A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 51 Playing
Seeing that her expression was off, Liu Heng immediately asked, "What's wrong? Is there a problem with the conversation?"

"No," Mu Qingcheng said with a smile.

Liu Heng was speechless. "Then what did you mean by raising your eyebrows just now?"

Mu Qingcheng praised without reservation, "As expected of Constable Liu, you have a keen eye for people. These four people's conversation went back and forth, with questions and answers, and it certainly seemed flawless. However, Constable Liu, don't you think their conversation was a bit too deliberate? They talked about a chicken missing from the Liu family's kitchen, about the Liu family's garden manager buying a few seedlings of poor quality but falsely reporting the cost at twice the amount, about the chaos in the household affairs, about the death of the first wife, the divorce of the second wife, and the old lady's poor health, fearing that no one would manage the household. They even talked about how the groom stole the best fodder to resell for extra money!"

"Could it be..." Liu Heng still couldn't react after listening, "Shouldn't they be gossiping about the host family?"

Mu Qingcheng narrowed her almond-shaped eyes slightly, her voice turning colder, "It's not that we shouldn't gossip about our master's affairs, but that we've been doing it far too much! Officer Liu, you've arrested and interrogated countless people. Have you ever seen anyone who, after entering prison, doesn't worry about their own situation or whether their family can handle it, instead carelessly chatting and laughing with others to pass the time?"

"Yes!"

Liu Heng slapped his thigh and said excitedly, "Anyone who goes into jail, whether they are guilty or not, cries and shouts to get out. But when their voices are hoarse and they have no strength left, they lie on the ground like a lump of mud, groaning in despair. Who has the mood to care about others then?"

Mu Qingcheng sneered, "So, they colluded beforehand, knew someone was watching, and deliberately put on a show for us!"

"You bastards! I'll torture them and see if their mouths are tougher, or my whip is tougher!"

Enraged, Liu Heng stormed into the interrogation room!

The man who hunts eagles every day has his eyes pecked by an eagle himself. How can he not be angry? He was set up without realizing it, but Mu Qingcheng, a mere coroner, discovered the trick. He lost face, so how can he not vent his anger by whipping them a few times?
However, just as Liu Heng took the whip off the wall, his arm was grabbed!
Mu Qingcheng reminded him, "Officer Liu, the magistrate forbids forced confessions. Don't make a mistake!"

"How can we deal with such troublemakers without using torture?" Constable Liu's face flushed red, and veins bulged on his forehead.

Mu Qingcheng smiled, “They’re not troublemakers; they’re well-trained servants who know how to handle interrogations. Their indentures are in the hands of their masters, and their descendants are all slaves to them. Even if they give their lives for their masters, it’s their honor. So, even if you beat them to death, you won’t get anything out of them. Instead, you’ll be accused of torture and forced confessions, causing the deaths of innocent people! At that time, the Liu family will file a lawsuit with the Ministry of Justice. You’ll not only lose your job, but you’ll also lose your head. And your superiors will be implicated, accused of lax governance!”

Liu Heng froze on the spot, cold sweat pouring down his face. He stared blankly at Mu Qingcheng, his lips opening and closing, but he couldn't utter a sound for a long time!

How could he have imagined that his momentary impulse would cause such serious consequences!
Seeing this, Mu Qingcheng sighed slightly: "Captain Liu, if you trust me, let me give it a try. But I need your cooperation. Since they can put on a show for us, why can't we put on a show for them?"

See you tomorrow, my darlings!
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(End of this chapter)