Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 289 Killing three birds with one stone

As Zhou Zhao spoke, he looked at the surprised crowd from the Court of Justice standing at the door.

Upon hearing the words "drawing lots," Li Youdao's expression changed drastically, and he muttered, "I thought my wish had come true..."

The disappearance case in the Blood Mist of the Lost City was a knot in his heart. Heaven knows how conflicted he was when he drew the lot. He hoped that Zhou Zhao would draw it, so that maybe they could find the murderer who killed his son.

He didn't want Zhou Zhao to be chosen, fearing that she would suffer the same fate as before, going away and never returning.

He drew the Lost City from among so many fortune sticks in the divination box, and he thought it was fate. Little did he know that it was not fate at all, but rather the result of someone's scheming.

"At the time, I didn't understand why Jingyi would suddenly appear as my opponent. After he went to the Lost City, he didn't seriously investigate the case and had absolutely no interest in it. Now that I think about it, you gave orders to Su Changying, Jingyi, and Chen Jiyuan to kill me."

Why is there a competition in the Lost City? It's because you secretly manipulated things. You're the one who chooses last. If I'm short a vote, you choose me; if Jingyi is short a vote, you choose him. That way, no matter what, it's a tie, and we all have to go to the Lost City.

As Zhou Zhao spoke, he looked at Li Youdao and asked, "When you were drawing lots, why did you choose that particular one, Lord Li?"

At the time, because Li Youdao drew the Mysterious City, she even suspected that someone had manipulated the fortune.

For example, the whole bucket of fortune slips might be labeled as the Lost City case, but that's not the case; all the slips appear to be normal.

There are no divine arrangements or coincidences in this world; they can only be deliberately orchestrated by someone.

Li Youdao was stunned, his expression suddenly changed, and he looked angrily at Li Huaishan, "You planned this all along. You told me that there was a new vacancy in the Court of Justice, and that I had to choose between Zhou Zhao and Jing Yi. There was a high chance of a grand competition, and that it might trigger some memories."

You know that for so many years, because of the Lost City case, I've been devastated and absolutely refuse to let any of my good-for-nothing subordinates go out and die. I thought you were trying to comfort me because you were worried that I was keeping Zhou Zhao under control and wouldn't write her a recommendation letter.

You said at the time that the Court of Justice was a place to investigate all the injustices in the world and to serve the people.

My son, back then, chose the most unfair lot from the divination box; he was a worthy and respectable official. If given the chance again, I believe Zhou Zhaotong and Jingyi would also choose the most unfair lot.

When we were drawing lots, I remembered what you had said. I chose the most uneven one; it had wear on one corner at the bottom. If you looked at it separately, you couldn't see anything different. But when you put it in the lot tube, the cross-section of its head was slanted, unlike the other lots.

This is exactly what was predicted! You know how important the Lost City case is to me; you said those things specifically to make me your accomplice!

As Li Youdao spoke, he gripped his broadsword tightly. "Back then, when my son went to the Lost City, was that also your doing? You really know how to manipulate people's hearts!"

Li Huaishan scoffed, "It's a wonder your brain, which's been soaked in alcohol, is only now coming to its senses. But your son brought this upon himself; it has nothing to do with me."

Zhou Zhao reached out and stopped the nearly crazed Li Youdao.

"It shouldn't have been him who arranged for your son to go to the Lost City back then, but it was because of the Lost City disappearance case that Bai Jiuniang was kidnapped to the island that he learned that someone in the Lost City was trying to manipulate people in the court."

As she spoke, she looked at Li Huaishan.

"Why do you insist on taking us to the Lost City? Because this place is special, and it's a three-birds-with-one-stone plan for you."

All eyes turned back to Zhou Zhao. She still had the appearance of a dead person, with a pale and bluish face and black lips. When illuminated by the flickering firelight, she looked exactly like a zombie. At first glance, she was terrifying.

However, no one was afraid; instead, they stared at her intently.

"A three-birds-with-one-stone plan?" Li Huaishan laughed. "Zhou Buhai, I never imagined someone like you would have such extraordinary children." "Your forces have suffered heavy losses in recent months. I'm getting closer to the truth step by step and will soon be able to expose you. Moreover, Su Changying has already joined the Northern Army, and you're worried about losing control of him in the future, so you're looking for a suitable opportunity to strike."

This first bird is meant to kill me. If I die, no one will cling to you, to Gongzi Yu.

The second thing is that after Li Youdao's son got into trouble, Bai Jiuniang went into hiding on the island, and you colluded with the magistrate of Micheng County through Duobaoge to amass wealth. The Micheng disappearance case has continued for many years, but the Court of Justice has not sent anyone to investigate it again.

Firstly, the local officials in the city aren't reporting it, and secondly, you're keeping it under control. You're deliberately allowing them to grow stronger...

"You deliberately chose the Mysterious City as the venue for the grand competition so that I would go there, detonate the bomb within the Mysterious City, cause turmoil in the court, and disrupt the peace of Chang'an."

Zhou Zhao did not mention the matter of vying for the throne, but everyone present knew the truth.

The mastermind behind the Lost City case involves the power struggles between the Empress and her favorite concubine, as well as between the princes themselves.

After the Northern Army returned, Chang'an was ravaged by bloodshed, and the struggle for the throne became increasingly fierce in the open.

As the saying goes, one thing rises while another falls; the turmoil in the new dynasty provided them with a perfect opportunity to plot a rebellion.

"This third bird was meant to allow Prince Consort Fan's army to take the opportunity to return to Chang'an. You dared not fully trust Su Changying, so you must have had a backup plan. But I never expected that your backup plan would be Prince Consort Fan."

As Zhou Zhao spoke, he looked at the father and son of Prince Consort Fan with a complicated expression.

"You are the murderer of Princess Changyang. How could you, Prince Consort Fan, be an accomplice to evil and help the enemy who killed your wife to overthrow her own brother?"

Zhou Zhao never understood this point.

The Prince Consort Fan and Princess Changyang were deeply in love. Because the princess suffered unbearable pain during childbirth, the Prince Consort Fan did not allow her to have a second child. Moreover, there were no concubines in the princess's residence. The couple lived in perfect harmony.

Even before the princess was born, they were already a well-known perfect couple in Chang'an.

The Shanming Villa was the old residence where the princess and her husband lived when they were still in humble circumstances. Because of their deep affection, even after the princess's mansion was built, this small house was preserved and transformed into the Shanming Villa.

Upon hearing Zhou Zhao's words, Fan Lishen looked at Fan Fuma in despair. He too had been tied up and was now kneeling pathetically beside Fan Fuma.

"Father, Father, did you hear what A-Zhao said? Li Huaishan is the murderer who killed my mother! Why are you helping him! Uncle has always treated us well, why are you plotting rebellion? Why! Father, speak to me!"

Upon hearing this, Prince Consort Fan turned to look at Fan Lishen.

He wanted to reach out and pat Fan Lishen's head, but his hands were tied behind his back, so tightly that he couldn't free his hands at all.

His eyes reddened, but he ultimately remained silent.

Zhou Zhao frowned as he looked at the troops, and continued, "The troops under the command of Prince Consort Fan are very special. They are mainly responsible for searching for treasures and gold, and then collecting rare treasures to escort back to Chang'an. These troops cannot all enter Chang'an at the same time."

So you devised a plan: send the first part of your army to escort tribute into Chang'an, and upon arriving at the Lost City, pretend to be robbed. This served two purposes: firstly, to lure Su Changying onto the island by following this clue, thus bringing the struggle in the Lost City into the open.

Secondly, since the first batch of tribute goods encountered problems, Prince Consort Fan could then lead another group of men to replenish the tribute goods. This would not only ensure that both groups could successfully enter Chang'an, but also give you an excuse to return to the capital.

The Lost City is a place that kills three birds with one stone; it is the result of Li Huaishan's careful planning.