A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 194: Beat it up with a rake

Song Shuyu's worried gaze fell on Mu Qingcheng's arm, which was hanging in front of him. "Your fracture has not healed. How can you carry out the execution? You might hurt yourself."

"I hold the staff in my right hand; I have enough strength," Mu Qingcheng insisted.

Song Shuyu understood her inner pain. The hatred for killing her mother was irreconcilable, and she would be willing to hurt herself for it. So he said, "Alright, I will accompany you."

"Thank you, sir!"

A sour feeling welled up in Mu Qingcheng's nose, but to avoid being noticed by others, she quickly adjusted her emotions and pretended to be indifferent.

……

Southern Prison.

Liu Changqing was dragged into the interrogation room.

With Constable Liu in charge, he specially selected the best executioners in the yamen to beat Liu Changqing until his skin was torn and bleeding, causing him double the pain, yet he couldn't die even if he wanted to!

To prevent Liu Changqing from resisting with force, his hands and feet were tied to the bench where he was being tortured. His mouth was not gagged, so he was allowed to shout a few times to deter the other prisoners.

Just as they were about to make their move, Song Shuyu and Mu Qingcheng walked in.

"My lord!" The constables and yamen runners bowed.

Song Shuyu glanced at the board in the bailiff's hand and said, "Change it to a stern rod. Let Coroner Mu carry out the punishment, and you can take over when she's tired of beating him."

"Yes, my lord!"

The bailiffs brought over a 15-pound beating stick. Mu Qingcheng weighed it in his hand and instructed Song Shuyu, "Sir, if I accidentally hit someone without restraint, please remind me appropriately. Don't kill them."

“Okay.” Song Shuyu nodded.

Upon hearing this, Liu Changqing glared fiercely at Mu Qingcheng and blurted out, "We have no grudge against each other..."

However, before Liu Changqing could even begin, Mu Qingcheng swung his stern rod and struck Liu Changqing heavily on the back!

"puff--"

Liu Changqing immediately spat out a mouthful of blood, unable to utter another word!

Everyone's hearts tightened. The coroner, Mu, was highly skilled in martial arts, but he had no skill in fighting. If he continued to strike with this force, Liu Changqing probably wouldn't even be able to withstand half of it!
Mu Qingcheng remained silent, each blow of the cane more severe than the last. By the time the constable had counted to ten, Liu Changqing had fainted!

Song Shuyu called out, "Coroner Mu, take a break."

Mu Qingcheng threw down the stern warning stick and dragged her stiff body out of the interrogation room.

Song Shuyu instructed, "Captain Liu, find a doctor first. If he's not dead, splash him with cold water to wake him up and continue the execution!"

……

After lunch, Song Shuyu summoned officials at all levels and ordered Lin Shuban to take charge and, with the clerks from the yamen, complete the compilation of all case files within three days.

Afterwards, he discussed matters with Liang Ruoming, Lu Xun, and Ji Yue.

Song Shuyu, intending to test Liang Ruoming, asked, "Minister Liang, you are a juror recommended by the Empress Dowager. I wonder what instructions the Empress Dowager has for the verdict in this case?"

Upon hearing this, Liang Ruoming was practically going crazy. Why didn't they mention the Empress Dowager when they were acting arbitrarily? Did they forget he was the Empress Dowager's man when they were punishing him? Now that everything has settled down, what's the point of bringing up the Empress Dowager now? So, he coldly replied, "The judgment shall be made in accordance with the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has no further instructions."

Song Shuyu nodded and said seriously, "Yes, Vice Minister Liang has worked hard for two days. The Empress Dowager is very understanding and will surely reward Vice Minister Liang."

Liang Ruoming shivered for no reason. He was no fool to have been able to sit in the position of Vice Minister. How could he not understand Song Shuyu's implied meaning?
"Lord Song, may I have a word with you in private?"

Since inviting the person into the council chamber, Liang Ruoming had been standing due to the injury on his buttocks, and had maintained an upright posture even when he was mocking Song Shuyu. Now, however, he bowed and gestured for them to sit, his posture suddenly becoming much more humble.

Song Shuyu felt better and became more magnanimous. He smiled and said, "Okay."

The two walked towards the side hall, which was separated from the council hall by a wall.

But Liang Ruoming was nervous and guilty, so he still spoke in a low voice: "Lord Song, please forgive my bluntness, but the Song family and the Empress Dowager are of the same blood and share weal and woe. Why don't you follow the Empress Dowager's wishes and hand over the lead of this case to the Ministry of Justice or the Court of Judicial Review? You are also heartless to punish me in court. This... I don't care about a few blows, but you are slapping the Empress Dowager's face!"

“Minister Liang, you are in the prime of your life, how come you’ve become so senile?” Song Shuyu said with a smile. “The Empress Dowager is my own aunt. Whatever I do is done in accordance with the Empress Dowager’s decree. I don’t know what Minister Liang’s intention is in slandering me like this?”

Liang Ruoming was taken aback and blurted out, "How can Lord Song turn the tables? The Empress Dowager clearly instructed me..." He stopped midway through his sentence, his eyes filled with wariness and suspicion.

Song Shuyu laughed, her tone and expression somewhat languid, "What are your orders? Could it be that the Empress Dowager has given us different decrees?"

Liang Ruoming's eyes widened involuntarily.

Song Shuyu sighed, "Tsk tsk, if that's really the case, then I must congratulate Vice Minister Liang on his untimely death!"

Liang Ruoming was shocked and instantly panicked, "Lord Song, what... what do you mean by this?"

Song Shuyu slowly lowered his gaze, his dark eyes cold and icy. "I am not only the Empress Dowager's nephew, but also the son of the Duke of Song! Minister Liang, think about it, is it I who have disobeyed the Empress Dowager, or have you misunderstood her decree?"

Liang Ruoming unconsciously stepped back, the fear rising in his heart was even greater than when he was being beaten. He seemed to vaguely understand something, but many doubts floated in his mind, making it difficult for him to give the right response for a moment.

"Minister Liang, as subjects, loyalty to the emperor is our foremost duty. I have said all I have to say. I hope you will take heed!"

After saying this, Song Shuyu strode away.

Liang Ruoming's legs went weak, and he almost fell to the ground!

His mouth was dry, but his palms and forehead were covered in cold sweat!
The Song family, the most powerful family in the court, actually supports the Emperor, not the Empress Dowager.

……

Mu Qingcheng slept for the entire afternoon.

After seven consecutive days of travel, it wasn't just my body that was exhausted.

The case was solved, but not completely, so she couldn't relax and couldn't sleep soundly.

I haven't dreamed of my mother for many years. In today's dream, her sickly appearance on her deathbed appeared repeatedly, as did my father sitting by her bedside, holding her hand, sad and desperate, bidding farewell to this life. It all seemed like she had forgotten it for a very long time.

So much so that when she woke up, she stared at the dim night outside the window, her expression dazed, not knowing what day it was.

The door was gently pushed open from the outside, and a slight breeze blew in through the gap in the curtain.

Mu Qingcheng subconsciously raised her hand to touch her cold face, and the wetness on her fingertips was actually tears that had fallen at some unknown time.

(End of this chapter)