A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 154 The Truth Revealed to the World (40)

After returning to the yamen, Mu Qingcheng changed her mind again and insisted on participating in the public trial despite her injuries. Upon hearing her words, Song Shuyu's heart softened completely. Moreover, she was the one who found much of the physical evidence, and her detective skills and interrogation abilities could indeed help him. With her assistance, things would surely go much better, and the results would be twice as effective.

He thought again, if Mu Qingcheng shone brightly in court and gained the favor of the three judicial departments, wouldn't it be easier to promote the entry of women into officialdom in the future?
So Song Shuyu readily agreed: "Alright, I'll grant your request."

"Thank you, sir!" This outcome was within Mu Qingcheng's expectations. However, it seemed that he had never refused her before. Whether it was her suggestions, opinions, or requests, he had never given in.

"However, we must act within our capabilities and not push ourselves too hard."

"Yes!"

Mu Qingcheng nodded, "This subordinate will return to the morgue to make preparations!"

……

Song Shuyu and Lu Xun chatted idly at the entrance of the courtroom. Song Shuyu's intentional or unintentional probing made Lu Xun very nervous.

He and Mu Qingcheng were both taught by their adoptive father, and their martial arts styles were exactly the same. If Mu Qingcheng were to instruct him in martial arts, his identity would be revealed in just a few moves.

"My ambition is not in martial arts, so I won't trouble Brother Song." Lu Xun had no choice but to refuse with a wry smile.

Song Shuyu raised an eyebrow, wanting to say a few more words, when Mu Qingcheng's figure appeared in her peripheral vision.

He turned to look and saw Mu Qingcheng leading a group of two officials carrying six corpses.

Lu Xun followed his gaze, glanced at Mu Qingcheng, and then quickly looked away.

Song Shuyu observed Lu Xun discreetly.

The usually composed and calm Prince Lu blinked his eyelashes a little too fast, and his Adam's apple bobbed too frequently.

This discovery exacerbated Song Shuyu's sense of crisis.

Mu Qingcheng saw Song Shuyu talking to someone from afar. Although the person was also wearing a purple official robe, it was different from the peacock pattern on Song Shuyu's official robe. The person's official robe was embroidered with wild geese.

A fourth-rank official? Was he an official appointed by imperial decree to serve as a juror?

Just as I was pondering, the person arrived nearby.

Mu Qingcheng's left hand was bandaged, preventing him from performing a proper bow. He could only give a slight curtsy and say, "My lord!"

Song Shuyu ordered, "Carry the deceased into the side room first."

"Yes!"

Mu Qingcheng responded and signaled to the officials to obey.

She naturally looked up at Lu Xun, intending to bow and greet him.

But that casual glance made her suddenly freeze, and all the blood in her body rushed to her head in an instant!
This person had most of his face covered with gauze, leaving only a small part of his face and a pair of eyes visible. Even so, the familiarity that belonged to Mu Xun was still overwhelming!

Mu Qingcheng and Mu Xun grew up together. They knew each other too well, from facial features and physique to voice and breath.

Therefore, Mu Qingcheng could not describe the shock and joy she felt at that moment!
It turns out that the moment she was rescued, what she saw was not a hallucination, but the real Mu Xun!
Her stunned and frozen expression made Lu Xun feel uneasy. He realized that he couldn't hide it anymore. Even if he deliberately disfigured himself, it would still arouse her suspicion!
Seeing that the situation was not right, Song Shuyu panicked. He slightly turned his body to block Mu Qingcheng's view and said in a deep voice, "Coroner Mu, this is the heir of the Marquis of Huai'an, Lu Shaoqing, the newly appointed Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. You must not be rude!"

Mu Qingcheng's lips parted slightly, and after a moment of hesitation, she awkwardly managed to squeeze out a sentence: "Greetings, Lord Shaoqing!" Lu Xun deliberately lowered his voice and said, "No need for formalities!"

However, as soon as he finished speaking, Mu Qingcheng peeked out from beside Song Shuyu, her eyes unfathomable, and asked bluntly, "I heard that Lu Shaoqing was the one who dug the soil to save me today, is that right?"

Like Song Shuyu, Lu Xun's hands were wrapped in gauze, and with so many people witnessing it, he couldn't deny it, so he could only admit, "Yes."

Mu Qingcheng immediately pressed, "May I ask why you saved me, Lord Lu? I am just a lowly coroner. It's not worth it for you, Lord Lu, to risk your life and get injured for me!"

Lu Xun coughed twice, subconsciously avoiding her gaze, and replied carefully, "I acted out of a sense of justice and didn't think about whether it was worth it."

"Thank you, Lord Shaoqing!" Mu Qingcheng smiled slightly. "Once this case is finished, my father and I will definitely pay a visit to express our gratitude for saving our lives!"

Lu Xun's expression hardened. "It was nothing, Coroner Mu, please don't take it to heart!"

"no……"

"Coroner Mu!"

Song Shuyu couldn't stand it anymore. He grabbed Mu Qingcheng and pulled her back, his face more serious than ever before. "What are you doing? Lu Shaoqing is the heir of the Marquis's mansion, a friend I grew up with. You can't be so rude and bother me!"

Mu Qingcheng was stunned. "My lord, you mean..."

“Lu Shaoqing was born and raised in the capital. We share similar temperaments, so is it strange that we became friends?” Song Shuyu deliberately blocked her suspicions while giving a watertight answer, because she was indeed too clever.

Mu Qingcheng's eyes suddenly reddened, and she quickly turned her back and bit her lower lip tightly.

It's Mu Xun!
It must be Mu Xun!

She couldn't believe that there could be someone so similar in the world!
They spent eight years together, and even though he left Jiangnan to take the imperial examination in the capital, and they have been separated for four years, she will never forget everything about him, and the tenderness in his eyes when he looks at her that has never changed.

But why?

Why did he die? And why did he refuse to acknowledge her?
He was clearly a little beggar his father picked up in Jiangnan, an orphan with no parents and no one to care for him. How did he suddenly become the heir of the noble Huai'an Marquis's mansion?
Mu Qingcheng couldn't understand it. Her mind was in a mess. From the surprise of meeting Mu Xun to the disappointment of Mu Xun refusing to acknowledge her, her emotions fluctuated too much, causing her stomach to churn, her throat to taste a metallic taste, and she couldn't help but cough up a mouthful of blood!

"Qingcheng!"

Song Shuyu was startled and immediately grabbed her shoulder, shouting, "Someone, quickly summon the judge!"

The constables on duty nearby rushed to fetch someone.

Lu Xun was heartbroken, yet powerless to do anything. Lu Zhao had been assassinated twice, teetering on the brink of death, only surviving by assuming the identity of the "deceased Mu Xun." So how could he dare to acknowledge Mu Qingcheng as his own?

Mu Qingcheng paused for a moment and comforted Song Shuyu, saying, "My lord, I'm fine. Let's begin the trial and not be late."

"Don't be stubborn!" Song Shuyu said sternly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Let's wait until the physician examines your pulse before we talk about it."

The judge had barely returned to his office and hadn't even caught his breath when he was forcibly conscripted again. Moreover, he was dragged by the arm by a constable and made to run all the way there. He felt an indescribable bitterness in his heart.

Ignoring the magistrate's feelings, Song Shuyu said urgently, "Magistrate, Coroner Mu just vomited blood again. Please take a look, is he alright?"

Mu Qingcheng extended her right wrist. "I'm sorry for troubling the judge."

Happy National Day! Thank you for your support, everyone!
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(End of this chapter)