"Your Majesty, we only found about twenty other accomplices, but when my subordinates and Lord Zhao led men there at noon, they were all already dead."
"Dead? That means we can't find out who's behind this?"
Upon hearing Qin Jue's tone, Zou Heng lowered his head even further, saying, "This subordinate will do his best to find out who's behind this."
"Hmm, how's the investigation going regarding the shop fires and the fires at people's homes?"
"Your Majesty, after receiving Commander Zou's message, I personally questioned the eleventh family multiple times."
"I understand, the arsonist was indeed from that family."
Qin Jue looked at Zhao Feng, waiting for him to say something next.
"Two children from the eleventh and twelfth families got into a fight, and the father of the eleventh child, enraged, set fire to the twelfth family's house."
"Unexpectedly, a southeast wind blew in that night, which caused a fire to start at the twelfth house and spread along with it, burning down the houses next to it behind it as well."
"Because the wind blew the fire to the eleventh house immediately, that's why the eleventh house burned the most."
"Um……"
Qin Jue was not surprised at all when he heard about the fire.
"The shop is on fire?"
"Your humble servant has not yet found it."
As soon as Zhao Feng finished speaking, he felt a dangerous gaze fall on him.
Startled, Zhao Feng immediately said, "Your Majesty, I will go back and continue the investigation."
Zhao Feng wanted to leave but didn't dare, since Qin Jue hadn't spoken yet.
"Then why don't you hurry back and investigate the case?"
Zhao Feng quickly got up from the ground and left the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
"Zou Heng"
"Your subordinate is here."
"Take those people to the 'Imperial Prison'."
"yes"
Just as Zou Heng was about to say he was leaving, Qin Jue's voice reached his ears.
"You know what to do, right?"
"Your subordinate knows."
"Tell the people in the 'Imperial Prison' to show no mercy; spare his life, and then execute him in three days as a warning."
"Understood, Your subordinate."
"Go down."
Qin Jue pinched the bridge of his nose, speaking with a hint of weariness. Zou Heng, upon hearing Qin Jue's command, withdrew.
Qin Jue pinched the bridge of his nose, walked around the screen and went inside. After sitting on the edge of the bed and watching Xiao Xi'er for a while, he sat on a small couch not far away and began to read the memorials.
——————
Early in the morning, Qin Jingyi practiced playing the xiao (vertical flute) in the Purple Bamboo Pavilion.
As I played the flute, I thought of how happy Xiao Xi'er was when she ate in the Hall of Mental Cultivation that night.
He put down the flute in his hand and was about to leave the palace gate.
"Your Highness, are you going out?"
"Yes, Aunt Zisu."
"Your Highness, please take care."
After leaving the Purple Bamboo Pavilion, Qin Jingyi went to the Imperial Kitchen.
Everyone in the imperial kitchen bowed upon seeing Qin Jingyi arrive.
When the Imperial Chef Shi Tian saw Qin Jingyi arrive, he put down the cleaver he was holding and came out.
"This humble official greets Your Highness."
Get up.
"I wonder what brings Your Highness to the Imperial Kitchen?"
"This prince wishes to learn culinary arts."
Shi Tian was stunned by Qin Jingyao's words, then said, "Your Highness, you mustn't!"
Why not?
"Your Highness, there is an old saying, 'A wise man keeps away from the kitchen,' so Your Highness should not learn to cook."
Qin Jingyi chuckled after hearing this, but there was no real smile in his eyes.
"The Imperial Chef is mistaken in what he said."
The ancient saying "A gentleman keeps away from the kitchen" means that a virtuous person, because of their benevolence and compassion, cannot bear to see killing, and therefore stays away from the kitchen.
After saying this, Qin Jingyi turned to look at Shi Tian.
"That's not true. Men aren't allowed to cook, are they? Otherwise, how could the Imperial Chef be the royal chef?"
"In that case... I will not stop Your Highness."
"Um"
Qin Jingyi walked into the kitchen, and Shi Tian specially arranged for a cutting board and stove to be set up for him.
Qin Jingyi walked to the stove that had been cleaned up.
"Um……"
"Can the Imperial Chef teach me how to cook?"
Qin Jingyi spoke to Shi Tian gently, but Shi Tian thought for a moment and refused.
"Your Highness, this..."
"I wonder what the Imperial Chef has in mind?"
"Your Highness, if I may speak disrespectfully, I only accept disciples who are talented or whom I have a liking for."
"Of all the people in this imperial kitchen, the only one who catches my eye is this girl, Luo Ning."
At this moment, Luo Ning, standing at the stove on the other side, seemed to sense something, looked up, and smiled at Shi Tian.
Shi Tian glared at Luo Ning, who then lowered his head to continue cooking.
"In that case, Your Highness will not force you to do anything against your will."
"This stove is for Your Highness's use; I shall take my leave now."
"Um"
Qin Jingyu stood in front of the stove, looking around at the kitchen knife, rolling pin, and other utensils, unsure how to use them.
Then he picked up the whole cabbage and placed it on the cutting board, picked up the knife on the cutting board with his right hand, and chopped it down on the cabbage in one go.
The cabbage instantly split in two.
Qin Jingyi continued chopping, the sound of her chopping vegetables echoing loudly throughout the kitchen.
No one dared to say anything.
Luo Ning walked over at this moment and stood next to Qin Jingyi's stove.
"Your Highness, that's not how you cut vegetables."
As he spoke, Luo Ning picked up another cleaver from the cutting board and began demonstrating to Qin Jingyi.
Seeing Luo Ning chopping vegetables reminded Qin Jingyi of how he had chopped vegetables earlier, and he felt quite embarrassed, touching his nose.
"Should Your Highness give it a try?"
Luo Ning picked up a peeled potato and handed it to Qin Jingyi, who then placed it on the cutting board.
He then walked to the cutting board, picked up the knife, and, recalling how Luo Ning had chopped vegetables earlier, began to slowly chop.
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