A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 227 Headless Female Corpse (16)

When Song Shuyu was praised, his mouth immediately stretched to the back of his ears, and the maids relaxed a bit when they saw their master was happy.

After tonight, everyone in the Duke's mansion has tacitly acknowledged Mu Qingcheng as the future mistress of the house.

Mu Qingcheng took a sip of tea and calmly assigned tasks, "Here's what we'll do: split into several groups. Zhizhi, you investigate brothels and theaters, focusing on the top courtesans and famous actors; Huangying and Lushui, you two help me find out if any families have maids or concubines who match the deceased's description, who were suddenly transferred elsewhere, or for some other reason, and left the mansion in the last few days; Liu Mama, you help me find a slave trader to ask if they've sold any women like that; Sir, you find a reliable person from the Ministry of Revenue to assist me in investigating the person who sold the fake household registration certificates."

At this point, she tapped the table with her finger, her almond-shaped eyes narrowing slightly, "If we still can't find the person, then it's just a passerby, someone who came to the capital to visit relatives or friends or do business, or a girl from a small family in the city. In that case, we'll have to post notices and publicly search for the body!"

“In that case, the whole city will inevitably be alarmed again!” Bai Zhizhi rested her chin on her hand, her eyes full of worry. “What if, in order to appease the public, the higher-ups set a deadline for solving the case? Sister Mu is under too much pressure!”

Mu Qingcheng pondered and said, "If the deceased's relatives come to the Jingzhao Prefecture to report the missing person case, that would be fine. If not, we can only conduct a thorough, comprehensive search! Regardless of whether there is a deadline, I must solve the case as quickly as possible. The New Year is coming soon, and the flow of people to and from the capital will increase day by day. Every day that is delayed will make it more difficult. If the people's panic does not subside, they will not be able to have a good New Year."

"Master Mu, rest assured, we will do our utmost!" Huang Ying and Lu Shui immediately expressed their loyalty.

While they claimed to be loyal, it was something they wanted to do themselves, not to please their mistress. Mu Qingcheng's actions and words made these lower-class people, trapped within high walls, seem to have some use. These women, besides serving their masters and doing embroidery and cooking, could actually do something useful for the world.

Mu Qingcheng looked at the two women and smiled gratefully. "Thank you both for your hard work. If you have any news, please come to the Jingzhao Prefecture to find me."

"Master Mu, you flatter us!" The two maids were terrified by her calling her "sister" and looked at Song Shuyu in fear, afraid that their mistress would be angry.

Song Shuyu didn't react, but simply said, "Follow Master Mu's instructions and do your job well."

"You don't need to be on duty at the manor these next few days. Go and have some tea with your fellow villagers." Madam Liu took out a silver ingot from her sleeve and handed it to them.

"Yes!" the two maids replied.

With too few clues at the moment, Mu Qingcheng had nothing more to ask, so she dismissed Liu Mama and the others.

She rose and walked to the long table. "Sir, how is the progress on your end?"

“One version has been produced, and it’s still being improved,” Song Shuyu replied.

"Let me take a look too." Bai Zhizhi put away the paper she was writing down, walked over, and leaned over the table, swaying her head left and right as she observed the original print and the tattoo pattern that had broken in many places.

Seeing her looking at it so intently, Song Shuyu casually asked, "Miss Bai, what do you think this tattoo prototype looks like?"

“This pattern is fragmented, and in its current shape, it’s impossible to tell what it looks like.” Bai Zhizhi shook her head and clicked her tongue. “However, I’ve seen the embroiderers in my family embroider patterns on silk fabrics and clothes that are nothing more than flowers and animals. Of course, there are also a few that embroider totems. Some are totems that combine several animals, and some are combinations of flowers and animals. They look messy and disorderly, but they all have their own meanings.”

"A totem?" Mu Qingcheng asked with slight curiosity. "Under what circumstances would one embroider a totem? Besides embroidering it on objects, is it possible to embroider it on one's body?"

Bai Zhizhi explained, “I have several old servants in my family who are not Han Chinese. They come from various ethnic groups in the border regions. Many years ago, they fled to Jiangnan due to war and sold themselves into servitude to my family, becoming domestic slaves. Their descendants all work for my family. I have noticed strange totems on their personal belongings. As for whether they have corresponding tattoos on their bodies, I don’t know. After all, there’s no way to find out.”

"Miss Bai, can you paint?" Song Shuyu asked.

Bai Zhizhi chuckled dryly twice. "I can, but my skill level is mediocre. I've been a mischievous kid since I was little. While other young ladies were learning music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, I was climbing trees to steal birds' nests and wading in rivers to catch fish. I even cut off my dad's beard to make calligraphy brushes..."

When Bai Zhizhi inadvertently mentioned her father, her expression darkened noticeably, and she looked very uncomfortable.

Mu Qingcheng sensed something and said, "Zhizhi, it's late. You should go back to your room and rest. My lord and I have other official business to discuss."

Bai Zhizhi forced a smile and said, "Sister Mu, Lord Song, you shouldn't work too late. Whether it's solving a case or painting, inspiration is needed. Everything depends on chance. A problem that can't be solved today may become clear tomorrow."

After saying that, she skipped and hopped out the door, pretending to be nonchalant.

Song Shuyu seemed thoughtful. "Qingcheng, Miss Bai seems to have experienced a lot of hardships. Is her relationship with her parents not very harmonious?"

"Your Excellency is unaware of the truth. Although Zhizhi is young, she has already endured too much suffering in her heart, leaving her scarred and broken." Mu Qingcheng remained silent for a moment, recalling that past event, her heart still aching. "Zhizhi's parents were childhood sweethearts, deeply in love. Before their marriage, Master Bai made a promise to have only one wife for life. Madam Bai was prone to illness and had difficulty conceiving. Three years after their marriage, she finally became pregnant with Zhizhi, but suffered a difficult childbirth, severely damaging her health, and was unable to have children again. Master Bai kept his promise and, no matter how much pressure his elders exerted, never took a concubine, cherishing his wife like a treasure and his daughter like a pearl."

"Who would have thought that people's hearts are unpredictable? Behind the faithful love was a deception that lasted for many years. At Zhizhi's thirteenth birthday banquet, a woman came to the door with her two children. In front of all the guests, she knelt at Madam Bai's feet, crying and begging the legal wife to have mercy and allow her son from the concubine to be recognized by the family. The concubine's son was only half a year younger than Zhizhi! Madam Bai was shocked. In order to have a son, her husband had taken a concubine six months after she gave birth, and had deceived her with hypocrisy, leaving her to live in the illusion of love."

"After the truth was revealed, Mr. Bai was selfish and cowardly. He dared not face Mrs. Bai and instead went to the north under the pretext of business, hoping that when he returned, his wife would be appeased, his mistress would enter the mansion, and he would enjoy harmony among his wives and concubines, surrounded by his children. But that heartless and ungrateful man did not know that after he left, the old lady of the Bai family forcefully welcomed his mistress into the mansion, made her a concubine, and forcibly registered her son under Mrs. Bai's name, making him the eldest son of the Bai family and the one who would inherit the family business in the future."

"However, the concubine Ye's ambition did not stop there. The heartbroken Madam Bai fell ill and soon passed away. Ye took over the household and managed the family affairs. She even arranged a marriage for Zhizhi when Zhizhi was less than three months old, intending to marry her off to the prefect's fat, ignorant, and domineering son!"

"After learning the news, Zhizhi absconded with a sum of money and fled the Bai family overnight. She ran to Shizuishan, disguised herself as a man, recruited more than a dozen bandits, and became the mountain king. One day later, I passed by Shizuishan. Zhizhi tricked me into drugging me, tied me up on the mountain, and teased me, wanting to marry me as her wife. Zhizhi was good at light footwork, but not as good as me in martial arts. After I wiped out her bandit den, she cried her eyes out, saying that she had no home and begged me to take her in."

“I stayed in Shizuishan for a few days and learned about Zhizhi’s past. Zhizhi also learned that I was a coroner from Wuzhou. Out of professional sensitivity, I inquired about Madam Bai’s symptoms at the time of her death and the medication she took after her illness. Then I became suspicious. Zhizhi and I went back to the Bai family home, just in time to see Master Bai return. He was holding Madam Bai’s memorial tablet and crying. Zhizhi snatched the long whip from my hand and lashed it so hard that her father fainted on the spot!”

"After Master Bai awoke, Zhizhi demanded that Madam Bai's coffin be opened for an autopsy. Madam Ye objected and refused. The elders in the family scolded Zhizhi for being disobedient and unfilial, and threatened to lock her in the ancestral hall for family punishment. Zhizhi, determined to die with her husband, held a knife to the throat of her mistress with one hand and a torch with the other, intending to burn down the ancestral hall. This forced the Bai family to agree and they dug up Madam Bai's coffin."

"I examined the body and confirmed that Madam Bai died of poisoning. Master Bai was filled with remorse and hatred. He summoned the doctor who had treated Madam Bai and the servants who had served her. I arrested the itinerant doctors who roamed the streets and alleys. In the end, we found out that Madam Ye had bought the poison from the itinerant doctor and bribed the servants to put the poison into the medicine. She poisoned Madam Bai to death without anyone knowing and tried to take her place."

"Zhizhi broke down and wanted to kill Ye Shi to avenge her mother. Master Bai saw through Ye Shi's insidious and vicious nature. To prevent Zhizhi from getting blood on her hands and facing legal trouble, he entrusted Zhizhi to my care. Afterwards, Master Bai ordered Ye Shi to be beaten with thirty lashes and prepared to send her to the government for punishment. In order to protect her children's future, Ye Shi took poison voluntarily and committed suicide to atone for her sins."

"However, in order to atone for his sins, Master Bai threw Ye's body into a mass grave. Ye's children were also personally removed from the family genealogy by Master Bai and sent to a country estate, never to be heard from again. In name, Bai Zhizhi was the only legitimate daughter of the Bai family. The old lady of the Bai family fell ill and was bedridden, and Master Bai treated her coldly. However, Zhizhi hated her father to the extreme, and no matter how Master Bai tried to make amends, she refused to forgive him."

"Later, when news of Mu Xun's death reached Jiangnan, I secretly went to the capital without telling Zhizhi, and we were separated for three years. After our reunion, Zhizhi told me that Master Bai had personally gone to the prefect's house to annul the engagement, but the prefect coveted the Bai family's immense wealth, especially after Bai Zhizhi became the Bai family's sole heir, and insisted on arranging the marriage. Zhizhi found out that I was in the capital, so she wanted to come to the capital to find me. Master Bai also hoped that Zhizhi could temporarily avoid the marriage, so he allowed Zhizhi to go far away."

What may be a dramatic and exciting story for others is an indelible pain for those involved.

Mu Qingcheng had never told anyone that she hoped Bai Zhizhi could live a vibrant and carefree life like a little sun. In the past few months, Bai Zhizhi had indeed lived up to her expectations, making her believe that the young girl was living the life she had imagined.

But tonight, Bai Zhizhi's warning to Song Shuyu made her realize that some wounds don't simply fade with time. The example of Madam Bai had shown Bai Zhizhi the coldness of marriage and the hypocrisy of men, making her as wary as a frightened bird, filled with vigilance towards the world, and giving her mature thinking and a clear understanding of reality.

"Qingcheng".

Song Shuyu gently brought her back to her senses and whispered, "I finally understand Miss Bai. I understand why she clings to you, trusts you, and helps you unconditionally."

Mu Qingcheng rubbed her face with both hands, took a deep breath, and said, "My lord, the reason why I want to work hard and become a certified female official of the court is not only for my own dream, but also for Zhizhi. I want to be Zhizhi's support, and I want to have the ability to protect her and not be controlled by others."

"Are you worried about her marriage?" Song Shuyu asked bluntly. "Is the local prefect still pressuring Miss Bai to go back and get married?"

Mu Qingcheng nodded, her brows furrowed with worry. "Yes. Master Bai unilaterally broke off the engagement, but the prefect refused. Master Bai initially delayed by saying that Zhizhi was too young and had not yet reached marriageable age, but now several years have passed and Zhizhi is already seventeen. If this is not resolved soon, I'm afraid the prefect will come to force her into marriage."

"What's so difficult about that?" Song Shuyu stretched out his large hand, gently smoothing the wrinkles between Mu Qingcheng's brows, and said with a smile, "I've already told you to use the Duke's mansion's influence to climb up the social ladder by stepping on me. Why didn't you take it to heart? When my father returns to the capital, and we deal with the Empress Dowager, I'll tell him to recognize Miss Bai as his goddaughter and personally arrange for her to break off the engagement. At that time, how could a mere prefect dare to covet the Duke's daughter?"

Mu Qingcheng was stunned and speechless. "This...this can't be done? The Song family is a powerful and influential family. Adopting a goddaughter is no small matter. Will the Duke agree to it?"

Song Shuyu raised an eyebrow. “My father is the clan chief, and I am his most beloved youngest son. Do you think I can’t handle this? Actually, I don’t even need my father to get involved. With my status, dealing with a local minor official is a piece of cake. However, I have my own selfish motives.”

"What ulterior motive?" Mu Qingcheng asked curiously.

Song Shuyu leaned over and gently kissed Mu Qingcheng's forehead, his dark eyes filled with doting affection. "It's all for you. You and Miss Bai are such close sisters, how could I bear to separate you from her? Miss Bai became my father's adopted daughter, so she's my adopted sister. The Duke's Mansion is her home. From now on, you'll be sisters-in-law and sisters-in-law, a double blessing. Isn't that wonderful?"

Mu Qingcheng blushed instantly, "The way you're saying that makes it sound like... I'm definitely going to marry you."

"Of course, I'm full of confidence now!"

As Song Shuyu spoke, he couldn't resist trying to steal a kiss, but Mu Qingcheng was on guard. She dodged him by shifting her body, her smile sly. "My lord," she said, "I suddenly thought of another way to resolve Zhizhi's marriage..."

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(End of this chapter)