A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 383 Ending (52)

The situation is clear now. Liang Ruoming has won his gamble by abandoning the darkness and joining the light, but he is not stupid. He has to seize the opportunity to prove his loyalty to the emperor through his actions, and at the same time, gain some favor with the Song brothers in order to save his life and have a better chance of survival.

Mu Qingcheng was not one to betray someone after using them. After understanding Liang Ruoming's implication, she generously replied, "Then I will trouble you, Lord Liang."

Looking at Guo Xuan again, on this pleasantly warm spring day, a thin layer of sweat was clearly seeping from his forehead. The moment Mu Qingcheng looked over, he reflexively turned his face away, his chest heaving.

Mu Qingcheng curled her lips into a half-smile, "Lord Guo, you should understand the principle of leniency for those who confess better than anyone else."

"I...I don't understand what you're saying." Guo Xuan swallowed hard, his whole body stiff.

Mu Qingcheng nodded. "Alright, since Lord Guo is so stubborn, let's be frank. Did Lord Guo know that the deceased had a congenital disability in his left foot?"

Guo Xuan's rapid breathing betrayed his inner tension!

But Mu Qingcheng would not give him another chance to back out. Facing the crowd of onlookers, she stated the facts of the case as usual: "Three days ago, the Empress Dowager held a banquet at the Yaochi Pavilion in the palace to bid farewell to the Prince of Zhongshan and his heir. Officials and their families attended the banquet. During the banquet, I discovered that the palace wine smelled of corpses. I reported this to Lord Song, the Prefect of the Capital. After Lord Song informed the Emperor, the investigation was traced all the way to the Jade Brewing Pavilion, where a female corpse was found in wine jar number three!"

"Based on my preliminary on-site examination, the time of death was within one hour before or after the start of the banquet. After everyone present, including Lord Guo, identified the deceased's appearance, it was confirmed that the deceased was Guo Yuanke, the eldest daughter of Guo Xuan, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works! The following day, Lord Liang, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, invited me to the Ministry of Justice to re-examine the body and review the autopsy record of Coroner Chen."

At this point, Mu Qingcheng reported to the three judicial departments, "Please summon Coroner Chen to the court!"

Qin Songyang nodded, "Granted!" At Mu Qingcheng's signal, the bailiffs forced the terrified coroner, Chen, to kneel beside the corpse.

"Comparing my autopsy report with that of Coroner Chen, the time of death was the same, and the cause of death was the same: asphyxiation due to obstruction of the mouth and nose. However..."

Mu Qingcheng suddenly stopped speaking. Her gaze towards the deceased was filled with pity and reluctance. As a woman herself, she knew very well how much controversy would arise if the secrets hidden on the deceased were revealed. Even though the person was dead, she could not escape the shackles of ethics and morality that bound women. The world valued a woman's chastity more than her life.

"Master Mu!"

It was this slight hesitation that allowed Guo Xuan to read her mind and deduce her thoughts. He suddenly moved closer to Mu Qingcheng, his voice low and pleading, "My daughter died tragically enough. You are a woman too. Please, leave her some dignity and let her rest in peace, okay?"

"Peace?" Mu Qingcheng asked, puzzled. "How can people who die unnatural deaths find peace when the murderers have not been brought to justice?"

Guo Xuan was speechless.

Mu Qingcheng, who had been hesitant, made up her mind at this moment. She said, "Lord Guo, a corpse is the last evidence a person leaves in the world. In the eyes of the coroner, it can speak. She told me that dying with eyes open is the greatest unease!"

Guo Xuan was shocked. "You, you mean..."

Mu Qingcheng ignored her, her gaze shifting to the side, her expression cold. "Coroner Chen, do you need another chance to perform the autopsy?"