"Lord Chu, the temple is only this big. There's just one kitchen left to see. Would you like to go?" Heshan turned his head and smiled at him, his hand continuously rolling the Buddha beads.
Chu Heng responded with a hum, observing his reaction, especially the fleeting excitement in his eyes after he agreed, capturing every bit of it.
He acted as if he was unaware, following him into the kitchen.
Just as he stepped into the kitchen, his nostrils twitched almost imperceptibly. That familiar scent, though fleeting, was still caught distinctly by him.
The further he walked in, the more frequently he smelled it.
Amidst the mix of various vegetable and food aromas, it appeared rather mottled. Anyone unfamiliar with the medicinal herb Yun Tan, even doctors in the capital or imperial physicians, might not detect anything amiss amid so many scents.
But Chu Heng was too familiar with this scent, so much so that he identified it as soon as he stepped through the door.
