Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 158: Killing back
Zhou Zhao loosened his grip, and Zhu Li fell to the ground like a turtle whose shell had been flipped over.

Zhu Li felt a sweet taste in her throat and spat out a mouthful of blood.

"A scholar may be killed but not humiliated, Zhou Zhao!"

Zhou Zhao said "Oh," and looked towards the beauty in the cell. "Madam, look who I've brought?"

The woman in red took a few steps forward, looking at Zhu Li with a confused expression. She frowned and said, "Zhou Zhao, I've already said that I don't know any Gongzi Yu at all. Why did you drag me from my roasted lamb shop for no reason?"
Although I used to run a tavern in Tianying City, I have a clean record and no history of murder. The Tianying City Court has already concluded its verdict on my case. If I am innocent, on what grounds can I have committed murder?

Upon hearing the name "Young Master Yu," Zhu Li's body suddenly trembled, and he subconsciously looked towards Yin Yan, the owner of the roasted mutton shop.

Yin Yan's pupils suddenly contracted. Seeing his reaction, what else was there that she didn't understand?
This can only mean that they were both under the command of Prince Yu...

Zhou Zhao only then learned that Gongzi Yu had already arrested two people in just a few days!
No wonder my adoptive father said that Zhou Zhao was cunning, suspicious, and scheming! He warned them to be very careful!
"Don't be in such a hurry to recognize each other. After all, there are still seven or eight of your brothers and sisters who haven't been sent over yet! The Northern Army isn't a benevolent person like me. I hope that when they are sent back, you will still recognize that lump of flesh."

As Zhou Zhao spoke, he took out the tabernacle that the mistress of the house had previously hung on her waist from his sleeve.

It was a set of white jade pendants, stacked in three layers, tied with red ribbons, and with fine tassels at the bottom.

However, the tassel had been neatly broken off at some point, looking as if it had been cut by a sharp weapon. Zhou Zhao thought to himself, and then took out a small tuft of red tassel that he had obtained from the bird's nest earlier from his sleeve. If he put the two together, the length would be just right.

Yin Yan's expression changed drastically in an instant.

"Remember now? In the bird's nest, besides finding Young Master Yu's heavenly horse, I also obtained a broken red tassel. This tassel must belong to someone in the manor, and that person is you."

Zhou Zhao said calmly, thinking to himself that he and Su Changying were indeed working together very well.

Although she didn't know how Su Changying had managed to get Yin Yan to put the forbidden robe back on, she was certain he had played a part in it.

At that time, she took Su Changying to the small tavern they used to go to. When they entered, they unexpectedly discovered a newly opened roasted lamb shop across from the tavern. The shop's signboard and furnishings were no different from those in Tianying City.

Furthermore, a similar roasted mutton shop has recently opened near the Tingwei Temple.

This is definitely not an ordinary matter.

Previously in Tianying City, the relationship between Su Changying and the owner of the roasted mutton shop was quite strange. He was a spy embedded in Tianying City, and so was she. If Qin Tianying were to discover their relationship, both of them would surely die.

However, Su Changying openly chose to meet them at a roasted mutton shop.

Later, the landlady was even allowed to meet Liu Huang alone.

What does this show? It shows that he trusted her. At that time, she thought that the landlady was Su Changying's subordinate.

Even after a roasted lamb shop opened in front of the Tingwei Temple, she still thought it was Su Changying's way of providing the two of them with a safe place to talk.

But then a roasted lamb shop opened at the shop she and Su Changying used to frequent, a place Su Changying herself didn't even remember, and that changed things.

In that instant, she keenly realized that the landlady was not a trusted subordinate of Su Changying, but someone who was monitoring him.

Su Changying was too amazing in Chang'an City before. He was a spirited and talented horse. Even though the person behind the scenes had erased his memory, they did not dare to believe that they could completely control him. Therefore, they placed a pair of eyes by his side.

She was immediately displeased and wanted to gouge out those eyes.

They kept poking at each pair that came, until the man dared not send anyone more. Then she made an excuse to leave, but in reality, she launched a surprise attack.

She thought that Su Changying must have known she was hiding nearby, just like how she had turned around and chased after Zhu Li today.

She saw Su Changying go up to the small building and then go downstairs to leave.

When she went inside, she saw the mistress of the house coming downstairs. She was dressed in red and had this sash hanging from her waist. The sash of the sash was a bit short, but she hadn't been willing to change it.

Although she didn't understand why, she immediately seized Yin Yan and sent her to the Tingwei Temple prison.

However, before they could interrogate him, they received a message from the Northern Army saying that human bones had been found in the pigsty.

Zhou Zhao snapped out of his thoughts. "Hmm, remnants of the previous dynasty, plotting rebellion, this is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of their family."

As Zhou Zhao spoke, he swung the forbidden step in the air. "This forbidden step was given to you by someone very important to you, right? Let me guess. Hmm, it must be that villain who captured you and locked you in the dungeon, treating you like Gu worms and putting you in a vessel to fight each other, right?"

Because it was so important and had such profound significance, even though a section of it had been cut off, they couldn't bear to replace the ribbon.

Yin Yan instantly flew into a rage. She charged forward like a mad lion and lunged at Zhou Zhao's hand through the cage.

Zhou Zhao moved her arm, raising the ribbon slightly. She took a small step back, just avoiding the mistress's hand.

"It seems you've really fallen for the man who hurt you."

Yin Yan was practically going crazy.

As Zhu Li lay on the ground, he couldn't help but tremble. When he was on the roof, he must have looked just like this when he was driven mad by Zhou Zhao.
Zhou Zhao is truly a man who kills people by destroying their spirit.

"Yes, thank you for telling me that the person who killed my brother and kidnapped Su Changying in the Shanming Changyang case was a man," Zhou Zhao said, looking into Yin Yan's eyes before putting the forbidden cloth back into his sleeve.

"Don't worry, I won't destroy this thing. After all, it has become evidence in court recorded by the Court of Justice. You went to the villa with him recently. If the broken red rope is exposed to the sun and rain in the bird's nest for too long, it will fade and turn white."

But it's still very new, which means it happened after you returned to Chang'an from Tianying City. It's a pity, though; the flower's affection is unrequited. It seems that person doesn't like you, otherwise they wouldn't have only given you this one thing, which can't be replaced even if it's broken.

Yin Yan felt as if she wished she could turn into a needle and sew Zhou Zhao's mouth shut.

How can anyone in this world see through people's hearts so accurately!
"Stop talking! Zhou Zhao! If you talk to me like that, be careful you don't encounter the same thing in the future. The person you like doesn't like you back, and that will be your retribution!"

Zhou Zhao pondered the meaning of those words carefully.

She clicked her tongue. "Liking someone is nothing to me, Zhou Zhao! Besides, people who don't like me aren't worth my liking at all."

As she spoke, she continued looking at the landlady, "It seems I was right! Did you see the look of shock in Zhu Li's eyes? It seems your affection is rather inappropriate. That person is not related to you by blood, so what can he be? Master? Godfather?"

Silver Goose's pupils suddenly dilated.

Zhou Zhao pursed his lips, "Looks like I was right again!"

Yin Yan's lips trembled, and her eyes were filled with fear as she looked at Zhou Zhao. "You're simply a monster."