A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 176 The name of the third-ranked scholar is Mu Xun!
"Ah, yes, our coroner Mu is always right! Lu Shaoqing, listen to advice and eat your fill. You can't ruin your features. If you lose your human appearance, tsk tsk, some women who value looks will probably find it hard to look at you anymore."

Lu Xun was utterly astonished. Just yesterday, they were sworn brothers, ready to go to any lengths for each other. Today, though they had become rivals in love, Song Shuyu had personally promised that they would compete fairly based on their own abilities. How could he so readily betray them like this? Where was his shame? The legitimate son of the Duke's mansion, the upright and honorable Second Young Master Song in the eyes of the noble ladies of the capital, was actually so mean-spirited and shameless?

Looking at Song Shuyu, who seemed righteous and indignant, as if he shared her hatred, Mu Qingcheng felt that his words were both a declaration of sovereignty and a veiled criticism of her. What did he mean by "certain women who value appearance"? It was true that she liked handsome men, but who told him to be handsome? What did that have to do with Lu Shaoqing?
After thinking for a moment, she still spoke up to stop Song Shuyu, "My lord, don't be silly, I'm doing serious business!"

"Oh, alright, I always listen to Coroner Mu the most." Song Shuyu nodded immediately, extremely obedient.

Lu Xun's hands and feet felt cold, and his eyes gradually became misty.

The Mu Qingcheng of the past truly did not understand the feelings between men and women. She called him her elder brother, treated him with gentleness and consideration, and always looked at him with a smile in her eyes, but without any ulterior motives.

From birth, he was designated as the heir of the Marquis of Huai'an and raised according to the standards of a noble family's successor. He received strict family education from a young age, was disciplined and well-mannered, and never dared to make a mistake. Even when he was sent to the streets and became a beggar, even when he was taken in by his adoptive father and raised under his wing for eight years, the rules and upbringing ingrained in his bones still made him dignified and self-disciplined in every word and deed.

Since he had done nothing wrong, Mu Qingcheng never told him to "stop fooling around." However, he could clearly sense from Mu Qingcheng's eyes and tone the intimacy between her and Song Shuyu, which perhaps even she herself was unaware of.

At this moment, his envy and jealousy of Song Shuyu grew wildly, like weeds in spring.

"Does Lu Shaoqing know how much wine my father drank and how many days he was ill when the news of the Third Scholar's death reached Jiangnan? To investigate the cause of the Third Scholar's death, I disobeyed my father's instructions and traveled thousands of miles to the capital, only to find that I had not even seen the Third Scholar's body! I went to the Jingzhao Prefecture as a family member to demand an explanation, but the Jingzhao Prefect avoided me. I waited at the yamen gate for three days and three nights before I received the news that the Third Scholar had suddenly died of a heart attack, and that his body had been collected by his classmates!"

"Who was my classmate? Where is the third-ranked scholar buried? Was the third-ranked scholar's death truly an accident? In order to find the answers to these questions, I lay in wait in the capital, using the burial of a corpse as a cover, searching every mountain around the capital and entering and leaving hundreds and thousands of mansions, but I could not find a single clue!"

"Minister Lu, I recently checked the case transfer documents from the Jingzhao Prefecture and confirmed that the case file of the third-ranked scholar has been transferred to the Dali Temple for archiving. Therefore, in front of my master, I dare to ask you, Minister Lu, to help me access the case file!"

Mu Qingcheng calmly recounted the past, her tone as serene as if she were merely discussing the weather.

"Young Master Lu, the third-ranked scholar's name is—Mu Xun!"

Even when she stared intently at Lu Xun and uttered the name "Mu Xun," her eyes remained calm and unwavering, as if the person she was facing was truly a complete stranger.

Lu Xun abruptly turned his back, taking deep breaths and desperately trying to suppress the regret, sorrow, and heartache surging in his chest. He had followed her many times and knew what she was doing, but hearing her talk about her adoptive father and her courage and despair over the past three years overwhelmed him with grief and pain.

Seeing his slightly trembling body, Mu Qingcheng's eyes burned, and she felt a lump in her throat. "Young Master Lu, are you willing to help me with this?"

Lu Xun did not turn around. He remained silent for a long time before saying in a hoarse voice, "Coroner Mu, since Mu Xun's case has already been determined, there is little point in you reviewing it now. In my opinion, you should just focus on working at the Jingzhao Prefecture and live your life naturally. The things you are struggling with will eventually come to a brighter future."

"Let nature take its course? Ha, Young Master Lu, you make it sound so easy." Mu Qingcheng scoffed. "Mu Xun knows my temperament best. I don't like giving up halfway, but once I decide to abandon something, I abandon everything, people and things alike. Young Master Lu, if you're unwilling to help me retrieve the case files, then we shall part ways here..."

"Adjust!"

Lu Xun turned around hastily, his eyes bloodshot, his voice filled with panic, "I can access the case files, but... but it will take time. I have just taken office as the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and it is inconvenient for me to act immediately. I hope Coroner Mu will understand." "Alright, as long as Vice Minister Lu is willing to help, I can wait. I have waited for three years, there is no rush." ​​Mu Qingcheng nodded in satisfaction, becoming more certain of her guess in her heart.

Lu Xun breathed a sigh of relief without making it obvious.

Unexpectedly, Mu Qingcheng then posed another difficult question, "Young Master Lu, could you please help me find out where Mu Xun's grave is located?"

Lu Xun was taken aback, and tentatively asked, "Coroner Mu, you...you want to go and pay your respects to Mu Xun?"

"First offer sacrifices, then dig up the grave."

"Ok?"

This time, not only Lu Xun was alarmed, but even Song Shuyu looked at him with disbelief. "Coroner Mu, is what you're doing appropriate?"

Mu Qingcheng retorted, "Why is it inappropriate to open the coffin and examine the body?"

Lu Xun was sweating profusely. "Without official permission, opening a coffin for examination is tantamount to grave robbing, which is punishable by imprisonment. Coroner Mu, this action is inappropriate!"

However, Mu Qingcheng's reasoning ability was too outstanding. Her eyes flickered, and she smiled leisurely at Song Shuyu, "Sir, aren't we the government? If you issue a permit, I will bring my clerks and openly dig up the grave and open the coffin. Who would dare to question us?"

“The case file has already been transferred to the Court of Judicial Review and is no longer under the jurisdiction of our Jingzhao Prefecture.” Song Shuyu’s smile was stiff as he tried to dissuade him.

Mu Qingcheng raised an eyebrow and said, "As the primary jurisdiction, the Jingzhao Prefecture has the authority to review cases. Don't you agree, sir?"

"Uh……"

"Could it be that you, sir, are no longer in charge of the Jingzhao Prefecture? I remember you saying that within the Jingzhao Prefecture, your word is law."

"Alright, I'll do as you say."

Unable to argue further, Song Shuyu had no choice but to relent. He secretly gave Lu Xun a look, indicating that he had done his best and that Lu Xun should bear the consequences of his actions.

So Lu Xun reluctantly agreed: "Alright, I'll try my best to find out. After all, three years have passed, and many clues and traces have disappeared. I'm not sure if I can fulfill Mu's wish."

Since he couldn't dissuade her, he decided to use delaying tactics, hoping to postpone it for as long as possible, ideally until he succeeded and could openly acknowledge her as his wife without any reservations.

(End of this chapter)