Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 127 is all a scam
As Zhou Zhao was speaking, he heard a commotion coming from outside the mortuary.

She made a shushing gesture to Su Changying, and the two of them quietly pressed themselves against the corner of the wall.

“Shen Jianshen, you have truly disappointed me! I, Zhou Xuan, am not as capable as my brothers and sisters, but I have a clear conscience and can face heaven and earth with a clear conscience. My Zhou family is a family of the Court of Justice, and as long as I, Zhou Xuan, have any backbone, I will not do such a thing to harm others.”

It was Zhou Xuan's voice; she was clearly furious.

"If I were a prisoner, how could my little sister be the judge in court? It's not that I, Zhou Xuan, am soft-hearted, but who is Bao Chun'an to put my little sister in such a dilemma?"

At this moment, a harsh female voice suddenly rang out, "Zhou Xuan, since you married into my Shen family, you've always tried to outdo my son, and you're always so competitive!"

The person spoke with an annoying lilt, sounding exceptionally delicate. Zhou Zhao peeked out and, sure enough, saw Zhou Xuan's mother-in-law, Madam Bao. Her eyes were red and there were tears in the corners of her eyes. Although she was old, she was still beautiful and truly deserved the description of "a willow swaying in the breeze".
“I have tolerated Jian Shen’s affection for you. But over the years, you have neither produced any offspring for the Shen family nor agreed to help Jian Shen take a concubine.”

"Even so, I still tolerated it, but how could you be so jealous? Can you honestly say that this time, it wasn't because you saw that it was Chun'an's birthday and that Shen gave her a wolf-hair brush, that you spoke ill of her and drove her out of the manor, which led to this disaster?"

The first time, Chun'an was lucky enough to survive; but this second time… how am I supposed to explain this to her family? She was a perfectly healthy person when she was brought here, and she's just a skeleton when she gets back… Even now, you show no remorse whatsoever, just standing here and arguing with her.”

For a long time, none of the three spoke.

Zhou Zhao clenched his fist as he thought of Zhou Xuan's current gaunt appearance.

She knew that it was always her eldest sister who sheltered them from the storm, while she herself always reported good news and never bad.

"Who dares to make a loud noise in the Court of Justice?"

As Zhou Zhao spoke, he came out of the mortuary. Su Changying stood silently beside Zhou Zhao, holding a long sword in her hand, her eyes exceptionally sharp.

"The case of Bao Chun'an has not yet been investigated, but Madam Shen has already judged it for our Court of Justice. It seems that our Court of Justice Li's salary for this month should be sent to your Shen residence. Madam, remember to stamp it when you receive it, so that you won't ask for it later. The clerk who delivers the salary is not worthy of the name of embezzlement."

Madam Shen's eyes instantly reddened, and tears were about to fall.

She raised a finger and pointed it at Zhou Zhao's nose, her hand and mouth trembling incessantly, looking utterly pitiful.

Seeing this, Zhou Zhao secretly cursed Zhou Wan a couple of times. If this guy hadn't hidden his true nature at home, Zhou Xuan, who was used to being tormented by Zhou Wan at home, would have been able to deal with such a pretentious person!
People like her, who not only don't feel sorry for Zhou Wan, but also harbor resentment towards her, wanting to beat up anyone they see.

"The old lady is unable to speak and is trembling all over; it may be a sign of a stroke! Changying, go and invite the old coroner to give the old lady some acupuncture."

Shen Jianshen, who was standing to the side, finally reacted. He helped up Madam Shen and said to Su Changying, "Wait a moment."

Zhou Zhao's expression changed, and he snorted coldly, "So my brother-in-law has ears and a mouth!"

She wanted to say something more, but Zhou Xuan tugged at her sleeve and shook his head at her.

Zhou Zhao looked at Zhou Xuan's expression and fell silent instantly.

She was only thinking about coming out to avenge her sister, so that the old hag wouldn't drive a nail into her heart and pin the blame for Bao Chun'an's death on Zhou Xuan, making her feel guilty for the rest of her life.

However, as the eldest sister, she also needed to maintain her dignity and face in front of her younger siblings.

As Zhou Zhao was thinking, she saw Zhou Xuan smile at her and gently pat her head. "I'm fine. You should focus on investigating the case."

Zhou Zhao nodded and said nothing more. Instead, he called Min Zangzhi, and the group went to the room in front of the hall that was used for questioning.

"My sister and brother-in-law, please wait in the room next door for a moment. I'll ask Madam Shen first," Zhou Zhao said, glancing at Madam Shen before leading her into the room.

The courtroom is not far from here; you can hear the sound of the cane being struck and the cries of those being tortured through the walls.

Madam Shen glanced at Zhou Zhao, who had a serious expression, then at Min Zangzhi, who was holding a pen and preparing to record the confession, and then at Su Changying, who was sitting to the side with a dark face and holding a sword. Finally, she dared not put on her delicate appearance and sat down in a somewhat frightened manner.

“Madam Shen, before I begin my questioning, there is something I need to tell you. Every word you utter in this room is evidence in court, and giving false testimony will be a crime.”

Madam Shen pursed her lips and did not respond.

"What did Bao Chun'an say to you after she came back from staying out all night for the first time? Did she have any injuries?"

Zhou Zhao ignored her and asked directly.

“She came back and hugged me crying, saying that she had been harmed by someone. I only remember that after being beaten by Zhou Xuan, she left Dongshui in a huff and headed home. As she was walking, she suddenly felt footsteps behind her. She was a little scared, so she started to run. Then she was caught up and knocked unconscious from behind with a wooden stick.”

"I called a doctor I know well in the family..."

Zhou Zhao interrupted Madam Shen and asked seriously, "Which doctor is this? What is his name? Where does he practice?"

Madam Shen was startled and felt a chill run down her spine. "Doctor Xu has opened his own clinic called Ankang Medical Clinic."

"However, Chun'an absolutely refused to be examined, so in the end I had to ask Doctor Xu to prescribe some external medicine, and then I had my personal maid Liu apply it to her. Her body was covered in bruises, and her clothes had been changed; she had... lost her virginity."

As she spoke, Madam Shen lowered her head and touched the tip of her nose.

Watching Madam Shen's actions, Zhou Zhao said thoughtfully, "Did you give her contraceptive soup later?"

Madam Shen was startled, then nodded, "I'll drink it!"

Zhou Zhao slammed his hand on the table, startling Zhou Xuan and Shen Jianshen who were waiting in the next room. Shen Jianshen immediately came out and leaned close to the door. Zhou Xuan reached out to pull him, but couldn't budge him, so she stood next to him as well.

“You need to explain clearly which doctor prescribed the medicine, who prepared it, and who gave it to Bao Chun’an.”

Madam Shen was startled and stammered, "It was a prescription written by Physician Xu, and my personal maid, Granny Liu, personally brewed it and fed it to Chun'an."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhao nodded without changing his expression, "General Su, send someone to invite Physician Xu over..."

Madam Shen quickly waved her hand, then hurriedly corrected herself, "I was mistaken! It wasn't prescribed by Physician Xu; it was something we already had at home."

Zhou Zhao gave Madam Shen a meaningful look. "Oh, Zhou Xuan doesn't need contraceptive soup. Then who is the contraceptive soup you keep at home for?"

Madam Shen's face changed drastically, and she panicked instantly, stammering, "I...I...I..."

Zhou Zhao looked at her coldly, "Bao Chun'an was not in any trouble at the East River. You two conspired to deceive Zhou Xuan."

Bao Chun'an has not lost her innocence, so you never even considered giving her a contraceptive soup.

When I asked you earlier, you couldn't answer that there were no arrangements, because even if you forgot, the servants around you wouldn't.

"Madam Shen, I advise you to think carefully before you speak. After all, every word you say here is recorded and verifiable."