A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 333 Ending (2)

The Empress Dowager hadn't felt this carefree and triumphant in a long time. She enjoyed controlling others, watching them grovel at her feet like dogs, which gave her restless, maddening heart a small measure of satisfaction. It was as if only in this way could she find some solace for the years of unrequited love she had endured.

"Your Highness," the nanny asked in a low voice, "do we still need to administer the poison to her?"

The Empress Dowager raised her pointed chin and let out a laugh, "No need."

Physical punishment can only break a person's backbone. But destroying their heart can completely change a person, making them usable for one's own purposes.

She asked, "Do you want revenge?"

Mu Qingcheng was taken aback. "How should we report this?"

The Empress Dowager spoke in a languid tone, as if she were nonchalant, "Song Shuyu is the apple of the Duke of Song's eye. You've cut off this piece of flesh, making the Duke of Song, an old man, bury his young son. Wouldn't that be delightful?"

But Mu Qingcheng couldn't accept it. Her eyes were red, and she was filled with murderous intent. "The one who harmed my parents was the Duke of Song. Wouldn't it be more satisfying for me to kill the Duke of Song?"

The Empress Dowager's expression changed drastically!

Her gaze fixed on Mu Qingcheng was as cold as ice. "What makes you think you have the audacity to say you'll kill the Duke of Song?"

"Song Shuyu deceived me, but he also trusts me. As long as I use him properly, I will definitely find an opportunity to strike!" Mu Qingcheng said confidently.

Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager burst into laughter, "You really are disobedient! I've shown you the way, just follow it. You can't touch that Duke of Song!"

"Why?" Mu Qingcheng asked anxiously and resentfully. "Even if he is a Duke with immense power, he has committed evil deeds and must pay the price—a life for a life!"

The Empress Dowager's smile vanished, her eyes narrowed, and a murderous glint appeared in them. "Anyone who dares to touch the Duke of Song, I will take their life!"

Upon hearing this, Mu Qingcheng was utterly astonished. "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager...didn't you become enemies with the Song family? Could it be...that Song Shuyu is lying to me again? He clearly said that it was Your Majesty the Empress Dowager who sent someone to poison and assassinate the Duke of Song!"

The Empress Dowager scoffed, "The assassin was a spy from an enemy country, how could it be me? Song Shuyu has really fooled you!"

"Damn Song Shuyu, I won't let him get away with this!"

Mu Qingcheng clenched her fist, veins throbbing on her forehead, and instantly made up her mind, "I beg Your Majesty the Empress Dowager to help me avenge myself! I will serve you like a slave to repay Your Majesty's great kindness!"

The Empress Dowager nodded, quite satisfied with her pragmatism. "Alright, then marry the Prince of Zhongshan as a concubine. Although that brat Shen Che wants you to be the principal wife, I still have a use for this position. I believe you're after revenge and won't feel wronged, will you?" "Okay!" Mu Qingcheng readily agreed.

Her decisiveness, however, made the Empress Dowager frown. "Are you really willing?"

Mu Qingcheng lifted her collar, pointed to the mutton-fat jade Guanyin pendant around her neck, and said, "To be honest, Your Majesty, Song Shuyu once gave me a token of love and promised to marry me. I remarried and married someone else in front of Song Shuyu, giving him a heavy blow. Isn't that the best revenge?"

"Oh? What are your plans?"

"Three days later, outside the Imperial City Gate, a court and a wedding hall will be set up together. Song Shuyu's case will be set as an irreversible death sentence, and he will be charged with murder and beheaded on the spot! In this way, I can escape without getting my hands dirty and marry into the Prince's mansion in peace, enjoying wealth and honor!"

"you sure?"

"At that time, we will summon all officials and common people to witness the ceremony and trial, so that the world can see the proud son of heaven, Song Shuyu, fall from grace and become not only a murderer, but also the clerk Mu, whom he protected so much, marrying someone else. As proud as he is, he will surely be greatly shocked and thrown into chaos! Otherwise, given his cautious and meticulous way of doing things, it will be difficult for us to find a loophole to put him to death! Of course, if Guo Yuanke was indeed killed by Song Shuyu, and the three judicial departments can find conclusive evidence to convict him, then there will be no need to set up such a scheme."

"Who killed him is not important. What I want is for the blame to be placed on Song Shuyu!"

“I understand. To ensure everything goes smoothly, I need to meet with Song Shuyu and add another strong piece of evidence to his case!”

Does it have to be this way?

"Your Majesty, physical evidence can be fabricated, and Song Shuyu can deny it, but the traces left after contact with the deceased are irrefutable evidence!"

After a moment's thought, the Empress Dowager nodded and said, "Very well, I will arrange for you to meet Song Shuyu at the Ministry of Justice. From today onwards, you will reside in the Prince of Zhongshan's residence awaiting your marriage!"

Eunuch Qin presented the imperial edict, "Master Mu, please accept the edict!"

"This humble woman kowtows to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager!" Mu Qingcheng knelt down to express her gratitude and accepted the imperial decree with both hands.

The Empress Dowager glanced at Eunuch Qin and said, "You will personally escort Master Mu to the Prince of Zhongshan's residence."

Stepping out of Shou Kang Palace, Mu Qingcheng looked up at the red sun hanging in the sky, a wave of indescribable sorrow washing over her...

(End of this chapter)