Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 348 Their Relationship

Zhou Buhai looked at Zhou Zhao in shock.

"Ah Zhao, you've actually investigated this far?"

Zhou Zhao looked at Zhou Buhai indifferently, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes.

"Father wouldn't think that I got this position as a court historian because of my ancestors' influence, would he?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Buhai felt a burning pain on his face.

He did send Zhou Cheng'an to the Court of Justice and found fellow disciples to look after him, but he did not take care of Zhou Zhao.

What was he thinking back then...? Zhou Zhao was just a young girl who got into the Court of Justice by setting a trap for Zhang Ran. She would probably only ever be a minor official for the rest of her life.

But now, Zhou Cheng'an is still a lowly official who can only look at case files and pass the time, while Zhou Zhao is already a court official.

"Ah Zhao, what do you think?"

Zhou Zhao shook his head at Zhou Buhai speechlessly, "I'm too young to understand the love and hate between you old folks."

Zhang Ran is infatuated with Princess Changyang to the point that he has even disciplined Zhang Ruoqing to behave like a princess. Were you aware of this?

Zhou Buhai's pupils contracted sharply, and he shook his head in disbelief.

His nickname was Zhou Ligong. He was upright and rigid in his daily life. When he was in office, he was ruthless and indiscriminate in his executions. He never cared about such romantic matters.

Moreover, he was not interested in matters of love between men and women, so he did not even have a concubine in his household.

Zhou Buhai snapped out of his daze and commented expressionlessly, "Incompetent, yet full of tricks, despicable. I used to think Zhang Ran was only mediocre, barely qualifying because of His Majesty's assessment, but now it seems he should be considered inferior."

Zhou Zhao blinked.

Why do you call yourself a lowly person? Why don't you just call yourself a despicable person?

"The Prime Minister manages state affairs, and the Grand Commandant holds military power. These two are among the Three Dukes and are figures of real power. Han Shaofu has always managed His Majesty's private treasury, and the Marquis of Huaiyang is adept at social maneuvering. He used to be the Director of Foreign Affairs, in charge of diplomatic relations, tribal affairs, and the tribute exchanges between various vassal states."

They were only recently transferred to the Court of Judicial Review. All four of them are His Majesty's confidants, and openly they haven't taken sides.

Zhou Zhao was not surprised. Although she was focused on solving the case, she was not completely ignorant of the imperial court.

"We were all officials in the same court, so we were all polite to each other and there was no animosity between us, nor was anyone particularly close to anyone else."

In comparison, Zhang Ran and the Marquis of Huaiyang were related by marriage. Zhang Ran's second son and the Marquis of Huaiyang's niece were engaged at a very young age. I know about this because the two of them once traveled together and encountered some traveling performers.

The two of them were kidnapped for three months, but I eventually found them and brought them back.

The niece of the Marquis of Huaiyang was originally a little girl who would pant after taking one step, but after returning, she could do eighteen somersaults in one go.

Needless to say, Zhang Ran's son learned the Iron Head Breaking Stone technique, but he was scolded so badly that he became a complete wretch, and would bang his head against any large stone he saw.

Neither family dared to acknowledge it, thinking they had rescued an evil spirit. "How could I let them eat for free from the feast of the Court of Justice?" I insisted on sending them back.

Zhou Zhao's eyes widened in surprise. "How come I didn't know about this?"

Zhou Buhai shook his head. "You were young then, and the Marquis of Huaiyang came from a scholarly family and valued his reputation highly, so this matter was not publicized. Moreover, he specifically instructed that you not to know about it, probably because he was afraid you would come to see the spectacle."

Zhou Zhao remained silent.

Indeed, when there are many people, everyone has their own quirky stories.

She hadn't expected that amidst all the bizarre events, there was a story about her omnipresence. "Father, what you've said is as good as nothing. It's getting late, I must leave now. I will investigate the origins of that ninth lion. If you're so inclined, Father, please try to find out the connection between these four people and Zhang Ran."

As Zhou Zhao spoke, he yawned and turned to leave.

"Ah Zhao, the poison in your body?"

Zhou Zhao paused, "I'm mostly fine now. Isn't His Majesty ordering me to be bait tonight to lure the assassins out?"

Zhou Buhai felt a lump in his throat. He wanted to clench his fists, but his palms felt swollen and he couldn't close them, as if something was blocking them.

"Your second sister will be married in three days. Don't forget to come back then. This time it's a done deal. The court is in turmoil right now, and the Prince of Dai wants to go to his fiefdom to avoid the storm as soon as possible. I have already refused His Majesty's arrangement and will not enter the court."

Zhou Zhao turned around and looked at Zhou Buhai in surprise, his eyes full of questions.

"Without you in court, who will protect your new son?"

Zhou Buhai's voice was a little hoarse, "Ah Zhao... don't stab your father in the heart again."

Your second sister's marriage has been postponed several times and remains undecided. With the Prince of Dai's power waning, no one wants him to marry into a powerful family; your second sister was originally the most suitable. But now, Changying commands the Northern Army, Xincheng commands the Southern Army, and you are at the height of your influence in the court. If I were to…

Zhou Buhai was once one of the Nine Ministers, and now that he has been reinstated, his rank will not be low.

In this way, Zhou Wan suddenly transformed from an insignificant and pitiful girl into someone extraordinary.

“The Prince of Dai is determined to go to his fiefdom. Your second sister’s marriage cannot be delayed any longer. Otherwise, once he leaves for Dai and has another wife and children, where will your second sister find a place to stay?”

Zhou Zhao looked at Zhou Buhai with an exceptionally complex expression.

She guessed that after she left, Zhou Wan must have used many subtle methods to turn her father from a lump of iron into a pancake, almost like he had become a piece of iron.

High, really high.

In comparison, her muttering complaints sounded like the childish antics of a three-year-old.

She was momentarily dazed, then came to her senses and gave a self-deprecating smile.

She thought that if Zhou Wan knew what she was thinking at this moment, she would definitely grab her ear and start mocking her: Have you ever weighed how much we sisters weigh? Have you ever measured your own face with a ruler? What are you thinking... It's just that the position of Minister of Justice was given to the Marquis of Huaiyang. Zhou Buhai knew that he would never have the chance to take charge of the Ministry of Justice again, so he made this move after weighing the options.

Their father was a man who valued his reputation.

Marquis of Huaiyang was adept at social maneuvering, but when it came to law and solving cases, he was far inferior to Zhou Buhai. Yet, he was appointed Minister of Justice. Can't we see the Emperor's intentions?
"Understood, I will be back in three days."

Zhou Zhao didn't say much. She walked to the door of the secret room. Just as she was about to raise her hand, Zhou Buhai walked over from behind, holding a lamp. He punched the blank wall again, and the door of the secret room opened.

Zhou Zhao watched, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

Whose secret room mechanism is this—a punch to the wall?

Could this be what they call the ultimate simplicity?

As she left the Zhou residence, the night breeze ruffled Zhou Zhao's hair. Although it was late at night, she felt that her mind was clearer than ever before.

The number of suspects has now been narrowed down to four.

Moreover, she has three clues to investigate: the ninth lion emblem, who Zhang Ran joined forces with back then, and whether the pink pill that person used came from Tianying City... If so, what is the connection between that person and Tianying City?

Although the road ahead was still shrouded in mystery, she was very patient.