Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 378 Unveiling the New Trailer

With a few light leaps, she landed in her courtyard next to the Court of Justice.

The little black cat, who was lounging in the corridor sunbathing like a pancake, was startled and darted up the artificial hill, staring at Zhou Zhao.

Seeing that she wasn't like the strange person from that day, smearing it with drool, it shook its tail with relief and collapsed on the spot.

Since Chu Yi wasn't there, Zhou Zhao went straight into his bedroom and picked up the "Six Paths Heavenly Book" from beside his pillow.

Regardless of whether the person behind it all is Zhao Tingwei or Huo Taiwei, they have one thing in common: they are both cunning and shrewd foxes.

They targeted Fan Lishen, constantly delaying her investigation, undoubtedly in order to turn the tide in this extremely short period of time.

After all, if she and Su Changying were to mention that person's name on His Majesty's desk, they would face utter ruin.

It's a race to see who can act faster!

Zhou Zhao thought for a moment and then opened the bamboo slip.

She had noticed this several times before: every time she was in danger, it was when something major happened; otherwise, with her abilities, she wouldn't have died.

The letter to his deceased wife can be used a total of six times. Su Changying has already used it four times for her. Will there be a fifth time?

The bamboo slips were cool to the touch, and the room was completely blank. Only the few points where the mechanism had been opened earlier were still imprinted in Zhou Zhao's mind, and he could not forget them at all.

She reached out and gently stroked the bamboo slip.

Suddenly, my fingertips felt burning hot.

Zhou Zhao's breath hitched, and he opened his eyes wide to see familiar characters appearing on the bamboo slip again.

The letter to my deceased wife shines as brightly as the sun and moon, hanging high on the long ribbon.

I met Tianying on the straight road on New Year's Day, and again on the orchid moon.

The reeds are lush and green, the pear trees are lush and white, and suddenly I feel a sense of peace.

The Imperial Censor wielded double blades in the Northern Army, risking his life to be resurrected from the perilous tower where stars were plucked.

Blood mist hangs over the lost city, the north wind blows, and Cui Zi's attempt to assassinate his master has failed.

A hundred ghosts wailed in the clouds, their souls returning in a flash.

Eight grains and spears divide the north and south, twelve golden-clad warriors slay the newcomers.

This time, the words on the bamboo slips appeared exceptionally slow, as if the hand holding the pen was trembling, as if each word was written with great pain.

Large spurts of blood fell, quickly turning the bamboo slips crimson.

Zhou Zhao reached out and pressed hard on the blood clot, as if that would stop Su Changying's bleeding.

She pursed her lips tightly, engraving each word on the bamboo slip into her mind.

A surge of anger welled up in her heart. What heavenly law had Zhou Zhao violated that she was destined to die young?
What merits did Zhou Zhao possess that made her worthy of Chang Ying risking his life to save her time and time again?

The writing on the bamboo slips burned away one by one, and soon everything returned to calm.

The blood gradually faded, just like the life of Changying, who wrote the letter to his deceased wife, gradually passing away.

Zhou Zhao sniffed, trying to calm himself down.

This time, the preview is noticeably more cryptic than before.

“Eight grains, spears, halberds, north and south…” Zhou Zhao murmured, repeating the words on his tongue.

"Spears and halberds are commonly used weapons in the army. The garrison in Chang'an is divided into the Southern Army and the Northern Army. But what is the meaning of these eight grains?"

Zhou Zhao thought for a moment, then said the next line, "The Twelve Golden Robes Slay the Newcomers."

"Twelve Golden Robes? Does that mean the other side has twelve experts? Slaying newcomers, slaying newcomers..." Zhou Zhao suddenly paused.

Previous trailers usually included a time and place, but in this sentence, "Bagu" seems to be a place name, and "slaying newcomers"... the most recent newcomers... Zhou Zhaoguang felt a chill just thinking about it.

Her father, Zhou Buhai, had told her that there was an imperial decree that her second sister, Zhou Wan, would marry the Prince of Dai in three days, which, according to the date, would be tomorrow.

Does this mean that twelve experts will ambush her at the Prince's wedding banquet, and that she will die on the spot because of Zhou Wan?

It's not impossible.

If Zhou Wan were in trouble, she would absolutely risk her life for her without hesitation.

Because she knew that, if the roles were reversed, Zhou Wan would also do everything in her power for her.

Zhou Zhao thought for a moment, then closed the "Letter to My Deceased Wife" and rushed out the door.

When he saw the little black cat lounging on the artificial hill sunbathing, he stopped in his tracks, suppressed his anger, and walked over to gently stroke its little head.

She can be angry, but she cannot lose her temper.

This time, she decided not to wait for the timing in the trailer; she wanted to take the initiative.

She absolutely could not tolerate any mishap to Zhou Wan. She was so good; she should have a grand and peaceful wedding, not have her own wedding banquet turn into a bloody battlefield, her joyous day become her sister's death anniversary, and then be forever trapped in guilt, never finding peace for the rest of her life.

Although Zhou Wan is annoying, only she can bully her.

She wants to take the initiative and kick fate away.

As if sensing her emotions, the little black cat wrapped its black tail around Zhou Zhao's wrist.

Zhou Zhao looked at it and said earnestly, "I'll bring you back a fish from my second sister's wedding banquet."

The little black cat probably only understood the word "fish," and it obediently poked its head out and meowed.

Zhou Zhao released his grip, opened the courtyard door, and headed straight for the Northern Army without looking back.

……

At noon, Chang'an was bustling with activity, filled with the aroma of food.

The vendors, who had been waiting for half a day, were now shouting to attract customers, "Freshly slaughtered lambs, the blood is still hot and the meat is still throbbing, they're so fresh!"

"A cabbage that has been touched by frost is sweeter than the lip rouge of a beauty from the Spring Breeze Pavilion!"

"Sesame seed cake, sesame seed cake, a crumbly sesame seed cake; a hot, oily sesame seed cake with lots of meat..."

The toothless man, who was wandering around with his rice bowl in his hand, sniffed. There was no meat in his bowl today, but he would inhale the aroma of meat on the street as if he had eaten meat.

Just then, the sound of horses' hooves approached from afar.

People in the market hurriedly made way, all stepping aside, as a troop of military horses roared through the bustling city like a black whirlwind.

The scene was completely silent, and everyone lowered their heads.

Only after the solemn army passed through did the crowd dare to raise their heads and speak, and they began to discuss among themselves, "What's going on? Is there another war? Which army is that?"

The man with the missing front tooth stood on tiptoe to take a look. "It's the Northern Army!"

As he spoke, he quickly finished the rice in his bowl, looked around, turned the bowl upside down, stuffed it into his clothes to cover his heart, then firmly gripped the chopsticks in his hand and immediately chased after the Northern Army in the direction they were marching.

Something big has happened! How could he not go and see!

Maybe a vixen has appeared in the palace and is causing trouble in the harem; at worst, a foreign country sends a letter forcibly taking the new Minister of Justice; or even worse, Su Changying beats up Young Master Zhao, and the two men fight over a wife! Just thinking about it made the bowl on his chest tremble with excitement!
He had already prepared the chest protector (bowl), just waiting to find out!
Thinking it over, he jogged along following the trail of the Northern Army. When he saw that the army ahead had stopped, he immediately found a corner to hide in.

Peeking out from behind the missing front tooth, I was immediately horrified.

Two armies faced off ahead, ready to unleash a barrage of arrows at any moment!
He looked shakily toward the gate not far away, and saw the character "Huo" visible on the plaque that was hidden by tree branches.

(End of this chapter)