A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 362 Ending (31)

The next day.

Shen Che ordered a carriage to be prepared and led Mu Qingcheng and Bai Zhizhi to the capital in a grand procession.

Upon seeing the two young women alight from the carriage of the Prince of Zhongshan's residence, the constables on duty at the yamen gate, though surprised, still greeted them with delight, "Master Mu and Constable Bai are back!"

Shen Che dismounted, flicked his folding fan, and stepped forward with a carefree and elegant air, saying with a smile, "After today, Miss Mu will no longer be the advisor of your Jingzhao Prefecture!"

Upon hearing this, the constable was startled. "Young Master Shen?" He quickly gave a curt bow and immediately looked at Mu Qingcheng, asking in a low voice, "Master Mu, what does this mean? You are our lord's most capable criminal advisor. What nonsense is Young Master Shen spouting?"

Only then did Mu Qingcheng understand what Shen Che meant by "good idea". Thinking of the spies around her, she sighed silently and said, "Young Master is not talking nonsense. I will marry Young Master as a concubine tomorrow. From now on, I will retire from criminal law and be a good wife and mother."

"what?"

"no!"

The two constables spoke in unison, their eyes filled with disbelief and fierce opposition!
So much so that they forgot their status and boldly spoke out for Song Shuyu and expressed their reluctance to part with him on behalf of the entire Jingzhao Prefecture!
“Master Mu, we have all witnessed the hardships you have endured to get to where you are today as a woman! You have lofty aspirations and outstanding talents. You are the right-hand man of the Prefect of the Capital and the pillar of our constables and yamen runners. The Prefect cannot do without your assistance. We respect you and take you as our role model. Everyone hopes to be by your side and receive your guidance. How can you give up so easily?”

"That's right! Master Mu, you've studied your craft for over a decade and solved so many unsolved cases. Who in the capital doesn't admire you? Who among the common people doesn't support you? How could you bear to abandon all your life's learning and imprison yourself within high walls? Even if... even if marriage is a basic requirement for a woman, why do you want to marry Prince Shen as a concubine? How could he be worthy of you? Our master treats you with utmost sincerity. If you marry him, he will certainly not confine you to the inner quarters, wasting your talent and ambition. He will support you, help you, and enable you to go higher and further..."

"Wait!"

At first, Shen Che remained calm as the two constables spoke passionately, but as they continued, he became genuinely angry and his face turned red. "Why am I, Shen Che, unworthy of Miss Mu? Did I ever say I would clip Miss Mu's wings and forbid her from working as a coroner after marriage? I am, after all, a prince's son. Can't you two show some manners?"

Bai Zhizhi couldn't help but burst out laughing. She put one hand on her waist and pointed at the constables with the other, teasingly saying, "That's right, today he's the heir apparent, tomorrow he'll inherit the title and become a prince. How many of you little constables would dare to be disrespectful? It's fortunate that the heir apparent has a good temper and a broad mind, and is too lazy to bother with your manners. Why don't you thank the heir apparent for his magnanimity?"

Shen Che was both amused and exasperated. This flattery had rendered him powerless to even exercise his status. To make matters worse, one of the constables glanced at him and muttered, "The young master is indeed more noble than us, but our master is the second legitimate son of the Duke's mansion, the Emperor's most trusted favorite minister. It's not impossible for him to be ennobled and appointed prime minister one day. The key is that our master would never wrong Master Mu to be a concubine."

Shen Che was so angry that he jumped up and down, "You, you..."

"Are you Hou Yiping?" Mu Qingcheng interrupted Shen Che's anger, looking at the young constable in front of her who was of medium height, with a reserved expression but bold words.

"Master Mu, do you still remember me?" Hou Yiping's eyes lit up instantly, excited and happy. "On that mission to Shenmo Village, I had the honor of accompanying you and you to Yuyang Town, and you even exchanged a few words with me!"

Mu Qingcheng nodded slightly, a smile playing on her lips. "Yes, I remember." Then she glanced at another constable. "You're Xiao Linzi, the one who participated in the case of the hanging corpse at the temple gate." Xiao Linzi beamed with delight. "Yes, yes, yes! It's my honor to be remembered by Master Mu!"

The early summer sun shone down on Mu Qingcheng, and her heart, like her temperament, was gentle and warm.

But her words chilled Xiao Linzi and Hou Yiping to the bone. "Thank you both for your support and recognition, but I am indeed going to marry into the Prince's mansion. This is a marriage bestowed by the Empress Dowager. Given my background, becoming the Prince's concubine is a blessing I have received from the good deeds of my ancestors. I cherish it very much and believe that the Prince will treat me well. As for Lord Song, we are only in a superior-subordinate relationship. Please do not speak nonsense and damage his reputation."

Upon hearing this, the two were stunned, their eyes filled with deep disappointment!
Mu Qingcheng paused for a moment, then said, "I am returning to the yamen today to hand over official business and retrieve my personal belongings. After my wedding tomorrow, I will have no further connection with the Jingzhao Prefecture. I hope all my colleagues will take care of themselves and not disturb or worry about me!"

After speaking, she stepped past the two men and strode into the government office.

Bai Zhizhi let out an exaggerated sigh: "Tsk, there's no way around it. People strive for higher positions. From a lowly coroner to a concubine of the prince, from the lowest rung of society to the highest rung of society, it's like the difference between heaven and earth. Who wouldn't be tempted?" After saying that, she bowed and invited, with a fawning smile on her face, "Your Highness, please!"

Shen Che raised his head proudly, strode across the threshold, and swaggered into the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Only after the three figures disappeared from sight did the two constables come to their senses.

They found this outcome hard to accept. Or rather, they couldn't accept that the moon, which had once hung high in the sky, had suddenly and willingly shed its light, fallen to the mortal world, and become one with the mundane, utterly extinguishing their beliefs and leaving them momentarily without direction.

However, just as they were feeling lost and disoriented, Mu Qingcheng pushed open the door to the front hall of the government office.

Lu Xun, Xu Chunshan (the Junior Magistrate of Jingzhao), Zhang Zhubu (the Registrar), Jiang Zhan, and Duan Qianzhong had been waiting for a long time.

Mu Qingcheng smiled faintly, cupped his hands and said, "I apologize for keeping you all waiting."

"Master Mu!"

Everyone greeted him with smiles, their gazes sweeping over Shen Che's face as he followed in, and they asked without hesitation, "Master Mu, are you alright? Have you been bullied by anyone?"

Shen Che was stunned by this direct question. His eyes widened, and his tone was very hurt. "Aren't you people from the Jingzhao Prefecture going too far? Are you all so impolite from top to bottom? Why don't you just state my name directly?"

"Ahem." As the highest-ranking official in the Jingzhao Prefecture, Xu Chunshan had no choice but to step forward and say a few perfunctory words, "Young Master Shen is overthinking things. We have no suspicions about Young Master Shen; we were merely expressing our concern for Master Mu."

Shen Che rolled her eyes dramatically. "Song Shuyu is truly skilled at managing his subordinates!"