Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 27 The Three Zhou Sisters

Zhou Zhao looked calmly at Zhou Buhai, "Father, look, this is what Grandmother meant by dragging the whole family down with her."

Zhou Buhai felt a lump in his throat and was speechless for a moment.

"I am very disappointed in my father."

Zhou Buhai suddenly raised his head, his nose and palms feeling sore. He and his wife were a harmonious couple, and they had one son and three daughters, all born of their principal wife. He had taught each of his children with great care.

The eldest daughter, Zhou Xuan, and the second daughter, Zhou Wan, had little interest in investigating cases, and eventually stopped learning.

His eldest son, Zhou Yan, and youngest daughter, Zhou Zhao, were his disciples whom he kept by his side every day and taught without reservation.

He still clearly remembers Zhou Yan saying that he would become the Minister of Justice like his father and be a good official; Zhou Zhao, who could not even speak properly, repeated the words, "Minister of Justice, Minister of Justice, be an official, be an official."

At that moment, the two children's eyes shone brightly, illuminating his entire heart.

Zhou Zhao's words struck at the heart of the matter, causing Zhou Buhai to feel as if his heart was being torn apart, and for a moment he could hardly breathe.

"Father lost his spirit and became timid and hesitant, not at all like the iron-willed upright official he once was. Knowing it was impossible, he still did it; knowing it was impossible to fight, he still fought. The path of reform is a bloody road to hell, and those who care about the world are willing to risk their lives to walk it."

“This is what Father taught us, and Zhao deeply agrees.”

"You also said that the Fa is the study of governing the world and managing the country. If you have a little strength, cultivate yourself; if you have five parts strength, maintain peace; if you have ten parts strength, create an era of peace."

Zhou Zhao's expression was complicated as she said this, "Father has forgotten all of this, but I still remember it."

“Father, I’m not taking this step to finish the path my brother didn’t complete, nor to compete with Zhou Cheng’an. I have my own ambitions.”

Looking at his somewhat unfamiliar daughter, Zhou Buhai was filled with mixed emotions.

She was as calm as a monster, her face serene, yet Zhou Buhai felt that the Zhou Zhao he saw was so radiant, her boundless vitality shining like the blazing sun over the world.

"Moreover, you are no longer able to think calmly about problems. The former Lord Zhou would not have thought that I could conquer the entire harem and achieve great things, while at the same time thinking that I would be a lamb to the slaughter in the Court of Justice."

“Father, instead of getting angry over something that’s already a done deal, you should reflect on yourself.”

As Zhou Zhao spoke, he flicked his sleeve and strode away, leaving Zhou Buhai deep in thought behind.

Just as she was almost out of sight, Zhou Buhai suddenly realized what was happening and shouted, "Zhou Zhao!"

He originally wanted Zhou Zhao to reflect on his actions, but now he's the one reflecting on his own!

……

Zhou Zhao ignored Zhou Buhai's roar behind her, believing that Zhou Buhai would eventually come to his senses.

Not only Zhou Buhai, but also those who did not want her to enter the Court of Justice, those who laughed at her at the Court of Justice today, no matter how much they banged their heads against the wall, no matter how much they roared and howl, in the end they could only grit their teeth and understand, and call her "Little Lord Zhou" the next time they met.

As Zhou Zhao thought about it, he couldn't help but smile.

She quickened her pace and jogged to Qingya Garden, where her second sister lived.

The courtyard is not large, but it features winding streams and picturesque scenery at every turn, with a hundred flowers vying for attention, and the melodious sound of the guqin can be heard from afar.

"Eldest sister, second sister, of the three of us, only second sister's place can be called a boudoir."

Her mansion was like a crime scene; even rats would get lost there. Zhou Xuan's house was cold and bare; he didn't use pottery for drinking water but bronze. She was afraid that just replacing these things would make the Zhou family poor.

The mistress, Zhou Wan, stood up. Unlike Zhou Xuan and Zhou Zhao, who were both tall, she was rather petite, with skin as white as snow and hair as black as ink. Her eyebrows and eyes exuded a natural charm, and when she frowned slightly, she resembled Xi Shi holding her heart, making her incredibly endearing.

Seeing Zhou Zhao enter, Zhou Wan gave her a reproachful look, "Did you talk or hit her?" Upon hearing this, Zhou Xuan was furious and rushed to Zhou Zhao, rolling up her sleeves without saying a word, "Did Father hit you? I'm going to confront him!"

"Why does my eldest sister only listen to half of what I say? Okay, why would Father hit her? Father can't beat her anyway!"

Zhou Wan spoke in a sweet, coquettish voice as she approached the two of them, taking one person in each hand, and sat down at the table. She then picked up the teapot and poured tea for them.

"Let's not talk about those unhappy things. It's been a long time since the three of us sisters have had tea together. My eldest sister is getting married and can't do whatever she wants like before. My younger sister has entered the Court of Justice and will be very busy from now on. And it's time for me to find a husband."

"The next time the three of us sisters reunite, I wonder when that will be."

Zhou Xuan was dissatisfied and wanted to retort, but Zhou Wan silenced him with a look.

Zhou Zhao held her teacup, feeling somewhat wistful. If she had died in Tianying City on the fifteenth of July as the eulogy stated, this might truly have been their last reunion.

"This cup of tea is for my third sister," Zhou Wan said, raising her teacup towards Zhou Zhao. "You've always been decisive, and your second sister isn't as clever as you. I don't know where you're planning to go, and I'm not as strong as my eldest sister, who can stand in front of you and fight for you."

"Therefore, all I can do is support you and be your backing. Finding the murderer who killed my brother depends entirely on you."

As Zhou Wan spoke, she covered her face with her sleeve and drank the tea in one gulp.

She poured more tea, then looked at Zhou Xuan and said, "It's been a while since I've seen you. You've lost a lot of weight, elder sister. Has something happened at home?"

Zhou Xuan shook his head and laughed, "What could possibly happen to me? I just suffer from the summer heat just like my father. I grew up with your brother-in-law, you all know him, he's very easily swayed, and he always does whatever I want in the family."

“My mother-in-law and my mother were close friends in the past, and the Gu family and the Zhou family have been friends for generations. In Chang’an, how many people live more comfortably than me? Look, I haven’t had any children all these years, and the Gu family has never uttered a word?”

As Zhou Xuan spoke, he raised his fist and punched Zhou Zhao and Zhou Wan each.

"Instead of worrying about me, you should worry about whether others can withstand my iron fist."

Zhou Zhao pretended to cry out in pain, while Zhou Wan genuinely cried out in pain.

"When we were little and didn't listen to us, our older sister would beat us like this!" Zhou Wan said angrily.

Zhou Zhao recalled his childhood memories and laughed as he chimed in, "They even pulled ears! I suspect the reason I'm eavesdropping now is because my ears were pulled so badly."

Zhou Xuan listened and burst into laughter, clutching her stomach. She glanced at the tea on the table, stood up, and said, "What's the point of drinking tea? I'll go get some wine. If someone else were to become an official, they'd have to throw a banquet. If no one throws a banquet for my little sister, we can't even drink with her."

As she spoke, she ran out the door.

After she left, the smiles on Zhou Zhao and Zhou Wan's faces both lessened.

"What did you mean by what you just said? Are you leaving Chang'an? Has Father arranged a marriage for you?"

Zhou Zhao stared intently at Zhou Wan.

Zhou Wan snorted and rolled her eyes at Zhou Zhao. "I don't care about you, and you should mind your own business. You can't hold your liquor, so don't let your older sister get you drunk and let something slip, making her anxious and upset."

Zhou Zhao twitched the corners of her mouth. Although she and Zhou Wan were sisters born of the same parents, they were naturally incompatible.

Zhou Wan hates Zhou Zhao for his fists and cunning, while Zhou Zhao dislikes Zhou Wan for her tendency to tattle and feign innocence. When Zhou Xuan can't see them, the two of them roll their eyes more often than the sparrows in Chang'an.

"I don't care about you. You offered me tea, something's fishy!" Zhou Zhao snorted, mimicking Zhou Wan.

Zhou Wan couldn't help but laugh out loud this time, "Why are you imitating me? You're just mimicking me. When I hum, it's like I'm bewitching people, but when you hum, it sounds like the King of Hell is taking lives."

Before Zhou Zhao could retort, Zhou Wan's voice turned serious as she said earnestly, "You're right, I am indeed going to marry far away from Chang'an."

(End of this chapter)