Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 412 The Grand Wedding (Final Chapter)

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhao stepped into the house. Listening to the joyful music and noise behind him, he finally felt a belated sense of embarrassment.

Today is her wedding day; she is marrying Su Changying.

Thinking it over, she sat down at her desk, pretending to be calm, and picked up a scroll titled "Forty-Three Bizarre Ways of Death." After glancing at it, she felt it was somewhat inappropriate, so she put it down and picked up another scroll at random. This scroll was simple, with the words "Torture" written at the beginning.

Zhou Zhao gripped the bamboo slip tightly with his fingers and looked towards the door.

Su Changying arrived much faster than she expected. Today he was wearing the court robes of the Northern Army Commander-in-Chief, and they happened to meet eyes when she looked over.

She and Su Changying grew up together as childhood sweethearts. After so many years together, she thought that her wedding would just be moving from one place to another, a special yet ordinary day in her life. But as the moment approached, she actually became a little nervous.

The two men stared at each other across the bustling crowd of the Northern Army and the Court of Justice.

Zhou Zhao suddenly felt as if those sounds had vanished in an instant, and the world seemed to have frozen in time, leaving only her and Su Changying.

She could hear her own heart pounding like thunder, and her heart leaping with joy.

She liked Su Changying more than she thought, and she wanted to marry him more than she thought.

It's not just the natural progression of being together year after year, but also the heart-fluttering feeling that never gets old.

Zhou Zhao thought for a moment, then exchanged a smile with Su Changying.

The noise returned instantly. Although it was supposed to be her wedding to Su Changying, Han Ze and Ji Yun were like two ruffled roosters, singing and dancing in the courtyard, having a great time, as lively as a monkey show.

Both of them were incompetent in both literary and martial arts; the only thing they could compete with each other on was money.

Accompanying Su Changying were Han Ze and a young man dressed in a blue robe.

Seeing Zhou Zhao looking at him, he nodded slightly and gave a kind smile.

Zhou Zhao recognized him; it was Pei Jiusi, Su Changying's former right-hand man in the Su family army. Now, Pei Jiusi had also joined the Northern Army with him.

"No, no, if you want to marry our Zhou Zuojian, you must first recite a poem."

Upon hearing the poem recited, Zhou Zhao's gaze met Su Changying's again. The two were initially at a loss for words, but then couldn't help but grin.

There's no other reason than that those who knew the Marquis of Lu couldn't bear to hear the words "reciting poetry."

"Ah Zhao, you've torn the bamboo slip to shreds."

Hearing the teasing voice suddenly in her ear, Zhou Zhao snapped out of her daze. She pretended to be indifferent and looked up, instantly meeting Zhou Xuan's smiling eyes.

She blushed and cleared her throat. "Sister, I'm not nervous."

Zhou Xuan laughed out loud and winked at Zhou Zhao, "Hmm, you're not nervous, it's this bamboo slip that's trying to bite your hand."

Chu You and Fan Lishen listened and laughed along.

As Zhou Zhao listened, he picked up the book "Torture" and covered his face. Su Changying, who was outside, gave Pei Jiusi a look. Pei Jiusi immediately began to recite poetry with great interest. He had an exceptional talent in this area, but he had never dared to show it in the Su family army before.

He feared that the Marquis of Lu would grab his sleeve and shout, "High mountains and flowing water seek a kindred spirit," and then want to make friends with him through poetry.

That's "Torture".

Su Changying overcame numerous obstacles and soon arrived at Zhou Zhao's door. He looked at Ah Huang, who was blocking the door, and said, "Ah Huang, I've come to pick up Zhao Zhao."

Ah Huang nodded with his bamboo hat. "Brother Changying, if you make Ah Zhao angry, we'll all beat you up together."

Su Changying looked at Ah Huang with a smile in her eyes, "Yes, I'll join you guys in beating me too."

Ah Huang was taken aback and stepped aside to let Su Changying into the room.

Hearing Su Changying's words at the door, Zhou Zhao looked up from the bamboo scroll and looked at Su Changying. Su Changying blushed and smiled, "Zhao Zhao, I've come to pick you up."

Zhou Zhao placed the bamboo slips on the table, straightened up, cleared her throat, and said, "Ahem, let's go!" Without hesitation, she walked to the door and took Su Changying's hand. People inside and outside the room couldn't help but laugh.

With blushing faces, Su Changying and Zhou Zhao parted from the crowd and went to the main courtyard to bid farewell to their parents.

Zhou Zhao looked at Zhou Buhai, whose eyes were red, and Yu Shi, who was weeping with her face covered. She went up to say goodbye. She didn't say anything sentimental, nor did she cry. When she came to Zhou Cheng'an, she said, "From now on, I entrust my father and mother to you."

Zhou Cheng'an glanced at Zhou Buhai and then nodded.

Zhou Zhao didn't say much. He left the Zhou residence with Su Changying and immediately mounted his horse.

Both she and Su Changying were court officials. She didn't want to wear a wedding dress; she wanted to wear court robes. She also didn't want to ride in a carriage or sedan chair; she wanted to ride a horse.

These were all things she and Su Changying had discussed in advance; although they were strange, she liked them.

Even after she married Su Changying, she was still Zhou Zhao.

Sitting on her horse, Zhou Zhao glanced back one last time at the familiar gate of the Zhou residence. The hole she and Su Changying had dug when they were punished by standing in front of the gate in their youth was still there. Near the hinge on the lower left side of the gate, there were still the two crooked characters "Zhou Su" that she had carved with a small dagger.

Although the paint has been applied repeatedly, the grooves are too deep and clearly visible upon close inspection.

This mansion holds countless memories of her youth spent with Su Changying. They raided bird nests together, broke Zhou Buhai's vases, and pried open floor tiles while kneeling in the ancestral hall. They also recited poems in Zhou Buhai's study and once pretended to be ghosts on the roof, scaring Old Madam Zhou...

Zhou Zhao thought for a moment, then turned around and said, "Let's go!"

"Our General Su is getting married to Lord Zhou! Hehe, let's give out lucky money to everyone!"

As Zhou Zhao rode on horseback, he saw Han Ze and Ji Yun carrying bamboo baskets on either side of each other, scattering money along the roadside. He couldn't help but be speechless. "Did you arrange this?"

That's so outrageous, she even wanted to dismount and pick it up.

Su Changying shook her head. "I gave all my money to Zhaozhao, and they arranged it themselves."

As Su Changying spoke, she suddenly lowered her voice, "Zhao Zhao, you look really beautiful today."

Zhou Zhao blushed, glared at Su Changying, and didn't speak to him again. The wedding procession then headed to the Lu Marquis's residence in a grand procession.

We pay homage to Heaven and Earth and host a banquet for our guests.

When the hustle and bustle subsided into silence, only Zhou Zhao and Su Changying remained in the room.

Su Changying had just come out of the bath and changed clothes, still carrying warmth and fragrance. Zhou Zhao looked at the water droplets left on his neck and couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable. She pretended to be calm and looked around, but when she turned her head, she saw the mandarin duck quilt on the bed.

Everything in this house comes in pairs; even if there are ghosts, they all need to be in pairs, one is indispensable.

"Zhaozhao, are you nervous?"

"Who's nervous? When have you ever seen me nervous?"

Su Changying chuckled. When Zhou Zhao saw him laughing at her, she couldn't help but throw a punch. Su Changying didn't fight back or dodge, but instead grabbed Zhou Zhao with his hand and pulled her into a warm embrace.

At this moment, Su Changying was completely different from usual.

Zhou Zhao felt so nervous that her heart was about to jump out of her chest.

Just as she was feeling uneasy, she felt a gentle kiss fall on the top of her head. "Zhao Zhao, it's so good that I was able to wait for this day. Not just in the past, but every day from now on, I will be there for you."

Upon hearing this voice, Zhou Zhao's somewhat uneasy heart instantly calmed down, and she reached out to hug Su Changying's waist.

She raised her head and met Su Changying's gaze. "Only you."

For the rest of our lives, it will be you and me.

(End of this chapter)