A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 281 Entering Langshan (2)

Shen Che sighed deeply, "Master Mu really doesn't do business at a loss!"

Mu Qingcheng smiled but remained silent.

Shen Che seemed to think for a long time before reluctantly nodding, "Alright, when I meet Master Mu, I have no choice but to admit defeat. Some of the Wuhuan people who migrated south went to Yuyang, which is in the southwest of the capital, in the area where Meishan County and Fengxian County meet."

Suppressing her excitement, Mu Qingcheng inquired further, "What are the marriage customs of the Wuhuan?"

Shen Che said, "The Wuhuan people have a strong tradition of valuing matrilineal clans, but once a man comes of age, if he meets a girl he likes, he can simply take her home. After about six months or a hundred days, the man and woman develop 'feelings' for each other. After forcing themselves on her and making it a fait accompli, the man brings cattle, horses, and sheep to the woman's house to present betrothal gifts and apologize for taking the girl."

"Bride kidnapping?" Mu Qingcheng was surprised. In the prosperous period, when the tribe had many people, they practiced bride kidnapping. Now that the population has declined and they can no longer kidnap brides, they have switched to buying wives?

Shen clicked his tongue, "There are even more outrageous ones. Master Mu, have you ever heard of 'levirate marriage'? That is, when the father or brother dies, the wife marries the stepmother, and the widowed sister-in-law is taken as a wife; when the widowed sister-in-law's younger brother dies, the younger brother's son can marry the aunt; if the younger brother has no son, then it is the turn of other uncles."

Everyone who heard this was speechless with astonishment!

"This is truly barbaric and vulgar, contrary to moral principles and ethics!" Lin Shuban couldn't help but curse angrily.

Zhang, the registrar, also said, "The men of Wuhuan do not treat women as human beings at all!"

Mu Qingcheng tapped the table to signal for quiet, then clasped his hands in a salute and said, "Young Master Shen, thank you for your explanation. I have already considered it. Young Master Shen is of noble birth, and if anything were to happen to you, my Jingzhao Prefecture would have difficulty explaining to the Prince of Zhongshan. Therefore, please return, Young Master Shen!"

"You...you're kicking me while I'm down!" Shen Che's face flushed red with anger. "Are you people from the Jingzhao Prefecture afraid of trouble? With your Lord Song's power, who would dare to cause him any trouble?"

Mu Qingcheng slowly uttered two words: "Your father."

Shen Che said anxiously, "My father, no, my father king can't control me. As long as I don't pursue the matter, there's nothing he can do."

"Alright, let's go." Song Shuyu spoke, his brows and eyes full of impatience. "I don't want to have anything to do with your Zhongshan Prince's Mansion."

Shen Chai clenched his fist, fuming like a lion, "Use people when you need them, and discard them when you don't! Lord Song, I have truly overestimated you!"

However, Song Shuyu simply waved his hand, not bothering to utter a single extra word.

Mu Qingcheng stood up and gestured, "Young Master Shen, let me see you out."

"Cunning! Cunning!"

Shen Che glared at Song Shuyu hatefully, pushing and pulling the chair with particularly loud, ear-piercing movements that gave everyone present goosebumps.

But he eventually left.

Just before leaving the hall, he kicked the threshold in anger!

The kick was too hard, and the pain made his face contort on the spot, looking pitiful as if he wanted to cry but was holding back his tears!
Mu Qingcheng, who was used to seeing storms and was always calm, couldn't help but smile when she saw Shen Che acting like a child throwing a tantrum because he hadn't gotten his candy. Whether he was faking it or not, she couldn't help but smile.

After escorting Shen Che to the yamen gate, Mu Qingcheng planned to return.

Shen Che grabbed her sleeve and pleaded with her, "Master Mu, please let me go! I wrote 'The Great Zhou Chronicles,' which is based on information collected from various sources. I'm just a theorist; I've never actually seen the real Wuhuan tribe! Please take me to broaden my horizons, I beg you!"

“Young Master Shen, it’s not that I don’t want to take you, but you’ve seen my master’s attitude. Without his approval, how could I dare to make the decision on my own?” Mu Qingcheng put on a helpless expression. Shen Che frowned deeply. “It’s clearly Master Mu who doesn’t want me to go, not Lord Song who disagrees! Master Mu, I may be foolish, but I’m not blind. Do you think I can’t see that Lord Song prioritizes your opinion?”

Mu Qingcheng smiled and said, "Is Prince Shen really that foolish? Otherwise, let's be frank. Was it just a coincidence that Prince Shen gave me the 'Great Zhou Gazetteer'?"

"Otherwise what? Wasn't that just a coincidence? You were going to search me, and I just happened to have..."

"Ah."

Mu Qingcheng let out a cold laugh, "In that case, Young Master Shen, please leave!"

After speaking, she shook off Shen Che and walked away.

Shen Che sighed and muttered under his breath, "Couldn't he be a little less clever? Sigh..."

After standing there for a long time, Shen Che slowly walked out of the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Inside the meeting hall.

Mu Qingcheng returned and took his seat, saying, "The information provided by Prince Shen is more specific than the location we analyzed. We'll adapt to the situation based on the clues on the 'Floating White Egret' and the parchment scroll. Let's not delay, so let's prepare horses, food, clothing, tents, weapons, and the like tonight, and set off at dawn tomorrow!"

At this point, she turned to face Lu Xun, her eyes filled with concern, "Young Master Lu, this journey is long and arduous, and the weather is freezing. You are not feeling well, so you should stay in the capital to recuperate."

“I have recovered from my illness and I am here today to participate in the case.” Lu Xun’s words were gentle but powerful. “Master Mu, you don’t need to worry that I will hold you back.”

Mu Qingcheng gritted her teeth in anger, "Fine, Lu Shaoqing can decide for himself."

"Master Mu, you take charge of the arrangements. I'm going to the palace."

Song Shuyu abruptly got up from her seat and left without looking back.

Immediately afterward, Lu Xun also said, "I'm going back to my residence to pack my bags. See you tomorrow morning."

The remaining few people looked at each other in bewilderment.

Mu Qingcheng felt confused. What did she say wrong? Or did she do something wrong?
But no matter how big the matter, it's not as big as her case!
So, she quickly gathered her thoughts and explained, "We need to be in a hurry this time, so everyone must travel on horseback and endure the elements. The man in black might even follow us, so fighting is inevitable. Therefore, considering all factors, we won't be bringing the clerk."

Secretary Lin panicked, "Ah? Master Mu, I, I want to go..."

"Master Mu, isn't it necessary to have someone familiar with the terrain? I will try my best not to hold you back," Dou Zandian said anxiously.

Zhang, the registrar, remained silent. He was indeed no martial arts expert and could easily become a burden to the main force. Wasn't the last time he was stabbed the best example of this?
Mu Qingcheng calmed himself down and said, "Secretary Lin, Director Dou, I'm worried not only about the men in black, but also about the unknown dangers in Shenmo Village. I'm afraid that I'll be distracted and won't be able to take care of you, causing you to get hurt or lose your lives. As for the terrain, with Prince Shen here, there won't be any problems."

"Young Master Shen? Wasn't he rejected by the master?" Zhang, the registrar, asked, puzzled.

Mu Qingcheng smiled slightly, "Just because he refused on the surface doesn't mean he won't follow me secretly."

(End of this chapter)