A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 204 Promotion to Criminal Law Advisor
The Jingzhao Prefecture successfully solved the long-standing case, earning praise from the emperor and winning the hearts of the people. For a time, it was the most popular and everyone praised it.

The one who was discussed the most was Mu Qingcheng.

The emperor's personal commendation in the Golden Hall served as a final endorsement for Mu Qingcheng and the profession of female coroner. Naturally, the public's recognition of female coroners and their attitude towards women handling cases underwent a significant change.

Mu Qingcheng finally used her strength to fight for the opportunity for women to be seen and allowed in a male-dominated official system and social system!
The happiest person was none other than Song Shuyu.

He has finally successfully paved the way for women to pursue official careers!

When Song Shuyu rewarded those who had contributed to the campaign, everyone in the Jingzhao Prefecture, from top to bottom, received a reward. Not only did he share the one thousand taels of silver bestowed by the Emperor, but Song Shuyu also took half of his personal reward and deposited it into the Jingzhao Prefecture's public account to improve everyone's meals and living quarters. Zhang Xingzhong, the registrar, Liu Heng, the head constable, and Xiao Luo, who were injured in the line of duty, received additional condolence money.

Song Shuyu did not forget to recommend the chief physician who had contributed the most to the court. As a result, the physician was promoted one rank and received a generous reward. He also extended his favor to the physicians in the pharmacy and the female physicians in the workshops of the Imperial Medical Academy that produced ointments, pills and powders.

Regarding official personnel, Song Shuyu also made some adjustments.

"In view of Mu Qingcheng's outstanding performance, effective immediately, Mu Qingcheng is promoted to the position of Criminal Clerk of the Jingzhao Prefecture, concurrently serving as a coroner, and in charge of all criminal cases in the Jingzhao Prefecture! She has the authority to mobilize officials such as the Registrar, Clerk, Encyclopedia, Head Constable, Constable, Yamen Runner, and Clerk! Although Mu Qingcheng is not an official recognized by the Ministry of Personnel, His Majesty has granted me special permission to promote her exceptionally within the Jingzhao Prefecture and entrust her with important responsibilities. Therefore, her rank and salary are equivalent to those of a military advisor, and she is not subordinate to any department, but directly obeys my orders!"

"Furthermore, Registrar Zhang Xingzhong and Clerk Lin Fu have both demonstrated outstanding performance and abilities, and their salaries will each be promoted by one grade!"

"Master Mu, you may choose the people you need to accompany you, so that it will be easier to carry out your duties."

On the same day and at the same time, Constable Liu and Constable Jiang led their men to search and confiscate the Ningyuan General's Mansion and the Li family, a compiler at the Hanlin Academy. All the confiscated property was turned over to the national treasury.

Adhering to the principle of not incurring the wrath of the entire family, Song Shuyu left the fate of the servants of the Liu family to Madam Liu's decision, since their indentures were held by the Liu family, and as long as one master of the Liu family was alive, the government had no right to make the decision.

Madam Liu said, "We've lost our home and our money. How will we support our servants? Return the indentures and let each of us find our own way."

So, under the watchful eyes of the constables, the servants packed their belongings, each holding their indentures, and left in tears.

All the masters of the Li family were dead, leaving only the old steward in charge. Like Madam Liu, he returned all the servants' indentures, and they went their separate ways.

Afterwards, the old steward rented a small courtyard near the capital. Xia Yu stayed with the old steward temporarily, waiting for the case to be completely concluded so that he could take away the bodies of Li Mu and Li Yunyao and transport them back to their hometown for burial.

Of course, this matter was not made public.

Song Shuyu also instructed the old steward and Xia Yu to keep their mouths shut. Liu Changqing was arrested, and the case was officially closed, but Song Shuyu would continue to secretly investigate the mastermind behind Liu Changqing until the case was truly closed.

The short, fat man's body was taken away by his family.

Mu Qingcheng led his men to build an underground cold storage room in the backyard of the South Prison, where they cryopreserved the bodies of Shuangcui, Linglong, Huang Yiyi, Li Mu, and Li Yunyao.

Song Shuyu sent people to find Shuangcui and Linglong's parents and ruled that the Liu family should provide generous compensation.

As for Huang Yiyi, she was sold into a brothel by her parents and had long since lost contact with her family. She only had the identity of Liu Xiao's wife. Whether it was compensation or burial, it could only be carried out after Liu Xiao was released from prison.

Zisong came once and requested to see Huang Yiyi, but Mu Qingcheng refused as usual. Zisong then knelt outside the South Prison Gate for half a day.

Seeing that Zisong was about to faint, Bai Zhizhi couldn't bear it and pleaded with Mu Qingcheng. Mu Qingcheng went out to see Zisong and, seeing that he was determined, made an exception and personally took him to the cold room.

Mu Qingcheng reminded him, "Take a quick look and leave. It's cold here, you can't stay long." "Thank you," Zisong said softly, his expression sorrowful.

Ice blocks covered Huang Yiyi's body, and the white cloth covering the body had been frozen into a hard, cold block, lying loosely on top of it.

Mu Qingcheng put on thick gloves and lifted the white cloth.

Once removed from the embalming solution, the body decomposes rapidly, no longer resembling a living corpse. Huang Yiyi is now a normal corpse, but due to freezing, her basic appearance has been preserved, and the stench of death is not obvious.

With tears streaming down his face and his nose red, Zi Song murmured, "Wan Tang, you've finally come to this, you've finally abandoned me."

Mu Qingcheng felt that these words were strange, but after thinking about them carefully, they seemed to be without any problem.

"Okay, let's go."

Mu Qingcheng put down the white cloth and urged Zisong to leave.

After leaving the cold room, Mu Qingcheng summoned Bai Zhizhi and asked her to take Zisong away. Unexpectedly, Zisong knelt before Mu Qingcheng and pleaded, "Let me see Liu Xiao!"

Mu Qingcheng frowned. "What are you doing?"

Zisong looked distressed. "I want to see who exactly is the person who ruined Wantang's life. I also have a few questions for Liu Xiao."

"The person is gone, what's the point of dwelling on these things? It only adds to the sadness."

Mu Qingcheng could not agree to this. The four members of the Liu family were all high-priority criminals under special protection, and absolutely nothing could go wrong!

However, Zisong insisted, "Master Mu, please, these things have been weighing on my mind for a long time. If I don't ask about them, I will never be at peace!"

Mu Qingcheng stared at Zisong for a moment. Whether it was because Zisong's will was too strong or because he was honest and straightforward, Mu Qingcheng did not notice anything amiss.

She thought for a moment, then reluctantly agreed, "Alright, I'll take you."

Zisong was overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly.

Liu Changqing and Liu Pei were death row inmates, imprisoned in the serious offender cell of the South Prison. Madam Liu, Lu Ruyue, and Liu Xiao were imprisoned in the North Prison, where they were guarded face-to-face by the yamen runners for twelve hours a day.

Upon entering the North Prison, Mu Qingcheng ordered the guards to conduct a body search on Zisong to ensure he posed no potential danger to the prisoner. They even put a black hood over Zisong's head to prevent him from seeing the prison layout and memorizing the route.

Zisong cooperated and was led by the yamen runners into the dark and damp prison. The runners even deliberately took several detours before bringing him to Liu Xiao's cell door.

Mu Qingcheng chose a suitable spot to stand before saying, "Take off the hood."

The bailiff removed the hood, and Zisong squinted. After his eyes adjusted to the light, he saw a disheveled man in prison clothes sitting on the dry grass.

(End of this chapter)