A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 279 The Corpse at the Spring Banquet (10)

"I wish to see Xu Yuying?"

Song Shuyu slammed the spoon he was holding into the bowl, looking humiliated. "Damn murderer, how dare you disgust me like this?"

Xiaodie bit her lip in embarrassment, not daring to say a word.

Mu Qingcheng coughed twice and said, "Xiao Die, please continue."

Xiaodie wiped her tear-filled eyes and continued, "When Miss heard that it was Lord Song who had invited her, she happily went immediately without suspecting the imperial guard at all. We, mistress and servant, were taken to the backyard, where the imperial guard said that Lord Song was in the kitchen. Only then did Miss realize something was wrong. What kind of person is Lord Song? How could he possibly go to a place like the kitchen? But Miss realized it too late. The imperial guard knocked Miss unconscious with a single blow and ordered me to take Miss to the backyard of the kitchen, or he would kill her on the spot!"

"Later, everyone in the kitchen was knocked unconscious, and the young lady was thrown onto the chopping board. I tried to go out and ask for help, but I was blocked at the archway! The Imperial Guard said that he would spare my life to send a letter to Master Mu of the Jingzhao Prefecture! After that, I knew nothing more. When I woke up, the young lady had already been killed."

After Xiaodie finished speaking, she took out an envelope from her clothes and presented it with both hands.

Mu Qingcheng immediately took the letter, opened it, and read it. The letter contained only one concise sentence: If you want Xu Yuying's head, you must exchange it for Liao Ruyi!

"Just as I thought." Mu Qingcheng curled her lips and handed the letter to Song Shuyu. "Sending a head and then taking another head away, Lin Jiao's trick can be considered a slap followed by a sweet date?"

Song Shuyu was even more furious. "What's most hateful is that this bastard used my name to carry out the murder plan! Tell me, has Xu Yuying's brain been kicked by a donkey? How could she be so stupid? I avoid her like the plague, seeing her is like eating food with flies in it, how could I possibly ask to meet with her?"

"Cough cough!"

Seeing that Xiaodie was on the verge of collapse, Mu Qingcheng quickly gave Song Shuyu a look, "My lord, respect the dead, please say less."

Song Shuyu turned his head away and stopped talking, but his handsome face remained ashen.

Mu Qingcheng suddenly remembered something, "Xiao Die, you said at the beginning that Xu Yuying invited Miss Guo to talk in Qiumei Forest, do you know what they talked about?"

"Miss knows that the Empress Dowager once intended to arrange a marriage between Miss Guo and Lord Song, but somehow Princess Ningchang appeared. Today, seeing Miss Guo's resentful expression and her affection for Lord Song..."

"Shut up!"

Song Shuyu suddenly stood up, pointed at Xiaodie and said sternly, "If you dare to talk nonsense again, be careful I will slap your mouth!"

Xiaodie was terrified and hurriedly knelt down to beg for forgiveness, "This servant knows her mistake, please calm down, sir and forgive this servant."

However, Mu Qingcheng said unhappily, "My lord, I was asking questions, why are you stopping me? Perhaps it is related to the case? I have never met Miss Guo before, how does Miss Guo know that I am valued by you, my lord? Why did she insult me ​​so vehemently? I must find out the reason!"

Song Shuyu broke out in a cold sweat. "It wasn't Qingcheng. I can explain this..."

"Please sit down, sir, and do not speak!" Mu Qingcheng looked up at him, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Song Shuyu sat down and awkwardly shut his mouth.

Upon seeing this, Xiaodie was shocked: "So what Miss said is true. Miss told Miss Guo that Lord Song dotes on Master Mu and looks down on other women. Even though Miss Guo is the legitimate daughter of a third-rank official, she is not as good as Master Mu, a woman who is a coroner."

Mu Qingcheng's feelings were incredibly complicated at that moment.

She paused for a moment before saying, "Xiaodie, everything you say here today must not be uttered to anyone else, understand? Otherwise..."

She glanced sideways at Song Shuyu.

Xiao Die immediately understood Mu Qingcheng's implication and hurriedly kowtowed, saying, "This servant understands. This servant would rather die than reveal a single word. Please rest assured, Lord Song!" Song Shuyu's eyes were chillingly cold.

Mu Qingcheng sent the trembling Xiaodie out and ordered the constables to take her back to the yamen for safekeeping, pending the next court hearing.

With no outsiders around, Song Shuyu wanted to explain, but Mu Qingcheng didn't give him a chance. She spoke first, "My lord, the murderer disguised himself as an Imperial Guard and couldn't be stopped at any gate. He's already left. We must return to the Capital Prefecture immediately to plan our next move and set off to find Shenmo Village!"

"it is good."

With official business at hand, Song Shuyu couldn't dwell on personal matters. He recalled the constables and ordered Imperial Censor Xu not to leave the capital, but to be ready to be brought to court for questioning at any time.

Amidst a variety of complex gazes, Mu Qingcheng calmly departed. As she passed Shen Che, she said, "Young Master Shen, there are a few passages in the 'Great Zhou Gazetteer' you gave me that I would like to discuss with you in person. I wonder if Young Master Shen has the time to visit the Jingzhao Prefecture for a chat?"

"It is my great honor to be invited by Master Mu!" Shen Che clasped his hands and bowed, his manner somewhat subservient, yet his face held a playful smile, much like his carefree attitude from that day.

Mu Qingcheng frowned and walked away.

Song Shuyu glared at Shen Che and lowered his voice, saying, "Young Master Shen, I am not a kind person. You and your sister should take care of yourselves!"

Shen Che maintained his expression and remained silent until Song Shuyu had walked away. Only then did he slowly suppress his smile and instruct Princess Ningchang, "I'm going to the Jingzhao Prefecture. You return to the Prince's residence immediately. Remember my words: do not cause trouble, and do not leave the residence, understand?"

Princess Ningchang was completely bewildered, but what could she do besides nod in agreement?
Shen Che followed.

The rest of the crowd had no interest in attending the banquet or socializing; they rushed to leave this place of trouble.

……

Jingzhao Mansion.

As soon as Mu Qingcheng returned, he went straight to the morgue.

She pieced together the neck circumferences of Xu Yuxiao's head and the headless female corpse, and the results showed that the knife marks matched and the sizes were consistent, confirming that they belonged to the same person!
With this, the case of the headless female corpse in Suhe River has been solved!
However, with the murderer Xu Yuying killed, another case of a headless female corpse has emerged!

After a quick lunch, everyone gathered in the council chamber.

Shen Che was seated at the very end, but he didn't seem to mind. Instead, he leisurely sipped his tea, pretending it was the lowest grade tea that Song Shuyu had ordered for him.

Surprisingly, Lu Xun, who had been ill for many days, showed up uninvited at the entrance of the council hall before the meeting began!

Meeting the stunned crowd, Lu Xun smiled slightly, "What, are you not welcoming me?"

"Greetings, Young Master Lu!" Lin Shuban and the others quickly stood up to greet him.

Mu Qingcheng slowly came to her senses. Looking at Lu Xun's obviously pale face, she felt a lump in her throat. "Greetings, Young Master Lu."

Song Shuyu paused for a moment, then instructed someone to prepare plain water and a soft cushion for Lu Xun.

Lu Xun walked slowly to Mu Qingcheng and whispered, "Don't worry, I'm fine now." After saying that, he sat down in the seat of honor above her.

(End of this chapter)