Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 329 Tearing Off the Fig Leaf

How could Zhou Zhao not remember?

When she heard Imperial Censor Lin say that Bai Li's family had only one son for nine generations and that he had angered the Emperor and was sentenced to death, but was later spared his life through castration, she guessed that this person was the young man she had met when she was imprisoned in the Court of Justice.

It was an elder in the prison who asked the question on his behalf.

When she saw the birth chart that Li Niang had hidden and saw Bai Li's face, she became even more certain.

“I’m talking about something that anyone in the Court of Justice knows; the laws and regulations are there for all to see.”

Bai Li instantly became furious. He struggled to stand up, but Su Changying pushed him down and pinned him to the ground again.

"You make it sound so easy! But I have nothing left! Last year, my birthday banquet was filled with distinguished guests, but this year, my father and mother have severed ties with me, my wife has divorced me, my daughter died in the womb, and I have become a useless person, with no way to hold office anymore."

Those who used to praise me now ridicule and mock me. Even my father-in-law only tries to appease me with money; nobody respects me.

My whole life is ruined! You simply can't understand this kind of pain!

Just this past spring, I was the youngest and most promising censor in the Censorate! It's all because I listened to you…”

Zhou Zhao interrupted Bai Li's angry words, her expression remaining calm and unaffected by Bai Li's words.

"While you were in prison, all you wanted was to live; once you were alive, you wanted to regain your fame, fortune, and wealth..."

You've probably forgotten that you were originally supposed to die.

You have committed a capital offense.

Zhou Zhao quietly looked at Bai Li. She stood there, the night wind blowing her hair, the two black and white hair ribbons twirling in the air. But she stood there like a pillar of strength, exuding an indescribable firmness and reliability, as if nothing could defeat or stop her.

The scene he had witnessed in the Tingwei Temple prison suddenly flashed into Bai Li's mind.

The prison was holding vicious murderers at the time, and everyone in the prison was secretly sighing in their hearts. They thought that the new girl's fair neck would soon be broken. He was also secretly watching at the time, and he couldn't describe the feeling in his heart.

But Zhou Zhao did not die; she was willing to hurt herself to stab someone.

Back then, she was just like she is today, quietly sitting there, a towering mountain that inspires awe.

Bai Li's countless accusations were like razor blades stuck in his mouth, cutting his throat until it ached.

He suddenly slumped to the ground, muttering, "It's not my fault, it's not my fault... I was helping them. Anyone who wants to live in this quagmire is worse than a dog. They all want to die, but they don't have the courage. I'll die for them..."

I was helping them, I did nothing wrong..."

Zhou Zhao finally lost his patience and sneered.

"What was Meng Yannian doing when you killed him? He was humming a little tune. Do you think he wanted to die?"
Who do you think you are, to decide someone else's life or death at will?

How could someone who wants to die be in the mood to hum a tune?
Zhou Zhao imagined that at that time, he must have been shoveling snow while humming a little tune, wishing that girl, who was like a lily of the valley, eternal happiness and health.

"You're not helping them, you're just indiscriminately killing innocent people."

"Now that your former esteemed guests no longer fawn over you, you slaughter the weak, seeking the same feeling of being the center of attention in them. Otherwise, why would you be so fixated on a meaningless birthday banquet? You're not helping them; you're a shameless slaughterer." Bai Li listened, then covered his eyes and burst into laughter…

He laughed for a moment, then burst into tears again, "It's not my fault, it's not my fault... I'm an imperial censor, I was helping them escape their suffering. I... I'm the one who's to blame..."

Seeing that Zhou Zhao stopped asking questions, Su Changying looked up at the Northern Army soldiers gathered at the alley entrance and said, "Arrest the murderer Bai Li and take him back to the Tingwei Temple prison to continue the night patrol."

"Yes!" The roar at the alley entrance was deafening.

The group of people looked at Su Changying and Zhou Zhao with sparkling eyes.

If they weren't in the Northern Army anymore, could they still be storytellers in teahouses? Ever since Marquis Lu came to the Northern Army and Zhou Zhao entered the Court of Justice, they've experienced more amazing things than in their entire previous lives! And they've gained more merit than in the past few years.

Hearing this, Zhou Zhao turned around, smiled at everyone, and said, "It's your General Su who should treat you to meat."

The crowd's eyes shone even brighter than the lanterns hanging in front of the brothels and pleasure quarters of Chang'an.

Su Changying helplessly rubbed the hood on Zhou Zhao's head, "If Lord Zhou says please, then please. There's plenty for everyone."

The crowd cheered again, which made Min Zangzhi's pale face look even more wretched.

"Zhaozhao, the murderer has been caught. Now it's time to go back and rest. We can talk about anything else tomorrow."

Zhou Zhao nodded obediently this time. Although she was very tolerant, the case tonight was just too intense!
……

Last night the stars were everywhere, and today the warm sun shines overhead.

When Zhou Zhao went to the Court of Justice the next day, he felt as if he had come back to life.

Today I finally got to eat Xiaotangtang's mutton flatbread, plus a big bowl of steaming hot mutton soup topped with scallions.

When they came out after eating and drinking their fill, Su Changying was already waiting there.

He wasn't wearing a black robe today, but instead a red outfit and a crown. Zhou Zhao was momentarily dazed, as if he were seeing the dashing young man from his memories again.

"You've remembered something else?" Zhou Zhao asked with a look of surprise.

Ever since she recognized Su Changying in Tianying City, he had been wearing a black robe and had been quite somber. Now, he is finally becoming more and more vibrant.

Su Changying smiled and said, "Yes, I remember when I was hunting sparrows with Lord Zhou, we scared the sparrow named Wuyun that Marquis of Huaiyang kept so badly that it lost all its feathers."

Zhou Zhao chuckled upon hearing this, and blinked. "Whatever the Marquis of Huaiyang raises dies. Before Five Clouds, there are One Cloud, Two Clouds, Three Clouds, and Four Clouds."

"One bird escaped its cage and was preyed upon by a snake; the second bird, not good at flying, fluttered into the kitchen and fell into the oil fryer, becoming a fried sparrow; the third bird, greedy for food, choked to death on beans; the fourth bird was well-behaved and did not fly away even after leaving its cage. But one day, it heard the Marquis of Huaiyang singing a song and was so frightened that it crashed into the wall and died."

Su Changying spoke with a smile in her eyes and brows.

"These are all the ones that Marquis Huaiyang counted himself when he was holding the naked Wuyun and crying. Zhaozhao, am I right?"

Zhou Zhao nodded emphatically, “That’s right, that’s right! After Wu Yun died, the Lady of Huaiyang Marquis forbade him from raising sparrows or singing songs!”