A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 167 The Truth Revealed to the World (53)

During the recess, Mu Qingcheng shrugged off everyone and went to the interrogation room of the Southern Prison alone.

Dozens of instruments of torture are densely displayed from the floor to the walls, gleaming with a cold, eerie light.

Mu Qingcheng looked at each item one by one, imagining the terrible scene that would unfold if they were used on Liu Changqing and his son.

After being sealed away for twelve years, the truth has finally come to light.

Back then, my father resigned from his official post and left the capital for the Jiangnan region; there was indeed another reason behind it!

Her mother, Bai Li, was a person who custom-made daggers and possessed ancient medical texts. And her mother's death was strikingly similar to Yang Caiyu's—not from illness, but murder!

The murderers were none other than Liu Pei, Liu Changqing, and the woman behind them!
She had been lying low in the capital for three years, originally to investigate Mu Xun's death. Who would have thought that the first major case she investigated after entering the Jingzhao Prefecture would uncover the true cause of her mother's death?

As a son, she wished she could devour his flesh, drink his blood, pull out his tendons, and grind his bones to dust! But now, she was an official, and she had to abide by the law and govern herself and others according to the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Even before the ultimate mastermind is caught, she cannot openly stand up as a victim's family member to accuse, condemn, and vilify!
Her pent-up emotions, like a fishing net soaked in water, gripped her heart, causing her unbearable pain!
She picked up the long whip and lashed it out heavily, one lash after another, like a wolf with bloodshot eyes, only madness remained, tireless!
Outside the door, Song Shuyu remained silent for a long time.

She is the daughter of Mu Yan and Bai Li, their only child, and also his A Yuan.

At that moment, he was absolutely certain.

But he couldn't afford to be happy.

Her mother was murdered, and the killer was right in front of her, but she could only hide her pain and pretend to be nonchalant.

Song Shuyu felt as if the whip had struck his own body, causing him excruciating pain.

Finally, the sound of whipping stopped.

He heard her suppressed sobs, and through the door, his eyes welled with tears as he shared her sorrow.

After what seemed like an eternity, the interrogation room door finally opened.

Two faces, wet with sweat, faced each other. Their bright eyes reflected each other clearly.

Mu Qingcheng was taken aback, then curtsied and greeted him, "My lord."

"Are you alright?" Song Shuyu asked softly. Before she could answer, he continued, "After the public trial, you will personally oversee the execution of the punishment. The remaining forty strokes must be delivered thoroughly! I will not sentence Liu Changqing to death immediately. I will keep him alive and let him experience all the torture instruments of our Jingzhao Prefecture. Torture him until he has only his last breath before cutting off his dog's head!"

Seeing Song Shuyu's radiant expression as she spoke, Mu Qingcheng felt much more at ease.

It seemed that as long as this man was there, she could face everything with peace of mind. For example, when she was trapped under the ruins of the Liu family's house, she didn't know when he would come to rescue her or how he would do so, but she firmly believed that he would come to save her.

"Coroner Mu, I've suddenly had a brilliant idea! Once your fracture has healed, I'll grant you the position of part-time executioner. You'll personally take the stage and behead the Liu father and son to pay tribute to your mother... uh, I mean, to console the many victims who died tragically at their hands, and their families!"

Song Shuyu was lost in his own thoughts, only thinking about how to comfort Mu Qingcheng and how to help Mu Qingcheng settle personal scores without violating the law!

Little did he know, Mu Qingcheng was so moved that she suddenly hugged him with one arm!
Song Shuyu froze, “Mu, Counselor Mu…”

"My lord, thank you!" Mu Qingcheng said, choking back tears. "This subordinate obeys the order and will certainly do a good job as the executioner!"

Song Shuyu couldn't help but curl the corners of his lips, secretly wrapping his arms around Mu Qingcheng's back, and said happily, "I'm glad you're willing. Don't worry, if you take on an extra job, I'll give you extra pay. If you do a good job beheading people, I'll reward you handsomely!"

Mu Qingcheng chuckled. She released Song Shuyu and said sincerely, "Meeting you, my lord, is Qingcheng's good fortune." Song Shuyu hadn't had enough of hugging her yet, but dared not ask for a hug, so he could only hint at her with lingering affection, "Just now you... um, you performed very well, I liked it very much."

Mu Qingcheng was stunned.

Song Shuyu's handsome face flushed, and he hurriedly turned to the side, cleared his throat, and whispered, "It is not only a blessing for me to meet you again, but also..."

"Meeting again?" Mu Qingcheng grasped the key word in his words, recalling their previous confrontation, and couldn't help but ask again, "Sir, did we know each other before?"

Song Shuyu stared at her for a long time before finally tentatively asking, "You lived in the capital when you were a child, right?"

Mu Qingcheng suddenly fell silent.

If this were to come to light, how would they get along? She wasn't mentally prepared.

After all, she had no recollection of Ah Yuan and was certain it wasn't her.

Forget it, let's finish investigating all these complicated cases first!
"My lord, I... I did live in the capital before I was seven years old. Later, I moved to Jiangnan. I've forgotten a lot about my childhood. I don't remember much."

After Mu Qingcheng finished speaking, he led the way out, saying, "My lord, it's time to continue the court session."

Song Shuyu stood there, stunned. She forgot? She didn't even remember?

……

court.

Everyone returned, and the public trial continued.

Ji Yue's forehead was wrapped in thick gauze, which complemented Lu Xun opposite him, creating a strangely harmonious scene.

The broken desk had been cleaned up by the officials and replaced with a new long table.

Mu Qingcheng bowed deeply and sincerely apologized: "Lord Ji, I'm so sorry, it's all my fault. I will bear all the medical and rehabilitation expenses. Please forgive me, Lord Ji!"

Ji Yue sighed, "Your Lord Song should reimburse the expenses. The key is, you mustn't act impulsively again. I am a scholar; if I lose my head, it's the same as a military officer losing his hand. Do you understand?"

"Understood, Your Excellency is right!"

"I never expected that a young girl like you would suddenly possess such strength. This official has truly broadened his horizons once again!"

"Thank you for the compliment, sir!"

Mu Qingcheng sat back down in her chair with an embarrassed expression, feeling genuinely guilty. It was truly wrong of her to have hurt innocent people.

"Liu Changqing, continue to confess to the crimes you committed!"

Song Shuyu ordered someone to pull Liu Changqing up, so he wouldn't be lying on the ground, almost asleep.

Liu Changqing's injuries flared up, causing him pain and what appeared to be a high fever. He said listlessly, "After killing Bai Li, I didn't commit any more crimes for many years because I couldn't find the ancient medical texts, and I couldn't just kill anyone I randomly grabbed. Until three years ago, I had a new lead: I discovered that the ancient medical texts were in the hands of Li Mu's wife, Yang Caiyu..."

(End of this chapter)