A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 170 The Truth Revealed to the World (56)

Just as everyone's attention was focused on Madam Liu and Granny Yang, Liu Xiao quietly committed suicide!
This sudden turn of events caught everyone completely off guard!
Mu Qingcheng shouted urgently, "Quickly, summon the court judge!"

The bailiffs rushed out of the courtroom.

"Xiao'er!"

Madam Liu cried and wailed, then fainted on the spot!

With bloodshot eyes, Liu Pei angrily rebuked Song Shuyu, "Lord Song, where did Liu Xiao get this sharp weapon? You have neglected your duty to guard him; you will pay for my brother's life!"

Officer Liu hurriedly said, "Please, Your Honor, understand! After Liu Xiao was imprisoned, he was searched according to regulations, and I have confirmed that he did not possess any hidden weapons!"

Mu Qingcheng examined it closely and discovered that this hairpin was actually the lock hairpin inserted into Liu Xiao's hair crown, used to open the gilded box! But this was no ordinary lock hairpin; it contained a hidden mechanism and could change its shape!

So Mu Qingcheng said, "Liu Pei, take a closer look. Does he look familiar?"

Liu Pei glanced over instinctively, then immediately shut her mouth.

“If a person is determined to die, they can bite their tongue,” Mu Qingcheng said again, and then ignored Liu Pei.

When the judge entered the courtroom, he saw Liu Xiao, who was in a coma, and sighed deeply. Ever since he followed Song Shuyu, he had been destined to be busy. The number of patients he treated today was equivalent to the total number of patients he treated in the palace in three months!
"Thank you for your hard work, Your Honor." Seeing the physician's exhausted face, Mu Qingcheng felt a pang of sympathy, but with no other doctors available, she had no choice but to make the most of this one.

"It's alright, I'll hold on a little longer." The magistrate smiled wryly and began to conduct a preliminary examination of Liu Xiao. He then said, "Although the patient's wound is deep, it did not hit any vital organs, and the bleeding was stopped in time. There should be hope."

Mu Qingcheng breathed a sigh of relief. "Quickly, carry the prisoner away for treatment!"

Unexpectedly, as the constables carried Liu Xiao away, Liu Changqing, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly burst into tears, "Xiao'er, it was my mistake. I shouldn't have killed Huang Shi and extinguished your hope for life! Xiao'er, my son..."

Unfortunately, Liu Xiao's eyes were closed, and he couldn't hear anything.

The judge then took out silver needles and inserted them into Madam Liu's body twice before saving Liu Xiao.

After waking up, Madam Liu, despite her weak and broken body, threw herself at Liu Changqing, punching and kicking him, cursing him viciously, and declaring that if anything happened to her son, she would haunt Liu Changqing and that woman even as a ghost!

The bailiffs were a bit slow in their actions. They were first surprised and stunned, then looked at Mu Qingcheng, waiting for instructions. However, Mu Qingcheng had a neck pain and happened to turn her back to massage her neck. So the bailiffs looked at Song Shuyu in the hall. Unfortunately, Song Shuyu was talking to Ji Yue and was turned to the side, so he did not see what was happening.

The yamen runners could only wait anxiously to the side until Liu Changqing's face was bruised and swollen, and he was barely breathing. Only then did they step forward and forcibly pull Madam Liu away.

At this moment, a man dressed in black, without being announced, rushed into the courtroom and whispered a few words in Song Shuyu's ear.

Song Shuyu remained expressionless and gestured for the man to leave.

Then, Song Shuyu slammed his gavel and announced, "The public trial is over for today. Tomorrow at 9:00 AM, the trial of Li Yunyao's suicide case will begin!"

Liu Pei was taken aback. "My wife committed suicide. Do we still need to interrogate her? Who should we interrogate?"

“Yes, Lord Song, it was me and Granny Yang who disposed of Li Yunyao’s body. We confess.” Madam Liu was also puzzled.

Song Shuyu's lips curled into an ambiguous smile. "Li Yunyao is indeed dead, but what she did needs to be explained to the world, and also to your Liu family! And you Liu family members should give her a fair explanation in court!" The constables threw all the criminals into the prison.

To prevent Liu Changqing from being too badly injured to attend court the next day, Song Shuyu ordered a doctor to be brought in from outside, determined to keep Liu Changqing and his wife alive.

As for Liang Ruoming, after being flogged and unable to walk, he was naturally confined to the Jingzhao Prefecture.

"Lord Ji, Vice Minister Lu, please rest at the yamen for the night. After all the cases have been heard tomorrow, I will send someone to escort you back to your residence."

Faced with Song Shuyu's polite yet undeniably firm arrangement, Ji Yue nodded vigorously, "I will follow Lord Song's lead without any objection." With Liang Ruoming as an example, whether he genuinely wanted to stay or not, he had to stay; he didn't want to follow a rotten wretch!

Lu Xun had no objection and agreed, "Alright, thank you for your trouble, Lord Song."

Mu Qingcheng stood to the side, and from her angle, she could only see Lu Xun's profile. She squinted, lost in thought.

Song Shuyu replied, "I have official business to attend to, so I will take my leave first. We will discuss the case with you two later."

After saying this, he instructed the officials to arrange food and lodging for Ji Yue and Lu Xun, and then strode out of the courtroom.

However, after taking a few steps, he suddenly turned back and asked in confusion, "Coroner Mu, what are you still standing there for? Come with me."

As Mu Qingcheng passed by Lu Xun, she deliberately slowed her pace and whispered, "Young Master Lu, until we meet again!"

Lu Xun's Adam's apple bobbed. Avoiding her gaze, he replied, "Take care, Counselor Mu."

Mu Qingcheng strode away.

No rush, there's plenty of time. She's already made it through three years, what else is there to fear? The truth may be delayed, but it will never disappear!
Watching Mu Qingcheng's departing figure, Lu Xun's mind remained unsettled for a long time.

A thousand, ten thousand apologies linger on my lips, yet I cannot utter a single word; countless days and nights of longing have been poured out, only to be transformed into silent affection.

"Lu Shaoqing, what's wrong? This coroner, Mu, is truly a rare talent!"

Hearing Ji Yue's感慨 (sentiments/remarks) in his ears, Lu Xun slowly came back to his senses and nodded slightly, "What Lord Ji said is very true."

"The pairing of Lord Song and Coroner Mu in handling cases is a match made in heaven! I have never seen Lord Song preside over a case so unconventional, relying on unconventional methods and psychological warfare! This is no rookie in officialdom; even the seasoned criminal investigators of the Three Judicial Offices are no match for him! And Coroner Mu, though a woman, is no less learned, courageous, charismatic, or eloquent than any man, and her interrogation techniques are extraordinary. She is truly admirable!"

Ji Yue became more and more excited as he spoke. If Lu Xun hadn't injured his hand, he would have held Lu Xun's hand and chatted for three days straight!

Lu Xun's usually stern face broke into a rare smile. "Yes, Counselor Mu is an outstanding woman. She is not a parasitic vine clinging to men; she is an eagle. As long as you loosen her wings, she can soar into the sky!"

Ji Yue sensed a hint of gossip in the air and wanted to chat a bit more, but Lu Xun turned and left.

Ji Yue couldn't help but click his tongue. This supervisory work was truly worthwhile! Not only did he broaden his horizons, but he also met people he admired. Thinking about it this way, even if the coroner Mu smashed his head, it would still be worth it.

(End of this chapter)