A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 287 Entering Langshan (8)

Underneath the stone slab, over a hundred venomous snakes were unearthed; some had been hacked to death, others burned to death—the scene was exceptionally bloody and horrific!
The constables had never seen anything like this before. They felt disgusted and repulsed. The timid ones vomited and retched behind their backs, while the bolder ones squinted and dared not look any longer.

Fortunately, there were guards who calmly dug a large pit and buried all the dead snakes.

To eliminate any future trouble, Song Li ordered his guards to throw several torches into the snake hole under the stone slab, and sent one guard back to the city to buy up all the realgar powder in the Yuyang Town pharmacy.

When Mu Qingcheng arrived, the guards were sprinkling realgar powder around the stone slab.

Meanwhile, the constables were resting and chatting about gossip.

"I think our adults have completely fallen in love!"

"Not only that, the master has already fallen to the bottom of the river and can't float up!"

"Your Excellency and Master Mu are a perfect match, a match made in heaven!"

"That's right. Only a man of great talent and handsome appearance, like Pan An, is worthy of a woman as talented and accomplished as Master Mu!"

"Luckily, our adults acted quickly, otherwise, a good daughter like this would attract many suitors, and the adults would be in danger!"

"Your Excellency has the natural advantage of being close to the water, which is something that Young Master Lu cannot match!"

"That's right, that's right. Besides, the master is such a lovelorn man, always pestering her. Who could resist that!"

"..."

The constables got more and more engrossed in their conversation, each adding their own comment, completely unaware that someone was behind them.

Mu Qingcheng leaned closer, hands behind her back, and asked softly, "Should we prepare a congratulatory gift in advance?"

"We must prepare! This is a joyous occasion for our Jingzhao Prefecture..."

"Master Mu!"

The constable, who had his back to Mu Qingcheng, was answering questions fluently when he suddenly saw the constable opposite him stand up abruptly, looking embarrassed. "You, what brings you here?"

The others hurriedly rose and bowed, "Greetings, Master Mu!"

The constable then realized something was wrong and hurriedly turned around, awkwardly bowing and begging for forgiveness, "Master Mu, please calm down. I was too talkative. I know my mistake and beg for punishment!"

There are more than 300 constables stationed in the capital, serving in various positions. They are rotated every quarter, so there are still many constables that Mu Qingcheng has not gotten to know since he joined the company.

She sized up the young constable in front of her, who was of medium height and had a reserved expression, and asked gently, "What's your name?"

"Reporting to Master Mu, my name is Hou Yiping."

"okay."

Mu Qingcheng nodded without saying anything more.

The constables couldn't help but feel uneasy. Talking behind their superior's back was a serious crime of disrespect, and they didn't know what kind of punishment they would receive.

Seeing this, Jiang Zhan quickly stepped in to plead for leniency, "Master Mu, it was my negligence in managing my subordinates; I am willing to take full responsibility..."

"Thank you so much! You've praised me to the skies, I'm blushing with embarrassment." Mu Qingcheng said somewhat shyly, glancing at everyone present. "Luckily, we're talking behind closed doors. If word got out, wouldn't we become a laughingstock?"

Jiang Zhan hurriedly said, "Master Mu, rest assured, not a single word about our Jingzhao Prefecture's affairs will reach outsiders. Anyone who dares to utter a word will be severely punished by your subordinate!"

"We dare not!" the constables replied in unison.

Mu Qingcheng smiled slightly, "However, a congratulatory gift still needs to be prepared. Your best gift would be to perform your duties diligently and outstandingly, ensuring your position as the Prefect of the Capital remains secure!"

"Yes!" Everyone beamed with joy, their morale soaring.

Mu Qingcheng said with relief, "The bull's head has been found, sir. Now, all of you, go find the tree with the triangular shape carved on it! Given the danger we just faced, work in pairs, be vigilant, and pay close attention to safety!" "Yes, sir!"

The ten constables immediately split into five groups and inspected each tree one by one.

Mu Qingcheng summoned Song Li and instructed him, "Take the guards and protect the master. Don't let him be alone!"

Song Li ordered his guards to find Song Shuyu, while he stayed behind and gave Mu Qingcheng a packet of realgar powder for self-defense. "This place is very strange. Hibernating snakes are actually appearing in groups. It's unheard of."

Jiang Zhan didn't leave either, his worried and concerned gaze frequently turning to Song Shuyu below the cliff. "Master Mu, was the master bitten by a snake? I was busy killing snakes earlier and didn't pay attention to the master. I wonder how the master is now?"

"Yes, the adult's ankle was bitten by a poisonous snake."

Mu Qingcheng followed Jiang Zhan's gaze and saw Song Shuyu leaning against the bodyguard with her head tilted to the side, seemingly asleep.

Jiang Zhan suddenly became anxious, "That sir, he..."

"He's been detoxified. Let the adults rest well and try not to disturb him."

"Yes!"

Jiang Zhan felt somewhat relieved.

He thought for a moment, then strode over to the horse, took two blankets from its back, used one as a seat cushion, and covered Song Shuyu with the other.

Mu Qingcheng's eyes welled up with tears.

She appreciates this mutually supportive superior-subordinate relationship, where the superior never exerts pressure and the subordinate never tries to curry favor; it is maintained by genuine feelings and has nothing to do with power or fame.

The snake pit was burned black, and Song Li put the stone slab that had been thrown aside back in its original position.

Mu Qingcheng squatted down nearby, holding the parchment scroll, comparing the two bull heads. The bull head on the stone slab was carved with lifelike detail, even the ring on its nose was a perfect circle. In contrast, the bull head drawn by Wang Ruhua was hastily drawn, like a child's scribble, only showing a rough outline. But judging from its appearance, Wang Ruhua had indeed drawn it based on the bull head on the stone slab.

Mu Qingcheng poked the stone slab inch by inch with the tip of his sword, but found no mechanism!

Song Li also examined the structure of the stone slab, which was just an ordinary rock, and found no interlayers or other abnormalities!

"This discovery is the same as not discovering anything!"

Song Li was furious and wanted to kick the stone slab hard. He even raised his leg, but then he thought again that it would hurt his own foot, so why bother?
Mu Qingcheng was completely baffled.

……

Lu Xun walked around Yuyang Lake twice. The frozen lake surface rippled with golden light under the sun.

Duan Qianzhong, accompanied by constables, was testing the solidity of the ice surface.

All was quiet, except for the sound of the wind rustling through the grass and the chirping of birds.

Lu Xun's gaze swept across Yuyang Lake and landed on the mountain path opposite. At this time of year, all vegetation was barren and everything was withered. The mountain path had been untouched for a long time and was covered with overgrown weeds.

"Officer Duan, break the ice!"

Duan Qianzhong, who was busy at work, was taken aback when he heard Lu Xun's instructions. "Break the ice? Aren't we supposed to wade across the ice to get to the foot of the mountain?"

"We don't need to go up the mountain or cross the lake."

Lu Xun pondered for a moment and said, "The lake is where egrets roost, and this is the time when they are active and foraging. I want to try to lure the egrets over."

"Okay, it's up to you."

Duan Qianzhong agreed and immediately ordered the constables to smash the ice with their official swords.

(End of this chapter)