Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 270 Better to Die in Battle
It rained heavily today, but there was no thunder.

But Zhou Zhao felt as if Lu Hou in the courtyard was being struck by lightning.

The ferocity of that thunderbolt was absolutely no less than the Purple Gold Thunderbolt that cleaved half of the old locust tree in Wujin Lane that day.

Everyone in the room looked over in a low voice. Han Ze, who had been trying to act like an adult for the past two days, couldn't hold back any longer. His hand trembled, and the torch fell to the ground and went out instantly.

Yaoshou!
Is this something that good-for-nothing Xiao Han should be listening to?

He stared wide-eyed at the Marquis of Lu beside him, a hint of sympathy in his eyes. He didn't know whether to sympathize with him for raising an illegitimate child or for being criticized for his poetry being worthless.

"Uncle Su, it's alright. I used to admire Zhang Ruoqing, but her lover used a cloak and almost made me a murderer. I even studied poetry with Min Zangzhi, and I gave them a gold ingot before they said, 'Good poem, good poem...'"

Han Ze spoke softer and softer until his voice was almost inaudible.

Because he noticed that Lu Hou's hand was already on the hilt of his sword, and his gaze was like that of a wild beast.

If looks could kill, the woman named Yin Fang and he in that room would already be decapitated.

Han Ze wanted nothing more than to reach out and slap himself in the mouth.

Sooner or later, he'll be killed by that foul mouth!
Distracted by Han Ze, Yin Fang in the room finally realized what was happening, and her face instantly lost all color.

The moment their eyes met, Lu Hou rushed in, angrily drawing his longsword and aiming it at Yin Fang's neck.

Su Changying, standing behind him, moved and grabbed Lu Hou's wrist.

Marquis Lu regained his senses and glared angrily at the woman before him. "You lowly servant, how dare you! All these years, how I've treated you and your two children has been witnessed by everyone in Chang'an. I even elevated your concubine to the status of principal wife and petitioned to pass the title to Changyu. Is this how you treat me?"
I am utterly loyal to Your Majesty, yet you have lurked by my side, plotting to destroy me beyond redemption!

And Changying, wasn't it you who killed Changying! You wretched servant! My..."

When the Marquis of Lu said the last two words, he suddenly stopped talking.

Zhou Zhao glanced at Marquis Lu with a complicated expression.

You can blame Yin Fang for other things, but there's one thing she's absolutely right about: Lu Hou's poems are truly awful, enough to make you want to die from hearing them.

Yin Fang's enduring love for her adoptive father over the years was probably due to the unbearable pain caused by that poem.

Even she, who considered herself well-informed, felt as if she had been poisoned by some unknown substance when she first saw the poetry collection, making her mind a little dull.

Lu Hou's right hand, which was holding the sword, was grabbed by Su Changying. He angrily raised his left hand and slapped Yin Fang across the face, knocking her to the ground.

He then stared blankly at his hands, his whole body slumped down, and even his back bent.

"Who is that person?" Marquis Lu nearly gritted his teeth to powder.

Yin Fang wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth. Leaning against the bed, she laughed somewhat maniacally, "Who is that? He is a thousand times, ten thousand times better than you."

As she spoke, ignoring the angry look in Lu Hou's eyes, she turned to Zhou Zhao.

“I know you’re right, he was just using me from beginning to end. You’re very perceptive. I do harbor hatred in my heart, and I never thought I’d ever hate him again. But I hate the injustice of fate and the cruel twists of destiny even more.”

No matter what, I won't tell you who that person is, so just give up on that idea!

Zhou Zhao raised an eyebrow and glanced at Yin Fang casually.

“Aunt Liu, there’s no need to put it so high and mighty. If you want to appear less foolish, you could say you’re loyal to the previous dynasty. At least that way you won’t look like a pathetic creature whose mind is only filled with love and romance.”

When Zhou Zhao finished speaking, his gaze swept across the face of his future father-in-law, Marquis Lu.

Lord Lu's body stiffened instantly. In that instant, he felt an urge to dig a hole with his toes and bury himself in it. After his outburst of rage subsided, he felt a burning sensation all over his body.

There are four younger people in this house.

His own son, his future daughter-in-law, His Majesty's son, Prince Chu, and the纨绔子弟 (spoiled brats) from a family with whom he had a long-standing friendship.

If he walks out from here, he'll lose face with his in-laws, with His Majesty, and with his friends...

It would be better to die on the battlefield!
"Uncle, Aunt Liu is a remnant of the previous dynasty. In order to find out who is behind this, I am going to search her residence at the Marquis of Lu's mansion. Su Changyu and Su Ling are not your offspring, but the bloodline of rebels. The Court of Justice is going to arrest them."

Zhou Zhao spoke with an undeniable certainty.

"I won't announce it publicly for now. But the truth will eventually come out, and this is the most I can do."

Marquis Lu's expression hardened; he instantly understood Zhou Zhao's meaning.

He glared fiercely at Aunt Liu, then immediately turned and left.

At this moment, what he should have done was shamelessly cling to His Majesty's leg and wail, carrying a bundle of thorns on his back to the palace gate to beg for forgiveness. After all, he was blind, failing to even see that the person beside him was a traitor.

If His Majesty were to punish him, he would lose more than just face; he would lose his head.

Zhou Zhao watched his departing figure, a hint of mockery in his eyes.

Once the figure was out of sight, she turned her gaze to Yin Fang, who was extremely weak from blood loss. "In your home, there must be quite a few things related to that person. You've already told us a lot without saying a word."

"Aren't there Su Changyu and Su Ling too? The parts of their appearance that don't resemble yours naturally resemble that person."

Yin Fang felt her head buzzing as she listened to Zhou Zhao's words. Her fingers twitched a few times, and she dared not speak again.

"I was mistaken before; I didn't realize Yinfang was so old. Thank you for telling me that you and that person were childhood sweethearts. When you entered the Lu Marquis's mansion as a concubine, the previous dynasty had not yet fallen. You are older; you are not a spy he raised on the estate from childhood."

And you haven't lost your memory; you still remember what happened before. No wonder you usually show your true face, only turning into Yin Fang when you're in contact with that group of people.

Do you know what this means? It means that your origins are traceable, that you didn't just appear out of thin air, that your life has no gaps, and that everything you've done has left a trace.

Once I find out who your sweetheart was back then, I'll know who that person is.

Although you didn't say it, it's as if you said everything!

Yin Fang's eyes widened in disbelief, her gaze filled with panic. "Zhou Zhao!"

Zhou Zhao ignored her and instead said to Han Ze, "Send her to the Tingwei Temple prison and lock her up. Send jailers to guard her carefully and make sure she doesn't die."

She hadn't forgotten that there might still be a traitor hiding in the Court of Justice.

As Zhou Zhao spoke, he gave Ah Huang a look, and Ah Huang nodded. He then followed Han Ze to escort Yin Fang to the Tingwei Temple prison.

"You don't think my father is that godfather."

Suddenly, only Su Changying and Zhou Zhao remained in the room.

Zhou Zhao gave a soft "hmm," and said, "Upon closer thought, it's unlikely. If Marquis Lu were your adoptive father, there would be no need for him to take action against you. He already controls the military and could simply rebel; why go through all this trouble?"

Although he was muddle-headed about Aunt Liu's affair, he was always very skilled in warfare, and you used to admire your father. Since you are related by blood, it would be far easier for him to subtly influence and manipulate you than to kidnap you and cause you further trouble.

If he wanted more military power, he should have chosen that vixen Han Xincheng.