Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 136 Strange Portrait
Upon hearing this, Yan Tingshi interjected, "May I ask, Chief Justice, what is so special about those four spies?"

Li Huaishan shook his head with some regret.

"Unfortunately, I know nothing about this either. Jingyi, bring me the portrait of that young master Yu so that the gentlemen may have a look."

The young man who had been sitting in the corner writing furiously stood up, took a portrait, and walked behind Li Huaishan.

Zhou Zhao looked closely and saw that the portrait depicted a family of three. The couple were dressed in luxurious clothes and should be members of the royal family of the previous dynasty. The woman was holding a child who was about one year old in her arms. The child was chubby with a broad face, wide forehead, and thick earlobes. He had his eyes closed and was stretching out his right hand in front of him.

Those tiny hands seemed to want to pierce through the painting and grab people's faces directly.

Zhou Zhao frowned as she looked at the painting. She felt that the painting was very strange, as if something was wrong with it.

"The child in the painting is Prince Yu. This painting was done by a court painter when he turned one year old."

Everyone looked rather grim; this was simply too absurd.

Using this map to find someone is no different from marking a boat to find a lost sword. And how could Gongzi Yu maintain his infant appearance for ten years?
Sure enough, the hot-tempered Xu Yun lost his temper first. He couldn't help but shout, "Minister of Justice, what use is this thing? When my mother first saw me after I was born, she exclaimed that I was extremely ugly and threw me out. If my father hadn't grabbed my leg, I would have fallen to my death headfirst."

But now, whenever she sees me, she says I'm as beautiful as the bright moon.

The people in the room fell silent instantly.

Zhou Zhao looked closely at Xu Yun's face... Is there any possibility that your mother has recovered... and has become a respectable adult again?

Xu Yun, oblivious to the situation, said indignantly, "That young master must have eighteen transformations; he's no longer what he is now."

Li Huaishan nodded amicably, "That's right, we also want to have his current portrait, but unfortunately, apart from spies, no one else can produce one."

As he spoke, he looked around and said, "Do any of you gentlemen still have cases to discuss? If not, then we'll disperse for today."

Seeing everyone shake their heads, Li Huaishan stood up and walked out. The boy named Jingyi put away the portrait, then took the string of beads from the competition in the left and right courtyards from the table and placed it on his small table. He then began to clean the flower hall.

As soon as Li Huaishan left, Li Youdao immediately stood up, yawned, and rubbed his eyes.

"What's the big deal? It's just solving a minor case. It's nothing to brag about, let alone brag about it in front of the loser. My character is definitely not inferior to my drinking manners."

As he spoke, he looked at He Tingshi, who had a cold expression, and said, "Sigh, there's nothing I can do. My foolish kids are all impossible to get back home. They like to imitate me and treat the Court of Justice as their own home. It's really a headache!"

He Tingshi snorted coldly, stood up, looked at the scarlet bead above Li Youdao's name, and gave him a disdainful look.

"The villain succeeds!"

Li Youdao chuckled, "You're a gentleman, while you're the one who's failed!"

He Tingshi was so angry he almost fell over. He glared at Li Youdao and said, "I can't be bothered with you, you stubborn mule. I hope you can still laugh next time."

After everyone dispersed, Zhou Zhao followed Li Youdao, looking at his still smug expression, and said with some amusement, "Lord Li, do you have a grudge against He Tingshi? Why don't you try to solve more cases to spite him?"

Li Youdao waved his hand, looking at Zhou Zhao as if he were a fool.

“I’m not that stupid to make myself work like a beast of burden just to spite people! You’ve already got everyone in the Left Courtyard rooted to the spot, stuck in that room. Do you want me to suffer with you too?” he said, waving his hand dismissively at Zhou Zhao. “Why are you still following me? Go back now. With you here, even the wind in the Court of Justice smells like whips. Every whim smells like cattle and horses.”

Zhou Zhao looked at Li Youdao, then cupped his hands in thanks, saying, "Thank you, Master."

Li Youdao scoffed, "Do you call someone 'master' with your mouth? Don't you have any sense? Didn't your father teach you anything? Old Tao and Old Xu both received gifts from their new disciples, and you can't even afford a jar of wine? Where's your usual cleverness?"

Zhou Zhao was taken aback, then felt a little embarrassed. "It's embarrassing of me to call you Master."

Li Youdao raised his chin smugly, "Remember to bring a few more jars!"

As he spoke, he slowly walked towards the left courtyard.

Zhou Zhao watched his retreating figure and walked towards the door. Although it was already curfew, the Zhou residence was near the Court of Justice, and she arrived in the blink of an eye using her lightness skill.

Instead of entering through the main gate to disturb the gatekeeper, Zhou Zhao skillfully climbed over the wall and returned to his own courtyard.

"Girl, you're back. Are you hungry? The mutton soup on the stove is still warm. I'll bring it to you, along with some flatbread."

Zhou Zhao looked at Chu Yi in surprise, "How did you know I wanted to eat this?"

Chu Yi smiled and said, "How could this servant possibly guess what you're thinking, Miss? It was sent over by the Marquis of Lu earlier. He sent a lot, saying that since you've returned, you must be going to find Miss Xuan and Miss Wan for a long talk by candlelight. Bring some mutton soup and sesame cakes, that's just right."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhao couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth.

"How did he know I was going to look for my sisters?" Zhou Zhao muttered to herself. Chu Yi looked at her with a smile but did not answer.

“Then I’ll take it. I’ll go over there and drink with my sisters. I’ll go after I’ve bathed and changed.”

Zhou Zhao washed and dressed, then put on her usual soft-soled shoes before heading towards Zhou Wan's courtyard. Because Zhou Wan was getting married, the courtyard had been renovated, and even the seams between the floor tiles were spotless.

As soon as Zhou Zhao got close, he saw Zhou Xuan rush out in a flurry.

"Little sister, you're finally back! How's the case going? Have they caught the murderer who killed Bao Chun'an?"

Zhou Zhao looked at Zhou Xuan with an unusually soft expression. "We've caught him. Let's talk about it over some mutton soup. Su Changying is treating tonight."

Zhou Xuan was taken aback, then laughed again, "Although you have lost your memories, Changying is still the same Changying."

"It's just a bowl of mutton soup, why are you praising Su Changying like this, sister? It's as if our little sister got the better deal from him. How can someone who's been missing for four years still be allowed into our house? Are his family's ancestral graves buried in the stove?"

Zhou Zhao looked at Zhou Wan in surprise, and silently said, "You're not pretending anymore?"

Zhou Wan grabbed Zhou Xuan's arm and said, "Sister, do you think I'm imitating my little sister well? Am I fierce enough? Oh, little sister brought some mutton soup and sesame flatbread. I'll also ask someone to make some side dishes to go with the drinks. Tonight, the three of us sisters will drink until we drop."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xuan said, "I'll go get the wine! You all go inside first; the autumn nights are already getting chilly."

As soon as her elder sister left, Zhou Wan immediately turned hostile. She gritted her teeth and said, "That Shen family is utterly despicable, especially that old hag. How dare she treat my sister like that? You're usually the most disobedient, how come you're acting like a saint with my sister?"