A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 321 Corpse Hidden in Wine Jar (1)

On the eve of Qingming Festival, the Empress Dowager held a banquet at Yaochi Pavilion in the palace to bid farewell to the Prince of Zhongshan and his heir.

The dignitaries who received the invitations all attended in their finest attire, accompanied by their families.

Emperor Shen Zhu personally attended the farewell banquet, which was considered a great honor for the Prince of Zhongshan.

Song Shuyu was also among those invited.

But he kept a calm and handsome face, and did not smile.

Seeing this, the officials dared not say much to him. His father had been seriously injured and was still receiving treatment in Yuguan. Although Jin Zesheng had intervened and saved his life, he was now a paralyzed and bedridden person. What difference was there between him and a dead man? He himself had also lost the emperor's favor. How could he be in a good mood?
Fortunately, the Song family still had the Empress Dowager in charge, and Song Shuxing had made many military achievements in the past two years, emerging from the ranks of young military generals; otherwise, the Song family would have declined!
On the grand stage, melodious traditional Chinese string and wind instruments filled the air, and dancers in red robes danced gracefully. The audience below toasted each other and chatted happily.

The Empress Dowager and the Emperor occupied high positions, with the Prince of Zhongshan, Shen Che, and Princess Ningchang in the left row below them. Song Shuyu sat in the third position in the right row, directly facing Princess Ningchang. Princess Ningchang gazed at him intently, her red lips moving several times as if she wanted to speak to him, but he kept his eyes lowered, neither eating nor drinking, only idly swirling the empty white jade wine cup.

The palace maids came over from time to time to add tea and wine. When they reached Song Shuyu's table, she suddenly twisted her ankle and accidentally spilled wine on the sleeve of Song Shuyu's brocade robe embroidered with gold thread.

"This slave deserves to die!"

The palace maid was terrified. She hurriedly apologized while picking up a handkerchief to wipe the wine stains off Song Shuyu. Song Shuyu slowly opened his eyes and coldly watched the palace maid's actions!

At that moment, a note was slipped discreetly into his sleeve!

Song Shuyu brushed aside the palace maid and scolded, "Go and receive your punishment!"

After speaking, he rose, bowed to the emperor, and said, "Your Majesty, I need to change my clothes, so I will take my leave now!"

Nowadays, the emperor finds him annoying and simply waves his hand away, too lazy to even say another word to him.

After expressing his gratitude, Song Shuyu quickly left.

The Empress Dowager's expression was unreadable. She glanced at the Prince of Zhongshan without making a sound. Their eyes met, and the Prince of Zhongshan gently shook his head.

……

At the same time, a palace carriage, escorted by imperial guards and eunuchs, drove into the palace gate.

Qin Huai had been observing the scene the whole way, but Mu Qingcheng, who was sitting opposite him, remained calm and composed, showing no sign of panic or even curiosity.

With Qin Huai's decades of experience in the palace, his curiosity about Mu Qingcheng was actually quite intense. He had seen all kinds of women—cunning, ruthless, scheming, innocent, alluring, and fiery—but he had never encountered a woman as serene and strong-willed as Mu Qingcheng before!
"The girl is gentle and good-tempered."

Qin Huai couldn't hold back any longer and broke the silence by speaking up.

Mu Qingcheng hummed in response, her expression indifferent, and said nothing more.

Song Shuyu went to the palace for a banquet, and less than a quarter of an hour after he left, Qin Huai led his men into the Jingzhao Prefecture, summoning Mu Qingcheng to an audience by imperial decree of the Empress Dowager!
No one could bear the consequences of disobeying the imperial decree.

Therefore, Mu Qingcheng boarded the carriage upon being summoned.

Two bodyguards followed.

The carriage arrived safely at the palace gate, and the guards immediately took off their black outer robes, revealing their inner imperial attire, and, holding tokens, followed them into the palace.

Upon arriving at the inner palace of the imperial city, Qin Huai led Mu Qingcheng out of the carriage and walked towards Yaochi Pavilion.

The majestic palace, every brick and tile, is a symbol of power.

Mu Qingcheng lagged half a step behind Qin Huai, the distance neither too close nor too far, his posture upright, neither humble nor arrogant.

Qin Huai kept turning back, increasingly incredulous. "Miss, don't you even want to ask why you were summoned to the palace?"

"No need to ask." Mu Qingcheng finally spoke, but she looked straight ahead, not even glancing at Qin Huai. She said, "Good fortune may be a harbinger of misfortune, and misfortune may be a harbinger of good fortune." Qin Huai was speechless for a moment before finally managing to ask another question, "Aren't you afraid of death?"

He thought that since it involved life and death, she would be nervous or uneasy!

However, Mu Qingcheng smiled faintly, "When your life and death are in someone else's hands, what's the point of being afraid?"

"Hehe, it seems this young lady is quite extraordinary, but I never imagined she would be so insightful." Qin Huai chuckled, suddenly understanding Song Shuyu's choice.

But today...

His gaze toward Mu Qingcheng unconsciously turned worried, and the words of reminder that were on the tip of his tongue were slowly swallowed back.

Now that things have come to this, what difference would it make if we had been informed in advance?

Mu Qingcheng clenched her fist without showing any emotion. The Empress Dowager wanted to use her to threaten Song Shuyu? Dream on!
However, to Mu Qingcheng's surprise, the place Qin Huai took her to was not the Shou Kang Palace where the Empress Dowager lived, but the Yaochi Pavilion!
"Please wait a moment, young lady, while I go and inform them."

After saying this, Qin Huai entered the banquet hall alone.

At that time, Shen Che was performing a sword dance on stage, and Princess Ningchang and several noble ladies applauded and cheered from time to time, creating a particularly lively atmosphere.

The emperor smiled and said, "The young prince is exceptionally handsome and valiant, attracting the attention of countless young ladies."

"So, it's time to take wives and concubines to continue the family line." The Empress Dowager's makeup was exquisite, and her beauty had returned to its former glory.

At this moment, Qin Huai bowed and knelt down to report: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, Miss Mu has arrived and is waiting outside."

Upon hearing this, the emperor's brow twitched slightly. "Miss Mu?"

"Bring it in!"

"Yes!"

After Qin Huai left, the Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Since today is an auspicious day, I have summoned the girl that Che'er is interested in to the palace and will bestow a marriage upon the two of them. I mentioned this to the Emperor a few days ago, and the Emperor agreed."

The emperor's gaze unconsciously shifted to the empty space in the lower right corner.

Song Shuyu went out to change his clothes and has not yet returned.

Zhou Chun quietly stepped back and whispered a few words to his apprentice, Xiao Xuzi, who immediately went out to look for the person.

Mu Qingcheng followed Qin Huai inside.

In an instant, countless gazes shot towards Mu Qingcheng from all directions!

Shock, scrutiny, suspicion, resentment, curiosity... a complex mix of emotions, all shrouded in silence!

Today, unlike the Spring Banquet, both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager are present, and Mu Qingcheng was brought in by Qin Huai, the chief eunuch who serves the Empress Dowager!
Therefore, no matter what they were thinking, everyone kept their mouths shut and dared not speak rashly!

Shen Che on the stage was stunned for only a moment before he hurriedly sheathed his sword and returned to his seat.

He glanced at the King of Zhongshan, then at the Empress Dowager. From their eyes, he vaguely guessed something. For a moment, his mind was in turmoil, filled with mixed feelings of joy and sorrow!

Mu Qingcheng encountered such a grand scene on her first visit to the palace.

Her eyes darted around quickly, and she discovered that Song Shuyu was not at the banquet!
Before she could even ponder the reason, she had already reached the Emperor's presence. She took a deep breath, steadied herself, knelt on the ground, and respectfully kowtowed: "This commoner, Mu Qingcheng, greets Your Majesty! Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager!"

My darlings, I'm so sorry! Updates have been a bit slow these past few days. Firstly, we're nearing the end and I'm experiencing writer's block, and secondly, it's the end of the year and I'm incredibly busy. I'm truly sorry. Thank you all for your continued support, love you all!

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(End of this chapter)