"A fresh voice in suspense. Her manuscript stunned me—layered, razor-sharp plotting, each murder case a rollercoaster of twists. You’ll never see the next move coming!"
—Spider, author of Ten Deadly Sins

"Astonishingly, this comes from a post-90s female writer. Her work balances masculine heroics with feminine nuance—a rare blend. She’s destined for greatness."
—Yan Zhiyang, author of Insect Totem and Human Skin Scroll

"Unlike typical suspense novels, 'Nine Forbidden Cases' immerses you in authentic investigative detail. You’ll chase culprits alongside the protagonists, breathless till justice is served."
—Hong Qigong, author of "Ink Legacy: The Mo Returns"

"Focuses not on gore but the psychology behind crimes, weaving social commentary into shocking reveals. Every case’s truth leaves you haunted."
—Yang Zhe, screenwriter for "Ten Deadly Sins" and "Medical Examiner Qin Ming"

"Four vividly drawn elite officers mirror society’s fractures — their cases expose humanity’s darkest and brightest."
—Zhang Jiaming, producer of "Our Decade" (starring Zhao Liying) and "Clockwork City" (starring Wang Ning)

★One chilling tale per night: Nine standalone yet interconnected suspense stories weave into a greater narrative — each night brings a new mystery, each case locks into the next.

★The lates work in the "Nine Forbidden Cases" series by Cha Youqing, The rising queen of suspense (acclaimed by Yang Zhe, Spider, Hong Qigong, and Yan Zhiyang).

★The "Forbidden Case Squad" — four crime-solving mavericks, two men and two women, each a master in their field. A dynamic team where sharp clashes and sharper wits collide.

★Blends criminal psychology, behavioral analysis, and forensic science into twisted cases, exposing how predators exploit psychological gaps to manipulate — a stark warning wrapped in thrills.

A provincial "Special Cases Unit" tackles the unsolvable. Four unconventional experts unite:
Lu Mingfei: Elite detective with lethal combat skills.
Tang Hanyu: Psychological profiler with eerie intuition.
Jiang Yunfan: Behavioral analyst with a supercomputer-like mind.
Yu Fengyin: Maverick forensic pathologist who breaks all rules.

Professionalism binds them. Sarcasm fuels them.
Now, they face their most "impossible" challenge yet — where every clue defies logic, and every step risks becoming their last.

Cha Youqing, a post-90s suspense prodigy from Hunan (based in Guangdong), debuted with short stories in top-tier mystery magazines, swiftly earning praise from masters like Spider. Her works, including the breakout Nine Forbidden Cases series, are bestsellers in mainland China, with overseas rights sold to Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Vietnam. The series’ film/TV adaptation is currently in development.

Prologue
The Hunting Plan / 01

Case 1: The Strange Case of Strong Liquor
Prologue / 002
The Strange Case of Strong Liquor / 003
The Art of Insect Control / 011
Insect Party / 018
The Insect King’s Memory / 025

Case 2: The Butterfly Witness
Prologue / 034
The Flying Man / 035
Bizarre Spices / 042
The Butterfly Witness / 050
The Master Magician / 056

Case 3: The Hidden Clues in Poetry
Prologue / 064
Overindulgence / 065
The Hidden Clues in Poetry / 072
Secret Orders from the Underworld / 079
A Web of Doubts / 086

Case 4: The Labyrinth of Deception
Prologue / 094
Peril at Every Turn / 095
The Labyrinth of Deception / 101
A Series of Traps / 109
No Way Out / 116

Case 5: Cries in the Prison
Prologue / 126
Cries in the Prison / 127
Turning Over a New Leaf / 134
The Double Agent / 139
Setting the Trap Again / 147

Case 6: The "Old Friend’s" Son
Prologue / 154
The "Old Friend’s" Son / 155
A Cycle of Fate / 160
Between a Rock and a Hard Place / 165
Mental Breakdown / 171

Case 7: Reborn for Love
Prologue / 180
Lost and Distraught / 181
Split Personality / 188
The Demon Awakens / 195
Reborn for Love / 200

Case 8: A Farewell to Love
Prologue / 208
Testimony of the Dead / 209
A Farewell to Love / 215
Arrest Operation / 222
Love, Hate, and Vengeance / 229

Case 9: Confession Before the Grave
Prologue / 238
The Cruel Truth / 239
The Final Deal / 243
The Ultimate Mystery / 248
Confession Before the Grave / 253

Epilogue
It’s Wonderful to Meet You Through Words / 257

Prologue: The Hunting Plan

September 21, 2014. Inside the warden's office of Chiang Mai City Prison No. 1, two elderly men sat playing chess.
Shen Tiesheng was a busy man — one who rarely traveled far, let alone flew all the way to Thailand. But decades of deep friendship dictated that the moment Warden Jiang Bende called, he would come without hesitation to this cramped office, sharing tea and conversation, occasionally reminiscing about their turbulent past. Sometimes they sighed softly; other times, they laughed heartily.
Three years had passed since their last meeting. Shen Tiesheng studied the man across from him, knowing full well that only something dire could have prompted this late-night summons. Though old friends, ever since Jiang Bende took in Jiang Yunfan, their encounters had grown fewer. At times, Shen even felt an unbridgeable distance between them — as if his old comrade’s heart had become an unfathomable abyss.
"Tiesheng, you must know why I asked you here tonight." Jiang Bende’s gaze remained fixed on the chessboard as he spoke.
"Bende, after all these years… you still intend to carry out that plan?" Shen’s expression tightened.
"I’ve spent most of my life hiding in this godforsaken prison, living under an alias. Aside from waiting for the right moment to act, the only thing left for me is protecting Yunfan." Jiang Bende paused, moving his red horse piece forward before gesturing for Shen’s black general to advance.
"Is there truly no alternative? If we succeed, Yunfan could fall into a coma — forced to relive the memories buried in his subconscious. It would worsen his psychological fractures beyond repair. It’s too cruel." As he spoke, Shen positioned his black cannon at the board’s center.
Jiang Bende slid his red chariot forward with a sigh. "Desperate times demand desperate measures. I’ve shielded Yunfan for thirty years. But since he joined the Special Cases Unit, criminals have targeted him relentlessly. You and I both know who’s likely pulling the strings."
Shen studied the board, then opted to maneuver his knight — a move that suddenly struck him as symbolic. This little horse piece mirrored Yunfan’s fate: to avoid being cornered, it had to leap into battle.
"I just hope that when Yunfan learns the truth, it won’t break him… or make him hate you. His temperament has improved since joining the unit, but one shock could reignite his rage."
Jiang Bende’s face darkened as his knight took one of Shen’s pawns. He’d agonized over the consequences. But Jiang Yunfan’s fractured psyche was no accident — it was tied to that night. No infant should remember their birth, let alone their mother lying in a pool of blood. If he discovered she hadn’t died in childbirth… No one could predict what he’d do.
"Tiesheng, I understand your concern. But I’ll never forget how Wan’er was driven to her death! For decades, I’ve dreamed of her last moments — entrusting Yunfan to us. If not for that monster, someone as kind as her would still be alive."
"Sometimes, fate mocks whether we act early or late." Shen’s sigh carried the weight of resignation. He wasn’t the only one who’d loved Wan’er.
Both men knew the stakes. After raising Yunfan as their own, the thought of what came next weighed heavily.
Thirty years ago, they’d been low-ranking officers when Wan’er — pregnant — was imprisoned. The damp, filthy cells were no place for childbirth. They’d secured her a hospital transfer, only to return and find her in labor. No one dared deliver a premature baby in those conditions, least of all risk a double fatality.
Wan’er, drenched in sweat and screaming, begged Shen — who had basic medical knowledge — to save her child. Terrified but unable to refuse her, he’d agreed.
The worst wasn’t the unsanitary environment, but the breech birth. When the baby’s feet emerged first, even unflappable Shen had trembled. Only the doctor’s timely arrival saved the child.
Wan’er had wanted Shen to raise him but refused to tarnish his future with her crimes.
It was Jiang Bende who’d pleaded with the dying woman to let him take the boy.
The memory still ignited Jiang Bende’s fury. Lighting a cigarette, he slammed his red chariot down, capturing Shen’s black general. "Tiesheng, the rot from that grudge has spread beyond our control. I’ve heard what he’s done overseas these years. It’s time to repay his debts."
Shen knew better than to argue. Tonight, the covert hunting plan would activate. Their discussion was over. Rising, his aged but sharp eyes scanned the prison yard before settling on a photo atop the desk. Softly, he recited， "A golden carp is no pond creature — meeting the storm, it becomes a dragon."
Jiang Bende glanced at the photo of himself and Jiang Yunfan, silently repeating the proverb. Shen’s meaning was clear: The moment Yunfan sought his origins, he ceased to be that carp. His destiny was to ascend as the dragon.
The storm was coming. And none of them would escape its fury.