Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 206 You're Really Not Good Enough
Li Mu's dark face turned deathly pale, a thin layer of sweat appeared on his forehead, his lips trembled slightly, and his eyes were filled with endless panic.

He looked at Zhou Zhao's mouth, worried that "fourth, fifth, sixth" might come out of it again.

Zhou Zhao ignored his panic at all. "A series of murders has occurred in the Cao family. As the investigator, when there are no suspects, the first two types of people to suspect are enemies and close relatives."

Only after ruling out their involvement as suspects did they consider whether the case was being handled by a serial killer with unusual fetishes.

In this world, most murder cases are nothing more than matters of fame, fortune, love, and hatred. The truly insane people who find pleasure in killing are only a minority.

The murderer is often someone close to the victim.

Zhou Zhao dared to say that any court clerk in the Court of Justice who frequently handled cases had a deep understanding of this.

"When the Cao family committed murder, it was precisely when the Cao family robbed the Shao family of Qingguang Wine, and the mourning hall for Shao Qingqing's father had not yet been taken down. Under such circumstances, why didn't you investigate Shao Qingqing immediately? Don't tell me you considered it; Shao Qingqing only learned about the Cao family's affairs after she was imprisoned."

As Zhou Zhao spoke, his gaze toward Li Mu was as sharp as if it were carrying a knife.

"Why didn't you suspect Cao Yuanxu before you caught Shao Qingqing herself?"

His elders had all been murdered, and the Cao family's fortune would fall into his hands. Not only that, but Shao Qingqing was there to take the blame for him. He was the biggest beneficiary of the case, so why wasn't he listed as a suspect?

Li Mu clutched the hem of his clothes tightly. "Cao Yuanxu was also a victim. He almost died."

Upon hearing this, He Tingshi, who was standing beside him, couldn't help but frown.

Zhou Zhao looked Li Mu up and down. "To be honest, I don't think you, Lord Li Mu, are someone who's good at solving cases. You're really not up to the task!"

Li Mu froze, his face flushed red, and his eyes blazed with fury. He raised his voice to its highest point, "Zhou Zhao, what nonsense are you spouting?"

He Tingshi was startled by the sudden roar and subconsciously rubbed his ears. "Li Mu, why are you so agitated? Although Zhou Zhao is a very annoying person and has no respect for his seniors, he is undoubtedly the most disliked person in the Court of Justice."

But isn't the point of investigating and handling cases to gather wisdom from all sides and consider all aspects? What she said isn't unreasonable.

As he spoke, worried that Li Mu might misunderstand him, he added, "What I mean is that Cao Yuanxu is indeed suspicious."

Li Mu, however, was like a fire that had been doused with oil, and suddenly burst into flames.

“I know I come from a local area and am not from a prestigious school, and I have not yet achieved anything since I came to the Court of Justice. But that is no reason for you to look down on me and humiliate me.”

Zhou Zhao listened and nodded earnestly.

She reached out and clapped her hands several times, leading the applause and shouting, "Well said!"

He Tingshi looked at Zhou Zhao with a complicated expression. So annoying! Absolutely annoying!
If he were Li Mu, he would have wanted to go up and beat her to death!

Forgot! We couldn't possibly win!

Zhou Buhai made his daughter learn martial arts from a young age because she was too annoying and he was worried that she would be beaten to death sooner or later!

He Tingshi thought to himself, then secretly glanced at Li Mu and saw that the man next to him had turned red to purple and his hair was standing on end. He could hear the cracking sound of Li Mu gritting his teeth so hard that he was so close!

“Li Tingshi speaks well! Why don’t you tell me how you solved the case after Shao Qingqing was kidnapped, and then led the army to Black Tiger Stronghold to rescue her and Cao Yuanxu? Aren’t you trying to prove your abilities? I’m listening here. If you convince me, I, Zhou Zhao, will admit in front of the entire Court of Justice that I was a jerk who looked down on people.”

He Tingshi's eyes lit up instantly! "You said it! Zhou Zhao, a gentleman's word is as good as his bond. Although you are a woman, you are still a lady of virtue."

Seeing He Tingshi's gloating expression, Zhou Zhao laughed out loud speechlessly.

This old man was practically determined to humiliate Zuo Yuan.

"Li Mu, you tell him! Tell Zhou Zhao to stop looking down on people like that."

He had clearly forgotten that he himself had previously agreed with Zhou Zhao's words, believing that Li Mu's investigation of the case was quite problematic.

"Li Mu, hurry up and say it!" Seeing that Li Mu's lips were trembling but he was not speaking, He Tingshi urged him anxiously.

Li Mu clenched his fist. "Since I was able to be transferred from the provinces to Chang'an, my abilities speak for themselves. Why should I listen to a junior like you and prove myself here? I don't need to establish my authority at the Court of Justice by humiliating you."

He Tingshi frowned and looked at Li Mu suspiciously.

Zhou Zhao raised an eyebrow but did not press the matter further. "Lord Li was able to save Shao Qingqing in just three days; it is truly admirable."

As she spoke, she changed the subject, "Cao Yuanxu is the key to this case."

Zhou Zhao turned around and sat down in front of Shao Qingqing again. "When you were kidnapped by the Black Tiger Stronghold, did they say why they kidnapped you, or how much ransom they wanted from your parents? When did they go to ask for it?"

Shao Qingqing seemed to be in a daze at this moment. She grabbed Zhou Zhao's hand in disbelief, her body trembling uncontrollably.

"M-M-Sir, are you saying that Cao Yuanxu lied to me? From the very beginning?"

Zhou Zhao shook his head. "I can't be sure."

Cao Yuanxu wasn't here. Although she had her suspicions, she didn't have any evidence and couldn't jump to conclusions.

Tears streamed down Shao Qingqing's face. She sniffed, "Before they could even ask my parents for the ransom, Lord Li came to rescue us. At that time, Cao Yuanxu and I were locked in a room with guards outside."

The guard, named Monkey, saw that I was pretty and tried to humiliate me. Cao Yuanxu fought them to save me. He was beaten until he vomited blood. He really did save me… he really did…”

As Shao Qingqing spoke, the light in her eyes gradually dimmed.

"Young Master Zhou, I understand why you asked this question. Kidnappings are always for money. The people from Black Tiger Stronghold kidnapped me and Cao Yuanxu and brought us up the mountain. Logically, they should immediately come to our family and the Cao family to demand money."

But they didn't. Not on the first day, not on the second, not on the third... until Lord Li Mu led his troops to suppress the bandits, my father and mother still hadn't received a letter from the kidnappers demanding money.

As Shao Qingqing spoke, she chuckled self-deprecatingly, "That's true. Those bandits are all ruthless and bloodthirsty. If that monkey really wanted to do something to me, how could Cao Yuanxu, a scholar who can't even kill a chicken, possibly stop him? I was truly blind..."

Zhou Zhao sighed inwardly.

That's why Cao Yuanxu and Shao Qingqing were kidnapped at the same time. He was outnumbered and had no chance of saving Shao Qingqing from the kidnappers.

The kidnappers were just taking money to solve their problems, playing the hero and rescuing the damsel in distress!
"When Cao Yuanxu rescued the beauty, Xiao Hong stole the wine recipe while the Shao family was in chaos; when Shao Qingqing secretly met with Cao Yuanxu, the Cao family was seizing the Shao family's property; when Shao Qingqing sneaked into the Cao mansion, Cao Yuanxu's gate happened to be open, waiting for Shao Qingqing to enter and be caught in the act."

Who took Shao Qingqing's red undergarment from Cao Yuanxu? Why didn't Cao Yuanxu tell Shao Qingqing about such an important matter as the missing undergarment?

As Zhou Zhao spoke, he looked at He Tingshi and asked, "Lord He, may I now reopen this case and summon Cao Yuanxu? This time, the Right Court won't stop me, will it?"