"Where did this girl come from? This is no place for you!"
As soon as Yue Qing stepped into the mortuary, she was stopped.
She had intended to introduce herself as usual and then painstakingly argue that she, too, could examine the corpses. But before she could even speak, the guard beside her pressed his blade against the neck of the man who had spoken.
"How dare you disrespect the coroner under the command of Her Highness the Junzhu?"
"So it's the coroner sent by the Junzhu! This old fool failed to recognize your esteemed status." The old man immediately changed his tone, even bowing as he invited Yue Qing inside. "Please, come in."
Yue Qing paused briefly before striding into the examination room. This time, the entire autopsy proceeded without interruption.
Even the county coroner willingly assisted her.
"Do you always write the autopsy report yourself, miss?"
Yue Qing nodded. No one had ever offered to help her.
"I'm done. Restore the body to its original state." Not wanting to dwell on personal matters, Yue Qing stitched up the corpse, gathered her things, and left the mortuary.
Behind her, the old man turned to the young coroner and asked slowly, "What do you think of the coroner sent by the Junzhu?"
"Her skills in autopsy are beyond my reach." The young coroner frowned, as if recalling something. "But... I wonder if her report matches the conclusions you previously wrote."
"You haven't even begun conducting autopsies independently—of course you can't compare." The old man's eyes held an inscrutable depth the young coroner couldn't decipher. "Go pack your things and leave."
"Leave?"
"Leave Qingshui County."
The old man's back seemed to hunch even further. He could tell—this girl moved with practiced ease. She must have uncovered the discrepancies he had deliberately concealed.
......
"Junzhu, it's true that Wang Dazhu and his wife died from knife wounds, but the previous autopsy report omitted the direction of the fatal cuts."
Yue Qing spoke calmly and methodically. "The angles of the wounds on the couple's bodies indicate there were two killers."
"The person who killed Wang Dazhu must have been shorter than him, and the one who killed his wife must have been shorter than her as well. Zheng Fang is taller than Wang Dazhu—he couldn't possibly be the murderer." Yue Qing's gaze sharpened. "Moreover, there was at least half an hour between their deaths. The witness's account doesn't match the facts."
"Impressive."
Shen Qingping nodded as he read the report. "No wonder the Junzhu chose you. Her judgment has never been wrong."
Even back when she stood before the imperial court to choose a father, her sharp eyes had unerringly picked the prince.
"Thank you for your praise, Lord Shen."
Yue Qing showed no trace of bashfulness at the compliment, standing tall and composed.
Her demeanor, however, drew a second glance from Song Shihuan.
"With this report, Zheng Fang's name can be cleared."
Song Shihuan smiled faintly. "Now, all that's left is to find the real killers."
"That’s my specialty. Leave it to me."
Shen Qingping tucked away the report. "No need to dirty the Junzhu's hands with such scum."
After Shen Qingping left, Song Shihuan studied Yue Qing.
"I can help you become the finest coroner in Great Qi."
"Yue Qing is at your service, Junzhu."
From the day she chose to inherit her grandfather's legacy and become a coroner, she had assumed no one would ever look at her with respect.
But now, she had met someone who did.
She had met her benefactor in this life.
......
"Open your dog eyes wide and read this—the autopsy report."
Nian'an forcibly pried Zhao Zhi's eyelids open while Shen Qingping held the report inches from his face.
"Release him."
In less time than it took for half an incense stick to burn, Zheng Fang was freed from his cell.
A crowd of townsfolk, unaware of the truth, gathered outside the prison, whispering and pointing at Zheng Fang. But the moment they spotted Shen Qingping, they scattered in fear, retreating into their homes.
They had all heard the rumors—this young Lord Shen wielded immense power in the court, a ruthless figure whose word was law.
"This humble commoner pays respects to Lord Shen. Thank you, Junzhu and my lord, for saving me."
"You shouldn't thank me."
Shen Qingping's expression darkened. "Do you know Guo Feng?"
Zheng Fang blinked in confusion. "Yes... he's my sworn brother."
Shen Qingping chuckled. "He staked his life to vouch for your innocence. Then Lord Ye submitted a memorial to the capital, which is why the Junzhu and I came to Qingshui County."
"To deliver justice for you."
"Brother Guo... went so far for me?" Zheng Fang's eyes welled with tears.
"Indeed." This man must have had ancestors who burned the finest incense—to have caught the eye of Great Qi's Crown Prince.
"If you're grateful, then earn a high rank in the provincial exams."
Join the court soon and share some of the workload.
Spare him from being the prince's sole target for tasks.
"This humble man will not fail Brother Guo's kindness."
After Zheng Fang left, Shen Qingping glanced at the prison before heading to the Zhao residence with Nian'an.
"I demand to see the second madam of this household."
Fifteen minutes later, Madam Zheng stood before Shen Qingping, accompanied by Zhao Zhi—summoned back home—and his younger brother, Zhao Yao.
"Lord Shen, if you wished to see Madam Zheng, this lowly official could have brought her to you. There was no need for you to trouble yourself with a visit." Zhao Zhi, still recovering from his injuries, couldn't stand straight and hunched over with an ingratiating smile.
"You're the witness from that day?"
Ignoring Zhao Zhi, Shen Qingping addressed Madam Zheng directly.
"Yes, my lord."
"Take her away. Bring her to the execution ground where Zheng Fang was nearly punished, and prepare a whip." Shen Qingping's smile was at odds with his chilling words. "I will flog this lying woman."
"No—you can't—!" Zhao Zhi and Zhao Yao tried to intervene but were swiftly pinned to the ground by guards.
Madam Zheng was dragged off without ceremony.
Before leaving, Shen Qingping turned back to Zhao Yao, studying him. "You seem a bit shorter than Wang Dazhu."
"Take him too."
......
The execution grounds were once again surrounded by onlookers—this time, by Shen Qingping's order.
"You have no evidence to arrest me or my wife! Are all high-ranking officials as lawless as you?" Zhao Yao struggled furiously, his face flushed with humiliation.
"Can't speak for others, but I certainly am."
Seated on the raised platform, Shen Qingping exuded an air of arrogant indifference, every bit the tyrant.
So what? He was no benevolent saint.
Toying with the punishment token in his hand, Shen Qingping continued, "The coroner examined the bodies of Wang Dazhu and his wife. Madam Zheng's testimony was pure fabrication. Neither of you holds an official rank—I can beat you as I please. Even if I kill you, the Emperor won't blame me. Why should I care?"
"Begin the flogging."
"Don't kill them. Make it hurt, but keep them conscious."
Shen Qingping spoke lazily, even offering a mockingly kind glance at Zhao Yao and Madam Zheng. "I’ve even prepared physicians for you. Don’t worry—you won’t die."
Lash after lash fell.
When the two were barely clinging to life, Shen Qingping delivered another shocking order:
"Something’s missing. Bring their son here and whip him too."
Instantly, Madam Zheng's resolve shattered:
"My son is preparing for the provincial exams! He’s a scholar—you can’t touch him!"
