A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 219 Headless Female Corpse (13)

"Don't be afraid of ten thousand, just be afraid of what happens."

Song Shuyu leaned forward and hid Mu Qingcheng's hands, which were resting on her knees, in his thick, large palms. "Besides, with you here, I have to be even more careful."

Mu Qingcheng lowered her eyes, her gaze fixed on the precious white jade thumb ring on his thumb. Thinking about the vast gap between the two of them, she couldn't help but drift into a daze, "If one day I lose your protection, how long can I stand firm in this power-hungry capital?"

"You won't lose me. As long as I, Song Shuyu, live, I will protect you. And what I protect isn't just you. A stable country needs a wise ruler, and the people who suffer injustice need a just and upright official. There are so many things you, Mu Qingcheng, can do! But you need to stand higher and have greater power so that you can get more opportunities and help more people!"

Song Shuyu tightened his grip on her hand. "So Qingcheng, even if it's not for me, but for yourself, for your ideals and beliefs, you can't sever ties with me or the Duke's Mansion and keep your distance! You have to learn to leverage my influence and climb up the ladder by stepping on me..."

"Sir, would you like to hear what you are saying?"

Mu Qingcheng's eyes widened suddenly. What he said earlier made a lot of sense, and she nodded repeatedly. But his later suggestion made her blush with embarrassment and feel like she wanted to disappear!
Song Shuyu awkwardly tugged at the corners of his lips, "I was just afraid you'd run away, so I was analyzing the pros and cons for you. Although it might sound harsh, it's realistic enough. Just like how various powerful families and officials form alliances through marriage, aren't they all trying to leverage each other's strengths and seek benefits for themselves?"

"As you said yourself, it's about mutual support, exchanging benefits, and achieving mutual success! Only an equal relationship can ensure long-term cooperation. Unlike us, I can't offer you equivalent benefits..."

"nonsense!"

Song Shuyu interrupted her, his tone both urgent and annoyed, "I was just using an analogy, but do you really think I'm a businessman? I'm after you as a person, not the benefits behind you! I'm explaining the situation to you so that you can distinguish between public and private matters, and not let our personal feelings affect your future! Once you climb up and become the first female official in charge of the Ministry of Justice in the Great Zhou Dynasty, as your mentor and your patron, won't I also gain a good reputation among the people and be remembered by historians as someone who 'knows how to appoint people well' and 'has a keen eye for talent'? At that time, we will both be remembered in history, wouldn't that be mutually beneficial?"

"Yes, what you say makes sense."

"Therefore, your greatest value lies not in outward possessions or family background, but in your own talent and ability! Besides, in terms of wealth, our Duke's mansion is never short of silver; in terms of rank and status, apart from princes and imperial relatives, the Duke's mansion is already at its peak, and needs nothing more. However, our family is not large. Although the Song family is still large and not to be underestimated, my father's direct line only consists of my elder brother and me, and we still have no wives or children. It is too weak to continue the glory of the Duke's mansion. Therefore, what we value most is talent, especially a young talent like you!"

Mu Qingcheng listened intently, as if she had been brainwashed. The many troubles that had been weighing on her mind for so long suddenly became clear.

“Qingcheng…” Song Shuyu observed the situation and pressed his advantage, “If you join the Duke’s Mansion and become a part of our Duke’s Mansion, it will be like adding wings to a tiger. Then how can we not succeed in our great cause?”

"Join?" Mu Qingcheng was taken aback. "What constitutes joining the Duke's Mansion?"

Song Shuyu blurted out, "Marry me!"

"..."

"Oh, of course, that comes down to personal matters. I hope that when you make choices in the future, you will give me more consideration because of the benefits I and the Duke's Mansion behind me."

Mu Qingcheng abruptly withdrew her hand and placed it on Song Shuyu's forehead, then frowned, "You don't have a fever, but you look like you've lost your mind."

"I'm perfectly sober, I'm not talking nonsense!" Song Shuyu chuckled helplessly.

Mu Qingcheng was puzzled, "Does Your Excellency actually want a marriage that involves calculations of self-interest?"

“You can’t say that,” Song Shuyu said eloquently. “When a girl marries me, she must want something from me, right? She might want me as a person, or she might want my money or status. How can she not want anything? How can a marriage without desire and goals be happy? Why would a girl look at a good-for-nothing man? Weighing the pros and cons and avoiding harm is human nature. If, on this basis, you can also get a sincere heart, that would be the icing on the cake.”

Mu Qingcheng's dark eyes lit up as she listened. "My lord has suddenly taken a completely different viewpoint on marriage from a woman's perspective. His views and insights are unconventional and shocking. This is the first time I've ever heard of such a thing. I can hardly believe that these words came from a man's mouth!"

In a patriarchal society, especially for a high-ranking figure like Song Shuyu, there was no limit to the number of wives and concubines one could take. It was considered a favor to any woman he took a fancy to. How could a woman have any choice?

However, Song Shuyu was not a conventional man. He was insightful, realistic, respected women and marriage, and knew exactly what he wanted. He pursued it passionately, bravely, and without regard for gain or loss!

How could someone so dazzling not make her admire and be captivated by him?

Reason might reject her, but her heart was truly moved. Otherwise, he couldn't have hugged her whenever he wanted, held her hand whenever he wanted, and even occasionally stolen a kiss when she wasn't looking. Although she was open-minded and didn't value the reputation bound by rules and etiquette, it didn't mean she was a frivolous person who would allow men to approach her so easily.

However, she never revealed her true feelings.

"So, someone as good as me isn't worth your schemes?" Song Shuyu curled his lips smugly, then suddenly remembered something and quickly added, "Of course, I'm not urging you to marry me now. I understand your ambitions, and so do I. We must wait until that person's crimes are uncovered, he is brought to justice, and we can get married when the world is peaceful and prosperous."

A flush of heat rose to Mu Qingcheng's face, and the fingers he had been holding unconsciously curled up. She turned her face slightly away, her expression flushed with shyness, and muttered softly, "Who wants to marry you? Your Duke's mansion is so big and powerful, and you have such strict rules. I, I don't want to."

"Qingcheng, are you feeling uneasy because of Xue'er?"

Song Shuyu, being extremely astute, immediately sensed her intentions and concerns from her reaction. He quickly explained to her, "The Empress Dowager may have sensed our Song family's true intentions. She's currently outwardly keeping a low profile and avoiding conflict with me, but secretly she's been trying to find fault with me and sabotage me! A few days ago, my guards reported that Xue'er had met privately with a eunuch from the Empress Dowager's side while out shopping. I remained silent, wanting to see if Xue'er had been bribed by the Empress Dowager. But she…"

"What's wrong?" Seeing his hesitation, Mu Qingcheng's curiosity was completely piqued.

Song Shuyu's expression was slightly strange, even a little embarrassed. He said, "Xue'er has such thoughts and looks down on you. I must punish her. This is a legitimate reason to cut off the Empress Dowager's reach."

Mu Qingcheng seemed to understand but not quite. "What kind of thoughts? What does it have to do with me?"

"Why have you suddenly become so stupid?" Song Shuyu was too embarrassed to bring it up, but she had to explain it to her. "Xue'er has developed the idea of ​​serving me, or she may have had this idea for a long time, but I only realized it today."

Mu Qingcheng blinked, feeling utterly puzzled. "Haven't she been serving us all along? Wasn't she the master's personal maid who had served him for a long time?"

"Oh dear, this kind of service is not what you think!"

Song Shuyu was so anxious he wanted to jump up and down. He simply grabbed Mu Qingcheng and pulled her into his arms. He pressed his thin lips to her ear and whispered, "Xue'er probably wants to be my concubine or a maid. She thinks that if a coroner like you can catch my eye, why can't she? So she overstepped her bounds."

"Uh..." Mu Qingcheng's eyes widened, her lips parted slightly, but she was speechless.

Upon seeing this, Song Shuyu felt a sudden itch in his heart and quietly kissed her.

It wasn't the first time he had kissed her, but he always felt nervous, as if the blood in his body was rushing through his veins. He couldn't help but tighten his arms around her, wishing he could stay with her for even a moment longer.

Mu Qingcheng's heart pounded like a drum, and she felt as if her heart had lost its weight, which was extremely uncomfortable. Her mind was a complete blank, and she had no idea whether to refuse or to comply.

Until, as she struggled to breathe, out of the instinct to survive, she reached out and patted him!
Song Shuyu had just ended the kiss.

But he was still not satisfied, so he held her in his arms and was reluctant to let go.

"My lord..." Mu Qingcheng's breath was unsteady, her face flushed with embarrassment, "Do you really think I wouldn't dare to disobey you?"

“You dare, but I’m not afraid. I’m fine with being beaten or scolded.” Song Shuyu replied with satisfaction, “There’s nothing wrong with being afraid of your wife.”

Mu Qingcheng gritted her teeth and punched Song Shuyu in the back. Then she quickly got up, sat back down, and said, "What if you've wronged Xue'er? What if she didn't betray you, but simply likes you, or wants to change her fate by serving you?"

“Even so, it is still a grave mistake! A wicked heart, bewitching the emperor, must be severely punished!” Song Shuyu’s face turned serious. “In this life, I want no one but you, Mu Qingcheng! Neither my son nor I have the habit of taking concubines or keeping mistresses! Qingcheng, you may not care whether your husband takes concubines, or whether you are forced to endure the humiliation of sharing a husband with another due to the rules of this world, but I cannot. I cannot allow you any reason to leave me. I must give you enough security to make you firmly believe that choosing me and marrying me is something you will never regret!”

Mu Qingcheng was deeply moved and remained speechless for a moment.

(End of this chapter)