A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 439 Finale
Song Zi is dead.

At dawn, the jailer was shocked to find that Song Zi had died.

He did not commit suicide, but his last breath, like a spent arrow, dissipated completely after Song Yan left.

Upon learning the news, the emperor kept it a secret and ordered the Ministry of Justice to take the body to the execution ground as usual, where it was executed by being cut in half at the waist in front of thousands of onlookers, in order to appease the people!
Mu Qingcheng specially wore a white mourning dress. She mingled in the crowd and calmly looked at the execution platform.

She was a coroner, and she saw through the deception at a glance.

Song Zi's body was severed at the waist by the guillotine, and the spurting blood formed a mist of blood before Mu Qingcheng's eyes. She gazed at her mother across the void barrier...

He turned back, walked away, and disappeared alone into the long street.

Mu Yan came looking for them, and the father and daughter remained silent.

The midday light and shadows guided them westward, stopping in front of a tombstone in the mountains.

"Mother, Qing'er has come to see you." Mu Qingcheng's voice choked with sobs as she spoke, "I'm sorry, I'm late."

Mu Yan's large hand trembled as he gently stroked the name on the tombstone. His moist eyes revealed endless longing. "My lady, the great revenge has been achieved. I can finally face you. Our daughter has grown up, she looks just like you, beautiful and capable. She has also inherited my mantle, excelling in both literature and martial arts, solving numerous extraordinary cases. Now, she is a renowned female legal advisor in the Great Zhou Dynasty, highly valued by the Emperor. My lady, you can rest in peace in the afterlife."

A summer breeze rustles through the wilderness, the grass and trees whispering like the murmurings of someone in a grave, or perhaps a gentle response...

The following day, at dawn, the Duke's carriage quietly left the city.

Song Yan, accompanied by his two sons, went to the Song family ancestral graves to pay respects to Madam Yu Wan.

From that moment on, Song Shuyu disappeared for a whole day.

It wasn't until after midnight, when Mu Qingcheng had finished washing up and was about to go to sleep, that someone knocked on the window. Then, Song Shuyu jumped into the room through the window.

"My lord?" Mu Qingcheng asked in surprise, "Why did you come so suddenly? Why didn't you come through the main gate?"

Recently, there hasn't been much official business, and no tricky or sudden cases, so Mu Qingcheng goes back to the Mu residence to keep her father company after her shifts.

Song Shuyu, fearing Mu Yan's displeasure, rarely came to Mu's residence to see her, let alone engage in such impolite behavior as climbing over walls or windows.

Seeing his reddened eyes and sorrowful expression, Mu Qingcheng's heart tightened. She quickly went over, took his hand, and led him to sit down on the bedside.

"Qingcheng." Song Shuyu murmured, leaning over to hug Mu Qingcheng. He rested his head on her shoulder, his voice hoarse and trembling with sobs. "I... I only found out today that when my mother gave birth to me, it wasn't a difficult childbirth, but that Song Zi poisoned her. She traded her own life for mine. I... I feel so sad and in so much pain."

Mu Qingcheng was shocked for a moment. Song Zi's sins had increased again! They actually started more than 20 years ago!

She stroked Song Shuyu's back to help him calm his turmoil. She said softly, "Madam Song is a great mother. Adults can be sad, but they can't be sad for too long, otherwise, Madam Song will be heartbroken."

"Ah."

The two embraced quietly for a while. Feeling that Song Shuyu's emotions had calmed down, Mu Qingcheng pulled away, wiped away the tear stains remaining at the corners of his eyes with a handkerchief, and asked the question that had been accumulating in her heart for a long time, "What is Song Zi's background? Does she have romantic feelings for the Duke?"

Song Shuyu's eyes flickered, and after hesitating for a long time, he shared the unspeakable secret that the Song family had kept hidden for decades with Mu Qingcheng.

More than forty years ago, the old Duke Song Qingru was the youngest and most promising military general in the court. He made great contributions to the country and was highly regarded by the emperor.

Following his parents' wishes and the matchmaker's words, Song Qingru married a noblewoman of equal social standing. After their marriage, the couple lived in harmony and had a son, Song Yan.

Soon after, the enemy invaded the border, and Song Qingru was ordered to go to the frontier to quell the rebellion. This battle was arduous and lasted for three years.

To appease the soldiers, the Ministry of War sent a group of female officials to serve as military prostitutes. The military prostitute given to Song Qingru was named Wen Yun. She was originally the illegitimate daughter of a fifth-rank official. After her father committed a crime, she was first punished by being sent to the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment institution), and later sold into the brothel "Shuiyunjian". When the Ministry of War recruited prostitutes, she became a military prostitute.

Song Qingru was of upright character, so she kept Wen Yun by her side as a cleaning maid.

But this good fortune didn't last long. During a battle, Song Qingru was ambushed and poisoned with a drug that could only be cured through sexual intercourse. Since an army cannot be without a general, and for the sake of the overall situation and Song Qingru's life, the deputy general sought out Wen Yun.

By the time Song Qingru regained consciousness, it was too late. He wrote a letter and sent it back to the capital, informing his parents and wife of the situation and discussing how to settle Wen Yun.

However, Wen Yun knew that she was of lowly status and could not enter the Song family. She also did not want to jeopardize Song Qingru's future, so she quietly left the military camp.

Seven years later, an old woman brought a little girl to Song Qingru and brought a letter from Wen Yun.

It turned out that after running away, Wen Yun discovered she was pregnant, so she hid in Longyuan Village in the countryside and gave birth to a daughter. Originally, she thought she and her daughter would depend on each other for the rest of their lives, but unexpectedly, Wen Yun suddenly fell seriously ill and was unable to raise her daughter. For the sake of her daughter's future, she had no choice but to ask someone to send her to Song Qingru to raise.

Song Qingru wanted to have her daughter recognized by her ancestors, but the child's birth mother was a convicted slave and prostitute. The Song family head firmly refused. Song Qingru pleaded desperately, only to be allowed to register her daughter as an adopted daughter under the name of his legal wife in the family genealogy and change her name to Song Zi.

Song Zi grew up with her older brother Song Yan and fell hopelessly in love with him. Eventually, Song Yan and his family discovered her feelings. In order to sever Song Zi's relationship, the Song family quickly arranged a marriage for Song Yan and sent Song Zi to the palace to become a concubine.

Song Zi thought it was the Song family's disapproval, not that Song Yan had no interest in her. So, while struggling in the harem, she looked for an opportunity to secretly pledge her life to Song Yan. Song Yan refused several times, but could not make Song Zi give up. Helpless, he had no choice but to tell Song Zi the truth about her background.

Song Zi broke down, unable to accept that her birth mother was a military prostitute and slave. So, Song Zi transferred all her resentment onto her father, Song Qingru.

Knowing he had failed his daughter, Song Qingru, facing renewed border warfare, volunteered to lead the army and petitioned the emperor that if he died in battle, Song Zi should be treated well. News of the victory arrived: the Song family army had won, and Song Qingru had died for his country. The emperor fulfilled his promise and bestowed upon Song Zi the title of empress.

Song Zi was dark-hearted, paranoid, and violent. Throughout his life, he lived in a self-deceiving illusion and only plotted two things.

The first priority is to obtain Song Yan, and the second is to eliminate Wen Yun.

However, by doing evil to defy the will of Heaven, the cycle of cause and effect will inevitably lead to nothing.

……

News of the imperial court's plan to build a girls' school spread like wildfire.

This significant political move naturally sparked heated discussions among women and students across the country, resulting in mixed opinions. Some praised the monarch's enlightenment, while others condemned women for ruining the country. However, judging from the situation in more than a dozen major prefectures across the country, the number of supporters far exceeded the number of opponents.

Because of Mu Qingcheng's outstanding achievements, she, as a woman, solved a national case and helped the country. Her achievements are obvious to all, and no one in the world does not believe in her!

The role of role models is to set a benchmark for women all over the world, to light a lamp to break through the darkness ahead, and to let women know that, in addition to being a mother and a daughter, in addition to being confined within high walls and the inner palace, and in addition to playing musical instruments, chess, calligraphy and painting, and embroidery and needlework, women can also study and understand principles like men, and can forge a path that is not defined by worldly conventions!

So, taking advantage of the public outcry and the perfect timing, location, and popular support, Song Shuyu mobilized the Censorate, the Hanlin Academy, the Six Ministries, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Jingzhao Prefecture to jointly petition the emperor to increase the number of female officials and to formulate standards for women's entry into officialdom, promotion, and assessment.
Qin Songyang, the Minister of Justice, and Lu Xun, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, were the most prominent. The two strongly recommended Mu Qingcheng to enter the court, making her the first female official to serve in the government!
"Your Majesty, I believe that Mu Qingcheng is capable of any position in the Court of Judicial Review. I implore Your Majesty and the Ministry of Revenue to consider the Court of Judicial Review!" "Your Majesty, with Liang Ruoming's transfer to a post outside the capital, the Ministry of Justice has yet to fill its vacancy and needs Mu Qingcheng to serve there!"

Lu Xun and Qin Songyang argued endlessly, but Song Shuyu, unusually, didn't get angry. He was also very impressed and satisfied with himself. When it was time to be jealous or fight for something, he wouldn't give an inch. When it was time to consider Mu Qingcheng's future, he was never petty.

Finally, the Emperor made the final decision: "Effective immediately, the Ministry of Justice shall establish the Suspended Mirror Division, and Mu Qingcheng shall be appointed as the Chief Officer of the Suspended Mirror Division, with the rank of Fourth Grade, responsible for the review, supervision, and investigation of difficult and unsolved cases nationwide!"

Overwhelmed with emotion, Mu Qingcheng knelt and performed the grandest salute: "Your humble servant Mu Qingcheng will certainly not fail in his mission, nor betray the Emperor's grace! Long live the Emperor!"

"Congratulations, Your Majesty, on the addition of another limb to your body! This is a blessing for Your Majesty and for the nation!"

"With the Ministry of Justice now having wings, Minister Qin has achieved his wish, which is truly cause for celebration!"

"Congratulations, Director Mu! We will be serving in the same court in the future. I hope you will be kind enough to offer your guidance!"

"..."

Amidst the celebratory cheers, the Emperor, beaming with delight, proclaimed, "Today, I shall bestow honors upon another! Mu Yan, the former Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, achieved outstanding political accomplishments during his tenure. To investigate the 'Shuiyunjian' and Bai Li cases, he resolutely resigned from his post and devoted himself to the work of a coroner for twelve years. Through his diligent and conscientious efforts, he finally solved the unsolved cases and restored justice to the law. He is truly a rare and loyal minister of our Great Zhou! Therefore, I have decided to invite Mu Yan back to court, appoint him as the head of the Censorate, and bestow upon him the title of Left Censor-in-Chief, a second-rank official!"

"Your humble servant Mu Yan kowtows to express his gratitude for Your Majesty's great favor!"

Mu Yan had thought that the emperor had summoned him to court to witness Mu Qingcheng's glorious appointment as a female official. Unexpectedly, the emperor also showed him great favor and gave him a pleasant surprise!
Mu Yan's promotion was well-deserved, and no official dared to object. They offered their heartfelt congratulations, once again causing a stir in the Golden Palace!
……

After the court session, the emperor summoned Mu Yan privately, and the emperor and his minister had a long chat behind closed doors.

The emperor veered from state affairs to personal matters, eventually bringing up the marriage of Song Shuyu and Mu Qingcheng.

Mu Yan finally understood that the emperor was personally involved to act as matchmaker for Song Shuyu!

"Minister Mu, you may not know this, but over the past year, I have personally witnessed Song Shuyu's devotion to your daughter. From the smallest details of daily life to planning for her future, he has poured his heart into everything. The two of them have gone through several life-and-death trials, and their relationship has remained strong. They support each other, which is truly admirable."

The Emperor's eyes gleamed with amusement as he continued, "Furthermore, Song Shuyu is exceptionally talented, of noble character, and of exceptional appearance. In recent years, countless noble ladies have sought to marry him. However, since the age of nine, he has been devoted to Mu Qingcheng, single-mindedly and chastely. Not long after their reunion last year, he petitioned me for an imperial decree to grant them marriage, and not just once. A few days ago, my decree of marriage was already written, but he worried that Mu Qingcheng might misunderstand and think he was using imperial power to force her. As for me, seeing his pitiful state, I couldn't help but want to say a few words of justice for him. I hope Mu Qingcheng can give him a chance."

After listening, Mu Yan remained silent for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty has troubled me with my daughter's marriage. I am unworthy of such consideration. I have a request that Your Majesty act as a witness and speak with the Song family in person."

The Emperor was delighted. "I grant it. There's no better time than now! Guards, immediately summon Duke Song, Song Shuxing, Song Shuyu, and Mu Qingcheng to see me!"

Soon, the four men entered the palace by imperial decree.

Mu Yan got straight to the point, "I, Mu Yan, have only one beloved daughter in my life, whom I cherish more than anything else. As for Qing'er's marriage, I have been extremely cautious and have considered many factors. The dowry I want is not gold, silver, jade, shops, or fertile land. Rather, it is that the son-in-law will not take concubines, will not pressure her to have children, will not interfere with or hinder my daughter's future, will not force my daughter to conform to the standards of a noblewoman, and my daughter will be free to marry and divorce as she pleases."

Overwhelmed with joy, Song Shuyu immediately knelt down and said, "Uncle Mu, I am willing to write a promise that if I break my promise, I will ask the Emperor to punish me for deceiving the Emperor!"

Mu Yan's expression relaxed slightly, but he remained extremely serious. "Let me make this clear from the start: your Duke's mansion is large, influential, and governed by strict rules. Qing'er has always been impulsive and unrestrained..."

“Uncle Mu, there’s no need to worry. My wife’s rules will be the rules of the Duke’s Mansion and the rules of the Song family from now on!” Song Shuyu spoke quickly and firmly.

Upon hearing this, the emperor nearly choked on his tea!

Mu Yan frowned. "Don't try to flatter me. You have elderly parents and an elder brother, the young master. How can you agree to things so casually?"

Mu Qingcheng was also surprised, but as a young woman, she was too embarrassed to interrupt and discuss her own marriage.

Unexpectedly, Song Yan said with a smile, "Brother Mu, don't worry. A Yu can make decisions for me and his brother. We will accept whatever A Yu promises. Moreover, our whole family likes Qing Cheng and will never let her suffer the slightest grievance."

“That’s right, in our Song family, A-Yu is the one who calls the shots.” Song Shuxing also expressed his opinion with a smile, and added with a sarcastic remark, “Therefore, we especially hope that Miss Qingcheng can marry into the Song family as soon as possible, so that there will be someone who can keep A-Yu in check.”

Mu Qingcheng blushed instantly.

But Song Shuyu was not ashamed, but proud. "Yes, yes, what you said is true. After we got married, I will be henpecked. If Qingcheng says one thing, I will never dare to say another!"

"Song Shuyu, shut up." Mu Qingcheng touched her forehead, speechless and embarrassed.

Song Shuyu nodded obediently, "Oh, okay."

Seeing this, the emperor was overjoyed. "Minister Mu, are you satisfied with this son-in-law?"

A smile finally appeared on Mu Yan's usually stern face. "This old minister thanks Your Majesty for acting as matchmaker. Please grant us the marriage!"

The following morning at court, the Minister of Personnel submitted a memorial stating that Song Shuyu's reforms and innovations in Jingzhao Prefecture had yielded remarkable results, and the Ministry of Personnel resolved to adopt them and promote them nationwide.

The Emperor grants permission!

After all matters were discussed, before the end of the court session, the emperor publicly read out the imperial edict bestowing the marriage, issued a decree throughout the country, and ordered the Minister of Rites to personally issue the marriage certificate and select an auspicious day for the wedding.

The Song and Mu families began preparing for the wedding in earnest.

On the day of the betrothal, Song Shuyu presented eighty-eight loads of valuable betrothal gifts, along with a signed and sealed letter of commitment.

On the same day, the Ministry of Personnel presented Mu Qingcheng with the official robes and seal of the Director of the Suspended Mirror Division of the Ministry of Justice, specially made for him, and respectfully invited him to take up his post.

Song Shuyu's long-cherished wish has been fulfilled, and he is overjoyed. "I have helped my virtuous wife achieve her ambitions, and she has granted me her wish to pass the imperial examination. My wife, my life is now complete."

Mu Qingcheng smiled through her tears, "For the rest of my life, my husband, please guide me."

Song Shuyu helped Mu Qingcheng change into her official robes and hat, straightened her clothes, took her hand, and personally escorted her to the Ministry of Justice to take up her new post.

The sky is clear and the sea is calm.

They walked through Huimin Street, past the girls' school, and through the long streets and alleys of Beijing.

The road ahead may be bright and smooth, or it may be full of thorns, but they move forward hand in hand, never afraid, never looking back...

- full text
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