A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 293 Entering Langshan (14)

Jiang Zhan was anxious, thinking that the girls hadn't understood, so he helped explain: "Don't worry, Magistrate Song of the Capital is an upright official, and Clerk Mu is discerning. You can boldly point out the truth. As long as it is verified and the evidence is conclusive, they will be brought back to the Capital Prefecture for questioning!"

"Yes, the Jingzhao Prefecture and the Dali Temple have worked together to find you, putting in a lot of effort. This time, they are here to stand up for you and support you!" Duan Qianzhong urged, hoping to help these poor girls.

However, the five girls knelt in a row, and apart from kowtowing and weeping, they did nothing else.

This scene left Jiang Zhan, Duan Qianzhong, and the constables completely bewildered. They had gone to great lengths to get here, but what was the purpose? They were clearly the victims, yet they looked like criminals about to be executed.

Mu Qingcheng was also at a loss for words. Just as she was about to continue to comfort him, she heard Lu Xun call out, "Master Mu, come here for a moment."

Lu Xun was usually taciturn, and since this case was led by the Jingzhao Prefecture, he rarely stepped forward. But at this moment, he actually spoke up.

Song Shuyu turned around and met Lu Xun's gaze. Both of them came from noble families and grew up under the teachings of the Three Cardinal Guides and Five Constant Virtues. Therefore, when their eyes met, they tacitly understood the key point.

When Mu Qingcheng arrived, the three of them turned their backs and discussed in hushed tones.

Lu Xun said, "I guess the victims didn't want to identify the people who killed them, but were worried about the cruelty of this world towards women who have lost their virginity."

"What do you mean by that?" Mu Qingcheng frowned, her tone quite displeased. "They weren't having an affair; they were trafficked and raped. They are complete victims. Are they also to be drowned in a pig cage? To be punished by so-called family discipline?"

Song Shuyu understood her anger as a woman, so he patted her arm and gently comforted her, "Qingcheng, that's not what Lu Xun meant. Calm down, let's think about it and come up with a solution that satisfies both sides."

Lu Xun sighed, “Qing’er, you have seen the outside world. You have the skills to stand fearlessly in this world, not bound by conservative dogmas. But they are different. Their only destiny is to be confined to the backyard, to be a wife and mother. Otherwise, they cannot survive. If we bring the murderer back to the capital for trial and conviction, it will be tantamount to telling the world that they are women who have been defiled, that they are withered flowers! People are mostly ignorant. Or rather, for thousands of years, people’s strict admiration for female chastity has been deeply rooted. Cursing the murderer and belittling the victim are not contradictory to people.”

"Yes, they can utter words of sympathy while secretly ordering their children and grandchildren to stay away from these filthy and unclean women. Their spittle, like snowflakes, can be deadly."

Song Shuyu glanced sideways at the women, a deep sense of heaviness and helplessness washing over him. “Or perhaps, even their parents and relatives will not tolerate them. In the end, what awaits them is a three-foot-long white silk ribbon, or drowning themselves in a well or drinking poison.”

An endless chill swept over me.

Mu Qingcheng wrapped the cloak around her shoulders tighter, rubbing her face, which was red from the cold, with both hands. Her eyes were sore and swollen that her eye sockets ached.

After a long silence, she finally found her voice in her hoarse throat, "Do women have to get married? If they learn a trade and have the ability to support themselves, they can not rely on their parents' families, and they don't have to get married and have children, right? They also have the opportunity to choose a way to survive and fight against fate, right?"

Her hopeful gaze was fixed on the two men; she had never felt such an intense longing for recognition from others.

However, before they could answer, the chieftain of the Wuhuan tribe laughed sinisterly, “Not to mention that my Wuhuan tribe has a long-standing custom of bride kidnapping, even among the men of the Central Plains, who would want a used woman? Some of them have served two men, some have had miscarriages, and some are pregnant… Lord Song, you might as well ask them if they dare to go back with you. Since things have come to this, it’s better for them to stay in Shenmo Village. At least they have husbands and children, they won’t have to worry about food and clothing, no one will insult them, and no one will force them to their deaths!”

"Snapped--"

Heavy slaps, alternating left and right, fell one after another!

Mu Qingcheng's pride in her emotional self-control collapsed completely at this moment. Her heart was filled with anger and overflowed with murderous intent!
Everyone stared in horror at what they saw!
Song Shuyu was stunned for a moment, and only slowly came back to his senses after Mu Qingcheng slapped the clan chief a dozen times. He stepped forward, grabbed her arm, and pulled her into his arms, gently stroking her back with his large hand, silently soothing her fluctuating emotions. "Lin Hua!"

A sorrowful male voice suddenly rang out from the crowd.

Liao Ruyi was startled, her tear-filled eyes suddenly fixed on the source of the sound!
Lin Jiao gritted her teeth and said, "Hua'er, don't be afraid. Brother will take you home. No matter what you've been through, don't be afraid. Your parents love you dearly. They've cried themselves blind searching for you... Hua'er, brother has money and can support you for the rest of your life. Anyone who dares to laugh at you, brother will tear their mouth apart..."

"elder brother?"

Liao Ruyi got up from the ground and staggered towards Lin Jiao, asking incredulously, "You, are you really my brother?"

Seeing this, Song Li reached out and pulled off the veil covering Lin Jiao's face.

When everyone looked over, they saw that Lin Jiao was indeed as depicted in the portrait. He was not handsome, with a square face and a full beard, a typical burly man with a rugged and sharp appearance.

Lu Xun glanced at it, then looked away.

But in a short while, he suddenly looked at Lin Jiao again, his gaze unable to move an inch!

Liao Ruyi's fingers trembled as she timidly touched Lin Jiao's face, her voice filled with boundless joy. She asked repeatedly, "Are you really my brother?"

"Yes." Lin Jiao forced a smile, but it looked worse than crying. "I'm sorry, Hua'er. It's my fault for coming back late. It's my fault for not protecting you."

Liao Ruyi immediately burst into tears!
Lin Jiao was extremely anxious and begged Song Li, "Please release my pressure points, and I promise I won't run away, okay?"

Song Li said calmly, "No!"

"Lord Song!" Lin Jiao immediately changed to another person, pleading desperately, "I only wanted to comfort Hua'er, I had no other intentions, please have mercy, Lord Song!"

Song Shuyu frowned. "Is this just to comfort you? What if you actually kill someone?"

Lin Jiao said, "A gentleman keeps his word. Since I have promised that Lord Song will handle the matter, I will not break my promise! I beg Lord Song to trust me this once!"

Seeing Liao Ruyi crying so hard she was almost breathless, Song Shuyu couldn't help but feel sorry for her. "Alright, for the sake of you siblings being reunited after so long, I'll believe you this time!"

"No!"

Unexpectedly, Lu Xun spoke up to stop him, his expression unusually sharp. He said, "Brother Song, this man is a notorious murderer with no integrity. Do not trust him!"

(End of this chapter)