Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 78 - 77: Absolutely Not

Zhuang Zhi was simply answering Lu Qing’s question, but his response seemed like a slap to the Capital Governor’s face, making Lord Wu’s expression even more displeased.

"In that case, it’s easy to handle." Lu Qing smiled, turning to pull Zhu Yu from behind him and said to the Capital Governor, "This is the Chief Historian from my mansion, who is quite skilled in autopsy.

If Lord Wu trusts him, why not let him assist with the examination?

Perhaps the corpse of Miss Zhuang can directly tell us whether General Cao’s nephew is the real murderer?"

Cao Chenfeng had no previous dealings with Lu Qing, only knowing he was Prince Xiaoyao and seemingly had little contact with his own uncle, unexpected that he would speak up at this critical moment.

He quickly looked towards his uncle to see his stance on the matter.

Cao Tianbao was equally astonished, furrowing his brow at Lu Qing, seemingly trying to guess what his true intentions were.

The others also looked at Lu Qing in surprise. Everyone knew that the Duke Yan faction and Prince Xiaoyao were usually at odds, so they weren’t sure if Lu Qing’s intervention was to help Cao Tianbao or to add insult to injury.

It was instead Duke Yan, Zhao Bi, who focused his gaze on Zhu Yu’s face. He recognized her as the one who saved the poisoned guard on Lu Qing’s wedding night and snorted disdainfully.

Cao Tianbao hadn’t spoken yet, but Zhuang Zhi voiced his objection first.

He wiped his tears and sobbed, "Absolutely not! My poor daughter, an unmarried girl who lived a chaste life!

She was deceived and manipulated due to her naivety, which was shameful enough!

Now that she has suffered a tragic fate, killed by the knife, and the coroner from Jingzhao Mansion has already examined her, how can I, as her father, allow another man to examine her body?

This must not happen!"

Lu Qing ignored him and merely looked towards the Capital Governor and Cao Tianbao.

The Capital Governor felt that in all his years of service, he had never been so troubled as he was today.

"General Cao..." He tentatively called Cao Tianbao.

Cao Tianbao had been deep in thought, his fierce eyes landing on Zhu Yu. Like Duke Yan, he recognized Zhu Yu as the one who acted during the wedding banquet.

However, his attitude differed from Duke Yan’s. He slightly loosened his frown and asked Zhu Yu, "Are you the person who revived the guard at Prince Yi’s wedding banquet?"

Zhu Yu quickly cupped her hands in salute: "Reporting to General Cao, it was indeed me."

In her view, this matter could likely be clarified by examining the corpse, but these people had their own agendas and were unwilling to address the issue directly.

Given Cao Tianbao’s earlier attitude towards Lu Qing, Zhu Yu had initially suppressed her curiosity about the truth, wanting only to watch from the sidelines. But unexpectedly, Lu Qing had spoken up and pushed her to the forefront.

She would ponder his motives later, as she truly wished to see how Miss Zhuang had died.

"Good! I was also present that day; I saw that you indeed have some skill and aren’t just a pretender!" Cao Tianbao also cupped his hands towards Zhu Yu, "So today, please help with the examination!

If the death of the Zhuang family’s daughter is unrelated to my inept nephew, he cannot bear the blame for murder wrongly.

But if he is indeed guilty, then he shall be dealt with according to the law, and I will not cover for him in the slightest! Everyone present today is a witness!"

The Capital Governor quietly breathed a sigh of relief, nodding gratefully to Lu Qing. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"No! No, no!" Even though Cao Tianbao had spoken frankly, Zhuang Zhi remained stubborn, "If you all wish to see, then look at the records from the coroner’s examination!

My daughter died so tragically; why must you further humiliate her?"

"Your words are mistaken, Boss Zhuang." Lu Qing had an indifferent tone as if he were a detached observer, "You assert that Cao Chenfeng is the murderer of your daughter, but beyond the fact that he had an affair with her and met her the night before her death, do you have any other evidence?

That maid, what’s her name? Are you certain that after Cao Chenfeng left the embroidery tower, your young lady was already dead?"

"The servant’s name is Little, Little Tao’er." The maid Little Tao’er hastily shook her head, "The servant only knows that man left in a panic and did not go upstairs to check afterward, not knowing if the young lady was dead or alive at the time."

Zhuang Zhi couldn’t answer Lu Qing’s question and remained silent, full of grief and indignation.

"Therefore, whether Cao Chenfeng is the true murderer still needs confirmation.

If your goal was to frame General Cao’s nephew as the murderer, then insist on your claim and do not relent.

If your intention is to find the real murderer and you wrongly accuse Cao Chenfeng, the real killer of your daughter remains at large." Lu Qing reminded Zhuang Zhi.

Zhuang Zhi hadn’t expected such words and hurriedly said, "I have no grudge against General Cao, just a small businessman in the Capital, why would I falsely accuse his nephew for no reason?

I only want my daughter not to be repeatedly viewed and shamed after her tragic death..."

Lu Qing waved his fan leisurely and spoke to Zhuang Zhi, "If you consider your daughter’s honor more important than the truth, you should have concealed all the truth from the beginning, found some excuse such as a sudden illness, and secretly buried her, claiming she died of illness.

In that way, your daughter would have had a good name until death.

But now that you’ve drawn this attention, everyone knows Miss Zhuang was having an affair with General Cao’s nephew; her reputation is already tarnished, and claiming you’re worried about her honor now sounds evasive, leaving people puzzled about your motives."

His words made Zhuang Zhi’s face turn pale and red; he nearly ground his teeth to dust, yet every point hit home, leaving him unable to retort.

Lu Qing didn’t give him a chance to speak, adding nonchalantly, "If you are indifferent to the truth of your daughter’s murder, others won’t care either.

In the worst case, General Cao’s family is shamed, and securing no explanation, Cao Chenfeng is dismissed as the suspected murderer."

His blunt truth was unpleasant, and Cao Tianbao couldn’t help but snort, turning his face aside.

Left with no reasonable ground to oppose the autopsy, Zhuang Zhi’s eyes reddened as he stomped his foot, "Fine, fine! Examine it! I only hope to bring the real murderer of my daughter to justice; nothing else matters!"