A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 9 Why not?

Jingzhao Mansion.

The atmosphere inside the council hall of the former government office was heavier than ever before.

Li Mu has disappeared, Liu Changqing, the Ningyuan General of the Liu family, is seriously ill and bedridden, Madam Liu has returned to her hometown to visit her family, Liu Xiao, the second son of the Liu family, stays by his father's bedside to take care of him, and Liu Xiao's wife, Huang, has been divorced...

It's pitiful that after Li Yunyao died, not a single person came to identify her body!
The news that Song Li brought back was truly speechless.

After careful consideration, Song Shuyu left Zhang, the registrar, Liu, the constable, and others to continue their duties, while he led his men to take the deceased back to the yamen.

Dou Changwen, the compiler, entered from outside the hall and presented a list to Song Shuyu, saying, "Sir, after verification, our Jingzhao Prefecture has confirmed that there is no record of Liu Pei's death!"

"Hmm." Song Shuyu asked as she looked at the document, "Has the person sent to the Ministry of Personnel returned?"

"Not yet."

"Take this official's decree and borrow people from the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review. Find the best old women in those two departments who are skilled at examining women's pregnancies."

"Yes, my lord!"

Before long, the clerk returned and presented the Ministry of Personnel with an official document requesting leave from Li Mu. After reading it, Song Shuyu frowned deeply. "Li Mu actually requested a ten-day leave! Today is the last day of his leave, and he is supposed to go to the Hanlin Academy to work tomorrow, but the steward of the Li residence said that Li Mu has disappeared from the residence?"

Mu Qingcheng, lacking official rank, was originally unqualified to participate in the meeting, but Song Shuyu valued her and made an exception, allowing her to attend. She sat at the very back as an observer, and upon hearing this, she couldn't help but speak up: "We can only search the mansion. As for the Liu family, since no one is cooperating, we'll go there ourselves!"

Song Shuyu pondered for a moment, then his sharp gaze fixed on Mu Qingcheng, "If I were to send you to the Liu family's door, would you dare?"

Upon hearing this, officials of all ranks in the hall turned to look. Was it appropriate to send a woman without official rank to the general's mansion to inquire? Were they sure she wouldn't be thrown out by the general's mansion?
However, Mu Qingcheng smiled leisurely, "Why wouldn't I dare?"

Her clear pupils radiated an undeniable confidence. Song Shuyu immediately untied the token from his waist and slammed it on the table. "Coroner Mu, I'm giving you authority. You can arrange your own time to go to the Liu family, who you take, how many people you bring, and what methods you use to interrogate whom—it's all up to you."

Mu Qingcheng stepped forward, accepted the token, and bowed respectfully, saying, "This subordinate obeys!"

"Captain Jiang, take the patrol dogs and search the Li residence immediately!"

"I accept my order from my humble position!"

The head constable, Jiang Zhan, quickly left.

Facing the assembled officials, Song Shuyu declared emphatically, "This case is of utmost importance; the Emperor himself may intervene. Therefore, you must all exert your utmost efforts to solve it as soon as possible! When the time comes, I will reward everyone for their contributions!"

"Yes, sir!" The crowd rose, their morale soaring.
-
The morgue at the South Prison.

The Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review sent five midwives. To prevent collusion, Mu Qingcheng arranged for them to take turns conducting independent examinations, while she supervised them. After the examinations were completed, the results were summarized one by one.

As expected, everyone's verification results were consistent with Dr. Yunci's: the deceased was pregnant, four months along.

After learning about it, Song Shuyu remained silent for a long time.

Mu Qingcheng left a midwife behind to help with the follow-up examination.

By this time, the deceased had been dead for more than four hours, his body was completely cold, and the stench of death was becoming increasingly noticeable.

Mu Qingcheng burned some Atractylodes lancea and soapberry, and only after the smell dissipated did she approach the deceased, remove all of the deceased's clothes, and record the number, color, style, and material of each item.

(End of this chapter)