"Lushengxiang Dongjia?"

Zhen Shicheng explained: "It's the Crown Princess."

Emperor Jingming twitched his lips.

He doesn't need reminding!

"The Crown Princess was slandered, and she reported it to the authorities?"

Zhen Shicheng opened the rattan box, took out the case file on the top, and said aloud: "In early February, we received a petition from the head shopkeeper of Lushengxiang, Ms. Xiu, suing the person who started the rumor in the capital for his ill intentions, which led to the closure of Lushengxiang and the damage to the reputation of the owner of Lushengxiang——"

Emperor Jingming interrupted and asked, "No specific defendant?"

“No.”

"You took it?"

Zhen Shicheng looked at Emperor Jingming in surprise and said, "Of course I will accept it."

Emperor Jingming was silent.

He wanted to use the paperweight to knock Old Zhen to death!

The storm has finally calmed down, what is this old guy doing?

But thinking that the old man in front of him was his relative, Emperor Jingming held back.

It's such a pity that my daughter can't get married.

"Have you found out?"

Zhen Shicheng's calm expression was replaced by a hint of embarrassment: "I did find out, but the matter is a bit complicated..."

"Speak slowly." Emperor Jingming glanced at the rattan box again.

How can such a big box not be complicated?

"After much investigation, I have confirmed that the idlers who spread rumors are organized. I have also traced the leader of this organization to the owner of a teahouse named Li Ji. Li Ji was born in poverty and lost his parents early, becoming a playboy. The source of the funds for opening the teahouse was a bit strange. Fortunately, I worked hard to pry open his mouth. There is a mysterious sponsor behind him, who not only gave him money to open the teahouse, but also occasionally gave him some tasks, most of which were related to spreading rumors to influence public opinion in the capital..."

Emperor Jingming listened silently, and his expression became uglier the more he listened.

Teahouses and taverns were places where all kinds of people mixed together, making it very convenient for them to spread rumors. He knew too well how rumors could kill people without leaving any trace.

This Li Ji deserves to be cut into pieces!

"Has the mysterious person been found out?"

Zhen Shicheng paused and said, "The mysterious man always covered his face with a hat every time he saw Li Ji. Li Ji couldn't describe the man's appearance. He could only guess from his body shape and walking posture that he was a man in his thirties, of medium build, thin, and with a somewhat feminine voice."

Emperor Jingming shook his head and said, "There are so many people like this. Trying to find one is like looking for a needle in a haystack."

"Yes, fortunately, I was able to learn some information from Li Ji based on my experience."

"What did you ask?"

"Once, the mysterious man met Li Ji and accidentally left behind a gilt-copper four-leaf clover button, which Li Ji discovered and hid." Zhen Shicheng said as he took out a small vermilion lacquer box from a rattan box, opened it and presented it to Emperor Jingming.

Emperor Jingming took a look at the gilt-bronze button lying in the middle, and a gloomy look fell on his face.

Ordinary people's clothes were either tied with thin ropes or simply knotted. Only the rich would make buttons with gold, silver, gems, ivory, etc.

He was familiar with the pattern of this button, which was exactly what the eunuchs of some status in the palace had.

Zhen Shicheng observed the expression of Emperor Jingming and estimated that the old emperor could still bear it. He stroked his beard and said, "Considering the special nature of this button, I also investigated Zhu Duohuan, the Lingtai Lang of the Qintianjian Five Organs..."

Emperor Jingming was taking a sip of tea to relieve his gloomy mood, and he almost spit out the tea when he heard this.

How happy is Zhu Duo, the spiritual master of the five senses?

Who asked Lao Zhen to check this?

He originally ordered Han Ran to investigate because he thought that the matter concerned the crown prince and was afraid that it would be linked to the palace, so he did not want too many outsiders to know about it.

"What does a button have to do with the Five Senses Lingtai Lang?" Emperor Jingming asked angrily.

He had no idea how Old Zhen could think of this.

Zhen Shicheng replied seriously, "The Imperial Guards set the auspicious date for establishing the Crown Prince as the day when the dog swallowed the sun. It is very likely that someone is plotting to harm the Crown Prince. Considering that the rumors that are spreading in the capital are targeting the Crown Princess, I think we can investigate both cases together."

"Have you found out?"

"I found some information..."

After listening to Zhen Shicheng's words, Emperor Jingming's face turned completely dark.

Very good, more detailed than Han Ran’s investigation. Are all the people in Kam Lin Wei shit eaters?

Zhen Shicheng bowed his hands and said, "After investigating both cases, I came to a bold conclusion that the mysterious person who funded Li Ji was most likely Wang Ying, the eunuch of Cining Palace."

"What?" After hearing Zhen Shicheng's words, Emperor Jingming didn't know why he was not too shocked, but instead felt a trace of inexplicable fear.

"Your Majesty, please read this." Zhen Shicheng picked up a case file from the rattan box and opened it. "I learned from Li Ji that the mysterious man always contacts him on the first day of the lunar month, and only people from Ci Ning Palace go out of the palace to burn incense on the first day of every lunar month, and this has been the case for many years. I also checked who goes out of Ci Ning Palace to burn incense on the first day of every lunar month, and Wang Ying is always there, and Wang Ying fits Li Ji's description of the mysterious man as being of medium height and thin."

Emperor Jingming's face darkened: "So, the person who caused trouble twice was Wang Ying, the eunuch of Cining Palace?

Zhen Shicheng was silent for a moment, then said loudly: "I think that the eunuch Wang Ying was just doing things for someone else. The real mastermind was the Queen Mother—"

"Shut up!" Emperor Jingming suddenly stood up, holding a white jade paper and pointing it at Zhen Shicheng, "How brave!"

Pan Hai, standing aside, lowered his head tightly, feeling bitter in his heart.

Lord Zhen is trying to trick him. How dare he say such things? What if the emperor gets so angry that he kills them all to silence them?

Zhen Shicheng knelt down calmly and said: "My conclusions are all based on investigations. Please judge for yourself, Your Majesty."

"I told you to shut up! Your so-called conclusion is nothing but speculation. Even whether the mysterious man is the eunuch Wang Ying is speculation. How dare you drag the Queen Mother into this?"

Zhen Shicheng did not back down: "I will not wrongly accuse a good person, nor will I let a bad person go."

Emperor Jingming's face twisted for a moment.

Does this mean that the Queen Mother is a bad person?

The Queen Mother's kind face flashed through his mind, and Emperor Jingming felt a headache. He said angrily, "Zhen Shicheng, don't take advantage of my trust and act so recklessly. Stop it!"

Zhen Shicheng lowered his eyes, not startled: "I dare not be presumptuous, and I will not be presumptuous. What I have always sought is only the truth."

The word "truth" almost knocked Emperor Jingming down and made him stagger.

Pan Hai hurriedly supported Emperor Jingming and advised, "Your Majesty, please don't get too angry and hurt yourself."

Emperor Jingming paused, stared at Zhen Shicheng and warned him: "There is no need to investigate this case any further. Without any evidence, relying only on speculation will only confuse people!"

Pan Hai desperately winked at Zhen Shicheng.

Lord Zhen, please leave quickly. At least give the Emperor some time. Isn't it crazy to ask him to attack the Empress Dowager right away?

Zhen Shicheng was unmoved, pointing to the rattan box filled with case files: "These are all evidence, but the emperor just turned a blind eye to them."

Is he a person who talks nonsense? The emperor is questioning his ability to handle cases.

I can tolerate anything except this!

Emperor Jingming was furious and shouted angrily: "Someone, drag Zhen Shicheng away!"