A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 109 The Mu Residence is a Hidden Place of Filth (3)

"dead body."

These two words, spoken by the coroner, signify the passing of three vibrant lives. Whether their short lives were filled with tears or laughter, hardship or happiness, they all came to an end with the death of their bodies.

Bai Zhizhi's eyes welled up with tears, which spilled out.

Jiang Zhan trembled all over, muttering, "Coroner Mu said that there were more than two identical murder daggers, and there might be a third victim. But now, it's not just a third person who died, it's three people who died!"

Over the years, Mu Qingcheng has announced the deaths of countless people. The word "corpse" has become a common term for her. She grieves for the loss of every life and hates every murderer who takes another's life.

But at this moment, facing the three corpses of girls turned into specimens, Mu Qingcheng couldn't help but dry heave on the spot. An immense grief, like tiny needles pricking her skin, an indescribable pain, seeped densely into every part of her body.

Song Shuyu, disregarding any need to avoid suspicion, quickly turned to the side, placed his large hand on Mu Qingcheng's back, gently patted her to soothe her, and asked softly, "How are you? Should we find a place to rest for a while?"

He himself was still ill and dared not risk his life to examine the corpse. Moreover, the deceased's clothes were disheveled, and all men should refrain from looking at them improperly. Therefore, the handling of the scene could only rely on Mu Qingcheng alone, but her current condition was truly worrying.

Bai Zhizhi helped Mu Qingcheng up with heartache, "Sister Mu, you've been running around all day, even an iron body can't take it. How about we listen to Lord Song, rest until dawn, and then deal with it, okay?"

Song Shuyu nodded. “That’s right. We’re exhausted and shouldn’t continue to work hard. Besides, the crime scene has been found, the girl’s murder is a done deal, and the Liu family is under control. Whether they’re alive or dead, no one can escape. There’s no need to rush this night.”

"Okay." Mu Qingcheng agreed. She did need to rest, not only to recuperate but also to calm her chaotic emotions.

Her perfectly good home, which had only been vacant for twelve years, how did it become a filthy place for murder and body concealment? And it was in the stilted house that her mother loved most when she was alive!

Why were these vile and sinister acts carried out at the Mu residence? Was it simply because the Mu residence was abandoned and secluded that Li Mu chose it, or was it related to his parents?
Mu Qingcheng dared not think too deeply about it, yet he had no choice but to.

So far, this case has resulted in the deaths of six people, plus a fetus. Solving the case is imperative and has already reached its final stages. Will the Mu family be able to escape unscathed?
Bai Zhizhi helped Mu Qingcheng walk out, but Mu Qingcheng was absent-minded and missed several steps, almost twisting her ankle.

Seeing this, Song Shuyu was anxious. He simply snatched Mu Qingcheng from Bai Zhizhi's arms, picked her up, and strode away.

Bai Zhizhi was stunned, and hurriedly chased after him, "Hey..."

Mu Qingcheng's wandering thoughts were also pulled back by the feeling of weightlessness. She instinctively grabbed Song Shuyu's clothes to prevent herself from falling.

Her expression was blank, and she was at a loss for words. "My lord!"

"I have already lost one registrar, and I cannot afford to lose a second one."

Song Shuyu did not look down at her. He walked out of the stilted building into the night wind. His handsome face was not as gentle as usual, but had sharp edges and an undeniable dignity.

Bai Zhizhi felt an unprecedented sense of oppression from Song Shuyu, and a sense of fear involuntarily rose in her heart.

It's as if the Song Shuyu I knew before was fake; his gentleness, weakness, and vulnerability were all an act to tease people.

At this moment, he is truly the legitimate son of the Duke's mansion, and the Prefect of the Capital, a third-rank official!
Jiang Zhan stopped in front of the stilted building, cupped his hands and said, "My lord, I request permission to stay and guard this place!"

Song Shuyu instructed, "Be careful. If you encounter the murderer, don't confront him directly. Call for help immediately; we're nearby." "Yes, sir!" Jiang Zhan replied.

Mu Qingcheng said in a low voice, "Sir, there are beds in the rooms on the ground floor of the stilted building for people to rest. We can rest nearby and it will be convenient for us to take turns with Constable Jiang."

"Okay." Song Shuyu did as instructed.

Mu Qingcheng's feelings grew increasingly complicated. The fact that the adults hadn't asked her how she knew everything about the stilted building meant they had already confirmed her background. Her previous denials were illogical in the face of the evidence. They were simply pretending not to know, one keeping quiet and the other not asking.

But how long can this charade last as the case progresses?
Pushing open the door, dust rushed out.

Bai Zhizhi opened the doors and windows to let the rotten smell dissipate slightly. She hung two lanterns at the front and back of the room for lighting, then found the cabinet, took out spare blankets, and spread them on the bed and the floor.

Mu Qingcheng sat down on the edge of the bed, the dust making her cough lightly twice.

Bai Zhizhi looked at Mu Qingcheng's pale face and choked up as she said, "Lord Song, please take care of Sister Mu for me. I'm going back to Wangjing Tower to get some things."

“Okay,” Song Shuyu replied.

Mu Qingcheng cautioned, "Be careful, safety comes first!"

Bai Zhizhi returned a bright smile, then leaped out of the window and left.

Song Shuyu moved a low stool over and sat down in front of Mu Qingcheng, intending to comfort him: "Whatever Li Mu's reason for choosing the Mu residence to commit evil, it has nothing to do with the Mu family. Our dynasty's laws clearly stipulate that unless a major case of treason is committed, the law of collective punishment does not apply."

Mu Qingcheng's long eyelashes drooped, her fingers unconsciously digging into the wooden edge of the bed, a lump in her throat. "Sir, why are you protecting the Mu family? Do you believe the Mu family wasn't involved in the crime?"

Song Shuyu said, "The Court of Judicial Review is in charge of reviewing criminal cases nationwide. As the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Lord Mu is well-versed in the law, fair and impartial, strict and selfless, and is well loved by the people. He would never knowingly break the law. Besides, the Mu family has been away from the capital for more than ten years, and the Mu residence has been vacant and unmanaged. Even cats and dogs have made it their home. How can they possibly control evildoers from committing crimes here?"

Mu Qingcheng's tense nerves suddenly relaxed. She wanted to thank him, but felt it was inappropriate. After thinking for a moment, she could only smile and say, "Sir, you are such a good person."

Song Shuyu was speechless and choked with emotion.

Bai Zhizhi acted decisively and quickly returned carrying a large package.

"Lord Song, Sister Mu, please have some water and blow on it to cool it down. Be careful not to burn your mouths."

She handed over two sheepskin water bags, and took out the famous water chestnut cake from Wangjinglou from her bundle, not forgetting to reassure the two, "I've already given Jiang the portion, so you don't need to worry about it."

Bai Zhizhi's change also surprised Song Shuyu. "I didn't expect Miss Bai to be such a sensible, considerate, and thoughtful person."

Unexpectedly, Bai Zhizhi pressed down on a small box and said with a forced smile, "Would you mind if Lord Song waited outside for a while?"

(End of this chapter)