Legend of Zhan Zhao

Chapter 32: Arrogant at first and respectful at the end

“What a beautiful view!”

Inside the warm pavilion, silver charcoal burned quietly, and the incense burner emitted fragrance.

On the sandalwood table, a porcelain teacup was steaming, the tea soup clear and blue like spring water.

Zhan Zhao looked out the window—

The frozen clouds in the distance dispersed, revealing a pale blue dome. Icicles hanging from the eaves reflected the sunlight, breaking into specks of gold as they fell and landed on the snow in the courtyard, rustling like salt.

The Bian River, not far away, was frozen like a glass ribbon. On the withered willow branches by the river, a crow suddenly flapped its wings, shaking off a clump of snow foam, which was then swept up by the west wind and slammed against the window frame, turning into wet marks in an instant.

Tea smoke, snow vapor, and shimmering light all intertwine before the window, blurred by the warmth inside, blurring the lines between reality and illusion.

Zhan Zhao recalled what Madam Yun had just said: "My Gu family has some foundation in the capital."

How can this be "a little"?
In the capital, land is incredibly valuable, and a mansion overlooking the Bian River is a first-class luxury residence that even high-ranking officials in the imperial court might not be able to afford. Yet this man moved in with six disciples as if it were nothing.

"The lady is back!" "The lady is back!"

Moreover, judging from the surprised and delighted way the steward and servants addressed the mansion, this was definitely not a rented residence, but rather Madam Yun's own property.

The Gu family mansion.

It seems that this woman's family is quite powerful.

"Brother Zhan, please have some tea!"

As I was enjoying the scenery, a melodious voice drifted in, carrying with it the beautiful girl who was like a colorful cloud.

"Eh!"

Zhan Zhao responded, suddenly realizing that he preferred this title to "Master" or "Hero," especially since the lively, cheerful, and always smiling girl was simply pleasing to the eye: "Miss Lian..."

Lian Caiyun smiled broadly, revealing a few pearly white teeth that were neat and adorable. However, upon hearing this address, she seemed somewhat unhappy: "Big brother didn't call me that when we were at the manor. Why are you being so distant now?"

Zhan Zhao smiled and said, "Miss Caiyun..."

'Actually, it would be even better if you dropped the word "girl"!'

Lian Caiyun's eyes sparkled, and a deeper smile appeared on her face, but she swallowed her words back. She simply said, "Thanks to Brother Zhan for coming today, otherwise we would have been bullied to death by that Zhou Wuxin. The Six Doors' Divine Constable is indeed eloquent and managed to shirk all responsibility!"

"As a renowned constable, he is naturally adept at finding loopholes and using witty remarks."

After tasting the tea that was offered to him, Zhan Zhao asked, "Just now, Madam Yun made an agreement with Su Wuqing. It seems that her father had quite a good relationship with the seniors of the Six Doors?"

"Our master's wife doesn't usually talk to us about these things!"

Lian Caiyun thought for a moment and said, "However, I heard my senior brother mention before that my master was once a member of the Six Doors and was also a very powerful detective. However, he left the Six Doors later, probably because he couldn't stand what these people were doing!"

Zhan Zhao asked, "So, the reason why Li Wuxing and Pei Handeng led a group of Zhenyue Hall constables to your manor to celebrate your master's birthday is because of this connection?"

The Six Doors couldn't have foreseen the future and knew in advance that "Jiangnan Hero" Yun Heming would disappear at the birthday banquet. So their attendance at the banquet must have been coincidental, perhaps because of this connection.

In that case, does this give us a motive for the Six Doors to kill "Qiyun" Gu Lin?

Unfortunately, Lian Caiyun shook her head: "When the eldest brother was welcoming the guests, I was also there. At that time, I only heard that the guests had come to congratulate Master on his birthday, but they did not mention the friendship between the previous generation."

Zhan Zhao's eyes flickered: "Were there more people from the Six Doors who came to offer their birthday wishes back then?"

"That's not surprising! We wiped out the 'Blood Dragon Gang' before!"

Lian Caiyun said, "This gang is a local scourge, entrenched in Taihu for many years, committing all sorts of evil deeds. When our senior brother returned from his travels and heard about their misdeeds, he made up his mind to wipe them out!"

"We, the Seven Clouds, took action. Fourth Senior Brother was skilled in disguise, and Sixth Senior Brother was skilled in stealth. They were the first to infiltrate the gang and scout out the sentries. Second Senior Brother, fully armed, charged in through the gate. Third Senior Brother, Fifth Senior Sister, and I split up to fight them off and draw the gang members away..."

"In the end, the eldest brother went straight to the heart of the matter, slaying the 'Blood Dragon King' with his sword, destroying this demonic den, rescuing many innocent people, and restoring peace to the area!"

Zhan Zhao praised, "Amazing."

"And Li Shenbu from the Six Doors happened to be leading a team near the Blood Dragon Gang. They were of great help in handling the aftermath, so when they learned that it was my master's fiftieth birthday, they all came to the manor to celebrate."

At this point, a look of sadness crossed her face: "But who knew... first Master... then Senior Brother..."

Zhan Zhao remained silent with her for a moment, then slowly asked, "If Su Wuqing's investigation proves to be unfair, what will you do?"

"Then let's go and file a complaint with the Emperor!" Lian Caiyun slammed her hand on the table and stood up, her small face resolute. She looked over again, somewhat expectantly, and said, "Brother Zhan was an eyewitness. If... if the Emperor asks..."

Zhan Zhao knew very well that the young emperor would not really care about such matters, and that the three judicial departments of the court were actually the Six Doors, and that appealing to the emperor was often just wishful thinking on the part of the common people seeking justice.

Of course, it would be different if a stern-faced Judge Bao were sitting in the Kaifeng government office.

Even so, he wouldn't dampen the enthusiasm, solemnly promising, "I will speak out for justice and have a clear conscience!"

"Brother Zhan is so kind!"

Lian Caiyun nodded happily, and Madam Yun's cold voice came in: "In this world, there are very few people who can live up to these eight words."

Zhan Zhao stood up and bowed: "Madam Yun."

"No need to be polite."

Madam Yun sat down and extended an invitation: "Young hero, you acted righteously earlier, but were offended by your unruly disciple. I hope you will stay at my humble abode for a while so that I may make amends."

Lian Caiyun hurriedly said, "Brother Zhan, please stay. After you left that day, your second and fourth senior brothers regretted it and have been talking about it these days. Let them apologize to you so you can have peace of mind."

This was exactly what Zhan Zhao wanted to do.

It wasn't because of these minor frictions that had long been forgotten, but rather because the contact with Yunqi Manor, besides the fact that the previous case had a beginning and an end, was precisely to investigate the "Zhong Kui Painting".

According to the clues left by the Zhong Kui painting, the disappearance of "Jiangnan Hero" Yun Heming corresponds to "frivolous ghost".

He's a frivolous and lustful man.

But Zhan Zhao couldn't directly ask Madam Yun if her husband had any romantic affairs.
You can't ask Liu Yun if your master is a lecher.

If one can stay at the Gu family mansion, one can naturally subtly probe during the contact process.

He was also very curious about the origin of Lady Yun's martial arts skills.

Its aura is different from the Six Lines Formless Sword Qi and the Cloud Crane Ascending to Immortality Sword Style, yet it is sharp and terrifying. Is it a family secret technique?

Given her martial arts skills, why was she previously unknown and overlooked by outsiders simply because she was Yun Heming's wife?

"it is good!"

Zhan Zhao quickly thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement: "Then I'll trouble you."

Lian Caiyun was overjoyed and ran out first. When Zhan Zhao followed her into the courtyard, he found five people standing there in a row.

"Angry Cloud" Tang Lei, "Flowing Cloud" Shen Lan, "Walking Cloud" Chu Zhirou, "Weaving Cloud" Lin Yuxian, "Hidden Cloud" Li Kong.

The little giant Tang Lei, who was leading the group, stepped forward and bowed his tall body: "Great Hero Zhan, you have forgiven us for your past misdeeds and repaid evil with kindness. We are deeply grateful and deserve your bow!"

The other four people bowed in turn.

Compared to the beginning, it can be described as arrogant at first and then obsequious.

Therefore, some of them looked somewhat uneasy.

Zhan Zhao did not feign humility, but accepted the bow with composure. He continued, "I dare not accept the title of great hero. I am young and inexperienced, and I am new to the martial world. I may have made some mistakes. I hope you will forgive me."

"Where there!"

The crowd's expressions softened.

It's understandable that Shen Lan and Lin Yuxian weren't present last time, but Tang Lei, Chu Zhirou, and Li Kong had another kind of experience after interacting with Zhan Zhao.

They had a vague feeling that the other party's attitude, which seemed neither arrogant nor humble, was actually disdainful of everyone. Qi Yun, who was already famous in the martial arts world, seemed to be nothing special in this person's eyes and was not worth his attention at all.

What's with the arrogance, you brat?
Having this impression, of course one is unwilling to listen to the other party.

But this time, the feeling was completely different.

It wasn't just his achievements after arriving in Beijing and the halo of his rising fame, but also his gentle and approachable manner that made them willingly submit to his deference.

At this moment, they all crowded around him, saying, "The guest room has been prepared. Please follow us, Young Hero Zhan!"

Zhan Zhao smiled and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you."

(End of this chapter)