Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 394 Zhou Wan's Wedding
Zhou Zhao sat by the window, resting her chin on her hand, watching Zhou Wan get ready, already mentally calculating her own secret stash of money.

She used to criticize Su Changying for wasting money, but that was too superficial!
Although the Prince of Dai was not favored and was just an ordinary prince ignored in the palace, Zhou Wan was still marrying into the royal family, and the dressing process was extremely complicated.

Zhou Zhao looked at Zhou Wan in the bronze mirror, and saw her appearance change little by little.

The mischievous little girl who used to roll her eyes is gone; she has gradually transformed into a composed and dignified adult.

As Zhou Zhao looked at the photos, he couldn't help but feel sentimental.

The journey to Daidi was long and arduous, and because of the long-standing presence of Tianying City, the local people were quite fierce. After they left, Zhao Yizhou was responsible for cleaning up the mess, and it was unknown whether there were still any Tianying City survivors lurking around.

The Prince of Dai looks quite good now, but who knows if he will take concubines and keep beauties in the future.

When the emperor is far away and Zhou Wan has no martial arts skills, who will support her?
Although she knew that she was resourceful and cunning, and that the inner quarters were her strongest battlefield, she still couldn't shake the feeling of injustice.

Although Zhou Wan and she dislike each other, she deserves better.

"Look at the pathetic look on your face. I'm getting married, and you're so sad you're about to cry? That shouldn't be happening. You shouldn't be setting off firecrackers, thinking that your elder sister will be all yours from now on. What are you worrying about? You're allowed to dominate the world, but I'm not allowed to roam freely?"

I chose this path myself, and I know it perfectly well. You should stop worrying about it.

When Zhou Zhao came to her senses, she realized that the head maid in charge of the house had left sometime earlier.

She walked up behind Zhou Wan and looked at Zhou Wan, who was wearing a crown and royal robes. She couldn't help but reach out and touch the pearl hanging from her head.

"You look so good today!"

Zhou Wan looked at herself in the bronze mirror and curled the corners of her mouth. "Of course, it's a pity I won't be able to see you on your wedding day. You definitely won't look as good as me."

Zhou Zhao paused, and all the previous melancholy vanished instantly.

It's still the same Zhou night, nothing has changed!
The two sisters didn't say much, and before long, noble ladies and wives came one after another to offer their congratulations.

Zhou Zhao couldn't handle it and was soon pushed to the edge, watching Zhou Wan chatting with those people as if she were in her element. She touched her nose; even if there were ten dead people lying on one bed, she couldn't smell the blood anymore.

The nose was marinated in all sorts of incense.

As Zhou Zhao walked to the door, before he could even step out, he saw a large hand reach out from the side, holding a warm, comforting tangerine.

She grinned and picked up the orange without ceremony. "Didn't you go to help out as your older sister instructed?"

Su Changying leaned against the wall, a hint of grievance in her eyes. "Han Xincheng is too capable. He has my sister completely under his thumb and has forgotten that I even exist. Since I have no place to use my skills, I came to find Zhaozhao."

Zhou Zhao curled his lip, "There's no use for my skills anyway..."

The two looked at each other and both laughed.

Zhou Zhao broke the orange in half and put half of it in Su Changying's hand. Just as Su Changying was about to put a segment in her mouth, she saw Zhou Wan's personal maid leading her mother, Madam Yu, in.

Zhou Zhao was taken aback, lowered her hand, and bowed respectfully, "Mother."

Madam Yu smiled. After returning from the ancestral hall, she had obviously washed and groomed herself again, and even applied rouge and lipstick, which was quite unusual for her. She looked much more energetic than her usual sickly appearance.

“Ah Wan is such a grown-up, yet she still acts like a spoiled child and wants me to keep her company. You and Changying go and play by yourselves, I'll take care of things here.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhao turned to look at Zhou Wan and saw her turn her head through the window frame.

Zhou Wan smiled and said, "Young Master Zhou and General Su, please don't stand here, or we'll think we're in court."

The noble ladies who were close to her in the room all covered their mouths and laughed.

Zhou Zhao looked at Zhou Wan and felt a warmth in his heart. He said nothing and walked out side by side with Su Changying.

"Second Sister is truly meticulous." Zhou Zhao is now an official of the Court of Justice. She doesn't usually mingle with the women; the front courtyard is the place that suits her best.

Zhou Zhao listened and couldn't help but glance at Su Changying, "How dare you call someone younger than you 'elder sister'?"

Su Changying peeled a segment of orange and put it to Zhou Zhao's mouth. Zhou Zhao took a bite, and the sweet and sour juice instantly filled her mouth. "If you want to marry Zhao Zhao, don't even mention calling me Second Sister. Even if you call a three-year-old child Second Mistress, I'll accept it."

Zhou Zhao reached out and pinched Su Changying's cheek. "You're so shameless, why don't you call me Second Madam first!"

Su Changying bent down, afraid that Zhou Zhao's arms would get tired. He looked into Zhou Zhao's eyes and suddenly called out, "Madam."

Zhou Zhao blushed, and the hand that had been pinching Su Changying's cheek turned into a fist, which she punched into Su Changying's chest.

Seeing that she was annoyed, Su Changying chuckled softly, "If Zhaozhao doesn't like being the wife of the Marquis of Lu, then I can be the wife of the Zhou Tingshi."

Zhou Zhao blushed crimson to the roots of her ears. She looked around and saw maids carrying trays walking by, all of them barely suppressing their laughter. She became even more annoyed. "It's my second sister's wedding, not yours! Really..."

Shameless.

Su Changying didn't care at all. He had just squatted down next to Han Xincheng and Zhou Xuan and learned for a long time. This was much more useful than dry instruction. It was like teaching by example. If you want to win the heart of your sweetheart, you have to be shameless.

Because it was a royal wedding, every step was arranged by the Imperial Clan Head, and the ceremony was meticulous and exceptionally solemn.

When the auspicious hour arrived, the royal procession came to the gate of the Zhou residence. The Prince of Dai was dressed in heavy auspicious robes and his face was full of joy.

Zhou Zhao stood beside Zhou Wan, carefully observing his every subtle movement and expression.

The suspect—no, the future brother-in-law—breathed heavily and widened his eyes by a third the moment he saw Zhou Wan, his gaze filled with amazement. He instinctively reached out to take her hand, but then remembered that the people from the Imperial Clan Court were watching them, so he held back.

After Zhou Wan gave him a flirty wink—no, after Zhou Wan glanced at him—he immediately turned as red as a persimmon, his lips curving upwards in a wide grin, his teeth practically bursting out, his lips practically overflowing… in short, he was grinning from ear to ear.

Seeing this, Zhou Zhao felt much more at ease.

Regardless of what happens in the future, just one glance from Zhou Wan is enough to send the Prince of Dai to heaven.

In a daze, Zhou Wan had already bid farewell to her parents with red eyes. She was dignified and proper, and from now on she would be a capable adult.

Zhou Zhao looked and saw that Zhou Wan had already arrived in front of her.

She hesitated for a moment, then reached out and gently ruffled Zhou Zhao's hair. "From now on, no one will compete with you for your elder sister."

Zhou Zhao felt a lump in her throat. "Someone we can't even compete with has come along."

Zhou Wan was also filled with sorrow, and tears were about to fall. She was even more heartbroken than when she said goodbye to her parents earlier.

"The auspicious hour has arrived, Your Highness..."

Zhou Wan composed herself, and Dai Wang eagerly reached out his hand. The moment he grasped Zhou Wan's hand, his mouth finally gave way to his teeth, and he grinned from ear to ear.

He leaned close to Zhou Wan's ear and whispered something, causing Zhou Wan's cheeks to flush instantly.

The Zhou family saw them off all the way, and only turned their attention away when the wedding procession had gone far away and disappeared from sight.

"We'll leave the city early tomorrow morning to see your second sister off."

Zhou Zhao nodded as he listened to Su Changying's voice beside him.

The couple will leave for Fengguo early tomorrow morning, and their return date is unknown.

(End of this chapter)