A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 223 Shameless
The Duke's Mansion.

The butler had been waiting outside the mansion for quite some time.

Upon seeing the procession return, the steward immediately stepped forward to help Song Shuyu out of the carriage, saying with a smile, "Second Young Master has returned home for a meal. The Old Madam is in excellent spirits and even asked this old servant to prepare two jugs of fine wine!"

"I should have come back every day to make my grandmother happy, but the official duties of the Jingzhao Prefecture are really numerous, and there are serious criminals being held in the prison, so it is hard to feel at ease."

As Song Shuyu replied, a look of melancholy and guilt appeared on his face. He got out of the car, but instead of walking forward, he turned around and looked at the carriage door, as if he was waiting for something.

The steward asked, puzzled, "Second Young Master, do we have any distinguished guests visiting today?"

"Yes, it's quite expensive. It must be treated like an ancestor." Song Shuyu smiled, her eyes filled with undisguised doting affection.

The butler was greatly alarmed and immediately became extremely vigilant, preparing to welcome this distinguished guest of ancestral status!
Inside the carriage, Bai Zhizhi took off the men's shirt that was covering her, let her hair down, and had Mu Qingcheng help her style her hair into a girl's bun before changing back into her girl's clothes.

Since Bai Zhizhi didn't want to pretend to be a servant, she could revert to her original appearance and make the spies watching her not realize that she was the one who stopped the archers.

After finishing tidying up, Mu Qingcheng lifted the carriage curtain, and a large hand reached out in front of her. She glanced at the butler out of the corner of her eye, but was too embarrassed to take Song Shuyu's hand, and walked down the steps on her own.

Song Shuyu silently withdrew her hand, smiled, and said nothing.

The steward, witnessing this scene, was both shocked and amused. The young master had welcomed his beloved back to the manor; was he perhaps too excited? He was actually being so attentive and solicitous in public. Was he not ashamed, or did he even consider whether she was ashamed?

"This old servant greets the young lady!" The steward bowed respectfully.

Mu Qingcheng smiled slightly, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Steward, you are too kind. I am the one who has bothered you."

"Sister Mu, help me up."

Bai Zhizhi made a high-profile appearance, putting on the airs of a rich young lady. With a voice as melodious as a nightingale and a slender figure, she gracefully stepped down from the carriage, her arm linked with Mu Qingcheng's.

The butler was stunned for a moment. His young master had brought back two beloved women at once? Without time to think further, he quickly bowed to Bai Zhizhi: "Greetings, Miss!"

Bai Zhizhi maintained her status as a young lady by simply raising her chin, which was enough to acknowledge the greeting.

Song Shuyu glanced around calmly, feeling that he had done enough of his act, and then said at the opportune moment, "Ladies, please come in!"

The butler led the way, and the group entered the gate and headed directly towards the main dining hall.

A moment later, Song Li caught up and whispered in Song Shuyu's ear, "Master, the guards have reported that the assassin has woken up, but he is mute and illiterate, and cannot say anything."

"He was imprisoned in the Jingzhao Prefecture jail and Liu Heng was instructed to guard him carefully."

"understand!"

Song Li turned and left.

Song Shuyu instructed Mu Qingcheng, "After returning to the yamen, remember to file a case. Tomorrow at the court assembly, I will also take the opportunity to report to the Emperor and inform all the officials. Just like you said, we need to make a big fuss so that everyone knows that someone wants to kill us! Then, we'll sit back and wait for her to continue making mistakes."

"Yes!" Mu Qingcheng replied.

But then she shifted her gaze and teased him, "Didn't you disagree with my suggestion, sir? Why have you suddenly agreed?"

"Who said I agreed?"

Song Shuyu glanced sideways, gazing longingly at Mu Qingcheng's gentle and beautiful face in the dim light of the lantern, and reminded her again: "I am only passively protecting myself and dealing with things as they come. If one comes, I will catch one. I will use numbers to defeat the few and strength to rely on the weak. I will never be a lone hero, risking my life to catch the tiger, entering the tiger's den, and getting the tiger cubs!"

Mu Qingcheng said "Oh," paused, and asked softly, "My lord, do you lack confidence in me, or in yourself?"

“The latter,” Song Shuyu replied.

This answer surprised everyone. Not only was Mu Qingcheng astonished, but even Bai Zhizhi showed an incredulous expression!
Compared to someone with such immense power, Mu Qingcheng was nothing more than a nobody with no connections, no wealth, and no authority. Why would he think that way?
However, Mu Qingcheng didn't understand why Song Shuyu always felt that she was like a candle flame flickering in the wind, about to be extinguished at any moment without a lampshade. Or perhaps it was because he had lost her before, so even knowing that she was skilled in martial arts, he still felt uneasy.

He suddenly grabbed her fair wrist and said in a stern tone, "In short, with our current strength, there's no need for us to act like individual heroes, understand?"

Back then, her mother was murdered, and her father was powerless to resist, so he had to retire to Jiangnan, which resulted in him losing her for twelve years!

Now that he has gained sufficient power, he will never allow the tragedy of twelve years ago to repeat itself!
His fear infected Mu Qingcheng. She raised her other hand and gently pressed it on the back of his hand to comfort him, saying, "I'll listen to you, don't worry."

Song Shuyu responded softly, "Mm." Upon entering the main courtyard and then the dining hall, the old lady was already seated at the head of the table, waiting.

The head matron stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Second Young Master, and greetings to the two young ladies."

Song Shuyu nodded, quickly walked to the old lady, took her hand, and apologized with a smile: "Grandmother, I am late and have kept you waiting."

“It’s not late, it’s not late. Anyway, Grandma eats and sleeps all day long, so there’s no rush or hunger.” The old lady’s eyes were full of affection. As she spoke, she leaned out slightly to look at Mu Qingcheng and Bai Zhizhi, and asked curiously, “Who are these two beautiful young ladies…”

"These are distinguished guests invited back by my grandson."

Song Shuyu's smile remained unchanged. He walked back, took Mu Qingcheng's hand, his handsome face flushed, and said shyly, "Grandmother, her name is Mu Qingcheng. She used to be my coroner, and now she's the chief clerk in charge of criminal cases at the Jingzhao Prefecture. In the future, she will be..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but his expression and actions gave enough hints.

Mu Qingcheng was both embarrassed and ashamed. She quickly broke free from Song Shuyu's grasp, blushed, and bowed respectfully, saying, "This humble girl, Qingcheng, greets the old lady!"

After saying that, she secretly glared at Song Shuyu, gritted her teeth, and whispered, "My lord, I came here tonight for the case. Please be careful with your words!"

Song Shuyu lowered her eyes, feigning grievance, "I didn't say anything I shouldn't have. If you don't believe me, ask Grandmother what she understood?"

"You..." Mu Qingcheng was so angry that she wanted to slap him. How could she have believed his nonsense? And how could she have the nerve to ask the old lady?
However, the old lady and the head maid exchanged a glance, and then both showed expressions of understanding, relief, and joy.

Song Shuyu didn't give Mu Qingcheng a chance to get angry, and quickly changed the subject, "Grandmother, the other Miss Bai is Qingcheng's close friend and sister."

"My name is Zhizhi, and I come from Jiangnan. Tonight, thanks to Sister Mu, I have accompanied Lord Song to the Duke's mansion as a guest. I apologize for disturbing you, Madam." Bai Zhizhi curtsied, performing the proper etiquette of a young lady.

The old lady looked at the two girls, one gentle yet spirited, the other charming and adorable. The more she looked at them, the more she liked them. With a smile in her eyes, she said, "Qingcheng, Zhizhi, our Duke's mansion is small and quiet. Thank you for taking the time to visit this old lady. I'm so happy. You two girls, don't be shy, come over here quickly, let's eat and chat."

Mu Qingcheng and Bai Zhizhi were surprised to find that the old lady was so kind and approachable, without any airs of the old Duchess. The two immediately felt at ease and were seated by the head nanny.

A maidservant came in to serve the meal.

Song Shuyu sat down next to the old lady and secretly winked at her, "What do you think, Grandmother? Your grandson has good taste, doesn't he?"

"Hmm, you little rascal, you finally know how to be considerate of your elders and have been a dutiful grandson." The old lady's loving gaze lingered between Song Shuyu and Mu Qingcheng, nodding frequently. "Hmm, this Qingcheng girl is more than a match for you. Grandmother likes her!"

The embarrassment that Mu Qingcheng had just felt instantly returned!

She wanted to explain or deny it, but she had indeed fallen for him. Her feelings for Song Shuyu were not exactly innocent, but they had not officially established a relationship, and she had not yet considered whether she wanted to spend her life with him.

But then he suddenly took her to meet his elders, and she won their approval and favor!
The events unfolded so directly, without any foreshadowing, that Mu Qingcheng was completely caught off guard!
Perhaps sensing Mu Qingcheng's hesitation and nervousness, the old lady turned to look at her and said with a teasing smile, "It's alright. If Qingcheng really doesn't like my grandson, then let him remain a bachelor, just like his father, growing old alone with no one to pity him."

"Madam, I..." Mu Qingcheng was extremely embarrassed and didn't know what to say.

Seeing this, Song Shuyu feigned sorrow, "Grandmother, if I can't marry the wife I desire, it must be because you were too hasty and scared her away."

The old lady couldn't help but laugh. "Oh, you rascal! You have no ability to make the girl like you and marry you, yet you blame it on your grandmother?"

"Hmph, it's not just Grandmother's responsibility, Father and Brother should also bear the blame!"

"Tsk tsk, you unreasonable brat, you're actually trying to punish everyone involved?"

"Of course, that's what happens when I'm the youngest in the family. The whole family has to take responsibility, and no one can escape it!"

The old lady poked Song Shuyu's head with her finger and finally summed it up with four words: "Shameless!"

The head matriarch couldn't stop smiling.

Although Mu Qingcheng was the focus of the discussion, the relaxed and loving atmosphere between the grandfather and granddaughter really touched her, reduced her pressure, and made her feel that marrying Song Shuyu was not as difficult as she had imagined.

Surprisingly, Bai Zhizhi, who had always been at odds with Song Shuyu, sat there quietly for the first time, without chattering or clinging to Mu Qingcheng.

She lowered her eyes slightly, lost in thought, seemingly preoccupied with something.

Mu Qingcheng secretly squeezed Bai Zhizhi's fingers and gave her a knowing smile. The little girl must be homesick, missing her father whom she both hated and loved!

(End of this chapter)