A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 353 Ending (22)

Undisguised admiration and worship overflowed from Lu Xun's bright eyes. His thoughts, unlike his usual reserved and restrained demeanor, were all written on his face, which seemed somewhat inappropriate in this solemn and dignified occasion.

"Lord Ji, you flatter me."

After politely responding to Ji Yue, Mu Qingcheng slowly turned her head to meet Lu Xun's burning gaze, and said calmly, "Lord Lu, you are much more useful looking at the corpse than at me."

“Both are useful,” Lu Xun replied with a smile, “but looking at you is more useful than looking at a corpse.”

Upon hearing this, Ji Yue's eyes widened, staring at Lu Xun as if he had seen a ghost!

Qin Songyang and the officials of the Three Judicial Offices all showed incredulous expressions. How could Lord Lu be so reckless today?
However, Mu Qingcheng unexpectedly curled her lips and said with a smile, "I think I understand why the deceased and Guo Yuanke look alike."

Everyone immediately looked over.

Mu Qingcheng slowly said, "Is it possible that these two girls are twin sisters?"

"Really? Lord Guo only has one legitimate daughter, Guo Yuanke, born to his first wife. Everyone in the capital knows that!"

"The Ministry of Revenue has household registration records, which need to be verified as soon as possible."

"If Coroner Mu's guess is correct, for the sake of the family's reputation, the girl who was born lame was probably abandoned at birth, and the Ministry of Revenue only registered one daughter."

"With Madam Guo giving birth to a daughter, there must have been many people attending to her. If we investigate thoroughly, we will surely find out the truth."

"Also, send people to find the real Guo Yuanke!"

"Why don't we just ask Guo Xuan to come and inquire?"

"No!" Mu Qingcheng interjected upon hearing the officials discussing this, "We must not alarm Guo Xuan now, lest we alert him!"

Qin Songyang frowned. "Reason?"

Mu Qingcheng frankly said, "To be honest, sirs, yesterday... well, I saw several bloody scratches on the web of Guo Xuan's left hand. And Lord Liang said that during the struggle, the deceased had physical contact with a man who resembled Lord Song, and slapped the murderer's arm and hand with both hands."

"You suspect that Guo Xuan is the murderer?" Qin Songyang was taken aback.

Mu Qingcheng's wording was quite precise: "Guo Xuan's injuries are too coincidental, a suspicious point. Furthermore, according to my and Lord Liang's investigation, Lin Shuban of the Jingzhao Prefecture is also suspicious. He appeared in the palace yesterday and led Lord Liang to the vicinity of the Imperial Kitchen, which is why Lord Liang was able to witness the murder. Combining all the clues, I now have reason to deduce that at the time of the incident, there were two groups of people, one overt and one covert! The overt group is the one presented to Lord Liang, the eunuch Xiao Fuzi, and the maid Xiao Cui—Guo Yuanke and the person resembling Song Shuyu—they are putting on an act to create the illusion that Song Shuyu murdered Guo Yuanke; the covert group is the real victim and the murderer!"

Hearing that there was also a traitor in the Jingzhao Prefecture, Qin Songyang felt much better, and his expression finally wasn't so bad.

"There is still one question that needs to be investigated. Why did the eunuch Xiao Fuzi and the palace maid Xiao Cui identify that person as Song Shuyu? Was their testimony fabricated, or was the person disguised?"

At this point, Mu Qingcheng pondered for a few moments, then suddenly an idea came to her. "As for how to find Guo Yuanke, I have an idea. Coroner Chen doesn't know yet that I've exposed him, but he must be anxious and eager to pass on the news of my re-examination to his master. So, today, I'll find an excuse to release him from the Ministry of Justice. The bait has been thrown into the sea; hold the fishing rod tight, and sooner or later we'll catch a big fish!"

"Reporting to Your Excellency!"

A voice suddenly rang out outside the hall: "Lord Song, the Prefect of the Capital, has sent word that he wants to see the newly arrived Coroner Mu."

The way the officials looked at Mu Qingcheng changed several times in an instant!
Qin Songyang was both angry and helpless. It turned out that Song Shuyu had also planted a spy in his Ministry of Justice.

Mu Qingcheng paused for a moment, then called out, "I won't see you!"

Those outside the hall were clearly taken aback by this outcome. They were stunned for a moment before hurriedly saying, "Lord Song instructed that he would wait for Coroner Mu without eating, drinking, or sleeping!" "Ha...cough cough!" Ji Yue couldn't help but almost burst out laughing on the spot.

Lu Xun frowned, his eyes filled with deep sorrow.

Mu Qingcheng closed his eyes briefly, reluctantly resigning himself to the situation. "I have no other ideas for this case at the moment. I'll leave the investigation and evidence collection to you gentlemen."

She bowed, took her leave, and departed.

Lu Xun followed closely behind.

Once outside the council chamber, Lu Xun eagerly extended an invitation, "Coroner Mu, may I speak with you privately for a moment?"

Mu Qingcheng nodded; she also had something to ask him.

Lu Xun pointed to a secluded spot where no one was around. The two walked over, and before Mu Qingcheng could speak, Lu Xun anxiously asked, "Did you recognize me?"

“You are Lu Zhao.” Mu Qingcheng said with certainty, “Lu Xun’s twin brother.”

Lu Zhao was overjoyed, "Sister-in-law, you're so smart! How did you recognize me? Nobody else knew I was an imposter!"

"Sister-in-law?" Mu Qingcheng was taken aback for a moment, then her face turned serious. "Don't call me that!"

Lu Zhao felt wronged. "Can't I call you sister-in-law in private? My brother said that you two have already made a marriage agreement, and you are my future sister-in-law."

Mu Qingcheng had no interest in discussing matters of love and romance, and simply said, "Lu Xun and I will not get married. I have already made it clear to him. Let him explain to you later."

Lu Zhao immediately jumped up and down in a panic, "No way..."

"Watch your expression and behavior. You are Lu Xun now!" Mu Qingcheng reminded him in time, lest the boy lose his composure and give himself away.

Lu Zhao quickly patted his face, forcing himself to get into character, "Right, right, I'm my brother now, Lu Xun, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, I have to be calm and composed!"

Seeing this, Mu Qingcheng couldn't help but smile. "Do you know why I recognized you? With Lu Xun's personality, there's no way he would be rude to me in public!" The man in front of her, although he had Lu Xun's face, was completely different in character and was very easy to tell apart.

Lu Zhao was extremely embarrassed!

Mu Qingcheng suddenly remembered something else, "Was Lu Xun in the palace yesterday also you?"

Lu Zhao nodded, his handsome face showing embarrassment. "Yes, but with the Emperor and Empress Dowager present yesterday, I was afraid of saying the wrong thing, so I didn't dare to look at you inappropriately."

"Where did Lu Xun go? Why are you impersonating him?"

“My brother went out of the city yesterday to meet Uncle Mu at Xinjiamiao.”

"My father!" Mu Qingcheng exclaimed, wide-eyed. "Are you sure?"

Lu Zhao replied, "Confirmed. My brother said that it was Lord Song who asked Duke Song to arrange for people to escort Uncle Mu back to the capital from Jiangnan. They should have entered the city by now."

Mu Qingcheng was stunned.

The Duke of Song sent men to escort his father.
Overwhelmed by unease, she disregarded Lu Zhao and strode back, saying to the messenger, "Quickly take me to see Lord Song!"