Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 124 The Dead in a Wedding Dress

Zhou Xuan's eyes widened in surprise. "You remember all of this? How old were you when I got married?"

"Sister, are you trying to make me get married with a lot of worry?"

Zhou Xuan was silent for a moment, "Something did happen at home..."

Seeing that Zhou Zhao and Zhou Wan both tensed up, Zhou Xuan quickly waved his hand and said, "Don't worry."

As she spoke, she glanced sharply at the maid who followed her in, then at Chu Yi who was busy at the side. Only when the three sisters were left in the courtyard did Zhou Xuan stride towards Zhou Zhao's room.

She navigated the winding path with some difficulty, sometimes kicking a skull, sometimes accidentally bumping into a large cleaver, making a clanging sound.

Only after arriving at Zhou Zhao's desk did he sit down, looking pale and sickly.

"It's a good thing I've been losing weight recently, otherwise I wouldn't be able to squeeze into your space."

Zhou Xuan rarely joked, but neither Zhou Zhao nor Zhou Wan laughed; they just stared intently at her.

Zhou Xuan said helplessly, "I'll tell you then. It's not that I didn't want to tell you before, but it concerns a woman's reputation, so I can't just say it to outsiders."

“Before the New Year, my mother-in-law brought her niece Bao Chun’an, who is your brother-in-law’s cousin, to Chang’an to arrange a marriage for her.”

Upon hearing the word "cousin," Zhou Zhao's heart skipped a beat, as she recalled that Zhou Xuan had been married for many years without having any children.

Seeing Zhou Zhao and Zhou Wan's expressions change at the same time, Zhou Xuan reached out and gently patted their heads. "Just as you thought, on the surface it's a marriage proposal, but in reality it's to make your brother-in-law marry Bao Chun'an as his concubine."

"But who is your elder sister? I dare to overturn Grandma's table, how could I tolerate such rudeness? A commotion broke out in the house!"

Zhou Wan jumped to her feet, "How dare my brother-in-law betray you!"

Zhou Xuan remained silent for a long time before letting out a soft sigh. "He didn't. When he married me, he promised me that he would only have me for the rest of his life, and he has kept that promise without bringing Ying Chun'an into the family."

Your brother-in-law isn't particularly capable, but he's easily swayed and has a good temper. I'm too strong-willed; I'd cause a huge fight wherever I go. It's only because he's always gone along with me all these years. We've been married for so many years, and we've never even had a serious argument.

As Zhou Xuan spoke, his expression turned somewhat forlorn.

"Because my husband and I both objected, my mother-in-law stopped mentioning it and even asked me to help Bao Chun'an find a husband. Everything was peaceful until the beginning of June. I remember it was the third day of the sixth month. In the evening, some people released river lanterns on the Dongshui River."

"Your brother-in-law then arranged for Bao Chun'an to meet his colleague. For some reason, that day there was a huge crowd. When I came to my senses, I had become separated from your brother-in-law, and only Bao Chun'an was left with me. She took out a jade hairpin and said it belonged to her elder sister, Bao Chunfang."

“I also have that jade hairpin. It was given to me by your brother-in-law when he first confessed his love for me. It is exactly the same as the one in Bao Chun’an’s hand.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Wan slammed her hand on the table and stood up. "What a shameless person! Did she say that her brother-in-law once had feelings for her older sister? I've heard this kind of trick a million times!"

Zhou Xuan gave a bitter laugh. "I actually know Bao Chunfang. Your brother-in-law told me about her. She was three years older than your brother-in-law and died before she grew up. When your brother-in-law first fell in love, he did have feelings for her."

Zhou Xuan shook his head as he spoke, "I don't really care about that, after all, I've had someone I liked before."

Now it was Zhou Zhaotong and Zhou Wan's turn to open their mouths wide!

This was the first time the two of them had ever heard of this! Zhou Xuan didn't continue, but said, "I wasn't angry at the time, but Bao Chun'an took out a small portrait. It depicted a girl who looked about 70% like me, especially her expression. Just by looking at the portrait, you could tell she had a bad temper."

I got really angry at that moment, regardless of whether the portrait was of Bao Chunfang or whether she deliberately drew it to provoke me.

Anyway, I couldn't stand that kind of bitch jumping around in front of me, so I slapped her across the face! Bao Chun'an ran away crying and didn't return all night!

Zhou Zhao was about to say "good job," but when he heard that the boy hadn't returned all night, he instantly had a bad feeling.

Recalling what Zhou Xuan had said earlier about matters concerning her reputation, she said seriously, "Did she encounter a womanizer?"

Zhou Xuan nodded heavily. "That's right. She didn't come home all night. I was so angry that I didn't stop her. In the blink of an eye, she disappeared into the crowd. She didn't come back until the next day."

“She was covered in bruises, had changed her clothes, and came back from the side gate. She said that after I hit her, she left Dongshui crying and wandered aimlessly towards home. When she passed through a small alley, she was knocked unconscious from behind. When she woke up again, she was covered in bruises, had changed her clothes, and was lying on the spot.”

Although Zhou Xuan didn't say it, Zhou Zhao could guess that Bao Chun'an probably hated Zhou Xuan because of this.

Although Zhou Xuan is usually carefree, she is the most tender-hearted of the three sisters.

“Sister, don’t blame yourself. It was Bao Chun’an who was being shameless first. Although she is pitiful, it is not your fault. You don’t need to blame yourself,” Zhou Wan grabbed Zhou Xuan’s hand. “No wonder you lost a lot of weight when you came home in mid-June. At that time, you lied to us and said it was because of the summer heat.”

Zhou Xuan remained silent for a moment, not responding to Zhou Wan's words. How could she not feel guilty?
Such a good girl, encountering such a thing, this matter is like a heavy stone pressing on her heart.

“Bao Chun’an felt that I had harmed her, and her mother-in-law brought up the old matter again, wanting your brother-in-law to take her as compensation.”

As Zhou Xuan spoke, he suddenly let out a bitter laugh, "Speaking of which, this matter has really been full of twists and turns. After the imperial decree for you, Second Sister, to marry the Prince of Dai was issued, my mother-in-law's attitude began to change. When you, Third Sister, returned with Changying, not only her, but even Bao Chun'an stopped mentioning the matter altogether."

Until yesterday... Bao Chun'an didn't return home again last night...

He still hasn't come back!
I wanted to report the case to the Court of Judicial Review, or go to the Northern Army to find Changying and ask him to help find the person. But my mother-in-law stopped me, saying that this concerned Chun'an's reputation, and if this matter were to escalate, she would truly lose face in Chang'an!

Zhou Zhao frowned. "The Great Qi Dynasty doesn't value female chastity. Widows can become empresses. Is a good reputation really that important? I'll go find Changying now."

As she spoke, she stood up, and just then, Su Changying's familiar voice came from the doorway.

"Young Master Zhou, the Northern Army discovered a female corpse during their patrol. I have already sent someone to fetch Ah Huang. Go and take a look; the situation is rather strange."

Zhou Xuan's expression changed drastically, and her lips trembled slightly. "I want to go with her! Wasn't she wearing a moon-white dress, looking particularly pure and simple, with a small red mole at the corner of her mouth?"

Su Changying cupped his hands in a flustered manner. Although he must have often stayed in the Zhou residence in the past, he did not remember anything from the past. In his view, this was indeed the first time he had come back.

He was only thinking about finding Zhou Zhao because of the case, and he never expected to run into Zhou Zhao's sisters.

Su Changying hesitated for a moment, then called out, "Eldest sister, second sister."

After saying that, he shook his head again and answered Zhou Xuan's question.

"There was indeed a small red mole on the corner of her mouth. However, the deceased was wearing a brand new wedding dress, but her head was covered with a white mourning cloth."