Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 271 Beating Su Ling
She didn't know what kind of entanglement Han Xincheng had with His Majesty, but the fact that he was able to take command of the Southern Army meant that he was definitely His Majesty's confidant.

The Southern Army is the Imperial Guard, responsible for protecting His Majesty and the palace.

Thinking about it, Zhou Zhao walked outside. She stepped into the rain and reached out her hand to the shivering little wildcat. The raindrops she expected didn't fall on her head. Su Changying had opened an umbrella and was standing beside her.

The little black cat shivered from the cold. It meowed weakly a few times and hesitated to move as it looked at Zhou Zhao's fair hand.

Zhou Zhao smiled and carried the black cat out of the artificial mountain cave, tucking it into her arms. The cat struggled a few times, but realizing that this was a woman as strong as an ox, it wisely gave up struggling. It meowed weakly, buried its head in Zhou Zhao's arms, and trembled slightly.

"My godfather should be making a move soon."

As Zhou Zhao walked along, holding the kitten, he spoke to Su Changying, "The reason I said those things to Yin Fang earlier was partly to deliberately provoke her. When she thinks that I can find her godfather through her past, she will feel that the secret she is guarding is not so important."

Once she relaxes, she easily reveals more secrets without even realizing it.

Moreover, there's a traitor within the Court of Judicial Review. I sent her there precisely to use her as bait.

The courtyard wasn't large; it only took a few steps to get to the house.

Zhou Zhao placed the kitten beside the steaming stove, then carefully gathered up the brocade quilt containing the powder, put it in the chest, and locked it up.

The kitten felt the warmth, meowed, and snuggled close to the small stove, drifting off to sleep.

Zhou Zhao looked at it and patted its head. "That's true, but the clues about Yin Fang are hard to find. Her family isn't in Chang'an, and because of their decline, there aren't many relatives left. We'll have to send someone to investigate and find out more."

Things were about to change on my godfather's side a long time ago.

I guess that's why my godfather didn't send anyone to kill Yin Fang, even though she knew so much.

Su Changying nodded. "Even if we find out, he might have another identity now."

He is my godfather.

His skill in disguise must be unparalleled. If Chen Jiyuan could impersonate someone else to enter the Court of Justice, why couldn't this remnant of the previous dynasty also wear a disguise? In the imperial court, among the Three Dukes, Nine Ministers, and feudal lords and generals, whose skin hides the wolf of evil?

Even Yin Fang might not know this.

After all, how could someone who is so suspicious, who would like to plant a spy next to every subordinate, completely trust someone?

Everyone is just a pawn in his game, including Prince Yu.

"You need to pay attention to any unusual movements in the military lately. He can't possibly place all his hopes on you..."

As Zhou Zhao spoke, she paused, pursed her lips, and looked at Su Changying with some worry in her eyes.

"Moreover, I always have a feeling that a storm is brewing. He doesn't completely trust you, but he needs you, so what kind of things will he do?"

As the two walked out, talking, Su Changying's grip on the umbrella tightened involuntarily upon hearing Zhou Zhao's words.

Of course, we should control him.

So what if he has changed his mind? Take control of him again and make him his weapon. This is what my godfather has been doing repeatedly for the past few years.

And he has already started doing it.

The flute that he played again for Yin Huan was the best proof of that.

Stepping out of the courtyard, all was quiet, and the sound of rain seemed to grow even louder. The two passed the Court of Justice, where Ah Huang and Han Ze were already waiting with the Northern Army. Zhou Zhao took the reins from Ah Huang, swiftly mounted his horse, and charged towards the Marquis of Lu's residence like an arrow released from a bow.

The sound of horses' hooves thundered past, splashing up puddles of water.

Even the man with the missing front tooth, who was peering through the doorway across from the Court of Justice, couldn't help but tremble as he watched the commotion.

Something extraordinary must have happened in Chang'an!
Zhou Zhao ignored all of this. The Northern Army, disregarding the curfew, marched straight into the gates of the Marquis of Lu's residence.

Zhou Zhao and Su Changying dismounted in a flash, and the gatekeeper of the Marquis of Lu's residence rushed up to them in a panic, "Young master, Lord Zhou, you're back! What happened? Our Marquis is out and not at home. Madam has already retired for the night."

"The Court of Justice is handling a case, please make way."

Zhou Zhao showed his waist token, and when the gatekeeper tried to stop him, Ah Huang's broadsword was already at his neck.

The gatekeeper's legs went weak, and he knelt down with a thud.

Marquis Lu was a military general who commanded a large army. He naturally had his own personal guards protecting his residence. Hearing the commotion at the gate, they all rushed over, torches in hand and spears in hand. The leader was an old general with a yellow beard. He saw Su Changying, clasped his hands in greeting, and asked, "Young Marquis Lu, has something happened?"

Su Changying nodded. "Aunt Liu is a traitor from the previous dynasty. Father has authorized the Court of Justice to search her residence."

The old general stared wide-eyed in disbelief. After a moment's thought, he understood the predicament of the Marquis of Lu's residence.

His eyes, which had been dull and yellowish, immediately sharpened, and he stared intently at Zhou Zhao. "The Marquis's loyalty to His Majesty is as clear as day and night. He must have been kept in the dark and knew nothing about this at all."

As he spoke, he waved his hand, and the guards immediately parted to make way for him.

Just as Zhou Zhao was about to go inside, he saw Su Changyu and Su Ling running over, panting.

Su Ling, dressed in a pale yellow robe, her eyes red with anger, walked up to Zhou Zhao and began to curse, "Are you all dead? Listen to her nonsense! How could my mother be a traitor? Without His Majesty's decree, let's see who dares to search the Lu Marquis's residence!"

Su Changying, it's not enough that you stole my brother's position as heir apparent; you also want to let this androgynous fellow destroy our Lu Marquis's mansion.
Why did you come back? You'd be better off dead. If you hadn't returned to Chang'an, our whole family would be fine. Our parents would be loving, our children filial, and everyone would say we were the epitome of harmony and prosperity in Chang'an. You jinx, why don't you just die?

As Su Ling uttered the words "neither male nor female," Su Changying had already drawn her sword.

Zhou Zhao pulled his arm, then lightly stepped in front of Su Ling and slapped her hard across the face.

Before Su Ling could react, she was slapped and sent flying, crashing into a large tree. She coughed up blood, and among the blood were three white teeth.

Su Ling was stunned. She looked at Zhou Zhao in disbelief and burst into tears.

"How dare you touch my teeth? Zhou Zhao, how dare you?"

Zhou Zhao gave Su Ling a cold look. "You can't expect anything good to come out of a dog's mouth. You should be glad that I've reformed and joined the Court of Justice. Otherwise, it wouldn't just be a slap, but your head would be rolling on the ground."

The guards of the Marquis of Lu's residence looked at each other.

The old general with the yellow beard hesitated for a moment. He glanced at Su Changyu standing to the side and saw that he looked terrified, his lips trembling and unable to utter a word. He didn't even dare to look at the blood that Su Ling had spat out. He was immediately speechless.

He couldn't help but feel fortunate that the young Marquis of Lu was still alive.

Otherwise, with such a coward in command in the future, the complete annihilation of the Su family army is just around the corner.

How could their generals, who spent their lives on the battlefield, have fathered such cowards?
"Su Changyu and Su Ling are descendants of remnants of the previous dynasty and have no relation to Marquis Lu. Han Ze, seize them and tie them up tightly!"

Zhou Zhao's words were like a bombshell to the old general with the yellow beard.