A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 273 The Corpse at the Spring Banquet (4)

Mu Qingcheng entered the garden, but didn't know the way, so she could only rely on her experience and head towards the crowds.

To avoid drawing attention, she picked out a soft sword from the Duke's armory and wrapped it around her waist, covering it with a jacket, so it was not noticeable.

Passing through the red plum grove, the figure that was walking briskly suddenly slowed down.

Mu Qingcheng shifted her gaze to the two figures under the red plum tree. The man was handsome and elegant, as beautiful as the bright moon in one's arms; the woman was beautiful and charming, every smile and frown of hers was captivating.

The man was Song Shuyu, whom Mu Qingcheng knew very well.

He stood with his hands behind his back, and she could only see his profile. She wondered what kind of expression he had on his face as he was on a date with a beautiful woman.

Mu Qingcheng didn't recognize the woman, but from her appearance to her clothing, she exuded an air of wealth and status.

So...they really have fallen for each other?
Mu Qingcheng slowly curled her fingers into a fist, took a deep breath, and gripped the sword hilt with her right hand!
But the next moment, she silently let go.

Let him off the hook for now. It won't be too late to chop off his claws when he really turns his back on his word!
At this moment, capturing Xu Yuying is the most important thing!

However, given the current situation, it seems inconvenient to disturb them, so we can only act first and inform them later!
So, Mu Qingcheng went straight to the banquet!

At this moment, she only hoped that Xu Yuying was at the banquet, so that she could take Xu Yuying away by herself!
However, as she followed the crowd, crossed the covered walkway, and climbed the arched bridge, just as she was about to enter the Fragrant Plum Garden, she was stopped by a noblewoman!

As the banquet drew to a close, due to the strict separation of men and women, the male guests and their families naturally parted ways after the banquet and gathered in two nearby gardens. Those who wished to meet were led by their elders and, under the pretext of admiring the plum blossoms, found a quiet place to talk in person.

Mu Qingcheng's gaze passed over the noble lady and looked into the Fragrant Plum Garden, where he saw twenty or thirty women, young and old, gathered together, chatting in twos and threes.

Guo Yuanke looked Mu Qingcheng up and down, her eyes full of disgust. "Who are you? Look at your attire, neither maid nor young lady. What are you trying to do by sneaking into this place?"

"Mu Qingcheng, the criminal clerk of the Jingzhao Prefecture!"

As she announced her identity and name, Mu Qingcheng took out her waist token. Her calm gaze revealed a hint of sternness. "I am here on official business. Please make way for me, Miss. Do not obstruct my business!"

Guo Yuanke was taken aback at first, then exclaimed in surprise, "You are the female coroner under Young Master Song?"

This startled many women, drawing countless gazes, and some even gathered around to watch the spectacle.

"Exactly." Mu Qingcheng nodded, her tone slightly impatient.

Guo Yuanke suddenly laughed and said, "A mere lowly coroner dares to curry favor with the powerful? Don't think that just because you have some looks you can bewitch your master and be ignorant of your own limitations!"

Mu Qingcheng frowned deeply, "Get out of the way!"

However, the more eager she was to arrest the person and the less she wanted to argue with her, the more Guo Yuanke took advantage of the situation. "Is the Empress Dowager's Spring Banquet a place for someone as lowly as you? And you're here to investigate a case? What a joke!" Mu Qingcheng quickly scanned her surroundings and, not seeing Xu Yuying, she immediately bypassed Guo Yuanke, intending to go inside to look for her!
However, Guo Yuanke would not allow herself to be ignored. She quickly caught up, grabbed Mu Qingcheng without saying a word, and slapped Mu Qingcheng across the face!

The impending danger forced Mu Qingcheng to take this fool seriously. She spun around and shifted her body, easily avoiding the slap!
But due to inertia, Guo Yuanke stumbled and fell forward!
Even though her maidservant rushed to protect her, she still couldn't avoid falling flat on her face!
But then, a hand caught Guo Yuanke's arm just in time and pulled her back!

Mu Qingcheng remained calm, showing neither joy nor anger. "Miss, I don't know who you are, but I advise you not to humiliate yourself!"

After speaking, she loosened her grip and continued walking forward.

This huge change shocked everyone!

Guo Yuanke was furious at Mu Qingcheng's help and completely disregarded it, chasing after him and cursing, "I am the legitimate daughter of the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and you are nothing but a lowly person begging for food in a pile of corpses. How dare you disregard your rank and be so disrespectful to your superior!"

Because the Court of Judicial Review was a powerful government office that held the lives of many officials in its hands, Guo Yuanke, as the daughter of the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, had countless noble ladies who fawned over her, and thus she was always arrogant and domineering. Now, seeing this situation, the noble ladies surrounded Mu Qingcheng, showering her with all sorts of contempt and insults!

Mu Qingcheng had no time to pay attention to these clowns. Her sharp, eagle-like eyes quickly swept across the crowd, searching for Xu Yuying!
"Princess Ningchang!"

Suddenly, someone called out respectfully, and the onlookers immediately made way for a woman to appear in Mu Qingcheng's field of vision!

A hint of surprise appeared on Mu Qingcheng's calm face. Princess Ningchang was actually the woman who had been on a date with Song Shuyu! After her initial shock, she subconsciously looked behind Princess Ningchang, but apart from the maids and servants, Song Shuyu had not followed.

Princess Ningchang glanced at Mu Qingcheng, her face displeased, and said, "What's all this commotion about? What happened?"

Guo Yuanke was secretly delighted. Since she had no hope of marrying Song Shuyu, she might as well offer a first-place offer to Princess Ningchang and use Princess Ningchang to deal with Mu Qingcheng. This would not only help her vent her anger but also allow her to climb up to the Zhongshan Prince's Mansion. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Guo Yuanke said, "Princess Ningchang, you don't know, do you? This lowly woman is a famous female coroner in the capital, and she is highly regarded by the Second Young Master Song!"

The word "value" successfully aroused Princess Ningchang's suspicion, and she immediately sneered, "What kind of filthy thing is worthy of Brother Yu's 'value'?"

Mu Qingcheng frowned slightly. Brother Yu?
"Wait!" Princess Ningchang suddenly remembered something, and disgust and resentment welled up in her eyes. "You are the Master Mu who detained my brother, the Crown Prince?"

"Yes!" Mu Qingcheng readily admitted that Shen Che and Princess Ningchang looked alike and must be siblings. But she wondered how close Song Shuyu was to Princess Ningchang, and whether she could treat Princess Ningchang with the same ruthlessness she showed to Shen Che.

Princess Ningchang's face instantly turned cold. "My brother, the Crown Prince, is magnanimous and unwilling to stoop to the level of a mere woman like you. You, a lowly creature who can't even be presented to the world, actually think you're someone important? My brother Yu must have been deceived by you..."

"Princess, please be careful what you say!"

Mu Qingcheng interrupted with a sharp shout, her usual gentle and calm demeanor completely gone. Her expression turned cold and stern as she said, "The case of the young master riding his horse and killing soldiers of the Jingzhao Prefecture has been closed. If the princess is dissatisfied and wants to plead for the young master's innocence, this advisor is not afraid of hardship and can arrest the young master again!"

"You..." Princess Ningchang's unbridled rage caused her to completely lose her mind, and she roared, "Guards! Drag this arrogant slut out and beat her to death!"

(End of this chapter)