Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 31 Zhou Zhao's Conditions

"How could you not choose? This...this..."

Zhang Ran was truly taken aback by Zhou Zhao's actions, and for a moment his mind was like a stuck waterwheel, unable to turn at all.

He pursed his lips, his gaze towards Zhou Zhao growing increasingly resentful. "Good niece, this is a win-win situation for both of us! Just think, when you return victorious, who will dare to look down on you?"

Zhou Zhao remained unmoved.

When it comes to negotiating terms, whoever gets impatient first loses.

"Two fists can't fight four hands. If a weak woman like me goes in, I'm afraid I won't even come out as bone fragments. Sir, you see that Zhao is young and not only try to lure her with benefits, but you also use reverse psychology. This is going too far."

Zhang Ran blushed. He wanted to say that he had inquired with Li Huaishan and that Zhou Zhao was by no means a weak woman.

She was a formidable woman who took down a serial killer in the Tingwei Temple prison.

But the words wouldn't come out. The girl in front of him wasn't exactly delicate, but her face was very young. She wasn't even seventeen yet, younger than his youngest child.

Wasn't it really too cruel of him to send Zhou Zhao alone into the lion's den?
Zhou Zhao observed that the time was almost right; if Zhang Ran continued to feel guilty, he would really have to stop her from going to Tianying City.

"It's not impossible for me to go. My uncle gave me the opportunity to join the Court of Justice. In return, it's not unreasonable for me to clean up your mess."

Zhang Ran looked over suddenly, his eyes lighting up instantly.

"However, I have a few conditions."

As Zhou Zhao spoke, his expression turned somewhat unpleasant, clearly indicating that he had been forced into this situation and was unwilling to accept it.

"First of all, I can't take on an entire city by myself."

She considered herself to be fairly skilled in martial arts, but even a novice could defeat a master with a flurry of punches. She had infiltrated someone's lair and expected to wipe them out completely? Not only did God not know, but she herself believed that she deserved to die in Tianying City.

Confidence is acceptable, but arrogance is not.

“I need help. There are twelve chieftains and seven hall masters in Tianying City. I need to work with others from the inside to defeat them one by one.”

Seeing that Zhang Ran wanted to mention his spy Qianmian, Zhou Zhao shook his head and interrupted him.

“A thousand faces won’t do. If, as you suspect, he has impersonated Zhu Li and betrayed the court, then he will not be my ally, but rather my greatest danger.”

“After all, he saw my face when we were in Chang’an.”

"Furthermore, I have infiltrated Tianying City and become the insider, so I need an outsider. Zhao Yizhou, the heir of the Marquis of Huaiyang, is currently serving as an official in Dai. He is a protégé of the Prime Minister and his character is trustworthy. He will need to cooperate with me."

Zhou Zhao calmly stated his first condition.

She was a problem for the court.

If she guessed correctly, the second condition was that she should back down and accept a nominal title, thus ending the matter of a woman holding an official position.

The only person who truly wanted her to go to Tianying City was Lord Zhang, since Tianying City was the hornet's nest he was in charge of.

Zhao Yizhou's father and teachers both wield great power, and his current experience in the region is a preparation for a high-ranking position upon his return to the capital. Bringing him on board would be a huge boost.

Before Zhang Ran could think it over, Zhou Zhao stated his second condition.

"Before I leave the capital, my name must appear on the register of the Court of Justice. I am going to Tianying City to associate with evil people, and killing is unavoidable. I need a dagger bestowed by the emperor for punishment. Every person I kill will be executed in accordance with the law."

Zhang Ran was taken aback. He stroked his beard, and his gaze towards Zhou Zhao was completely different from before. Zhou Zhao did not back down; she needed to protect her reputation.

Entering the Court of Judicial Review was only the first step in her grand ambitions. She couldn't give her future political enemies such a big handle and earn the title of a murderous devil.

A general considers beheadings as a merit, but the Minister of Justice cannot.

Those who commit murder should pay with their lives. You, Zhou Zhao, have killed so many people, why don't you pay with your life?
She plans a hundred steps ahead before taking a single one; she aspires to be a high-ranking official.

"Thirdly, Uncle, you must tell me Qianmian's identity in Tianying City, otherwise how can I observe him?"

Zhang Ran nodded. "Qianmian has only been in Tianying City for a year, but he has already gone from an unknown nobody to a capable assistant of Chen Qifu, the head of the Seven Inner Halls."

“Qianmian is the most outstanding spy under my command,” Zhang Ran said, somewhat wistfully. “I originally planned to recommend him to His Majesty after he finished dealing with the matters in Tianying City, but now… I don’t know if something has changed.”

"As for the person, you will definitely recognize him when you go to Tianying City. He always wears half a mask."

Zhou Zhao's heart skipped a beat. Suppressing her excitement, she said to Zhang Ran, "Once I get the dagger, I will set off for Tianying City immediately. At that time, I will definitely present Uncle with a great gift."

"This is a favor that the talented horse is repaying to its discerning owner."

Zhang Ran was startled. He was impatient and immediately walked towards the door.

After walking a few steps, he felt that the scene was extremely familiar. Wasn't this the scene when Zhou Zhao used solving the case as a condition to ask him to go to the Emperor to ask the Court of Justice to recruit talents?
Could he have been tricked this time?

He thought for a moment, then turned to look at Zhou Zhao, "What if His Majesty doesn't agree?"

Zhou Zhao shook his head. "Uncle, just ask. His Majesty is a hero and will surely agree."

She returned successfully, and the dagger became a legendary tale between the emperor and his subject. She died in Tianying, and it was just an ordinary dagger.

It is insignificant to His Majesty, but of paramount importance to her.

Zhang Ran looked at Zhou Zhao standing in the room and was momentarily at a loss for what to do.

"Zhou Zhao, is it really going to work?" Zhang Ran opened his mouth, not knowing why he would ask such a question.

It was clearly he who begged Zhou Zhao to go to Tianying City.

Zhou Zhao's eyes radiated confidence, and she smiled slightly. "Didn't Uncle ask me before if it was possible to solve the case in three days? I only took half a day. I, Zhou Zhao, am the one who turns the impossible into the possible!"

Zhang Ran was taken aback, and a surge of heroic spirit welled up in his heart!
Damn it, he shouldn't have this kind of thing!

He's just a spineless coward who lives off the emperor because they've been through thick and thin together!

The chicken in the proverb "When one person attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven!"
"Done!"

Zhou Zhao watched Zhang Ran's departing figure, then moved her hands from behind her back to her front. She looked down at them, her fingertips still trembling slightly.

On July 15th, we parted ways in Tianying City.

That means Su Changying was by her side when she died. Could Qianmian be Su Changying?
If Qianmian is indeed Su Changying, then how could he have become Zhang Ran's spy, and why wouldn't he acknowledge her? Was he forced into this situation, or is there another hidden reason?

Zhou Zhao didn't dwell on it too much; he would find out everything once he arrived in Tianying City.

Not only will Zhou Zhao not die in Tianying City, but she will also bring Su Changying back to Chang'an.

Tianying City will open tomorrow. P.S. This book will be available for purchase on December 1st, after which it will no longer be updated only once a week!