Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 190 He is an informant
Zhou Zhao's eyes flickered, and he reached out to dust off the dust on Han Ze's collar.

Han Ze jumped in fright, instinctively covering his head. Seeing Zhou Zhao brushing the dust off him, his face flushed red, and he stammered even more, "Zhao Zhao Zhao..."

“Dai Changming hanged himself. Right after you sent him to prison, he stepped on a table and hanged himself.”

Han Ze paused, then lowered his hand from his head. His eyes widened in disbelief. "How could this be! I kicked him, and he..."

Han Ze frowned as he spoke, "Something's not right. He didn't react at all, didn't curse at me, and just silently got up. How could he have committed suicide?"

His eyes were exceptionally clear, and he didn't seem to be faking it at all.

Zhou Zhao looked at him, his eyes sparkling, "Speaking of which, it was indeed a bit too much of a youthful and impetuous thing for me to peck at you with a bird back then."

Han Ze's eyes instantly reddened. Before he could speak, Zhou Zhao's voice became even softer, "The Dai family is the copper minting master. Others can mint coins privately, but the Dai family can't. That's called embezzlement. They're taking money from His Majesty's pocket for themselves."

"Dai Changming committed such a heinous act; his brothers were merely negligent in their oversight. What does it have to do with your father?"

Han Ze was taken aback, somewhat confused as to why Zhou Zhao would say such things. He scratched his head, deciding to stop thinking about it altogether. He would go back and report everything Zhou Zhao had said to his father in detail.

After Zhou Zhao finished speaking, he gave Han Ze a cold nod, then pulled Su Changying and sped away.

Han Ze saw Zhou Zhao's merciless back and let out a long sigh of relief. He patted his chest and said, "That's more like it! She looked at me with disdain, like I was a dead man on the roadside... ptooey, like I was a roadside weed. That's my Sister Zhao! She looked at a dead man and her eyes lit up. No way!"

As Han Ze spoke, he patted his cheeks and looked around to make sure no one was walking by.

He immediately put on a stern face, mimicking Zhou Zhao's arrogant and aloof demeanor, but his expression didn't stay tense for long before he stuck out his tongue like a dog that was burning up.

"I can't learn it! We're both human, so why does Zhou Zhao look so capable, while I just look like a spoiled brat..."

Han Ze muttered to himself, scratching his head. He stood there somewhat blankly, then hesitated before walking towards the door.

After he left, Zhou Zhao and Su Changying swayed slightly and emerged from the shadows.

Su Changying glanced at Zhou Zhao, who was pursing her lips and remaining silent, then suddenly reached out and gently touched her hair. His movements were very light, almost a light touch, before he took his hand away. Only after Zhou Zhao raised her head did Su Changying move his lips and silently utter the words "Tianquan".

Zhou Zhao was taken aback upon hearing this, but his expression immediately relaxed.

Su Changying smiled and, without pausing, led Zhou Zhao out the door. They stopped when they reached the East River.

Su Changying turned around and called out to a willow tree by the river, "Tianquan."

That day, Old Quan chuckled and immediately jumped out from behind the tree. He clasped his hands in greeting to Su Changying and Zhou Zhao, saying, "My lord, Hall Master Zhou... Last time we were tracking Zhu Li, but he fooled us and we lost face in front of Hall Master Zhou. We are truly ashamed."

Zhou Zhao smiled at Tian Quan, "The three of us have a bond of life and death in Tianying City, so just call me Zhou Zhao."

Tianquan nodded readily, "After that, I followed Han Ze. He was truly an energetic man. Apart from serving in the Northern Army, he spent his time partying and playing football and horseback riding with Huo Ting, Ji Yun, and others. He didn't come into contact with any special people, let alone meet Dai Changming in private."

No other blind children appeared around Han Ze. However, regardless, he would return home every day to pay his respects in Han Shaofu's study.

Zhou Zhao and Su Changying exchanged glances. "Did he have any contact with Dai Changming just now?" Tian Quan thought for a moment and solemnly shook his head. "I didn't notice anything special. He was cursing Dai Changming the whole way, and he was very angry. After you left, Li Youdao drove all the witnesses out, especially Dai Changsheng. The Wu brothers and their mother went to the mortuary."

Jingyi had Dai Changming sign and fingerprint his statement. As Dai Changming was leaving, Li Youdao tripped him, causing him to fall to the ground. He Tingshi helped him up, and then the three of them handed the man over to Han Ze, remaining inside the house.

Zhou Zhao frowned as he listened.

Han Ze is very suspicious, but he may not be the mole. The other three people from the Court of Judicial Review have all been in contact with Dai Changming, so it is possible that they were the ones who gave him the order to die.

Su Changying noticed Zhou Zhao's gaze. "You suspect that one of the four nails is in the Court of Justice."

Zhou Zhao looked in the direction of the Court of Justice. "Zhou Yan must die, but you don't have to. I didn't have to die before. After I joined the Court of Justice, Zhu Li received orders to assassinate me at the Star-Picking Tower. The Court of Justice is not clean."

"As for Han Ze, do you remember how we tracked down Gongzi Yu? It was Han Ze who led us to see the craftsman who made the Heavenly Horse and Dragon Steed. He definitely has something going on, but he may not necessarily be Gongzi Yu's subordinate."

Han Shaofu is His Majesty's trusted minister. You've been missing for four years; your origins are arguably unknown. You had barely entered the Northern Army to assume command when Han Ze directly joined the Northern Army from the Shaofu, and was placed right next to you, becoming your right-hand man.

Su Changying clenched her fist. "You suspect that Han Ze is His Majesty's spy, someone who's keeping an eye on me."

Zhou Zhao nodded, secretly thinking to herself that if she were the Emperor, she would also suspect Su Changying. Moreover, as far as she knew, Su Changying was currently working under Gongzi Yu. Although she knew what he was up to, it didn't change the fact that Su Changying was now a genuine spy.

Once discovered, they will be beaten to death with sticks.

As Zhou Zhao thought about it, a sour feeling welled up inside him.

Su Changying, who was so reckless, actually survived to the end and was even able to burn a eulogy for her!
She was so loyal and devoted, working peacefully as a servant in the Court of Justice, yet she died young, dying again and again. It was simply an injustice of fate.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that Tianquan had already slipped away, leaving only Su Changying and herself on the riverbank.

"Zhou Zhao, I won't let you die before me."

Zhou Zhao was taken aback. He picked up a flat stone from the ground and threw it towards the surface of the East River. The stone bounced seven or eight times before plunging into the water.

"Can you read my mind? What if I'm destined to die young and just pass away?"

Su Changying hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "Then I'll go find the Six Paths Heavenly Book..."

Zhou Zhao felt something flash through her mind. She turned to look at Su Changying, "And then what? Rebuild Tianying City, perform a blood sacrifice, and become the next Qin Tianying?"

Su Changying shook her head and said firmly, "I won't let you die. If someone has to die, then I will."

Zhou Zhao was speechless. She walked up to Su Changying and suddenly, with lightning speed, grabbed his face with both hands, stretching it out of shape. "Stop talking about death. Dai Changming is dead, there's a mole in the Court of Justice, and Han Ze is also acting strangely. It's not good news at all."

"Dai Changming's sudden suicide actually confirms that he...did indeed have a problem."

Because Zhou Zhao was pinching his face, Su Changying's speech was a little unclear. He reached out and grabbed Zhou Zhao's wrist, helplessly calling out "Zhou Zhao"!