A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 356 Ending (25)

Mu Qingcheng left without looking back.

She forcefully pried Song Shuyu's hand away, disregarding his lingering affection, and left resolutely.

She was terrified that she would become too infatuated with his affection and do something irrational, ruining the entire plan. She was also afraid that she would give him hope, only to disappoint him and leave him to suffer the pain of betrayal.

Song Shuyu watched her figure disappear completely from sight before slumping down, his face revealing a mixture of fear, anxiety, and melancholy.

From beginning to end, Mu Qingcheng never provided answers or made any promises regarding either the blood feud or the fate of their relationship.

He slammed his fist on the table, again and again.

Song Li had no choice but to show himself. When he saw that Song Shuyu's knuckles were bleeding, he frowned deeply and ordered the guards to open the prison door.

After Qin Songyang spoke with Song Shuyu, he realized that Song Shuyu was innocent and that the emperor had set up a scheme. Song Shuyu was the one playing the game, and the Ministry of Justice's prison could not hold him. The reason he obediently stayed in the prison was only to lull the Empress Dowager into a false sense of security.

Therefore, Qin Songyang ordered the yamen runners to turn a blind eye and, when appropriate, obey Song Shuyu's orders.

Seeing Song Shuyu's bloodshot eyes and self-harming act, the bailiffs were terrified and hurriedly untied the key to open the cell door.

Song Li said, "Get out, don't let anyone in."

The yamen runner hurried away.

Song Li entered the cell, took out a bottle of wound medicine from his pocket, grabbed Song Shuyu's arm, forcing Song Shuyu to stop. He choked out in a low voice, "Master, have you forgotten what the mistress said when she left? Take care of yourself, and never act impulsively for the sake of the mistress!"

“Mistress…” Song Shuyu turned her face away, her voice trembling uncontrollably, “She’s probably wavering and doesn’t want to be your mistress anymore.”

Song Li sprinkled the medicinal powder on Song Shuyu's wound, then casually tore off a piece of his clothes to bandage it while comforting her, "No, it won't happen. The mistress is not a fickle person. It's just that she is naturally calm and composed, and not good at expressing her feelings. Please don't overthink things and scare yourself."

“You don’t understand,” Song Shuyu murmured, her eyes vacant.

Song Li sighed: "I don't understand why you are so sure, but I do understand one thing: you disobeyed your mistress and injured your hand. When she finds out, she may be disappointed in you."

"I...I didn't mean to." Song Shuyu's expression changed, and she immediately became anxious.

Song Li was both amused and exasperated. “It’s no use explaining to your subordinates. However, it’s good that Master knows his mistake and corrects it. In the future, no matter how sad you feel or how much you want to vent, you must remember the mistress’s instructions and not hurt yourself again.”

Song Shuyu nodded, agreeing readily, "Okay."

Song Li silently breathed a sigh of relief. Song Shuyu suddenly remembered something and urged, "Go and protect the mistress, but don't you dare tell anyone, understand?"

"Yes, Master!"

Song Li left behind the wound medicine and strode away.

After pondering for a moment, Song Shuyu decided to go and ask his father for clarification that night.

……

After leaving the prison, Mu Qingcheng greeted Liang Ruoming and then left the Ministry of Justice alone.

Lu Zhao originally wanted to talk to Mu Qingcheng again to try and get more support for Lu Xun, but Qin Songyang sent someone to invite him to a meeting. Mu Qingcheng provided the autopsy results and the case-solving strategy, but the specific implementation of the plan still needed to be completed by the three judicial departments.

Mu Qingcheng was not in a hurry to visit her father. She appeared at the Ministry of Justice today, and although she had changed her gender and concealed her identity, the fact that she had the surname "Mu" and was a coroner was enough to arouse the suspicion of the Empress Dowager and the Prince of Zhongshan.

Therefore, she had to rush back to the Prince of Zhongshan's residence immediately, otherwise Bai Zhizhi would be in danger.

as predicted!

Mu Qingcheng and Eunuch Qin arrived at the Zhongshan Prince's Mansion at almost the same time. She avoided people and immediately slipped away to the side gate she had left through the night before.

Shen Che was a reliable man. He had arranged for his trusted confidants to guard the place. When Mu Qingcheng returned, he immediately brought her into the palace and took her to the Lotus Garden.

Before they could exchange words, Mu Qingcheng and Bai Zhizhi quickly switched back to their identities. They had barely finished combing their hair when the sound of hurried footsteps echoed in the courtyard!
Shen Che stood like a gatekeeper at the entrance, laughing unrestrainedly, "This is the inner quarters. How can we be sure that Eunuch Qin's hasty intrusion will ruin the reputation of my fiancée?"

Eunuch Qin stopped, bowed, and said with a forced smile, "This servant is here on the orders of the Empress Dowager. Please forgive me, Young Master Shen!"

Shen Che slightly raised his eyelids. The shadows of the Imperial Guards flashed outside the courtyard gate. His heart sank, but he remained calm on the surface. "If that's the case, please wait a moment, sir. Miss Mu was just trying on her wedding dress, so it may take a while."

Eunuch Qin smiled and was about to speak when the door opened from the inside. Mu Qingcheng stepped out, her expression serene, and said calmly, "Young Master, the waist of the wedding dress feels a little tight. Could it be altered?"

Shen Che smiled and said, "Of course."

After saying that, he stepped inside and quickly came out again, holding a neatly folded bright red wedding dress in his hands.

Seeing this, the wariness hidden in Eunuch Qin's eyes dissipated slightly. "Miss Mu, the Empress Dowager has decreed that I take Miss Mu to the Ministry of Justice to meet Lord Song!"

Mu Qingcheng curtsied and said, "Yes, this humble woman will obey the Empress Dowager's decree!"