Miao Ci added on the side, "Your Majesty, indeed Lin He came immediately to confess his crime upon waking. Earlier, when Eunuch Zhang had not returned for a long time, I sent someone to search for him, only to find his body at Eunuch Zhang’s private residence outside the Inner Supervision. He may have been killed by Gu Lan after being used or perhaps committed suicide out of guilt.

I also inquired with Xiao Xiang, Eunuch Zhang’s adopted son. He said that since Your Majesty cut off Eunuch Zhang’s arm, he would often mutter to himself, saying things like... Your Majesty is mad."

Rong Jing looked at the curtains in front of him with a defeated expression, as if he was unable to accept everything for a moment, losing his ability to react.

Seeing Rong Jing unresponsive, Miao Ci rolled his eyes and continued:

"I also found out that Eunuch Zhang’s former palace maid Zhang’s elderly father had been living a peaceful life at his private residence, but according to the neighbors, this father wasn’t her biological father, and someone heard Eunuch Zhang calling him... godfather."

After speaking, he cautiously looked at Rong Jing’s expression, feeling both terrified and excited in his heart.

All the old palace insiders knew that Eunuch Zhang’s godfather was Zhang Ruoshui, the eunuch who was once the late Emperor’s close attendant.

But Zhang Ruoshui had already died when the late Emperor passed away, and Miao Ci was clearer on the inside story — Zhang Ruoshui was killed by Zhang Fengcai himself!

Zhong Liang is dead, Zhang Fengcai is dead too, and now he had uncovered the fact that Zhang Fengcai secretly supported Zhang Ruoshui during his lifetime — he committed the crime of deceiving the Emperor, deserving of no mercy in death.

Among the trustworthy eunuchs by the Emperor’s side in the palace, only Lan Nu, Lin He, and himself were left. Lan Nu was Princess Ning’an’s person, Lin He had been ineffective in this matter, and as for himself, being old and steady... the head eunuch of Dayan should be replaced by someone new.

"Godfather... was Zhang Ruoshui... he isn’t dead?"

Rong Jing murmured, instantly recalling the old eunuch who once stayed close to Rong Huan, a chill and darkness building up in his eyes.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Fengcai hadn’t killed Zhang Ruoshui, but rather kept him outside the palace all along.

Good, even he had betrayed him.

Rong Jing suddenly stood up, and Miao Ci quickly said, "Your Majesty is injured, the Imperial Physician instructed not to get out of bed, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, your health is most important —"

"Out of my way!" Rong Jing swung his arm to push Miao Ci aside, staggering as he walked toward Lin He, who was kneeling at the palace gate, looking down upon him.

Lin He lowered his gaze, his shoulder was bloody and injured, he held his breath, suppressing the tension in his heart.

Lin He originally had sent Gu Lan out of the palace and could have left with her, but he believed if he continued to hide within Inner Supervision, as long as his identity wasn’t exposed, he’d have greater utility sooner or later.

Thus, he intentionally used Zhang Fengcai’s flying knife to stab himself twice, then collapsed within the Imperial Palace until he was discovered by passing palace attendants.

Lin He felt fortunate that Miao Ci was more eager to rise in status than he was.

Miao Ci followed the clues left by Young Master Gu, quickly uncovering the removal of Zhang Fengcai’s body from the palace, and even found a reasonable motive of "betraying one’s master" for him.

"These wounds are indeed caused by Zhang Fengcai’s flying knife," Rong Jing stared at the wound on Lin He’s shoulder, trembling as he lowered himself, his pale, slender fingertips touching the dried dark blood stains on his body, gently pressing on them.

Lin He muffled a groan from the pain, lowering his head even further.

"But how do I know... that it wasn’t you who killed Zhang Fengcai, let Gu Lan go, and pinned it all on him?" Rong Jing hoarsely questioned, his other hand lifting to stroke his forehead, his brow slightly furrowed.

Lin He’s heart shook, hurriedly kowtowing, "I have been wronged, Your servant, if I had let Gu Lan go, why would I return to the palace to die?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, Zhang Fengcai secretly supporting Zhang Ruoshui is a crime of deceiving the emperor, Gu Lan could entirely use this to coerce him to let her go. The urgent task now is to capture Gu Lan immediately, lest she stirs trouble in the Capital City."

Miao Ci, thinking Rong Jing was about to kill Lin He, hurriedly advised in a low voice.

He already considered himself as Zhang Fengcai’s successor, the first eunuch of Dayan.

Now, speaking up for Lin He, in future matters, he could have this person take the lead for him.

Rong Jing’s train of thought was interrupted, a headache splitting, forcing him to hold his forehead and sit back down.

"Take care of the dragon body, Your Majesty," Rong Miaoyan whispered.

Miao Ci gave a signal with his eyes, and Lin He promptly knelt and retreated.

"Zhang Fengcai..."

Rong Jing murmured the name, his eyes reddening.

His vision blurred for a moment, recalling his childhood, reading late into the night, and a little eunuch quietly coming in to replace the dim lamp for him;