A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 256 Headless Female Corpse (44)

Zhang, the registrar, noticed Mu Qingcheng's unease. He glanced at Mu Qingcheng's lips without making a sound and roughly guessed the reason.

To prevent the hotheaded Lin from saying anything more inappropriate, he steered the conversation back on track: "Master Mu, do you think there's a connection between the poem and the map markings on the parchment scroll?"

Mu Qingcheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She turned her body slightly to avoid Lin Shuban's gaze and focused her attention back on official business, saying, "If both are just to indicate the location of Shenmo Village, then creating two versions is unnecessary. The places they refer to should be related, but we don't have much evidence to support what kind of relationship they are at the moment."

After a moment's thought, she made a decisive arrangement: "Registration Officer Zhang, since you are familiar with the hanging coffins, why don't you come with me to investigate in person? It's difficult for us to get accurate answers by just talking on paper. I think that only by going to the location of the hanging coffins in person and seeing the environment and landscape there can we find more clues about Shenmo Village."

"I will obey Master Mu's orders!" Zhang, the registrar, replied without further ado, bowing with his hands clasped.

Lin, the clerk, hurriedly said, "Master Mu, I'll go too!"

“Me too!” Dou Zandian also volunteered. “Master Mu, I have a pretty good understanding of the terrain and landforms of the Great Zhou Dynasty. I should be able to help.”

Mu Qingcheng was very pleased. "Thank you all. However, the Spring Festival is just a few days away, and our return date is uncertain. What if..."

"It's alright, it's just the New Year. If we miss it, we miss it. As public servants, we must prioritize official business. My family will understand." Registrar Zhang waved his hand, not caring much.

Dou Zandian nodded in agreement, "That's right. Anyway, I have many brothers in my family. With them accompanying my parents for the New Year, I have nothing to worry about."

“I am all alone in the capital, and the Jingzhao Prefecture is my home. Wherever Master Mu goes, I will follow.” Lin Shuban’s eyes were fixed on Mu Qingcheng’s face. His voice was not loud, but his tone was firm.

Registrar Zhang couldn't help but look at Secretary Lin, his brows furrowing into a deep frown.

Mu Qingcheng didn't think too much about it. She put away the parchment scroll and said, "Alright, everyone get ready. We'll set off in two days!"

"Master Mu!"

Just then, Song Li arrived. Hearing her call, Mu Qingcheng went to the door to greet Song Li, "I'm here. What's up?"

Song Li said, "Master Mu, the master has invited you to a meeting."

"Oh, okay." Mu Qingcheng thought it would be a good opportunity to report to Song Shuyu on the progress of the case and her upcoming departure from the capital.

After Mu Qingcheng left, Dou Zandian also finished his shift and went home.

Seeing that Clerk Zhang was still there, Lin asked in confusion, "What, Brother Zhang, are you going to stay at the yamen tonight?"

“I’ll be back in a bit.” Registrar Zhang smiled slightly and pointed to the chair. “Brother Lin, let’s have a chat.”

"Hmm?" Lin, the clerk, was somewhat surprised. He sat down opposite Zhang, the registrar, and asked curiously, "I wonder what Brother Zhang would like to talk about?"

Zhang, the registrar, picked up the cold tea and took a few sips before saying, "Brother Lin, I have a family and I've been through this before. If you trust me, then listen to my advice: put away your inappropriate thoughts, find a girl of equal social standing to marry, live a good life, and make a good future for yourself."

Upon hearing this, Secretary Lin's expression stiffened. After a long silence, he finally managed an awkward smile. "I wonder what brings you to this conversation, Brother Zhang? What are you referring to as inappropriate thoughts?"

"Hehe, you understand what I mean." Zhang, the registrar, sighed. "Think about it, even I can see it. How could our shrewd and wise sir not understand? The sir's feelings for Master Mu are obvious. I believe you are also aware of them."

Lin Shuban's throat tightened. "Just now, Brother Zhang said it was a good match in terms of social standing, given the Duke's family's prestige... Brother Zhang, do you think she would compromise herself?"

“Our Master Mu is a man with lofty ambitions, and the Master is not without responsibility. As for where they will end up, that’s not our concern.”

At this point, Registrar Zhang patted Clerk Lin on the shoulder and said earnestly, "The key is that in Master Mu's eyes, you, me, and everyone in the Jingzhao Prefecture are all the same. She sees us the same way she sees a tree or a corpse. Only when she sees you, sir, does her eyes light up." Clerk Lin's eyelids drooped, and he was speechless for a long time.

Having said all he could, Registrar Zhang rose and left.

He shouldn't have meddled, but he was afraid that Lin Shu's office would be blinded by its own involvement and get more and more entangled, ultimately harming itself.

……

The main courtyard of the inner residence.

Mu Qingcheng hesitated for a moment at the door before stepping into Song Shuyu's bedroom at the servant's respectful invitation.

Although she confirmed with Song Li that Song Shuyu had finished bathing and changing, she still felt shy and nervous when she thought of Song Shuyu's aroused appearance.

In the inner room, Song Shuyu sat in the main seat at the round table.

After serving the meal, Liu Mama and the servant bowed and took their leave.

Song Shuyu changed into a simple everyday outfit, her black hair loose over her shoulders, secured only with a mutton-fat jade hairpin. Unlike the solemnity and nobility she exuded during the day when she wore official robes and had her hair tied up with a jade crown, she looked approachable and gentle.

With a fair and jade-like face and exquisite, flawless features, this stunningly beautiful face completely captured Mu Qingcheng's aesthetic sense.

She stood behind the screen, staring intently at Song Shuyu, her expression blank and dazed.

"What's wrong?" Song Shuyu patted the seat next to her and called her softly, "Qingcheng, come and sit down."

Mu Qingcheng snapped out of her daze, feeling waves of heat wash over her cheeks, making her incredibly embarrassed. She lowered her eyes and walked over, sitting down beside him, but turned her face away, too shy to look at him.

Song Shuyu personally served soup to Mu Qingcheng, saying, "We can talk about official business later. Have dinner with me first."

"I already ate with Zhizhi," Mu Qingcheng said awkwardly.

Song Shuyu placed the soup bowl in front of Mu Qingcheng, "It's alright, you can eat a little less."

"Oh."

Why aren't you looking at me?

Song Shuyu glanced sideways, following Mu Qingcheng's gaze, scrutinizing her face, and said with a smile, "Weren't you watching me quite intently just now? What, are you captivated by me and are you shy?"

Mu Qingcheng reached out and pressed his hand against Song Shuyu's eyes.

Song Shuyu smiled. "You weren't shy when you kissed me back then, but you're only feeling embarrassed now? Qingcheng, isn't your reaction time a little too long?"

"My lord, you've washed away the dust of the journey and shed your charm; you look like a true gentleman now," Mu Qingcheng said playfully, revealing her girlish shyness for the first time in front of Song Shuyu.

"I am a gentleman, don't wrong me."

Song Shuyu grasped her fair wrist, moved her hand down to his lips, and kissed it lightly, like a feather, making Mu Qingcheng's palm itch, an itch that went straight to her heart.

(End of this chapter)