A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 178 Bewitching
The familiar interior furnishings awakened Mu Qingcheng's memories.

Two days ago, Song Shuyu suffered a fit of hysteria, cut his left arm, kept calling her "Madam," and even stole a kiss from her.

Mu Qingcheng felt awkward and said in a muffled voice, "My lord, this humble servant should return to the side room."

"What's the rush? Sit down, I have something to say to you."

Song Shuyu pointed to the stool in front of the mahogany round table, gesturing for her to sit down, and then took something from the small table by the bedside and held it in her hand.

Mu Qingcheng sat down, but was still in a daze and couldn't quite come back to her senses.

"Come on, eat it."

In Song Shuyu's outstretched palm was a small food box containing five pieces of malt candy. He smiled and spoke as if comforting a wronged little girl, "These are specially saved for you. Have a piece, and I guarantee it will sweeten your heart."

Mu Qingcheng's unfocused pupils gradually gathered fragments of light. She glanced at the malt candy, then looked at the handsome and gentle man under the candlelight, and said hesitantly, "I... I don't like candy. I'm afraid it will stick to my teeth."

"This candy doesn't stick to your teeth, you should try it."

Song Shuyu brought the food box directly to Mu Qingcheng's lips. His expectant gaze made it hard for Mu Qingcheng to refuse, so she picked up a piece of malt candy and put it in her mouth.

"See? I didn't lie to you, did I?" Song Shuyu asked excitedly, as if showing off a treasure. "I made this myself, following the sugar-making recipe my mother left behind. It's not sticky, and it's sweet but not cloying. Even my grandmother loved it." Mu Qingcheng was quite surprised. "You made the sugar yourself, sir?"

"Hmm." Song Shuyu said with great interest, "Father said that my mother loved to make sweets, especially maltose. Every time she made a pot, all the children in the clan would come to the mansion to ask for candy. When my mother was pregnant with me, she would make maltose with a big pregnant belly, and my father would always scold her. But my mother would smile and blame it all on me, saying that the child in her womb wanted to eat it, not that she was greedy. My father was very helpless, so he always said that after I was born, he would ask the family to punish me for the mistakes I made before I was born."

"Hehe." Mu Qingcheng couldn't help but chuckle. "The Duke of Song and his wife are a loving couple, but it's a pity for you, sir, that you've only just been reincarnated and already you've been unfairly blamed!"

Song Shuyu feigned sorrow, "Isn't that right? To protect me from punishment, my elder brother sneaked into the ancestral hall to steal the ruler while Father was asleep, but he accidentally knocked over a candlestick and almost burned the ancestral hall down! Father was furious and wanted to make my elder brother taste the family law first. Who would have thought that my elder brother would cry and cry out that he was wronged, saying that he was forced by his younger brother's request! Heaven have mercy, I am still a lump of flesh in my mother's belly!"

"Haha—" Mu Qingcheng laughed so hard she almost couldn't stand up straight. She said, "Madam Song is gentle, kind, and funny. The young master Song she raised is already a clever and witty person at such a young age! Sir, your family is not only interesting but also loving. It's truly enviable!"

Song Shuyu slowly approached Mu Qingcheng, grasped her wrist, and led her to a piece of malt candy, feeding it to him. Then, with narrowed eyes, he smiled seductively and said, "My father and my elder brother are both very easy to get along with. Would you like to meet them? They will probably be returning to the capital by the middle of next year."

"Huh?" Mu Qingcheng was stunned and didn't react.

Song Shuyu then added, "Once you meet my father and brothers, you will know that in my Duke's mansion, you will never be wronged."

(End of this chapter)