A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 121 The Truth Revealed to the World (9)

Song Shuyu suddenly felt as if he had a fishbone stuck in his throat.

He cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I am well and thank you for your concern."

The emperor waved to the back, his brows furrowed with worry, "Jin Zesheng, take Song Qing's pulse. Whenever he comes out of that place, he's bound to have some injuries."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Imperial Physician Jin Zesheng, carrying his medical kit, gestured for Song to sit down.

Not wanting to offend the emperor's hospitality, Song Shuyu walked to the chair, sat down, and stretched out his arm to the imperial physician.

Jin Zesheng carefully took Song Shuyu's pulse and examined his limbs and back before replying, "Your Majesty, Lord Song is in good health. He just had a high fever the day before yesterday, which made him a little weak. He will recover after a few days of rest."

The emperor breathed a sigh of relief. "Ever since I heard you entered Shou Kang Palace, my heart has been in my throat. Fortunately, that old hag didn't go crazy today!"

Song Shuyu smiled, "I left just in time before she went crazy."

The emperor nodded: "Very well, we'll avoid it for as long as we can."

"Your Majesty, from this day forward, I will never again give her the opportunity to harm me!" Song Shuyu's words were forceful, his resolve unwavering.

The emperor exclaimed with delight, "Well done, Minister Song! We should begin our counterattack step by step!"

Song Shuyu nodded, turned to Jin Zesheng, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said sincerely, "Imperial Physician Jin, thank you so much for all these years!"

"You're too kind, Lord Song." Jin Zesheng returned the greeting with a smile. "This humble official wishes His Majesty and Lord Song a swift eradication of treacherous officials, unification of the court, and peace throughout the land!"

The Emperor was delighted. "Imperial Physician Jin, Song Qing's gratitude is also my own. I will remember this kindness, and when I achieve my great ambition, I will surely reward Imperial Physician Jin handsomely!"

"Your humble servant dares not accept such praise," Jin Zesheng said in a flustered manner, quickly expressing his gratitude.

Song Shuyu pondered and said, "Imperial Physician Jin, you must be careful when you travel in the future. If the Empress Dowager summons you, you must not go alone. If necessary, you can send someone to inform me."

The emperor added, "You may also send someone to report to me, and I will try to mediate and ensure your safety."

Jin Zesheng knelt down to express his gratitude: "Your Majesty, this humble subject thanks you for your great favor and for your kindness, Lord Song!"

"Go back!"

"Yes!"

After watching Jin Zesheng leave, Song Shuyu immediately reported: "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager summoned me to the palace today, she is indeed harboring ulterior motives!"

The emperor hurriedly asked, "What do you mean?"

"The Empress Dowager chatted with me about family matters for a long time before proposing to preside over my marriage!" Song Shuyu's eyes darkened. "She actually chose for me the legitimate daughter of Guo Xuan, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and the illegitimate daughter of Liang Ruoming, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, to be married to both of us at the same time!"

The emperor's eyes narrowed. "How could it be Guo Xuan, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review?"

Song Shuyu angrily said, "Yes, if it weren't for what happened today, we wouldn't have known that Guo Xuan was outwardly compliant but inwardly disloyal, and would have secretly defected to the Empress Dowager long ago!"

"That old scoundrel Guo Xuan, I'll skin him alive!" The emperor roared in fury, his youthful face revealing the ruthless decisiveness of an emperor.

Song Shuyu said, "After this incident, it seems that the control of the Court of Judicial Review and the Censorate is only nominally under the Emperor's control. How many people are actually secretly working for the Empress Dowager is still unknown. We need to investigate this as soon as possible!" The Emperor nodded, forcibly suppressing his anger, and said, "I will send people to conduct a secret investigation, together with the Ministry of Justice, to dig out all of the Empress Dowager's lackeys in the three judicial departments!"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

"By the way, the Empress Dowager is arranging a marriage for you; perhaps she has ulterior motives?"

"The Empress Dowager instructed me to transfer the case of the hanging corpse at the temple gate to the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice! On the surface, she wanted to use this opportunity to solidify the relationship between the Duke's Mansion and Guo Xuan, making Guo Xuan devoted to her. However..." Song Shuyu paused, his expression full of suspicion, "I always felt it wasn't that simple. Marriage is the most effective way to cultivate relationships. At the very least, there are banquets and gifts, taking advantage of someone's weaknesses, and bestowing favors. No matter which one, these are all private actions. How can they be brought into official business?"

The emperor narrowed his eyes and hit the nail on the head, "Unless this case involves the Empress Dowager, or someone under her command!"

"Your Majesty is absolutely right!" Song Shuyu's eyes lit up. "No wonder the Empress Dowager was so anxious and even went so far as to use Coroner Mu to threaten me into compromising!"

The emperor was taken aback. "Coroner Mu? The female coroner you risked everything to promote?"

Song Shuyu nodded, "Yes, her name is Mu Qingcheng."

After a moment's thought, the Emperor instructed, "Minister Song, since the Empress Dowager is determined to stop this, you must plan and arrange for the safety of Coroner Mu. We must not let the Empress Dowager's wishes be fulfilled!"

"Your Majesty, please rest assured, Mu Wu is skilled in both literature and martial arts, intelligent and quick-witted, and capable of protecting herself. Moreover, I will keep a close watch on her and will never allow anyone to harm her in the slightest!"

Song Shuyu's undisguised protectiveness made the emperor chuckle softly, "Minister Song, I've never seen your eyes light up when you talk about any woman! It seems that Coroner Mu is not only exceptionally capable and admired by you, but also..."

The emperor paused deliberately, staring at Song Shuyu with a mocking gaze. Seeing his handsome face slowly turn red, the emperor could no longer help but burst into laughter: "Haha..."

"emperor!"

Song Shuyu was greatly embarrassed and said helplessly, "Your Majesty has three palaces and six courtyards, why would you make fun of this humble subject?"

"I am not making fun of Minister Song, but I feel that the sons of noble families in our Great Zhou Dynasty start arranging marriages at the age of fifteen or sixteen. For someone of your birth as the second son of the Duke's family to wait until the age of twenty-one to finally understand and have someone he loves is truly remarkable!"

"..."

"But what about the marriage the Empress Dowager has chosen for you? Given Mu's family background, even if he were to be brought into the household as a lowly concubine, he would likely face opposition from the Empress Dowager, the old Duchess, and the Song family!"

"will not!"

Without hesitation, Song Shuyu said firmly, "My father would never agree to the marriage arranged by the Empress Dowager, and even if he did, I would not agree!"

The emperor asked in surprise, "Do you intend to marry Mu Wu as your principal wife?"

"Why not?" Song Shuyu smiled, his eyes filled with unwavering determination. "In my life, Song Shuyu will marry no one but Mu Qingcheng!"

The emperor was so shocked that he couldn't speak for a long time.

Suddenly, Song Shuyu thought of something, lifted his robe and knelt down, pleading, "Once the great cause is accomplished, I do not want any reward, I only ask the Emperor for two things! First, grant permission for women to enter officialdom; second, bestow marriage upon me and Mu Qingcheng."

"You..." The emperor was shocked and speechless. After a moment of consideration, he said, "Minister Song, these two matters of yours are not trivial. I must consider them carefully."

Song Shuyu said, “Your Majesty understands. A woman entering officialdom will inevitably cause discussion among men throughout the land, and those who oppose it will be in the majority. The great path is difficult to follow, but if it is beneficial to the country and the people, no matter how difficult or dangerous it may be, Your Majesty will persevere. Your Majesty’s marriage to Wu will overturn the social status gap and will certainly be criticized. That is why I request Your Majesty to issue an imperial decree to grant the marriage, to support Mu Qingcheng, and to silence the gossip!”

(End of this chapter)