A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 96 Discovers New Clues
Song Shuyu laughed in anger. What a cunning girl! Did she think he hadn't learned martial arts and was so easily fooled? With her level of martial arts skill, how could she have just learned a few moves casually? If it were only for self-defense, her palm strikes could be deadly.

Fine, since she doesn't want to be honest, then he won't ask. There's plenty of time; they'll eventually open up to each other. However, he still wanted to tease her, to see how she tried to hide her nervousness and handle the situation carefully.

So he casually continued the conversation: "How has your father been these years? He's all alone in Wuzhou, with no one to take care of him. I'm afraid he's having a hard time."

Mu Qingcheng had just picked up her teacup, wanting to moisten her dry throat, when she heard these words, her fingers trembled slightly, and she almost spilled the tea.

But in a moment, she calmed herself down and replied, "Thank you for your concern, sir. My father is in good health and rarely has any worries. Although I have been away from home for three years, we have been corresponding regularly."

"Now that you have taken up a post in the Jingzhao Prefecture, you have settled down in the capital. Why not bring your father here and fulfill your filial duties as a child?"

Song Shuyu offered sincere advice, even considering her options for refusal: "If you are worried about your father's job, the Jingzhao Prefecture, the Dali Temple, or the Ministry of Justice—whichever government office your father wants to work for, I can arrange it for him."

Mu Qingcheng was stunned. Her lips twitched, and she said with a wry smile, "My lord, isn't your concern for your subordinate a bit too much? How could I, your humble servant, be worthy of such favor from you?"

"Doesn't Coroner Mu want to reunite with his father?" Song Shuyu asked in surprise. "The joy of family reunion is only natural!"

Mu Qingcheng took a deep breath. She had to divert the adults' attention, otherwise, with their persistent and nagging nature, they would eventually uncover her background!

Just then, a voice rang out from outside the door: "My lord, this humble servant Lin Fu has official business to report!"

Mu Qingcheng was overjoyed. Without waiting for Song Shuyu's consent, he quickly got up, opened the door to the inner room, and greeted him with a smile: "Secretary Lin, the master invites you!"

Lin Shuban felt his breath catch and his heart beat faster for no reason. He hurriedly bowed and said, "Thank you, Coroner Mu."

Song Shuyu's large hand holding the teacup slowly tightened, and the tremor in Lin Fu's voice, however slight, could not escape the ears of a martial arts practitioner.

Fortunately, Mu Qingcheng was oblivious to matters of the heart. She was completely unaware of the situation and only thought that Secretary Lin was truly her lucky star, arriving at just the right time!
"Coroner Mu, come here!"

However, Song Shuyu did not let her off the hook. He patted the back of the chair next to him, a smile on his lips, but his tone was one of command that left no room for refusal!

Mu Qingcheng had no choice but to turn back and sit down next to Song Shuyu.

Upon entering and seeing this scene, Lin Shuban paused for a moment before slowly stepping forward, cupping his hands in greeting, and saying, "This humble servant Lin Fu greets Your Excellency!"

Song Shuyu smiled gently, "No need for formalities. I wonder what Secretary Lin has found out?"

Lin, the clerk, presented the case file with both hands. "Reporting to Your Excellency, I have interrogated the servants of the Li household. This is their statement record. Please take a look."

"Is there anything unusual or any new discovery?" Song Shuyu asked as he flipped through the case files.

Lin Shuban said with delight, "The testimonies of the servants in the Li household confirm that the old steward's statement is true. However, Qing Shu, the maid who served Li Mu, has provided a new clue!"

"What clue?" Mu Qingcheng's eyes suddenly lit up.

Speaking of the achievements, Lin Shuban was in high spirits, a faint smile appearing on his face. "Qing Shu said that on the night of September 9th, Li Mu stayed alone in his study for two hours, not allowing anyone to approach him. So, when Li Mu first entered the study, Qing Shu brought him a bowl of ginseng soup and a pot of tea. Near midnight, when Li Mu came out of the study, Qing Shu was helping him to bed when he smelled a peanut scent on Li Mu's breath!"

Mu Qingcheng stood up abruptly, her voice tight, "Qingshu means that the person who entered the study was Li Mu, but the person who left the study might be an imposter!" Lin Shuban nodded, "Yes. Qingshu has served Li Mu closely for many years and knows him better than anyone else. Li Mu's peanut allergy is a secret known to both Qingshu and the old steward, so it's absolutely impossible for peanuts to appear in the food supplied to Li Mu at the Li residence!"

Song Shuyu tapped the table lightly with his fingers, his expression cold and stern. "It seems there's something fishy about Li Mu's study; it's worth investigating!"

"Li Mu's body was only found six days after he went missing. I'm afraid that during those six days, his study was entered and exited many times. The traces from that night are probably long gone." Mu Qingcheng couldn't help but sigh.

Lin Shuban turned to the side and looked at Mu Qingcheng, saying, "Indeed, the old steward searched every nook and cranny of the Li residence in order to find Li Mu, but he never thought of the courtyard behind the latrine."

Song Shuyu tried his best to suppress his displeasure. This clerk, a mere scholar, had no sense at all? How dare he covet his fiancée? He might as well gouge his eyes out!

With new developments in the case, Mu Qingcheng was extremely excited. "My lord, when do we depart?"

After she finished speaking, she noticed the coldness in the adult's eyes, as if there was a hint of resentment in them!

However, Song Shuyu changed his expression very quickly, immediately reverting to his usual gentle and refined demeanor, and said with a smile, "Secretary Lin, you've worked hard. Go back and rest early. Coroner Mu, let's set off immediately."

"Yes, Your Excellency, thank you for your concern!" Lin, the clerk, wanted to go with him, but seeing the resolute expression on the lord's face, he ultimately didn't dare to say anything against his will.

……

Having learned from past experiences of being followed, Song Shuyu, not wanting to alert the enemy, only took Mu Qingcheng, Jiang Zhan, and Zhang Zhubu to investigate the Li residence at night.

The servants of the Li family were all imprisoned in the mansion and guarded by constables on a rotating basis.

Therefore, apart from the rustling of the lanterns, the entire mansion was quiet and still.

The four of them went straight to the study.

Mu Qingcheng had the constable bring in her maid, Qingshu.

She had already spoken with the old housekeeper, and that was about all the information she could get out of him. Qing Shu was young and meticulous, and his understanding of the study should be better than that of the old housekeeper.

Upon arriving at the study door, while the constables were unlocking it, Mu Qingcheng asked, "Qingshu, after Li Mu disappeared, who has entered or left the study?"

Qing Shu, as expected of a head maid, was composed and dignified. She curtsied and said, "Reporting to the official, the master's study is a highly confidential place in the mansion. Among the servants, only the steward and the maids are qualified to enter and exit."

"Did you and the butler touch anything in the study?"

“I’ve prepared the ginseng soup and tea set, but I haven’t touched anything else. Master is very strict; without permission, no one may touch a single book, not even to dust it.”

Upon hearing this, Mu Qingcheng breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the traces hadn't been destroyed too much, and there was still hope of finding some clues.

Thank you for your support, my darlings! See you in the next chapter!

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(End of this chapter)