A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 338 Ending (7)

After waiting for a long time without receiving a reply, Song Shuyu sighed inwardly, put down his teacup, and looked up.

Qin Songyang seemed lost in thought, his eyes unfocused.

"Shall we talk?" Song Shuyu asked.

Qin Songyang waved his hand, signaling the accompanying Ministry of Justice officials to step down, and even dismissed the yamen runners.

"Speak, what do you want to talk about?" Qin Songyang said, his eyes filled with indescribable complexity. "If you want me to show favoritism and acquit you, then there's no need to talk. Even if you bring up your grandmother, I cannot disregard the law."

Song Shuyu chuckled helplessly, "A clear conscience fears no accusation. I, Song Shuyu, have never worried about myself. Minister Qin, I simply want to ask you, if it weren't for me today, but someone else, would you have seconded the Empress Dowager's proposal?"

Qin Songyang's expression froze, and he turned his face slightly away to avoid Song Shuyu's gaze.

Seeing this, Song Shuyu understood. He couldn't help but sigh, "I never thought that Minister Qin, who was determined to be a loyal minister, would ultimately side with the Empress Dowager because of personal grudges."

Qin Songyang blushed deeply with embarrassment. "No... this Minister did not!"

"Minister Qin is trying to deceive himself, and I have no way to refute him. But has Minister Qin considered what His Majesty is thinking, even I can see it?" Song Shuyu's expression was indifferent, and there was no extra emotion in his eyes.

Reminded of this, Qin Songyang realized what was going on and suddenly panicked, "Would His Majesty really... would he suspect me, Minister?"

Song Shuyu said, "The Emperor's mind is hard to fathom. However, the Empress Dowager will think that Minister Qin is on her side, so next, the Empress Dowager will use Minister Qin as a weapon to get rid of me in a logical way."

Qin Songyang immediately regretted his actions, saying, "This Minister has absolutely no intention of taking sides, much less of a tendency to bend the law for personal gain!"

Song Shuyu hummed in agreement, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke again: "Minister Qin, since I entered the court, we have had very little interaction. You don't even seem to want to look at me. I guess it's because my appearance is somewhat similar to my grandfather's, so you don't like me, is that right?"

Qin Songyang's deep eyes were filled with shock. He suddenly realized that he had underestimated Song Shuyu! This young man, besides being intelligent and composed, was even more adept at reading people's hearts!
“When my grandfather passed away, I was just eight years old. Two years later, my father and brothers went to the battlefield, leaving only my grandmother to take care of me. For the past ten years or so, my grandmother and I have depended on each other and talked about everything. So I know that before my grandmother got married, she and Minister Qin were childhood sweethearts and loved each other. I also know that back then, Minister Qin’s family was not prominent. After his marriage proposal was rejected, he accepted the silver from my grandmother’s family and gave up my grandmother on his own initiative.”

As Song Shuyu finished speaking, Qin Songyang swayed and leaned against the wall behind him, exuding an aura of dejection.

Song Shuyu couldn't quite describe his feelings. It's difficult to judge whether the choices people make at different ages and under different circumstances are right or wrong.

But looking at the old man with graying temples, he still felt a pang of pity. "My grandmother said she hated you, and hated you for many years, but she let go after my grandfather passed away. Life is short. In the face of life and death, love and hate are like smoke and clouds. The past is not worth dwelling on."

Qin Songyang staggered away.

Song Shuyu didn't see Qin Songyang's expression, but Qin Songyang's hunched back inexplicably brought tears to Song Shuyu's eyes.

"Master Song!"

A hurried cry suddenly came from outside! Before Qin Songyang could hide the tears welling up in his eyes, he bumped into the chief eunuch, Zhou Chun!

"Minister Qin?" Zhou Chun was taken aback. "What are you doing here...?"

Qin Songyang hurriedly lowered his head, clasped his hands, and said, "Eunuch Zhou, you came so late at night. Is there an imperial decree to deliver?"

Zhou Chun, who had been immersed in the inner palace for decades, was never a rash person, but now he was in a hurry, which meant that something big had happened!

"I have come by imperial decree to discuss important matters with Lord Song!"

Upon hearing Zhou Chun's words, Qin Songyang was secretly startled. He immediately stepped aside and said, "Please, Eunuch Zhou!"

Zhou Chun hurried through the passageway and found Song Shuyu's cell. Song Shuyu was already in front of the bars. Before Zhou Chun could speak, he asked, "What happened? What's wrong with the Emperor?"

“It’s not the Emperor, it’s…” Zhou Chun lowered his head and said with great difficulty, “It’s Master Mu!”

Song Shuyu was suddenly startled. He stretched his long arm out from the fence, grabbed Zhou Chun by the collar, and shouted sharply, "What happened to Qingcheng? Where is she?"

Zhou Chun was forced to raise his head and nervously told him, "Lord Song, just now someone from Shou Kang Palace sent word that Master Mu has received the Empress Dowager's decree to marry Prince Shen in three days! Before dark, Master Mu had already moved into the Prince of Zhongshan's residence."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Zhou Chun felt short of breath. Song Shuyu's large hand gripped his throat, startling him so much that he hurriedly protested, "Lord Song, please calm down! It was His Majesty who sent me to inform you. I would never dare to speak such nonsense!"

Song Shuyu loosened his grip, and Zhou Chun regained his life, coughing for a while!
"Song Li!"

"Who?"

In Song Shuyu's bloodshot eyes, a murderous intent capable of destroying the world surged. "I want to see Song Li!"

"Yes!" Zhou Chun nodded vigorously, then remembered something and quickly reported, "By the way, Lord Song, the Empress Dowager said that Master Mu proposed that three days later, a public court and a wedding hall be set up outside the Imperial City Gate, and the wedding and the public trial of Lord Song's murder case be held at the same time! The Empress Dowager asked the Emperor to make a decision, and the Emperor sent me to ask Lord Song what he thinks."

After finishing his speech in one breath, Zhou Chun was covered in sweat!
After receiving the news, the emperor was shocked for a long time. After much deliberation, he finally dared not keep it from Song Shuyu, lest Song Shuyu be caught off guard and lose control, overturning the table and starting a massacre on the spot!
Upon hearing this, Song Shuyu pressed his right hand hard against his chest. He desperately told himself not to get angry or lose his mind. He had to believe in Mu Qingcheng and her feelings for him. However, immense unease and panic still occupied his heart, making him wish he could leave the Ministry of Justice immediately and storm into the Prince of Zhongshan's mansion!
"Lord Song, are you alright? Should we ask the imperial physician to examine you?" Zhou Chun asked worriedly upon seeing the situation.

After a long pause, Song Shuyu finally calmed down and shook his head. "I'm fine. Since it's Master Mu's suggestion, then please grant His Majesty's permission. Eunuch Zhou, please tell His Majesty that Master Mu is very shrewd and wouldn't make such an arrangement without a reason. I will do my best to cooperate with her and make thorough preparations."

"Yes, this servant has noted it down. This servant will immediately send someone to find Song Li. Please ask Lord Song to wait patiently." Zhou Chun bowed and took his leave.

Song Shuyu sat back down in his chair, wanting to drink a bowl of tea to moisten his dry throat, but his fingers trembled and he dropped the teapot on the ground.

He shouldn't have guessed her intentions wrong, right?
Even if she changed her mind, she still had a marriage agreement with Lu Xun. She couldn't possibly abandon Lu Xun as well, could she?

(End of this chapter)