A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 388 Ending (57)

"At first, we did live quite well. Although our expenses weren't as high as Yuan Ke's, we had no problem eating and dressing warmly. But later..."

Madam Guo's breathing grew heavier with each step. She looked up at Mu Qingcheng, a hint of hesitation in her voice. "Master Mu, these things really shouldn't be related to the case, right? Every family has its own troubles; why reveal everything? From now on..."

"How do you know there's no connection?" Mu Qingcheng asked calmly, a ripple appearing in her usually composed eyes. "Pingping's great revenge is still unavenged, his body is still warm, yet Madam Guo is already thinking about how to live her life. Truly, the living value their reputation more than the dead!"

Madam Guo paused, "I... I didn't mean that, I just..."

"You're just afraid of Pingping's background, and that's not all, is it?" Mu Qingcheng's face turned frosty, her tone clearly impatient. "Madam Guo, if you keep dawdling, I'll speak for you! Where to begin? From Pingping's tiger teeth..."

"I said!"

Madam Guo hurriedly interrupted, her heart pounding wildly, and recounted the past like spilled beans: "When Pingping was eleven years old, she grew canine teeth. When the master saw them, he flew into a rage at Pingping and ordered them to be pulled out. Pingping was always well-behaved and sensible, but that day she refused to comply. In the ensuing argument, she not only injured the maids and servants but also bit the master's wrist. The master was furious and punished Pingping according to family rules, locking her in the woodshed for three days and nights."

"After this incident, the master's attitude towards Pingping became even colder. He not only revoked Pingping's privileges but also transferred the steward couple who cared for her away from the farm, ignoring her completely and leaving her to fend for herself on the farm. At the same time, I was also confined by the master and was not allowed to visit Pingping in private. Until early spring this year, Yuanke made a mistake at the spring banquet and was punished by being sent to the palace as a maid. The master felt sorry for Yuanke and thus remembered Pingping again."

"After more than six years, when I saw Pingping again, I almost didn't recognize her! My poor daughter, she worked in the fields every day, washing, cooking, chopping wood and sewing clothes, and had become a village girl. Where was the slightest bit of a young lady? The master knew he had wronged Pingping and wanted to repair his relationship with her, but Pingping said that she had no kinship with us and would sever all ties. She would leave the capital with her sweetheart and would never come back."

"The master was furious and sent people to investigate thoroughly. They found out that half a year ago, Pingping was chopping wood when she slipped and fell down the mountain, hitting a rock and dislocating her jaw and injuring her right mandible. Fortunately, a traveling doctor from out of town happened to pass by and saved Pingping in time. After that, the traveling doctor stayed at the farm. They kept each other company, fell in love over time, and eventually got engaged."

"Actually, from a mother's perspective, I wanted to let Pingping and the traveling doctor be together. We owe her too much. Given her condition, it would be impossible for her to marry into a high-class family. Now that someone treats her sincerely, doesn't mind that she is disabled, and is willing to marry her as his wife, I am genuinely happy for her. But the master doesn't agree. He ordered his men to beat the traveling doctor and lock him up, forbidding Pingping and the traveling doctor from seeing each other."

“Pingping is a fiery woman. To rescue the itinerant doctor, she threatened the master, saying she would go to the capital prefecture to accuse him of concealing the population. In a fit of rage, the master imprisoned Pingping as well. I pitied my daughter, so I found an opportunity to get the master drunk, and then secretly released Pingping and the itinerant doctor. I even prepared a dowry for Pingping, hoping they would elope. But I overlooked one thing. The master erased all traces of Pingping from this world. Without a household registration certificate or travel permit, she couldn't leave the city at all!”

"So, after the master sobered up, he quickly brought the person back! And I was also punished by the master. He forbade me from interfering in Pingping's affairs anymore, but he promised me that he would not harm Pingping. A few days ago, the master came back from court and said that Yuan Ke had suffered a lot in the palace and her body was seriously damaged. She couldn't hold on any longer. He... he wanted to find a way to save Yuan Ke. Both of them were his children, and I also hoped that Yuan Ke could go home, so I placed my hopes on the master. Who would have thought that the person who died in the wine jar was actually my Pingping! I don't understand why Pingping, who should have been on the farm, was in the palace? And why was she murdered?"

After recounting the whole story, Madam Guo was already sobbing uncontrollably. Hearing this, the crowd was filled with various doubts, yet also deeply moved.

I feel sorry for Pingping's fate and also regret for her love.

Guo Xuan knelt on the ground, his head bowed, making it impossible to see the expression on his face.

"Bring Guo Xuan here!"

A command suddenly rang out, startling Guo Xuan so much that he looked up abruptly. Mu Qingcheng had abandoned the respectful title "Lord Guo" and used the word "escort." What did this mean? Had he convicted him?
The bailiffs obeyed the order and immediately dragged the man over, forcing him to kneel beside Madam Guo.

“Concealing population figures is one of the crimes, and should be punished according to the law!” Mu Qingcheng calmly explained to Guo Xuan, “As for the second and third crimes, we will sort them out slowly.”

After speaking, she made a move and released Guo Xuan's speech-impairing pressure point.

Guo Xuan paused for a moment, then forced himself to remain calm and retorted, "I am a third-rank official, how dare you convict me so easily? Don't try to intimidate me!"

Mu Qingcheng couldn't help but smile. "Don't worry, you'll soon lose your official position." After saying that, she continued to ask, "Madam Guo, what is Guo Xuan's plan to rescue Guo Yuanke?"

“I don’t know, the master didn’t tell me.” Madam Guo shook her head and said truthfully, “Three days ago, news of Yuan Ke’s death suddenly came. The master explained to me that a palace maid who died of illness had replaced Yuan Ke.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she felt Guo Xuan's anger, as if he wanted to strangle her!

Mu Qingcheng was very satisfied with Guo Xuan's reaction. She smiled and continued to ask, "Where is Guo Yuanke now?"