Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 306 Let's Break Off the Engagement
“I came to Chang’an with my husband’s family, and my father came with me. He rented a place nearby and didn’t dare to visit often, for fear that the Song family would not like it.”

I only see Song Li occasionally, and I am always happy.

Not long ago, my father picked some wild grapes in the mountains outside the city. Knowing that I like sour things, he brought them to me. Since it wasn't appropriate to enter through the main gate, he called to me from the corner of the wall and then squatted there to wait. Just then, he bumped into Song Ran and An Ning entering the house.

Father was furious. He was just an ordinary bamboo craftsman who had never been to school and didn't understand any profound principles.

But he knew that Song Ran had wronged me. He immediately wanted me to divorce Song Ran and leave the Song family. But just as my father couldn't bear to see me suffer, how could I bear to see Song Li lose his mother at such a young age?

As Xu Zhi spoke, tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

"I did it for Song Liren because I didn't want him to suffer in the future without his mother's protection; but I never thought that my father, out of concern for me, wanted me to know that I still had his protection, that there were people who didn't want me to suffer..."

When I heard that Song Ran had been beheaded and had his limbs chopped off, I had a vague suspicion in my mind! Just now, Song Ying admitted that he was the murderer, and I did consider playing along.

But I can't do that... I can't do that...

Even just now, I was still somewhat resentful of my father for acting on his own initiative. If he killed Song Ran, I would no longer be able to stay in the Song family and would have to separate from Song Li. What would have been the point of all my previous forbearance?
I was thinking, "I wish I was wrong, I wish the murderer wasn't my father..."

Xu Zhi said, somewhat out of breath, "Then we can cover up the truth and just live like this."

Xu Zhi raised her eyes and looked at Zhou Zhao, "Young Master Zhou, why do you think my father went to turn himself in?"

Zhou Zhao looked at Xu Zhi, feeling a pang of sadness. She knew the answer, but she still asked the question.

"Because he doesn't want you to be made difficult by the people of the Court of Justice, nor does he want to see you spend the rest of your life suffering in humiliation."

Zhou Zhao also had no way of judging which path in life was the right one for Xu Zhi.

But she knew that Xu Zhi's father loved her just as she loved her son, Song Li.

……

On the return journey, only Zhou Zhao and Su Changying remained in the carriage.

Su Changying brushed the snowflakes off Zhou Zhao's cloak and gently held her slightly cold fingertips. "Min Zangzhi isn't here, so Wu Qingshan will take care of the rest. You're not fully recovered yet, so go back and rest. The murderer has already turned himself in, so it's alright if you don't go."

As he spoke, seeing that Zhou Zhao was still somewhat listless, he reached out and poked Zhou Zhao's cheek with his finger.

"After hearing about this case, I felt very sad."

Zhou Zhao stared wide-eyed in surprise at Su Changying beside her. "What are you upset about? Ever since I disobeyed and insisted on investigating the case, you've stood silently beside me like a vicious dog guarding a sheepfold."

Su Changying looked at Zhou Zhao, sighed softly, and a trace of melancholy appeared in her eyes.

“You see, I don’t have a mother either, but my father doesn’t love him nearly as much as Xu Zhi’s father does. Fortunately, God is fair; I have no parents to love me, but I have Lord Zhou…”

Zhou Zhao's face flushed, and she turned her head away.

"You acted terribly, and you call that the number one spy! They didn't even notice you were up to something, they're all blind. I pretended not to know, but you've already said what I was going to say, leaving me speechless!"

Upon hearing this, Su Changying cupped her hands in a respectful gesture towards Zhou Zhao, saying, "Who can be as insightful and discerning as Lord Zhou!"

Zhou Zhao looked at Su Changying in surprise. She was stunned for a moment, then her expression softened. "You seem to have changed a bit."

Su Changying gave a soft "hmm" and said, "I feel much more at ease now. I can respond to Zhaozhao's every word from now on, and I feel very reassured."

Zhou Zhao didn't expect Su Changying to speak so bluntly. She rested her head on Su Changying's shoulder and said, "I'm sleepy and want to take a nap."

With her adoptive father arrested, no one will be able to control Su Changying anymore.

He didn't need to be a spy, nor did he need to walk on the edge of a knife. He didn't need to worry about her drawing her sword without his knowledge one day.

There's no need to worry about anyone sending someone to kill her at any time.

He no longer needs to feel uneasy about the blanks in his past, nor does he need to worry about not remembering the past that Zhou Zhao mentioned, or being unable to respond.

He will soon regain his memory and become the little Lu Hou who has countless beautiful memories with Zhou Zhao. He will stand by her side completely, knowing everything she said and every single thing she said. How could he not feel at ease in such a life?
Su Changying looked at Zhou Zhao's trembling eyelashes and knew that she was pretending to be asleep, so she couldn't help but chuckle softly.

Zhou Zhao felt his shoulders trembling slightly, and reached out to pinch Su Changying's waist.

"Have someone tell Chu Hang about the case. I'll visit Sister Chu You again tomorrow. Once I've rested up, I'll tease Min Cangzhi every day until he cries. I'll listen to you for now. Go back and rest; I'm sleepy."

"Alright, I'll follow Lord Zhou's arrangements," Su Changying said, grasping Zhou Zhao's mischievous hand.

Zhou Zhao didn't actually want to recover his strength before mocking Min Zangzhi; he simply wanted to give him and Chu You enough time.

She may have a tough exterior, but she's incredibly soft-hearted inside.

Of course, when it comes to evil people, Zhou Zhao's heart is even harder than his mouth.

……

Several more rooms of the Chu family's old house collapsed in the heavy snow, making it appear even more dilapidated at first glance.

Only Chu You's residence had been completely renovated, even the carved wooden windows were newly made.

The courtyard, which had previously been far from elegant, now boasts many more flowers and trees, and even under the blanket of snow, a few bright red blossoms can occasionally be seen. In the sunniest spot in the courtyard, a large stone table has been added, which Min Cangzhi had specially sent over.

When the sun shines, Chu You can draw here, and she feels warm and cozy.

A birdcage hangs by the window of the dormitory, inside which is a small, bright green bird that chirps occasionally.

The bedroom, which was previously almost entirely decorated with patterns, has now been filled with many new trinkets bearing Min Zangzhi's brand.

Chu You stood quietly by the window, unaware that a person named Min Cangzhi had quietly yet forcefully invaded every corner of her life.

"Have you said everything you wanted to say? I believe you were unaware of this beforehand; it was all arranged by Chen Yin and the others. But Min Zangzhi, how about we call off the engagement? This isn't your fault; I'm the one who's wronged you."

We weren't really a good match to begin with. All I could do was arithmetic, draw, and carpentry; most of the time I was dressed in drab, dusty clothes, covered in sawdust.

You are a refined and elegant gentleman, dressed in fine clothes, indulging in incense, drinking wine, and composing lyrics and music. You also have a cleanliness obsession; there can't be a single wrinkle in your clothes.

You even neglected your case, rushing to me for an explanation, didn't you? It turns out you've discovered that you and I, like Song Ran and Xu Zhi, are fundamentally different people.