A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 193: Another Achilles' heel!
Mu Qingcheng's heartfelt words soothed Song Shuyu's long-standing wounds and redeemed his darkest heart.

He pulled her back, and she stumbled and fell into his arms.

He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, buried his head in her chest, and said in a choked voice, "Qingcheng, do you really think I'm good enough?"

"Of course." Mu Qingcheng didn't push him away, even though she knew in her heart that they shouldn't be so intimate. But, faced with such a vulnerable adult, she couldn't bring herself to be harsh.

Song Shuyu murmured, "I am your master, and you are my coroner. In each other's hearts, we are the best, right?"

"Correct."

Mu Qingcheng uttered a single word before belatedly realizing that she had uttered the same possessive words!

Was it due to Song Shuyu's subtle influence, or had she unknowingly come to regard Song Shuyu as her own?
Before she could discern the truth, Song Shuyu, who was in her arms, suddenly raised his head. His seemingly calm gaze was filled with suppressed madness. He whispered, "Qingcheng, for your sake, I will never give her another chance to bully me! I accept your kindness, but I will settle this debt myself. Protecting yourself is the greatest comfort you can give me."

Mu Qingcheng shook her head, "No, my lord, if it is confirmed that the Empress Dowager is the mastermind, then she is our common enemy, and I must..."

"Don't act rashly!" Song Shuyu interrupted her urgently, explaining the situation to her earnestly, "The Empress Dowager is not alone; she has a vast power behind her. Besides our Song family, many people in the court follow her lead. Therefore, the force we need to eliminate is not just the Empress Dowager, do you understand? Only by finding evidence of the Empress Dowager's crimes, announcing it to the world, and punishing her according to the law can we stabilize the country and prevent the foundation of the nation from being shaken!"

“Then I’ll go find the evidence!” Mu Qingcheng said immediately.

Unexpectedly, Song Shuyu still refused, "This case is basically over here. No one is allowed to publicly investigate the remaining masterminds or the people from the Jingzhao Prefecture, including you!"

"Does Your Excellency intend to investigate secretly on your own?" Mu Qingcheng, sensing his implied meaning, asked directly.

Song Shuyu nodded. "Yes. It's impossible for Liu Changqing to confess, both for his loyalty and to ensure that Liu Xiao won't be retaliated against by the Empress Dowager after his death. Even if Liu Changqing is heartless, he does have fatherly affection for his son Liu Xiao. Therefore, I can only start from elsewhere to find evidence."

"This humble servant can also contribute, please take me with you, sir!" Mu Qingcheng was a stubborn person who would never let any murderer off easily.

Moreover, this murderer also killed her mother!

Song Shuyu frowned, her tone turning serious, "Why are you disobeying me? I'm keeping you out of it for your safety. The Empress Dowager doesn't dare touch me now, nor can she, but that doesn't mean she can't kill you, do you understand? That woman's ruthlessness and viciousness are beyond your imagination! She's mentally unstable, paranoid, cold-blooded, cruel, and vicious—far worse than Liu Changqing..."

"What did she do to the adults?"

"..."

Song Shuyu's words came to an abrupt end.

His Adam's apple bobbed slowly, a look of suppressed resentment creeping into his eyes. After a long silence, he finally spoke: "Those things are all in the past. Qingcheng, you must remember what I just said and not act rashly. Before, my weakness was my grandmother, was the Song clan, but now, there is you. That day, when I left Shou Kang Palace, I swore a solemn oath that in this life, I would never allow anyone to harm you!"

"My lord..." Mu Qingcheng's eyes welled with tears. The more he tried to hide it and refuse to speak, the more it proved that the abuse he had suffered was utterly heinous. She clenched her teeth, wishing she could immediately storm into the palace and skin that woman alive, tear her to pieces, and slice her to pieces!

"Be good and obey."

Song Shuyu raised his large hand and stroked Mu Qingcheng's face. Although his movements were gentle, the roughness of the gauze reminded her that she had to do something for the master, otherwise, she would not be worthy of his deep affection for her.

Mu Qingcheng never gave a clear answer, so Song Shuyu had no choice but to change the subject to stop her from getting bogged down in the matter. He said, "Wouldn't Li Yunyao's revenge on Liu Changqing help to reveal the identity of the mastermind behind the scenes?"

"Yes." Mu Qingcheng reported truthfully: "Xia Yu said that Li Yunyao secretly added snake gu to the last batch of muscle-regenerating pills that Li Mu gave to Liu Changqing. Those who use it will develop blood-red spots on their skin, like spider webs, spreading little by little until they cover the entire face!"

Song Shuyu was shocked. "Snake Gu? What is snake Gu?"

"I don't know." Mu Qingcheng shook his head and pondered, "Li Yunyao was influenced by Li Mu and has a good understanding of pharmacology, which is why she was able to come up with such a ruthless way of revenge. My lord, in the days to come, please observe the Empress Dowager's face more closely and see if there are any changes."

"Alright, I understand. I will send someone to keep an eye on the Empress Dowager," Song Shuyu nodded.

Mu Qingcheng suddenly thought of something else, "My lord, shouldn't we put Lu Ruyue under surveillance? We can't really have someone gag Lu Ruyue!"

"Hmm, I'd like to see just how capable Li Yunyao is, to be able to stir up trouble in my Jingzhao Prefecture prison!"

After finishing his speech, Song Shuyu got up and went out. He opened the door of the council hall and instructed the constables guarding outside: "Pass down the order to put all four members of the Liu family in solitary confinement and not allow anyone to visit them! In addition, they must be tested for poison twice a day, and the head constable on duty must personally deliver their food and water. Guards must be stationed inside and outside the cell to ensure that the prisoners do not leave our sight!"

"Yes, sir!" the constable replied, bowing.

Song Shuyu thought for a moment and then said, "Finish the beatings Liu Changqing owes, then sever his tendons in his hands and feet! Except for eating and drinking, gag him to prevent him from biting his tongue and committing suicide! If he tries to bite his tongue during meals, then pull out half of his teeth!"

The constable was startled, then immediately accepted the order and left!

Mu Qingcheng then came out, watched the constables leave, and pondered, "It seems that the lord intends to keep Liu Changqing around for another day."

“Liu Changqing is the best witness. His current refusal to confess does not mean he will never confess. Moreover, keeping Liu Changqing alive is like hanging a sword over the head of the mastermind, which will make her live in constant fear!”

At this point, Song Shuyu turned to Mu Qingcheng and asked, "Would you like to see for yourself the horrific torture Liu Changqing is undergoing?"

Mu Qingcheng was silent for a moment, then made a request: "My lord, I would like to carry out the execution myself, is that alright?"

(End of this chapter)