A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 429 Finale (1)

The population has dispersed.

Lin Shuban's life also came to an end.

As he lay dying and his consciousness began to fade, all that remained in his blurred vision was the woman's bright and beautiful face.

"Qing, Qingcheng, may I, may I call, call your name just once?"

"can."

Mu Qingcheng's eyes reddened, and she choked up, "Lin Fu, besides being colleagues, we're also friends. Don't worry, I'll take care of your parents and family."

A faint light suddenly appeared in Lin Shuban's lifeless eyes. "Thank you... I wish you find a good partner and a peaceful life..."

In a brief moment of lucidity, one transcends life and death, traversing two worlds.

Mu Qingcheng stood there for a long time before finally moving her stiff legs and slowly walking out of the room.

Outside the side room, people from the Jingzhao Prefecture were gathered.

"Qingcheng." Song Shuyu stepped forward quickly, her eyes full of concern and heartache. "You don't look well. You need to rest more. I've asked the kitchen to prepare a meal. Go back to your room and eat well, then don't think about anything and go to sleep soundly. I've arranged for Zhang Zhubu and Dou Zandian to handle the funeral and family affairs for Lin Shu. Don't worry about it."

Mu Qingcheng hummed in agreement, and also reminded Song Shuyu, "Sir, please rest well before engaging in official business. Your health is important, and you must not overexert yourself."

"Okay, whatever you say." Song Shuyu felt a surge of warmth in her heart, and her eyes softened unconsciously.

Bai Zhizhi rushed over impatiently, took Mu Qingcheng's arm, and her eyes were as red as a rabbit's. "Sister Mu, I'll stay with you."

……

Imperial city, imperial palace.

The emperor summoned Song Yan for a private audience.

On the ground were five exquisitely carved vermilion trunks.

When Song Yan entered the hall, he no longer used a wheelchair; he walked in on his own two legs.

"I see you, Your Majesty!"

"Rise!" "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

After the formalities between the emperor and his subjects were completed, the emperor immediately ordered someone to offer them seats.

The Emperor asked with concern, "How is the Duke's leg injury recovering? I want to hear the truth, otherwise, I will not be at ease."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty." Song Yan smiled slightly. "Since it's all an act, it's just a superficial performance. It's merely a minor injury, not a serious one. The official explanation is certainly exaggerated."

The emperor breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good then."

Song Yan asked, "What is the purpose of His Majesty's summons?"

"These are the things that the Marquis of Huai'an found in the Shou Kang Palace." The Emperor pointed to the clothing box on the ground with his chin, his eyes filled with complicated emotions. "Zhou Chun interrogated the old nanny of the deposed Empress Dowager and learned that the clothes and purses in the box were all sewn by the deposed Empress Dowager herself, accumulated since the Duke left the capital to guard the border."

The emperor merely relayed the facts to Song Yan without drawing any conclusions or making any speculations, but anyone could understand the deeper meaning behind this matter.

The cloaks, capes, long gowns, overcoats, shoes, socks, and undergarments sewn by Song Zi were all men's items, filling four large boxes. However, none of them were given to the late emperor. In another box, there were twelve purses, which corresponded exactly to the twelve years since Song Yan left.

The box was not opened.

Song Yan showed no intention of examining the box, nor did he linger his gaze on it. He simply said calmly, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager's belongings should not be kept. I suggest we burn them."

"I share this intention." The Emperor nodded, then ordered, "Zhou Chun, burn all unsuitable items in Shou Kang Palace, and dispose of all the palace servants who served the deposed Empress Dowager."

"The slave obeys the order!"

Upon receiving the imperial edict, Zhou Chun immediately ordered his men to remove the box.

Since it was a private conversation between the emperor and his minister behind closed doors, the emperor considered the matter carefully before speaking frankly: "Lord Duke, I want to know whether the deposed Empress Dowager is truly a descendant of the late Duke Song. Today, after the final interrogation, I believe you will clearly see that it was I who ordered Mu Qingcheng to knock out the deposed Empress Dowager. I am worried that the deposed Empress Dowager's lineage will tarnish the late Duke Song's reputation, so I can no longer allow her to speak nonsense."

Song Yan remained silent for a moment before truthfully replying, "Song Zi is my father's illegitimate daughter with Wen Yun. When Song Zi was four years old, she was brought back to the Song family and registered under my mother's name, becoming the legitimate daughter of the Song family."

"So, you two are half-siblings, then how could she..."

The emperor's unfinished words and his shocked expression created an awkward atmosphere.

But the emperor had been curious for too long and had asked Song Shuyu repeatedly, but had not received an answer. Now, for both public and private reasons, he needed to know about the Song family's past in order to prevent anyone from digging up these old stories and making a big deal out of them in the future.

Song Yan didn't hide it; he had always known that the secret buried deep in the ground would one day be revealed...