Upon hearing An Ran's terms, Zhou Lin couldn't help but laugh: "So you've been eyeing Xiao Zhangyin's position all along. No wonder you've gone to such lengths to kill him. Eunuch An, I heard... that Xiao Zhangyin gave you your position as the head of the Imperial Household Department. Why are you turning around and biting him now?"

An Ran remained expressionless and coldly said, "Your Highness, this position of chief steward was earned by this servant myself, not given to me for nothing."

"You killed Xu Feng, the former chief steward of the Imperial Household Department, and took his place. Now, you want to repeat the same trick?"

“That’s right. In this servant’s eyes, profit always comes first and benefit is paramount. Since this servant has the ability to help Your Highness get rid of Master Xiao, why doesn’t Your Highness trust this servant just this once?”

"Between you and me, we only discuss interests, not trust. But Eunuch An, do you perhaps think too foolish of me?"

Zhou Lin squinted, his tone sinister and wicked: "Do you really think you can get me to give you the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard just because Xiao Zhangyin isn't a eunuch, such a simple sentence?"

An Ran shook her head slightly: "Of course not... Your Highness, this servant also knows a shocking secret, about Master Xiao's background..."

"Speak your mind directly, don't play tricks here."

An Ran curved her lips slightly but did not speak, only quietly looking at the Prince of Huainan.

Anran is waiting, and she's also gambling.

I'm betting that Zhou Lin will agree to hand over command of the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard to him.

Because the more meticulous a person is, the easier it is for others to exploit their weaknesses.

Zhou Lin had also suspected Xiao Heye's identity, but his men searched almost the entire Yong'an City and found no information about Xiao Heye's background.

The more this happened, the more uneasy Zhou Lin felt.

Now that An Ran has brought it up herself, he must know something...

Zhou Lin: "I agree to your conditions. Tell me everything you know."

Upon hearing this, An Ran smiled and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Zhou Lin frowned, clearly getting impatient, but he couldn't lose his composure.

An Ran continued, "Your Highness, the original name of Chief Inspector Xiao was not Xiao Heye. It's quite a coincidence... His real name shares the same surname as Your Highness, Zhou."

What does this mean?

"He is the late Crown Prince, Zhou Yuheng."

Anran spoke the last three words very slowly and with great emphasis.

Zhou Lin stared in disbelief: "Wasn't he already dead atop the Nine Heavens Snow Mountain? How can I believe you? And... how did you find out about something so important?"

“Your Highness need not ask further. This servant has its own methods. To survive in this palace, one must possess some skills; otherwise, one might not even have a chance to live.” An Ran looked directly at him and said, “This servant simply wants to tell Your Highness that there is now another reason why Master Xiao must die.”

Zhou Lin laughed, "I can see that Eunuch An is even more afraid of Xiao Heye's comeback than I am. After all, if he does come back, the first person he'll kill will definitely be you, the traitor..."

An Ran did not deny this point. He admitted, "Your Highness is right. If Master Xiao is not dead, this servant will not be able to eat or sleep in peace..."

"But...on the other hand, if the late Crown Prince were alive, the Prince's situation would seem extremely awkward, wouldn't it?"

Zhou Lin: "What a load of rubbish! The late Crown Prince was demoted to a commoner and banished from the palace long ago!"

The thought that he had finally managed to kill Zhou Tingyue, and now the former crown prince had appeared and was directly threatening his position, made Zhou Lin furious.

"Your Highness, please don't be angry. Regardless of whether he is the late Crown Prince or anyone else, his life is now in your hands. If you want him dead, isn't it just a matter of a word from you?"

"I will make him wish he were dead."

Seeing that he had spoken, An Ran volunteered, "Then let this servant share the burden for Your Highness, so as not to dirty Your Highness's hands?"

"No rush, he's still useful. With him around, I don't believe Su Tiyue won't obey."

Upon hearing the name, An Ran was startled. After a moment of stunned silence, a strange glint flashed in her eyes. "This servant will follow Your Highness's arrangements."

Zhou Lin glanced at him, thinking to himself that An Ran was quite easy to use, no wonder Xiao Heye was so supportive of him.

In other words, people like Enron are the most reliable; if you give them enough, they will be loyal to you without hesitation.

Because, in the eyes of someone like An Ran, all that matters is profit.

...

"You may leave now. Once I have purged the remnants of the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, I will personally send him to the execution platform... to be beheaded and displayed to the public for the crime of deceiving the emperor!"

"This servant obeys." An Ran bowed and then slowly retreated.

After An Ran left, Zhou Lin's trusted guard stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, I sent someone to the dungeon. What Eunuch An said is true; Chief Inspector Xiao is indeed not a eunuch..."

"Hmm..." Zhou Lin snorted coldly: "Have someone keep a close eye on An Ran these next few days, so he doesn't find out."

"yes."

"Furthermore, starting tomorrow, the entire city will be sealed off, and a full-scale search will be launched for the traitors and remnants of the Eastern Depot. Anyone who dares to obstruct us will be killed!"

"yes."

"And have someone spread the words that Eunuch An said tonight... preferably, spread them all over the country."

"Your subordinate obeys!"

Zhou Lin was still racking his brains about how to bring down Xiao Heye's evil forces.

Unexpectedly, An Ran appeared out of nowhere.

Now, Zhou Lin can rest easy...