“The owner of Lushengxiang?”

Zhen Shicheng explained, “That would be the Crown Princess.”

Emperor Jingming’s mouth twitched.

He didn’t need reminding!

“The Crown Princess was defamed and filed an official complaint?”

Zhen Shicheng opened the wicker box, took out the case file on top, and read aloud: “In early February, we received a complaint from Madam Xiu, the head manager of Lushengxiang, accusing those who spread rumors in the capital of malicious intent, causing Lushengxiang to close and damaging the reputation of its owner—”

Emperor Jingming interrupted, “There’s no specific defendant?”

“No, there isn’t.”

“And you accepted the case?”

Zhen Shicheng looked at Emperor Jingming in surprise: “Of course I accepted it, Your Majesty.”

Emperor Jingming fell silent.

He wanted to use the paperweight to bash old Zhen to death!

The turmoil had just subsided, and this old fellow was stirring things up again.

But then, considering that the old man before him was his in-law, Emperor Jingming restrained himself.

It would be too much of a loss if his daughter couldn’t get married.

“Have you found anything?”

Zhen Shicheng’s calm expression changed to one of difficulty: “We have found some things, but the situation is a bit complicated…”

“Take your time.” Emperor Jingming glanced at the wicker box again.

With such a large box, how could it not be complicated?

“After extensive investigation, Your Humble Servant confirmed that several idlers spreading rumors were organized, and traced the leader of this organization to the owner of a teahouse named Li Ji. This Li Ji came from a poor background, lost his parents early, and became a wastrel. The source of funds for opening his teahouse was somewhat suspicious, but with some effort, I managed to get him to talk. Behind him was a mysterious benefactor who not only provided money for the teahouse but occasionally assigned him tasks, most of which involved spreading rumors to influence public opinion in the capital…”

Emperor Jingming listened silently, his expression growing darker as he heard more.

Teahouses and taverns were already places where all sorts mingled, making them ideal for spreading rumors, and he knew all too well how rumors could kill invisibly.

This Li Ji deserved to be cut into a thousand pieces!

“Has the mysterious person been identified?”

Zhen Shicheng paused, then said, “The mysterious person always covered their face with a hat when meeting Li Ji. Li Ji couldn’t describe their appearance, but from the build and gait, he guessed it was a man in his thirties, of medium height, rather thin, with a somewhat effeminate voice.”

Emperor Jingming shook his head: “There are countless such people. Finding them would be like searching for a needle in a sea.”

“Yes, but relying on experience, Your Humble Servant managed to get some more information from Li Ji.”

“What did you find out?”

“Once, when the mysterious person met with Li Ji, they accidentally dropped a gilt copper four-leaf clover button, which Li Ji found and kept.” As Zhen Shicheng spoke, he took out a small red lacquer box from the wicker box and opened it before Emperor Jingming.

Emperor Jingming glanced at the gilt copper button inside, his face clouding over.

Ordinary people’s clothes usually used thin cords tied into knots or simple knots, while buttons made of gold, silver, precious stones, or ivory belonged to wealthy families.

He was familiar with the pattern and style of this button; it belonged to some of the higher-ranking eunuchs in the palace.

Zhen Shicheng observed Emperor Jing Ming’s expression, estimating that the old emperor could still handle it, and stroked his beard before continuing, “Considering the uniqueness of this button, Your Humble Servant also investigated Zhu Duohuan, the Official of the Five Offices at the Imperial Observatory—”

Emperor Jingming, who had just taken a sip of tea to alleviate his gloomy mood, nearly spat it out upon hearing this.

Zhu Duohuan, the Official of the Five Offices?

Who told old Zhen to investigate him?

He had originally ordered Han Ran to investigate, thinking that since it involved the Crown Prince, it might be connected to the palace, and he didn’t want too many outside officials to know.

“What connection could the button have with the Official of the Five Offices?” Emperor Jingming asked, suppressing his anger.

He couldn’t fathom how old Zhen’s mind had made this connection.

Zhen Shicheng replied seriously, “The Imperial Observatory set the auspicious date for establishing the Crown Prince on a day of solar eclipse. The possibility of someone secretly harming the Crown Prince is high. Considering that the rumors rampant in the capital targeted the Crown Princess, Your Humble Servant thought it worthwhile to investigate the cases together.”

“Did you find anything?”

“We uncovered some information…”

After listening to Zhen Shicheng’s report, Emperor Jingming’s face turned completely black.

Very well, even more detailed than Han Ran’s investigation. What were the Jinlin Guards eating?

Zhen Shicheng cupped his hands: “After investigating both cases together, Your Humble Servant has come to a bold conclusion: the mysterious person supporting Li Ji is likely to be Wang Ying, a eunuch from Cining Palace.”

“What?” Hearing Zhen Shicheng’s conclusion, Emperor Jingming, for some reason, didn’t feel too shocked, but rather a vague, indescribable fear.

“Your Majesty, please look.” Zhen Shicheng took out a case file from the wicker box and opened it. “Your Humble Servant learned from Li Ji that the mysterious person always contacted him on the first day of each month, and only people from Cining Palace leave the palace to offer incense on that day, a practice of many years. Your Humble Servant also investigated those who leave Cining Palace to offer incense on the first of each month, and Wang Ying is always among them. Wang Ying also fits Li Ji’s description of the mysterious person as being of medium height and rather thin.”

Emperor Jingming’s face darkened: “So you’re saying that the person behind both incidents of stirring up trouble is that eunuch Wang Ying from Cining Palace?”

Zhen Shicheng was silent for a moment, then declared loudly: “Your Humble Servant believes that eunuch Wang Ying is merely acting on someone else’s behalf. The true mastermind is the Empress Dowager—”

“Silence!” Emperor Jingming suddenly stood up, pointing at Zhen Shicheng with a white jade paperweight. “How dare you!”

Pan Hai beside him kept his head lowered, feeling bitter.

Minister Zhen was putting him in a difficult position. How dare he say such things? What if the Emperor, in his anger, had them all killed to silence them?

Zhen Shicheng calmly knelt: “Your Humble Servant’s conclusions are all based on investigation. I ask Your Majesty to consider them carefully.”

“I told you to be silent! Your so-called conclusions are mere speculation. Even the identity of the mysterious person as eunuch Wang Ying is speculation. How dare you implicate the Empress Dowager?”

Zhen Shicheng didn’t back down: “In my investigations, I neither wrongly accuse the innocent nor let the guilty go free.”

Emperor Jingming’s face contorted.

Was he calling the Empress Dowager guilty?

As the image of Empress Dowager’s kind and gentle face flashed through his mind, Emperor Jingming felt a headache coming on and angrily said, “Zhen Shicheng, don’t abuse my trust in you. Know your limits!”

Zhen Shicheng lowered his gaze, unperturbed: “Your Humble Servant dares not be presumptuous, nor will I be. I have always sought only the truth.”

The word “truth” almost broke Emperor Jingming, making him sway.

Pan Hai quickly supported Emperor Jingming, advising, “Your Majesty, please don’t let anger harm your health.”

Emperor Jingming composed himself and stared at Zhen Shicheng warningly: “This case need not be investigated further. Without any evidence, relying only on speculation, it merely disturbs people’s minds!”

Pan Hai desperately tried to signal to Zhen Shicheng with his eyes.

Minister Zhen, please leave! At least give His Majesty some time to calm down. Implicating the Empress Dowager right from the start, isn’t that wishful thinking?

But Zhen Shicheng remained unmoved, pointing at the wicker box full of case files: “These are all evidence, Your Majesty is simply choosing not to see them.”

Was he someone who spoke nonsense? His Majesty was questioning his investigative abilities.

He could tolerate anything but this!

Emperor Jingming was furious and shouted, “Guards, drag Zhen Shicheng out!”