A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 297 Ancient Bones (2)

Song Shuyu took the water bottle off the horse, put a mouthful of cold water in his mouth, and was about to swallow when he was choked by the word "seal" and spat it out!

"Brother Song, don't drink cold water, it's easy to upset your stomach. Let's light a fire later and heat the water in the kettle before you drink it." Lu Xun took the kettle from Song Shuyu's hand. Although he was angry that Song Shuyu had taken away his fiancée, their brotherly bond was strong, and his words were still full of concern.

For example, even though Song Shuyu knew they were rivals in love, she still did her best to mediate for him, saving him from Guo Xuan and getting him involved in the case so that he could work with Mu Qingcheng day and night.

The bond between men cannot be simply defined by people and events.

Surrounded by the desolate wilderness, Song Shuyu disregarded etiquette. He wiped the water from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve, peeked at the cave entrance, and whispered, "Lu Xun, are your guards good-looking? Can they recognize what a seal is?"

"Don't worry, it's alright." Lu Xun comforted Song Shuyu, then calmly walked over and looked inside following the guard's gaze.

Mu Qingcheng also got up and went over to check.

Not far away, Shen Che sat on a tree, leaning against the trunk, one leg bent, looking carefree and unrestrained.

From last night until now, he has been silently following Song Shuyu and his entourage, like a transparent person. Song Shuyu has allowed him to follow her, neither speaking to him nor avoiding his presence, as if he did not exist.

This tacit understanding may seem abnormal, but both parties are intelligent, and for intelligent people, it is normal.

The thatch covering the cave entrance grew naturally and had been growing for many years without being cleared. It was so lush that it completely blocked the entrance, making it almost impossible to tell that this was a cave.

"Clear the thatch."

Upon hearing Mu Qingcheng's words, the guard paused, then looked at Lu Xun with a questioning gaze.

Lu Xun nodded: "As long as it is Master Mu's order, there is no need to ask me. Just do it."

"As the Crown Prince commands!"

The guards, having received the order, immediately changed their attitude towards Mu Qingcheng from respect to deference, saying, "Please wait a moment, Master Mu!"

Mu Qingcheng and Lu Xun stepped back a few paces.

When all the thatch was cleared away, the cave, which was several feet wide, was revealed. Everyone present was stunned and stood there in shock!
Several thick iron chains were crisscrossed at the entrance of the cave, with nine yellow paper blood talismans pasted on them!
A cold, gust of wind blew through the mountains.

Whether it was psychological or not, a low, mournful, and terrifying cry seemed to linger in Song Shuyu's ears, causing his body to stiffen instantly!
"My lord." Mu Qingcheng was only stunned for a moment before she immediately came to her senses. Her first priority was to find Song Shuyu, take his arm, and say softly, "There might be something shady hidden inside, which is why they made such a show of force. My lord, please find a place to rest first, and I will go and uncover the secret."

Song Shuyu grabbed her hand, her eyes filled with worry, "Don't go in rashly. What if there's something dangerous hidden there?"

Mu Qingcheng smiled, "I'm not afraid..."

"I'm scared!" Song Shuyu frowned. "Putting aside ghosts and monsters, this cave has been sealed for many years. There's miasma, snakes, rats, and wild beasts. Encountering any of them would be dangerous! No matter how powerful you are, you're still just an ordinary person. You don't have three heads, six arms, or nine lives... What are you laughing at?"

Mu Qingcheng didn't really want to laugh, but if she did, she wouldn't be able to put Song Shuyu's mind at ease.

She said, “Sir, I know you are concerned about my safety, but I actually know what’s going on. Based on my experience, there’s a high chance that there are corpses hidden in the cave.”

"A corpse?" Song Shuyu stared in disbelief.

Upon hearing this, Lu Xun and the others showed another layer of surprise.

Even Shen Che stopped swinging his long legs and pricked up his ears to listen.

Mu Qingcheng gave a simple explanation: "According to the superstitious beliefs of the world, the Taoist priest's sealing ritual must have been due to encountering a ghost, a ghost causing trouble and harming people. So where do ghosts come from? They are nothing more than the souls of the dead that do not perish and transform into vengeful ghosts. Thus, working backward, there must be a dead person here."

Everyone suddenly realized!

Song Shuyu's tension visibly disappeared, and he waved his hand, "Break the blockade and explore the cave!"

The guard swung his sword and cut the iron chains!
Mu Qingcheng reminded him, "Don't rush, wait for the gas in the cave to evaporate before going in."

After waiting patiently for a quarter of an hour, everyone, led by Mu Qingcheng, filed into the cave carrying the torches they had made.

The cave was not deep, only about two or three zhang deep, and five ancient skeletons were clearly visible inside!

Strangely, the five skeletons were arranged in a clockwise direction, lying on their sides, forming a circle! And in the heart bone position of each skeleton, a sharp blade was stuck!
Mu Qingcheng searched the cave, but apart from the clothes the deceased was wearing, she found nothing else!

"Dead? Five people are dead?"

"How many years has this person been dead?"

"Is it a man or a woman? They've all turned to bones, how can you even tell?"

The three guards whispered among themselves, their shock momentarily making them forget the principle of speaking less and working more.

Lu Xun couldn't help but ask, filled with doubt, "Is this some kind of special death ritual?"

"After being murdered, was the scene intentionally arranged like this?" Song Shuyu speculated to herself, her brows furrowed deeply. "Just kill, but don't draw the knife? Doesn't that leave evidence?"

Mu Qingcheng pondered for a moment and said, "Sir, I will number the five skeletons. Please help me draw a complete picture of this scene so that I can reconstruct the crime scene after I return to the yamen."

Song Shuyu readily agreed, "No problem."

"Pay attention to details, don't make the slightest mistake." Mu Qingcheng instructed, pointing to the five sharp blades, "Sir, look, the hilts of the murder weapons are different in shape and color."

Song Shuyu nodded. "Okay, I understand."

They brought writing tools with them when they went out.

Mu Qingcheng was responsible for measuring the distance between the skeletons, the length, width, and range of the skeletons lying on their sides, and the diameter of any circle.

Song Shuyu brought out charcoal pencils and paper, and the guards took turns acting as tables. It took them almost half an hour to draw the scene perfectly.

Mu Qingcheng checked the painting carefully, her eyes crinkling with smiles. "Thank you for your hard work, sir. Your painting skills are truly masterful!"

"So you see, having me with you on errands is very useful, isn't it?" Song Shuyu said, rubbing her sore wrists, not forgetting to take credit.

"Yes." Mu Qingcheng gave Song Shuyu the highest affirmation, "The solving of every case is inseparable from the enormous contributions made by you, sir!"

"hehe."

Song Shuyu smiled, feeling exceptionally pleased. "That was a very accurate compliment!"

In order to transport the remains back, Mu Qingcheng, under rudimentary conditions, tried his best to create the means to forcibly requisition the loose robes of Song Shuyu, Lu Xun, and even Shen Che.

Each skeleton was bundled with a number, and each of the guards and bodyguards carried one bundle. After everything was finished, Song Li served roasted rabbit, wild fruit, and hot water. After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they set off with the unconscious Lin Jiao.

By the time we returned to Yuyang Town, it was already sunset.

The first two groups of people have already returned to Beijing ahead of schedule, as planned.

Song Shuyu and his party spent the night at the inn and escorted Lin Jiao back to the capital early the next morning.

When the moon was high in the sky, they returned safely to the capital. The group, weary from their journey, were exhausted, as if they had been skinned alive.

Lin Jiao was handed over to Liu Heng, and her remains were returned to the morgue. Everyone then went back to their rooms to rest.

……

The next day.

Song Shuyu rose early to attend court, but remained silent and restrained.

After the court session, he privately reported the details of his trip to Yuyang to Emperor Shen Zhu.

Upon hearing this, the emperor was both shocked and furious. "Has she gone mad? How dare she openly assassinate a third- or fourth-rank official of the court!"

Song Shuyu's expression was stern. "Not only that, but she also wants to get rid of Lin Jiao!"

"How do you know? Lin Jiao is the murderer who killed Imperial Censor Xu's daughter. What does that have to do with the Empress Dowager?" The Emperor was puzzled, but after a moment's thought, he understood. "If he only wanted to kill you and Lu Xun, he wouldn't have waited until you captured Lin Jiao before making his move."

Song Shuyu nodded, "Yes, although we don't know what kind of relationship Lin Jiao has with the Empress Dowager yet, it is clear that Lin Jiao's appearance is a huge threat to the Empress Dowager, which is why she took such a risk."

The emperor tapped his finger lightly on the imperial desk, then suddenly smiled, "What does Minister Song think of Shen Che?"

"The Prince of Zhongshan solved the Empress Dowager's problem, and Shen Cheyin was hidden in the shadows. He appeared at the critical moment, used his own life to force back the assassins, and then followed us all the way to track down Lin Jiao until he safely sent us back to the capital before taking his leave."

At this point, Song Shuyu bowed respectfully, "Your Majesty, I believe that the Heir Apparent Shen and his father, the Prince of Zhongshan, are not of the same ilk. Now, reviewing the past events, from the moment the Heir Apparent Shen injured the constable on horseback, he began plotting to get close to me! Presenting Master Mu with the 'Great Zhou Gazetteer' and assisting Master Mu in solving the Shenmo Village case were all intentional acts of his. He knew about Lin Jiao from the beginning, or rather, his father and son came to the capital this time for Lin Jiao. However, his purpose is different from that of the Prince of Zhongshan. He wants Lin Jiao to live and wants to stop the Prince of Zhongshan from serving the Empress Dowager!"

Upon hearing this, the emperor seemed to be deep in thought. "So, Shen Che is using his actions to show his loyalty to me. He wants to save the Zhongshan Prince's Mansion?"

“That should be the case.” Song Shuyu thought for a moment, then carefully chose his words: “Your Majesty, these are just my deductions based on the behavior of Prince Shen, and may not be accurate. Your Majesty is wise and will make your own decision. I dare not make a definitive conclusion.”

The emperor glanced at Song Shuyu, a faint smile playing on his lips. "When did you learn to pass the buck? You've managed to push all four, five, and six of them onto me?"

Song Shuyu smiled and said, "Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, and the Son of Heaven cannot make mistakes."

"Hehe, do you think I don't know you? You've been a little shrewd since you were a child!" The emperor couldn't stop laughing, showing no trace of the solemnity and authority of court officials. He pointed to a stack of memorials piled on the corner of his desk, "Look at how many people you've offended."

Song Shuyu frowned. "Are they all complaints?"

"No, they are all petitions to apologize," the emperor sighed. "You lost your temper at the spring banquet, and they lost face. They may be apologizing on the surface, but they probably hold a grudge against you behind your back!"

Song Shuyu's heart tightened. He knelt down, lifted his robe, and said, "Your Majesty, given the circumstances that day, both for public and private reasons, I had no choice but to do it. Since I dared to do it, I have no regrets!"

"I believe in your public-spiritedness. But your selfishness..." The emperor propped his head up with one hand, glanced at Song Shuyu sideways, and said sarcastically, "I'm afraid it outweighs your public-spiritedness!"

Song Shuyu was utterly embarrassed!
Seeing his handsome face turn red, the emperor couldn't help but tease him even more. "Song Qing, I'm very curious, what is it about that female coroner that has captivated you, who has been aloof from women for twenty years, to the point of losing your soul?"

Song Shuyu coughed twice, turned his face away, and muttered, "The Emperor, with his three palaces and six courtyards, would never understand the feeling of a heart that stirs only once in a lifetime."

The emperor tried his best to suppress his smile, but the corners of his lips still curled up. "Minister Song, now that you mention it, I'd like to meet this Master Mu!"

Song Shuyu was taken aback at first, then gladly thanked the emperor, "Your Majesty, I obey! I thank you in advance for bestowing this marriage upon me!"

The emperor casually picked up a gadget and tossed it to Song Shuyu, laughing and cursing, "How dare you defy my imperial decree of marriage? Song Shuyu, you wicked brat, get out of my sight!"

"A peep show!" Song Shuyu picked up the object and immediately beamed with delight. "This peep show is interesting; Qingcheng will definitely like it! Your Majesty, I thank you. I take my leave!"

Watching Song Shuyu leave happily, the emperor chuckled and couldn't help but sigh, wondering how many years it had been since he had seen Song Shuyu so joyful? Was it because of a once-in-a-lifetime feeling of being moved?
……

Jingzhao Mansion.

As soon as Song Shuyu returned to his office, he received a message from the Imperial Guard station in the capital that Wu Fei, the heir of the Earl of Pingnan, had returned to the capital.

Upon hearing the news, Mu Qingcheng immediately rushed to the front office to consult Song Shuyu, "Sir, should we immediately summon Wu Fei to the prefecture for questioning, or should we proceed directly to court for trial?"

“Now that the case is clear, there’s not much point in questioning him beforehand.” After a moment’s consideration, Song Shuyu instructed, “Send someone to inform the Pingnan Marquis’s residence to order Wu Fei not to leave the residence. Two days later, the Jingzhao Prefecture will hear the case of the murder of the Xu sisters and summon Wu Fei to court!”

Mu Qingcheng replied, "Yes!"

Song Shuyu took out a small mirror from his pocket. "This is a peep show. Do you like it?"

Mu Qingcheng looked the peephole up and down, frowning slightly. "This mirror reflects people in a blurry way and there's a misalignment. It's not as good as a bronze mirror."

"You're really bold," Song Shuyu laughed, leaning close to her ear and breathing warm air into her ear. "This is a rare item bestowed by the Emperor."

Mu Qingcheng looked completely taken aback. "Huh? Then I misspoke!"

"It's alright, just don't laugh at it for not working properly in front of the Emperor." Song Shuyu reached out and patted her head, his eyes full of doting affection. "I accepted this peephole not just for fun. In the future, I'll use it to ask the Emperor to grant us a marriage!"

Mu Qingcheng's pupils turned color in shock. "A marriage decree? My lord, is this... is this appropriate?"

“It must be appropriate!” Song Shuyu’s eyes narrowed instantly. “The more people belittle you, the more I will elevate you, raising you to a position where no one dares to bully you!”

Mu Qingcheng gently wrapped her arms around Song Shuyu's waist, her heart overflowing with a tidal wave of burning love.

He possessed both literary and military prowess, and was adept at political maneuvering; his future was limitless. He could have easily married the most noble royal princess or a young lady from a prominent family in the Great Zhou Dynasty, or enjoyed a life of luxury with numerous wives and concubines. Yet, he single-handedly woven her into his plans for his future and marriage, sparing no effort in doing so.

……

The Palace of the Prince of Zhongshan.

Shen Che knelt outside the study, his posture upright and his expression stern.

Inside the study, the sound of shattering porcelain echoed continuously, accompanied by the angry curses of the Prince of Zhongshan: "You unfilial son! You have defied me time and time again, are you betting that I will not execute you?"

(End of this chapter)