A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 411 Ending (80)

Empress Dowager Song Zi was cold-hearted and ruthless throughout her life. Human lives, affections, wealth, power... everything external was something she could use or discard.

Like worn-out shoes, or like worthless weeds.

All she cared about was her beauty and one person—Song Yan, the Duke of Song.

She can lose, she can lose everything.

But disfigurement is tantamount to taking her life!

Overwhelmed by a tidal wave of fear, the Empress Dowager stepped down from her throne and staggered to Song Shuyu's side. Her usual arrogance was completely gone; her stunningly beautiful face was now filled with fear and helplessness, and her tone even carried a hint of humility. "Shuyu, you're deliberately trying to anger me, aren't you? I was wrong about what happened before. We're aunt and niece; blood is thicker than water. We're family after all!"

For the first time since his father left the capital, Song Shuyu saw the Empress Dowager lower her noble head. Unfortunately, he was neither blindly filial nor overly kind; in his mind, being soft-hearted and forgiving towards the enemy was the greatest harm he could do to himself.

Song Shuyu's indifference only made the Empress Dowager more anxious. "Shuyu, you have the antidote. You cured Aunt Tao, right? You know your father will be returning to the capital soon, and your aunt must look her best when she sees him..."

"See my father?" Song Shuyu's eyes turned icy, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Do you think my father wants to see you? Is it because you've schemed to kill me, or because you've committed numerous evils and abused your power? Or perhaps you want to tell my father how you've taken care of me for him for the past ten years?"

The Empress Dowager felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave. Her broken fingernails pierced her flesh, but she felt no pain. Her mind and eyes were filled with Song Yan's indifferent gaze.

Aside from Song Yan, she didn't care about the life, death, betrayal, or loyalty of others. She didn't even care about her own fate.

She only wanted to see Song Yan, but she was afraid that the man she had longed for for most of her life would ignore her.

Song Shuyu suddenly bent down, looked directly at the Empress Dowager, and said in a low voice, "I advise you not to waste your time on scheming! Because even if you were a celestial being descended to earth, my father wouldn't give you a second glance!"

After speaking, he took a half step back with a cold smile and asked in a loud voice, "Granny, has Her Majesty the Empress Dowager used the Muscle Regeneration Pill presented by Liu Changqing?"

"Reporting to the Second Young Master, after Liu Changqing delivered the last batch of Muscle Regeneration Pills, Her Majesty only took one two days before the farewell banquet at Yaochi Pavilion, and five days have passed since then." The nanny answered every question. She had served the Empress Dowager for decades, but the Empress Dowager's affection for her was ultimately thinner than paper.

Besides, the Empress Dowager was already doomed for forming a faction and causing rebellion; adding a few more charges wouldn't make things any worse. As the Empress Dowager's confidante, the old woman had no choice but to betray her mistress and beg for a lighter sentence.

Upon hearing this, Song Shuyu glanced at Liu Changqing and asked, "Is being stubborn useful?"

"Does that mean the poison will take effect in twenty-five days?" Liu Changqing's face turned pale, and his eyes, which he secretly glanced at the Empress Dowager, were full of guilt and anxiety.

Song Shuyu did not answer directly, but turned to Song Li and instructed, "Bring Tao Gu here." After waiting for about fifteen minutes, Song Li brought Tao Gu, a palace maid wearing a veil, into the courtroom.

After meeting Tao Gu that day, in order to avoid alerting her and inviting the Empress Dowager to silence her, Song Shuyu hid Tao Gu and arranged for someone to guard her.

Tao Gu was persecuted to such an extent by the Empress Dowager, and her heart was filled with resentment. After performing the kneeling ceremony, without waiting for Song Shuyu's instructions, she took off her veil, revealing a face covered with blood spots like a spider web!
"what--"

The Empress Dowager seemed to have seen a ghost, screamed in shock, and retreated in a panic, but accidentally stepped on the hem of her robe that dragged on the ground and fell straight down!
Song Shuyu was the closest, but he chose to remain aloof and observe.

However, what he did not expect was that at the critical moment when the Empress Dowager's head was about to hit the ground, a hand steadily supported her body!
Song Shuyu frowned, daring to be angry but not daring to speak out.

Mu Qingcheng helped the Empress Dowager up, and after confirming that she was alright, he let go of her hand and stood beside Song Shuyu, saying coldly, "If she had died or become mentally impaired from the fall, how could we expect the Empress Dowager to confess her guilt?"

Song Shuyu nodded with delight, "Master Mu is indeed very thoughtful."

"You..." The Empress Dowager was so angry that her heart palpitated. These two venomous little bitches were together, and she wanted to kill them all the time.

Mu Qingcheng couldn't help but chuckle. "Is Your Majesty lamenting that you didn't do your best in the assassination of me and the Lord?"

The Empress Dowager was taken aback; had she actually guessed what she was thinking?
Song Shuyu added with a smile, "No, the Empress Dowager is willing but unable to do so."

"It's a pity that the Empress Dowager has no chance." As Mu Qingcheng spoke, her gaze swept over Tao Gu, and she couldn't help but soften her heart. "My lord, Tao Gu is a young woman who has been disfigured. It's quite pitiful. My lord has always been kind. Since you have the antidote, please save Tao Gu."

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager's eyes suddenly lit up. "An antidote? There really is an antidote?"

Song Shuyu's dark eyes flickered, and after a moment's thought, he understood. He then said, "Li Yunyao did indeed leave behind a prescription for the antidote, but did the Empress Dowager actually take the Muscle Regeneration Pill? If not, wait a while, until the Empress Dowager's face turns into something like Tao Gu's..."

"I have taken the Muscle Regeneration Pill!" The Empress Dowager had lost all patience. Although these two people were not trustworthy, she dared not gamble with her appearance.

Therefore, it's better to believe it exists.

Song Shuyu continued, "So, the master behind Liu Changqing is the Empress Dowager? The Muscle Regeneration Pill and Aphrodisiac Pill that Liu Changqing controlled Li Mu and his daughter to refine were all presented to the Empress Dowager?"

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