A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 374 Ending (43)

At this moment, Zhou Chun seemed to remember something and bowed down to report: "Your Majesty, this servant remembers that Qin Huai comes from the Duke's mansion and has a master-servant relationship with Lord Song."

"Master and servant?" The emperor exclaimed in surprise. "This is the first time I've ever seen a wicked servant maliciously bullying his master, and the one he's bullying is none other than the beloved son of the Duke of Song!"

Qin Huai trembled all over, but dared not utter a single word.

The emperor's face darkened more and more. "I wonder what the Empress Dowager thinks of this matter?"

"It is because I have not been strict enough in my administration that I failed to detect Qin Huai's evil intentions in time. I have made a mistake in my oversight."

The Empress Dowager, being a seasoned veteran, easily absolved herself of responsibility with a few words. To appease the people, she showed the utmost goodwill towards Song Shuyu, saying, "Nephew Shuyu, it is my fault for not taking good care of you. I am sorry. I will immediately summon the imperial physician to treat your injuries. As for Qin Huai, he shall be executed immediately!"

Upon hearing this, the old nanny standing beside the Empress Dowager felt a chill in her heart. She and Qin Huai had been by the Empress Dowager's side since she entered the palace as a concubine, for more than 20 years. They were loyal and devoted, but when it came to the crucial moment, they too became pawns sacrificed to save the king.

"Since Your Majesty shows such compassion for me, please hand Qin Huai over to me for punishment!" Song Shuyu bowed respectfully, his gaze resolute. "Furthermore, I am imprisoned in court, yet my own legal advisor performed his wedding ceremony right before my eyes. How can I bear this? This action might lead the people to misunderstand that Your Majesty is trying to kill me out of my conscience! Therefore, I humbly request Your Majesty and Your Majesty's grace, despite my injuries, to allow Mu Qingcheng to participate in the joint trial. I believe that with Mu Qingcheng's talent for solving cases and his selfless virtue, he will surely find the true culprit, comfort the dead, and restore my innocence and justice!"

The Empress Dowager's expression stiffened, her voice carrying a warning, "Qin Huai is my person, so you need not deal with him. As for Mu Qingcheng, shouldn't he avoid suspicion according to the law? The auspicious time has arrived, so let's not delay the newlyweds' wedding ceremony!"

"Master Mu has handled countless cases without a single wrongful conviction. In Master Mu's eyes, there is only the truth, not personal feelings, which has earned him the deep trust of the people! Today, with the Emperor, the officials, and the people of the world as witnesses, why should we avoid suspicion?" Song Shuyu's words were eloquent and his manner imposing.

Having said that, he faced the emperor, bowed deeply, and said, "Your Majesty, I humbly request that you make the decision!"

The emperor gestured, and Zhou Chun immediately grabbed Qin Huai by the collar, dragged him to the courtroom, and handed him over to the bailiffs. The Empress Dowager's face was grim. "What does the emperor mean by this?"

The emperor glanced at it indifferently and asked in return, "What, can't I make this decision?"

"No, that's not what I meant, it's just that Qin Huai..."

"Lu Xun, Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Qin Huai dared to deceive the emperor. He must have committed many crimes behind the scenes. You must keep a close eye on him and investigate him thoroughly!"

The Emperor shut down all of the Empress Dowager's rebuttals!

"The minister obeys the order!"

Lu Xun accepted the order and immediately gave a wink to the constable. The constable pried open Qin Huai's mouth, checked for poison, and then whispered a few words of advice to Qin Huai.

The Empress Dowager's jade-like face was pale and bluish, and her slender nails almost pierced the skin of her palms!

However, the emperor's next words almost caused the empress dowager to lose control on the spot: "As for whether Mu Qingcheng can participate in the public trial, I would like to hear the opinions of the ministers and the common people, as well as whether Mu Qingcheng himself is willing."

"This humble citizen supports Judge Mu's judgment!"

From the crowd below the stage, someone shouted, and the others immediately echoed, "Support Judge Mu's trial! Support Judge Mu's trial!"