Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 14 The Clues End
Zhou Zhaotong and Han Ze had a close relationship a month before the Shanming Changyang case occurred.

She stripped the man of his robes and hung him on a tree, then sent birds to peck at his buttocks.

At that time, Zhou Buhai was still the spirited and dashing Minister of Justice. He roared like a lion and chased after her with a thorny branch, whipping her a full eighteen times.

However, ten of those eighteen blows were delivered to Su Changying, and eight to Zhou Yan.

When Han Ze saw Zhou Zhao again, his buttocks still hurt a little. He leaned against the door frame, revealing his fair face, and his voice trembled slightly. "Sister Zhao, why did you send Fifteen to call me here? I went to Chunfeng Tower this time. It was all consensual, and there was absolutely no harassment."

Heaven knows he was lying on his comfortable bed when he suddenly heard a knock on the door. When he opened it, he saw Zhou Shiwu, whom he hadn't seen for many years.

The nightmare came crashing down like a tidal wave, and I sobered up instantly.

The beautiful woman who followed behind him suddenly grew a sharp beak, just like the bird that had pecked at him years ago, which almost made him lose his mind.

Chunfeng Tower wasn't far from Wujin Lane. Zhou Shiwu drove his carriage like a dragon, and before he was even ready, Zhou Zhao's familiar phoenix eyes came into view.

To be honest, even without Su Changying and Zhou Yan, Zhou Zhao has reformed and his father has now been promoted to the position of Minister of the Imperial Household. He still has only one word for him: fear!
Seeing Zhou Zhao looking over, Han Ze wisely changed his address, "Zhao... Sister..."

The last two words were uttered in a barely audible whisper. Han Ze closed his eyes, his face turning red to the roots of his ears.

The person in front of me is beautiful, but so beautiful it makes me want to die.

Wujin Lane was completely silent; even Min Zangzhi, who was standing nearby, forgot to laugh out loud.

Enraged, Han Ze gouged out everyone in the courtyard and stared wide-eyed at Zhou Zhao.

Zhou Zhao shifted his gaze and asked Linglan, who was kneeling on the ground, again, "Look carefully, is the person who made an appointment with Zhang Ruoqing last night Han Ze, the Fifth Young Master Han?"

With her face swollen, Linglan turned her head to look at the door and nodded heavily.

Han Ze gasped when he saw her horrific state. He was startled and his eyes darted around frantically. When he saw the bloodstains on the floor that had not yet been cleaned up, and the tangled ropes that looked like a spider web, his heart began to pound.

"Han Ze, what were you doing last night? Did you see Zhang Ruoqing in this courtyard?"

Han Ze was jolted awake, his mind going blank for a moment. He didn't care about anything else and rushed in, anxiously walking up to Zhou Zhao. "Zhou Zhao, when I first arrived, I heard the girls in Chunfeng Pavilion talking about a murder case."

"What murder case? Could it be Zhang Ruoqing... You all think I'm the murderer, right?"

Han Ze panicked. He had gotten up in such a hurry that he hadn't even fastened his robes properly. Now, in his frantic state, his clothes were undone, and he looked rather disheveled.

“Zhou Zhao, Sister Zhao, you know me. I have no skills and I'm timid. Although I usually rely on my father's power and have a fondness for beautiful women, I haven't dared to harass decent girls on the street since you taught me a lesson.”

"How could I possibly kill someone! My father is powerful and my mother is rich. As long as I don't make any mistakes, I'll live a life of luxury and have as many beauties as I want. Why would I be so foolish as to kill Zhang Ruoqing?"

Seeing this, Zhou Zhao frowned slightly and avoided Han Ze's outstretched hand.

"Han Ze, I advise you not to beat around the bush. Zhang Ruoqing is dead."

Although Han Ze had a guess in his mind, when Zhou Zhao confirmed it, his pupils shrank sharply and his breathing became heavy.

He took a deep breath, recalled Zhou Zhao's question, and shook his head, "I didn't come to see Zhang Ruoqing last night!"

"Zhang Ruoqing invited me to Wujin Lane, but I didn't want to come in the first place. There are crows in this old locust tree!"

Ever since that incident, he's been afraid of anything with a pointed beak! He even forbids embroidering mandarin ducks on his lover's bedchamber.

"It started raining heavily in the evening, and Juanniang kept pestering me, so I couldn't go out. Juanniang was a courtesan at Chunfeng Tower, the fairest-skinned one."

Han Ze racked his brains trying to recall something, then, as if he had just thought of something, he started gesturing wildly.

“Everyone in Chunfeng Tower can testify to me that I was there all night. Ah, I even saw Chen Yin and Huo Ting. I don’t remember what time it was, but it was during the rain, and they were sitting opposite me.”

Chen Yin and Huo Ting were both prominent noble scions in Chang'an, and Zhou Zhao knew them. Han Ze didn't offer any further explanation. Zhou Zhao seemed thoughtful upon hearing this.

Han Ze has witnesses. If he wasn't lying, and he indeed didn't come to Wujin Lane to see Zhang Ruoqing last night, then who was the uninvited guest?
The trail went cold.

"Zhou Zhao, Sister Zhao, you can go ask her! That damned man! I'm truly innocent!"

Zhou Zhao's eyes flickered, and he looked at Han Ze, who looked anxious, and asked, "Why did Zhang Ruoqing invite you to Wujin Lane? She brought a wooden box to see you, and the box is full of the names of your old acquaintances."

According to Han Ze, he didn't come on a whim.

So Zhang Ruoqing's preparations were still aimed at Han Ze. What kind of shady secret did they have that required using wooden plaques engraved with people's names?

Han Ze stiffened, his mouth shut as he protested his innocence. He looked around, especially at Zhang Xun several times, before muttering under his breath, "Does it have to be said here? I..."

As Han Ze spoke, his gaze drifted toward the tightly closed side room.

He pursed his lips, and before Zhou Zhao could answer, he looked at her seriously, his voice even softer, "Let's go inside and talk."

Zhou Zhao nodded, turned around, pushed open the door to the side room, and went in first.

Han Ze breathed a sigh of relief and hopped in after him.

Min Zangzhi and Zhu Li were both examiners, so they followed like shadows. But Zhang Xun, taking advantage of his slender build, managed to squeeze in the moment the door closed.

Chen Yuzhao was left with mixed feelings as he looked at the tightly closed door. Why was Master Zhou still teaching behind closed doors?
He steadied himself and sighed almost imperceptibly, "Let's continue examining the scene. We can't keep being led around by Zhou Zhao."

He also has his own skills that he is proud of.

Zhou Zhao was simply too dazzling.

The former Zhou Yan was a gentle and refined gentleman, as bright as the moon, while the current Zhou Zhao is as fiery as the sun, indifferent to the lives of others.

“Speak,” Zhou Zhao said coldly.

Han Ze glanced at Zhang Xun, gritted his teeth, and said in a low voice, "Zhang Ruoqing invited me to Wujin Lane, firstly to repay the money, and secondly to spend some money."

Everyone in the room was stunned. Before Zhou Zhao could ask any more questions, Zhang Xun was already furious.

"Impossible! Our Zhang family has never shortchanged Ruoqing on her expenses! Even if she needs money, as long as she asks, we brothers will empty our own pockets to give her all the money."

Han Ze glanced at Zhang Xun with sympathy. He didn't have any childhood nightmares to worry about when it came to other people. He chuckled.

"Hey, does your Zhang family really think Zhang Ruoqing is some kind of obedient and virtuous little sister?"

Seeing Zhang Xun's fury, Han Ze shuddered and slipped behind Zhou Zhao.

"If you don't believe me, just go to Fuxiao Garden and Haitang Tower and ask!"

Fuxiao Garden, Haitang Tower...

Zhang Xun's face paled. Just before Han Ze arrived, Linglan had also mentioned these two places, so what Han Ze said might not be false.

"Impossible, my younger sister is well-behaved and sensible, she..."

Zhang Xun's voice caught in his throat.

Han Ze looked at his suddenly reddened eyes and inexplicably felt depressed as well. "Even your Zhang family doesn't believe that rumor, does it? That His Majesty intends to choose one of Zhang Ruoqing and Zhou Zhao as the Crown Princess. This rumor didn't just start out of nowhere."

As Han Ze spoke, he couldn't help but steal a glance at Zhou Zhao.

Han Ze has a greater chance of becoming the Crown Princess than Zhou Zhao!
After all, His Highness the Crown Prince has a butt too! He'll howl if a bird pecks at him!