A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 377 Ending (46)

The emperor glanced at him indifferently, "I wonder what Minister Qin's opinion is?"

Qin Songyang finally understood that he had to publicly state his position today, otherwise even the emperor would not spare him!

After a moment's thought, he kowtowed and replied, "Your Majesty, for the past three days, the three judicial departments have been working tirelessly to investigate this case, but many mysteries remain unsolved. Even the autopsy went wrong. In desperation, I had no choice but to secretly seek help from Clerk Mu. Therefore, today's public trial cannot proceed without Clerk Mu. I implore Your Majesty to consider this matter and show leniency to Clerk Mu!"

Upon hearing this, the emperor asked meaningfully, "Isn't Master Mu waiting to be married in the Prince of Zhongshan's residence? How has she managed to serve your Three Judicial Offices?"

"This..." Qin Songyang hesitated. He really didn't know how Mu Qingcheng had escaped from the Zhongshan Prince's Mansion and then reached a cooperation agreement with Liang Ruoming.

Seeing this, Mu Qingcheng, who was surrounded, calmly continued, "Your Majesty, since entering the Prince's residence, I have been under constant surveillance day and night, and have no freedom. However, I conducted a preliminary examination of the deceased's body at the Jade Wine Pavilion and knew that the case was suspicious and full of doubts. Out of a sense of duty as a criminal investigator, I dared to sneak into the residence of Minister Liang of the Ministry of Justice at night. With Minister Liang's help, I disguised myself and entered the Ministry of Justice to re-examine the body. From this, I discovered a shocking secret hidden on the deceased, thus providing the three judicial departments with corresponding clues for solving the case, hoping to clear the name of the deceased and bring the real murderer to justice!"

"A shocking secret?" The emperor's expression changed drastically, then turned angry. "Prince Zhongshan, no wonder Song Shuyu is determined to fight you to the death. How dare you restrict Master Mu's personal freedom?"

Prince Zhongshan was startled and immediately knelt down, pleading, "Your Majesty, please understand! The Empress Dowager's grace has granted Che'er's wish, and this old minister is deeply grateful. How could I dare to mistreat Miss Mu? If this old minister had truly confined Miss Mu, how could she have broken into the Vice Minister's residence at night? I beg Your Majesty to do justice for this old minister..."

Mu Qingcheng interrupted the Prince of Zhongshan with a smile, "Does this humble woman need to provide proof to Your Highness?"

A fishing line as thin as a silver needle suddenly flew out from Mu Qingcheng's narrow sleeve, and like a coiled silk thread, it wrapped around the sword that was holding her hostage!
The imperial guards surrounding her were startled, but before they could react, Mu Qingcheng flipped her wrist, and more than a dozen men were pulled back by the force of the fishing line. Mu Qingcheng then stood up, and the swords that were wrapped around her broke free from their masters' hands, gathered in mid-air, and were controlled by Mu Qingcheng's hand!

Then, Mu Qingcheng swung his arm and spun around, his swords striking the armor of the imperial guards one by one. With a series of loud thuds, more than ten people fell to the ground, spitting blood, unable to get up again!

This scene shocked the whole audience!

Even Song Shuyu, who knew Mu Qingcheng best, was stunned. He knew she was a low-key person, but he never knew she had hidden her talents to this extent!

Mu Qingcheng landed gracefully, dropping the fishing line from her hand. A smile still lingered on her lips as she spoke gently, "In that case, Your Highness, can you believe that it is not difficult for me to enter and leave the Zhongshan Prince's residence?"

The King of Zhongshan was speechless. He had always thought that Shen Che and his seven men had been captured by Mu Qingcheng alone, but now that he had seen it with his own eyes, he dared not underestimate this female coroner!
A thought suddenly flashed through his mind, and the Prince of Zhongshan looked at the Empress Dowager. Their eyes met, and they both understood one thing: they had not only been deceived and used by Mu Qingcheng, but Mu Qingcheng was not poisoned!

Thus, if Mu Qingcheng were to participate in the public trial, the person who would be put to death would not be Song Shuyu, but... "Empress Dowager, I said back then that it is best for both the man and woman to agree to a marriage, otherwise they would become an unhappy couple, which would be a waste of the Empress Dowager's good intentions."

The Emperor's words interrupted the Empress Dowager's thoughts. With a stern face, she did not have time to respond and quickly thought of a solution.

"Since I have stated my position beforehand, and neither Shen Che nor Mu Qingcheng has any intention of marrying, this bestowed marriage is hereby nullified..."

"no!"

In her haste, the Empress Dowager blurted out a refusal. Meeting the Emperor's fleeting, icy gaze, she composed herself, adopting an authoritative demeanor, and said, "Your Majesty, do not listen to Mu Qingcheng's nonsense. When I issued the imperial decree at Shou Kang Palace, she accepted it willingly. As the Empress Dowager, how could I possibly go against Your Majesty's will? Now, in front of the Emperor, officials, and the people, she puts on a pitiful act of being forced into marriage by me, openly framing me—this is utter disrespect! And if my imperial decree were to be issued and then revoked or pardoned at will, and everyone followed suit, wouldn't I, the reigning Empress Dowager, become a mere figurehead? Where would the prestige of our Great Zhou Dynasty remain? But…"

At this point, the Empress Dowager suddenly changed the subject, "However, the Emperor's words are law, and I cannot disregard them, so I can make an exception for him."

The emperor immediately ordered, "Mu Qingcheng, why don't you thank the Empress Dowager?"

"Not urgent!"

However, the Empress Dowager raised her hand, a thin layer of coldness creeping into her eyes, "My meaning is that I will give Miss Mu a choice between marriage and public trial!"

"I cannot comply!" Mu Qingcheng cupped her hands, showing no intention of backing down.

"If that's the case, then you can't blame me." The Empress Dowager glanced at Song Li, who looked like a god of death behind her, and then looked at the Emperor, her tone becoming indifferent. "I believe the Emperor will not tolerate Song Shuyu committing such a heinous crime, will he? The Emperor should not forget what the late Emperor said on his deathbed, and how the Emperor promised."

The emperor stiffened, his expression unusually changing!
A triumphant smile finally appeared on the Empress Dowager's exquisite face. She stretched out a finger and tapped it lightly three times in the air!

The imperial guards and imperial soldiers below suddenly began to move, surging towards the two platforms!

Thank you so much for your support, my darlings! This book stood out in the "Rising Tide of Chinese Culture" Yuewen Women's Fiction Contest and won an Excellence Award! This joy is inseparable from every one of you who supported me and this book. Love you all!