A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 197 After years of concealing his talents, he soared to great heights!
Ji Yue was utterly shocked!
However, he was undeniably moved by Song Shuyu's pioneering political ideas. He was deeply moved, but also uneasy. "Lord Song," he said, "since the founding of our dynasty, there has never been a precedent for a woman to enter officialdom. You so highly praise Coroner Mu. If I may speak frankly, are you not afraid of attracting criticism and being branded as biased and muddle-headed? After all, women bear the responsibility of supporting their husbands, raising children, and managing the household. If they were to take a male-dominated official path, those old scholars in the Wenyuan Pavilion and Hanlin Academy would surely brand Coroner Mu with the stigma of a hen crowing at dawn!"

"Civil and military officials are career paths for men, but not all men in the world have the ability to earn such a career. Allowing women to enter officialdom does not mean that all women have the talent to be officials, nor are they willing to study diligently and show their faces in public. To put it simply, whether man or woman, everyone has their own ambitions and abilities. When selecting talents for the country, we should not judge people based on gender."

At this point, Song Shuyu smiled and said, "Lord Ji, the measures I advocate are simply to give women who are excellent in talent, morality, and ability, and who are willing to speak up for the people, an opportunity to prove themselves and serve the country! Of course, this matter cannot be rushed; it must be done slowly and carefully, step by step. As for infamy and stigma, I do not care about them, and I believe that with Mu Wuzuo's strong will, he will not take them to heart either."

"Besides, everything takes time to accept and get used to. Seven days ago, the people couldn't accept a woman serving as a coroner, but now they've seen Mu's talent and know that women can also succeed, so the opposition is getting smaller and smaller. The common people living at the bottom of society don't really care whether the officials are old or young, male or female. What they care about is whether the official can bring them benefits, whether he can feed and clothe them, and whether he can uphold justice for them."

"Everything is difficult at the beginning. The absence of a precedent does not mean that a precedent cannot be created. I have already reported this matter to His Majesty, who has promised to consider it carefully. However, I believe that if more officials who agree with my ideas work together to promote it, the chances of success will certainly be greater. Therefore, I urge Lord Ji not to rush to refuse, but to give me a reply after careful consideration."

Ji Yue didn't know how much he had taken in; he stared wide-eyed, lost in thought for a long time.

To be honest, when Song Shuyu took office as the Prefect of the Capital, everyone in the government was pessimistic. Even his own family, while outwardly expressing support, didn't hold out much hope. This was because Song Shuyu had spent years in the capital, and his reputation had always been that of a spoiled young master, incompetent in both literature and martial arts, with few redeeming qualities besides his unparalleled good looks. If it weren't for the military achievements of the Duke of Song and his heir, Song Shuyu's reputation and abilities would have made even a lowly ninth-rank prison warden a stretch. Yet, he had somehow managed to become a third-rank Prefect of the Capital! Therefore, many people secretly laughed at Song Shuyu, mocking the Duke of Song for spoiling his son and being irresponsible.

Ji Yue was a loyal and upright official. He didn't participate in factional struggles, nor did he believe rumors. He was someone who only trusted his own eyes and ears. Therefore, when he heard that Song Shuyu had reformed the personnel system of the Jingzhao Prefecture after taking office and had even employed female coroners, he became extremely curious. Coincidentally, the Emperor sent him to supervise the trial. As an observer, he entered the Jingzhao Prefecture and witnessed Song Shuyu's official conduct and character from all aspects, as well as the atmosphere, ability, and efficiency of the officials throughout the Jingzhao Prefecture. This further convinced him that the rumors were unreliable!
Tonight, having witnessed Song Shuyu's political tactics in winning over the Emperor, and having listened to Song Shuyu's unique insights on women entering officialdom and the relationship between officials and the people, as well as Song Shuyu's decisive and courageous attitude towards life, Ji Yue's understanding was refreshed once again, and he felt an indescribable surge of excitement and admiration!

This is the true son of the Duke, Song Shuyu, who has concealed his talents for many years and soared to great heights!
Ji Yue stood up, cupped his hands in a salute, and said with great respect, "Lord Song has a broad vision and a magnanimous heart; he is truly a role model for us officials!"

"You flatter me, Lord Ji," Song Shuyu returned the greeting with a slight smile.

Ji Yue glanced at Mu Qingcheng and sighed sincerely, "A fine horse has met its discerning owner; Coroner Mu is truly fortunate. This path is destined to be difficult, but Lord Song is willing to pave the way for Coroner Mu and expand his territory. This great kindness is worth remembering."

Song Shuyu smiled and said, "To be honest, my original intention was to realize the ideals and ambitions of coroner Mu. However, in the process of investigating cases, I gradually changed my mind. Men and women should not be opposed. Working together and complementing each other's strengths can achieve better results. Therefore, I will take coroner Mu as an opportunity to seek a future for patriotic women in the world, so that they can have the opportunity to choose their own path in life, instead of being confined to the high walls of the inner palace."

Mu Qingcheng's eyes welled up with tears, a lump in her throat. "You are the first person who understands the suffering of women, truly cares for women, respects women, and seeks a way out for women! Whether I succeed or not, I will never forget your kindness and support!"

With outsiders present, Song Shuyu couldn't express his feelings directly, so he could only respond with a gentle smile.

Seeing that they had almost finished discussing their business, Madam Ji entered with her maid and served them plates of exquisite snacks and tea. "Miss Mu, these snacks were all made by me. I also brewed osmanthus and jujube tea, which is very beneficial to a woman's health. Would you like to try some?"

Madam Ji spoke at a moderate pace, gently and kindly, neither overly enthusiastic to the point of being overwhelming, nor too cold to the point of being awkward.

Mu Qingcheng had a good impression of Madam Ji. She smiled and nodded, picked up a pastry and put it in her mouth. Her eyes lit up immediately. "Madam's cooking is really good. It's soft and sweet but not greasy. It's really delicious. Thank you, Madam."

Madam Ji smiled and said, "If Miss Mu likes the food, you can come often in the future. We sisters can chat and play chess together to pass the time!"

"Okay," Mu Qingcheng replied with a smile.

Seeing that she looked relaxed and not uncomfortable, Song Shuyu felt much more at ease.

As he left the Ji residence, Ji Yue personally saw him off at the gate and said to Song Shuyu, "Lord Song, I have made up my mind. As long as Lord Song's mind remains unchanged, I will do my best to help!"

Song Shuyu was extremely gratified. "Thank you!"

After saying goodbye, the two boarded the carriage.

Even after driving out of the streets and onto the main avenue, Mu Qingcheng kept her eyes downcast and remained silent, seemingly lost in thought.

Song Shuyu couldn't help but ask, "Qingcheng, what's wrong? Are you unhappy?"

"No." Mu Qingcheng shook her head, looking earnestly at Song Shuyu. "My lord, you have treated me so well, how can I ever repay you?"

(End of this chapter)