A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 104 If we can't save them, we'll die together.
Mu Qingcheng snapped back to reality.

Both because of Song Shuyu's slightly tearful words and because he had pressed down on the abrasions on her shoulder and arm, which caused her to break out in a cold sweat from the pain.

"My lord." Mu Qingcheng, enduring the pain, gently propped up Song Shuyu's body and joked in a lighthearted manner, "How did you fall down too? We're both in the same boat!"

Song Shuyu said frankly, "I didn't fall by accident, I jumped down after you."

"Huh?" Mu Qingcheng was taken aback.

In the pitch-black darkness, Song Shuyu stared at her intently, a lump in his throat. "If there's danger, I can't let you face it alone. Qingcheng, I must protect you and save you."

"Uh, sir, there's no need for that. What if we can't save him? Wouldn't that endanger your life?" Mu Qingcheng frowned slightly. It was too much of a loss to have another person die in vain.

Song Shuyu groped for her hand and grasped it, speaking each word slowly and firmly, "If I can't save you, then I will die with you."

Mu Qingcheng stared wide-eyed in shock. "My lord, you are the backbone of the Jingzhao Prefecture. You must not act rashly. The Emperor has set a deadline for solving the case. You must..."

"Mu Qingcheng!"

Song Shuyu gritted his teeth, his grip on her hand tightening with his intense emotions. In the darkness she couldn't see, his eyes reddened, his expression one of utter grievance. "You clueless girl! You could say I'm acting on impulse, but that's better than being a completely clueless block of wood!"

Mu Qingcheng gasped in pain, no longer caring what Song Shuyu was saying. She angrily pulled her hand back and said unhappily, "This subordinate doesn't understand what you're saying, sir! However, men and women shouldn't touch each other. What you've done is against the rules!"

Song Shuyu was furious. "As long as you agree to marry me, then it will be in accordance with the rules."

"My lord, please be reasonable!" Mu Qingcheng was furious upon hearing this. "You jumped down yourself, not because I begged you. Why should I be responsible for your marriage?"

There is a long way to go.

Song Shuyu tried her best to comfort herself, telling herself not to be impatient or angry, and that as long as she put in the effort, she would eventually be his wife!

Mu Qingcheng finally managed to take out a tinderbox. The moment it lit, she saw Song Shuyu lower his head in thought, finally no longer going crazy and returning to normal. She breathed a sigh of relief and comforted him, "Sir, investigating the case is the priority. Let's get down to business."

Song Shuyu pursed her lips, still feeling somewhat uneasy.

"Sir, were you injured when you jumped?"

Mu Qingcheng took the tinderbox and looked Song Shuyu up and down. Apart from some dust on her hair and face, she couldn't see any other injuries. But when she thought of her own injuries, she was still worried and checked them herself.

As Song Shuyu watched her lift up his sleeve to examine his arm, then pull down his collar and trouser legs, and even gently stroke his skin, all the blood in his body rushed to his head!
"Mu, Mu Qingcheng, what... what are you doing?"

Hearing Song Shuyu's stammering question, Mu Qingcheng looked over and saw that the adult's handsome face was flushed red, and he was shy and hesitant to look her in the eye.

Mu Qingcheng was surprised, then explained, "My lord, I only wanted to make sure you were not injured. I had no intention of taking liberties with you. If you are not pleased, you can push me away."

Song Shuyu fell silent.

After hesitating for a long time, he finally said, "I don't dislike you, but you have to promise me that you can only touch me like this, and you can't treat other men the same way."

Mu Qingcheng wanted to ask why, but seeing his serious expression, she swallowed her words and casually coaxed him, "I have remembered your teachings, my lord." After saying that, she turned him over and carefully checked his back to make sure there were no hidden wounds before she felt relieved and praised, "Your lightness skill is not bad!"

Thinking of Mu Qingcheng's care and appreciation for him, Song Shuyu's disappointed heart was stirred again. He smiled and said, "I come from a family of military generals, and learning martial arts is the first priority of our family precepts."

He turned around, wanting to use the dim light of the tinderbox to check if she was injured, but she turned to the side and began to observe the shape of the bottom of the cave.

Song Shuyu frowned, "Qingcheng..."

"My lord, why don't you call me Coroner Mu anymore?" Mu Qingcheng suddenly asked. It seemed that ever since she fell into the black hole, he had been calling her Qingcheng and had not referred to himself as "this official."

This feeling is kind of weird.

Song Shuyu immediately became nervous, "You...you don't like me calling you by your name?"

Mu Qingcheng thought for a moment and said truthfully, "I am not against it, but if there are colleagues present, it may easily arouse suspicion."

Song Shuyu immediately promised, "Don't worry, I will only call you by your name in private. If there is a third person present, I will call you Counselor Mu."

"Yes, that's excellent." Mu Qingcheng smiled, her bright eyes seemingly filled with starlight.

Song Shuyu was so engrossed in watching that she didn't even react when Mu Qingcheng left.

"My lord, I estimate the height from which we fell, to be about two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters). The entrance at the top is blocked, so we cannot return the way we came. Perhaps we should look for another way out."

As Mu Qingcheng spoke, he examined the walls and the ground and found that they were made of mud and rocks. The bottom of the cave was irregularly shaped, the space was small, and there was nothing inside. It was definitely not Li Mu's secret room!
She took a few more steps forward and saw a beam of light shining through a narrow gap. She quickly pulled Song Shuyu toward the light source.

Song Shuyu snapped out of his reverie, and taking advantage of her distracted state, he quietly took her hand.

The gap was the distance between two large stones. Mu Qingcheng leaned closer and looked out. There seemed to be a passageway leading into the distance. On the walls on both sides of the passageway, there were burning torches, and the beam of light was coming from the fire.

She immediately had an idea and turned to her head, saying, "Sir, shall we step over the rocks and take a look over there?"

"How do we get over it? This stone goes all the way up. If we use our palm force to shatter it, it might cause a collapse." Song Shuyu observed his surroundings and frowned.

Mu Qingcheng laughed, "We don't need to shatter everything. Just open a small opening in the crevice, big enough for us to squeeze through."

"Drill?" Song Shuyu was taken aback. "Wouldn't that damage my official dignity?"

In her haste, Mu Qingcheng resorted to her usual coquettish manner, "Oh dear, there are no outsiders here, who would laugh at you, sir?"

“Yes, that’s right. You’re not an outsider, you are…” Song Shuyu was in a great mood, savoring the words “insider” as she spoke, her heart filled with sweetness.

Mu Qingcheng didn't think much of it when he stopped mid-sentence, as she was in a hurry to open a gap. But as soon as she raised her hand, she realized that her hand had been grasped in his large palm without her noticing!
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(End of this chapter)