Zhiruo decided to pretend not to hear that sentence. It seemed that the Queen was also worried that she could not bear it.

She handed the wrapped snack to Quan Wushuang.

"This substance is extremely potent. Only one pill can be taken at a time. Taking more than this will cause dizziness and nosebleeds."

“And it’s best taken when you’re alone.”

After explaining the precautions, Quan Wushuang stood up and said goodbye.

Gao Zhongcheng and Caiwei also left.

Concubine Yuyao carried the sleeping little princess back.

Lin Zhiruo was about to clear the dishes when she suddenly smelled a sweet fragrance from behind her.

"Thank you for your hard work." The voice was as sweet as honey.

She felt someone lift her hair and something cold touch her neck.

When I turned around, I saw Quan Wushuang had disappeared outside the door.

She looked down at her plate and immediately knew what was missing.

"I see."

She knew who had taken the snack.

"I hope nothing will happen."

She spoke softly, but with a hint of nonchalance in her tone.

As the night deepened, the lights in the palace lit up one by one.

This night was destined to be anything but peaceful.

Lin Zhiruo stood in front of the window, looking at the lights in the distance, wondering what she was thinking.

As a cook obsessed with ingredients, she knows every flavor by heart.

But what happened tonight was somewhat unexpected for her.

The experiences of those palace maids reminded her that even the most ordinary ingredients could have unexpected consequences.

She sighed softly and turned back to the desk.

We still have to prepare the imperial meal tomorrow, so it’s time to rest now.