Nine Nights Owl Song

Su Jiuge did not stay at the Marquis's residence for that meal.

She agreed to Mr. Shen's "okay," but that "okay" referred to the future, not the present.

After walking out of the main hall, she stood in the corridor for a while, then turned and left the Marquis's residence.

When Shen chased after her, he only saw her dark blue figure disappear behind the screen wall, like a drop of ink melting into water, without a sound.

"She will come again." Su Zhentian held Shen's shoulder, his voice low and resolute.

"If she says yes, she will definitely come."

Shen leaned on his shoulder without saying a word.

She looked at the empty screen wall, at the direction where Ajiu had disappeared, and tears silently streamed down her face again.

But this time the tears were different from before—there was no despair or sadness, but rather tears of disbelief that it was real, of fear that I would wake up in the blink of an eye.

When Su Jiuge returned to Qianji Tower's stronghold in Luojing City, it was almost dark.

It was a small, independent courtyard in the north of the city, with three main rooms, two side rooms on the east and west sides, an old locust tree in the courtyard, and a well under the tree.

Bai Yu arranged it for her, saying it was "a perk that Qianji Tower provides to its guest members."

Su Jiuge did not refuse.

She needed a place to stay, safer than the inn, more comfortable than the stone house in the dark pavilion, and free of charge.

She pushed open the door, walked into the main room, and sat down at the table.

There was a file on the table, which was sent by Bai Yu.

The cover of the file had four characters written on it: "Dingyuan Marquis's Residence".

Su Jiuge opened the file and flipped through it page by page.

Bai Yu's intelligence was extremely detailed.

The biography, military achievements, political stance, and interpersonal relationships of Marquis Dingyuan, Su Zhentian, are detailed in every aspect.

The birth, family background, and health condition of Lady Shen, the wife of the Marquis, were listed in detail.

But these weren't the parts Su Jiuge really wanted to see.

She turned to the chapter on "Children".

Su Zhentian has six children.

The eldest son born out of wedlock, Su Chengzhi, is twenty-four years old.

His birth mother, Zhou Shi—not Aunt Zhou, but Aunt Zhou's niece—died shortly after Su Chengzhi's birth, and Su Chengzhi was raised by Aunt Zhou. He currently serves as a fifth-rank official in the Ministry of War's Department of Military Affairs, overseeing the allocation of military maps and war supplies. While not a high-ranking position, it is a powerful one within the Ministry of War, granting him access to much core military intelligence. The case file describes Su Chengzhi's personality in only one line: "Introverted, not eloquent, eager to prove himself, and has a cold relationship with Aunt Zhou."

Su Jiuge's gaze lingered on the words "cold relationship with Aunt Zhou" for a moment.

He was raised by Aunt Zhou, yet he maintained a cold relationship with her. Interesting.

The second son of a concubine, Su Chengen, is twenty-one years old.

His birth mother, Zhang, was another concubine of Su Zhentian and passed away shortly after Su Chengen's birth. Su Chengen was raised by Lady Shen, the wife of the Marquis, and had a close relationship with her, regarding her as his birth mother. He is currently the heir apparent of the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion, assisting Su Zhentian in handling the internal and external affairs of the mansion. He is gentle and kind, and has an excellent reputation among the scions of prominent families in Luoyang.

There was a note on the file: "This person is worth befriending."

Su Jiuge's lips twitched slightly as she looked at the words "can befriend".

Bai Yu even writes annotations on intelligence reports for his own people; it's an occupational hazard.

The third son of a concubine, Su Chengxun, is thirteen years old.

His birth mother, Li, was another concubine of Su Zhentian and passed away last year. Su Chengxun is currently studying at the Imperial Academy. He is shy and simple-minded and not good at socializing, but he has a close relationship with Su Chengen and listens to Chengen's advice in everything.

Su Jiuge turned to the next page.

The eldest daughter of a concubine, Su Wanning, is twenty-two years old.

She was a full sister of Su Chengxun. She had married into the Duke of Ying's household and was the wife of the Duke's second son. The file described her simply as "dignified and virtuous, capable of managing the household, and frequently associated with the Duke's family."

The last page.

Adopted daughter, Su Wan'er, fifteen years old.

In the spring of the second year of Yong'an, she was brought into the household from her hometown by Consort Zhou at the age of five. Nominally, she was a distant niece of Su Zhentian, orphaned and left without care, and was raised as the Marquis's legitimate daughter. In reality, Consort Zhou adopted her to comfort Madam Shen after the loss of her daughter. Madam Shen treated her as her own, showering her with affection. She was gentle, kind, and understanding, and was quite popular among the young ladies of prominent families in Luoyang.

Su Jiuge closed the file, leaned back in her chair, and closed her eyes.

She had six children: a deceased eldest daughter, a living adopted daughter, two half-brothers, a half-brother, and a half-sister. These were her siblings in name only.

The eldest son, Su Chengzhi, was raised by Aunt Zhou, but their relationship was cold.

An eldest son born out of wedlock, eager to prove himself and suppressed by Aunt Zhou for over twenty years.

This person could be an ally.

It wasn't because she needed allies, but because she needed someone with real power in the Ministry of War who could access core intelligence.

Xiao Yan had the Thousand Machine Tower, which could find many things, but it could not find confidential official documents exchanged within the court.

That's Su Chengzhi's territory.

Su Chengen, the second son born out of wedlock, was raised by Madam Shen. He was gentle in nature and actually managed the affairs of the household.

This person can also be an ally.

But her approach wasn't to exploit him, but to cooperate with him. Madam Shen treated him like her own son, and he had a close relationship with her. If she wanted to establish a relationship with Madam Shen—not out of kinship, but for the sake of the Dingyuan Marquis's mansion—Su Chengen was someone she couldn't avoid.

The third son of a concubine, Su Chengxun, is still studying. He is simple and shy, and is not needed for the time being.

The eldest daughter, Su Wanning, has already married into the Duke of England's household.

The Duke of England's household was one of the most powerful noble families in Luoyang, wielding considerable influence in the court. This person could also be of use.

Adopted daughter Su Wan'er.

Su Jiuge opened her eyes and looked at the ceiling.

Su Wan'er. The girl in the pale yellow jacket, standing behind Madam Shen, her hands resting on the back of the chair. The girl who turned pale and trembled when she saw her, calling her "sister." The girl who took her place for sixteen years, enjoying everything she deserved.

Bai Yu's intelligence report stated that Su Wan'er was brought from her hometown by Aunt Zhou to comfort Madam Shen after the loss of her daughter. A five-year-old child was taken from her hometown to Luoyang, told to call a strange woman "Mother," and to play the role of a dead person in an unfamiliar mansion. She had no choice. A five-year-old child has no choice.

Su Jiuge knew what it felt like to have no choice.

She had no choice.

Being abandoned in a mass grave was a choice, killing was a choice, and living was an even greater choice.

They had no choice.

But Su Jiuge didn't care whether Su Wan'er had a choice or not.

She only knew one thing—everything Su Wan'er wore, ate, used, and carried on her head should have been hers.

The identity of the eldest daughter of the Marquis's family is hers, the favor of Madam Shen is hers, and the popularity among the noble ladies of Luojing is hers. Everything of it belongs to her.

Su Wan'er is nothing.

A counterfeit, a fake, a pitiful wretch used as a pawn by Aunt Zhou.

She will not kill Su Wan'er.

It's not because I don't want to, it's because there's no need.

Su Wan'er posed no threat to her; an adopted daughter had no place to stand in front of a true legitimate daughter.

Kill her, and the knife will get dirty.

But Aunt Zhou was different.

Su Jiuge removed her hand from the hilt of the knife, picked up the file again, and turned to the page about "Aunt Zhou".

Aunt Zhou, whose real name is Zhou Yunniang, is forty-two years old.

Su Zhentian's concubine, a secondary wife he took in early in his life, managed the household affairs for twenty years. Her niece, Zhou, was Su Chengzhi's biological mother, but she is now deceased.

His cronies were spread throughout the Marquis's mansion, including key departments such as the gatehouse, kitchen, sewing room, and storeroom.

In the twelfth month of the first year of Yong'an, he bribed the midwife Wang Pozi with fifty taels of silver to switch the dead baby with the legitimate daughter born to Shen, causing the legitimate daughter to be lost among the common people.

Su Jiuge stared at that line of text for a long time.

He was forty-two years old. He had managed the Marquis's mansion for twenty years and had trusted confidants everywhere.

In charge of domestic affairs.

This is the person she has to deal with.

Su Zhentian had promised that Aunt Zhou would be handed over to her to handle.

She will not let Su Zhentian down.

but not now.

Now, she needs to do something else first—go to the Marquis's residence for dinner.

The first day of the eleventh month of the seventeenth year of Yong'an.

Su Jiuge entered the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence once again.

Uncle Fu was waiting for her at the door. When he saw her coming from the alley, he immediately went to greet her. The wrinkles on his face were squeezed into a chrysanthemum shape because of his smile.

"Young lady, the Marquis and his wife have been waiting for you for a long time," said Uncle Fu.

Su Jiuge nodded and followed him inside.

Madam Shen stood at the entrance of the main hall waiting for her.

Today she wore a deep purple jacket, her hair was neatly combed, she wore a set of white jade headdresses, and she wore light makeup. She looked several years younger than last time.

Her eyes—those bloodshot eyes—lit up the moment she saw Su Jiuge.

"Jiuge." Madam Shen called her name, her voice still trembling, but much steadyer than last time.

"You've arrived."

Su Jiuge looked at her and nodded.

Shen wanted to step forward and take her hand, but hesitated for a moment and did not move.

She was afraid of scaring her daughter, afraid that she would turn around and leave like last time, afraid that this meal she had finally waited for would be the last.

"Come in." Madam Shen stepped aside to make way for the doorway.

"The meal is ready."

A large round table was placed in the main hall, covered with a dark red tablecloth and filled with bowls, plates, chopsticks, and spoons.

The dishes were already on the table, steaming hot, and their aroma filled the air.

Su Jiuge glanced at the dishes on the table—braised pork knuckle, steamed sea bass, sweet and sour pork ribs, garlic greens, old hen soup, osmanthus cake, and lotus seed soup.

It wasn't anything fancy, just everyday dishes, but each one was prepared with great care and the presentation was very thoughtful.

Su Zhentian sat in the main seat, with an empty seat next to him reserved for the Shen family.

Su Chengen was sitting to Su Zhentian's right. When he saw Su Jiuge come in, he stood up, bowed slightly to her, and smiled gently.

"Sister Jiuge," he said.

Welcome home.

Su Jiuge looked at Su Chengen.

Today he wore a moon-white brocade robe with a dark green silk sash around his waist, and his hair was tied up with a jade crown. He looked gentle and refined, like a spring breeze.

Bai Yu is right, this person is worth befriending. Not because he's useful, but because he doesn't seem like someone who would harm others.

"Second Brother Chengen," Su Jiuge replied.

Su Chengen's eyes lit up.

She called him "Second Brother Cheng'en." This is a term of address used when acknowledging kinship.

Su Chengen's lips curved into a smile, which deepened.

Two young men were sitting to Su Zhentian's left.

A man in his early twenties, with a resolute face, slightly furrowed brows, and tightly pursed lips, dressed in a dark blue official robe, looked as if he had just returned from the yamen.

He sat upright, his back ramrod straight, his hands resting on his knees, his eyes fixed straight ahead, exuding an aura of readiness for battle. The eldest son of a concubine, Su Chengzhi.

Another boy, thirteen or fourteen, with fair skin and delicate features, sat there somewhat uneasy in a blue school uniform, his hands twisting the hem of his clothes under the table. He would steal glances at Su Jiuge every now and then before quickly looking away. This was Su Chengxun, the third son of a concubine.

Su Wanning wasn't there. She was already married and wouldn't make a special trip back to her parents' home just for a meal.

Su Wan'er was not there either.

Noticing Su Jiuge's gaze, Shen explained softly:

"Wan'er wasn't feeling well today and couldn't come. Wan'er... she..."

She hesitated for a moment, glanced at Su Zhentian, and when Su Zhentian shook his head slightly, she didn't continue.

Su Jiuge did not ask any further questions.

She knew why Su Wan'er wasn't there.

It's not that I'm uncomfortable, it's that I'm afraid to come.

"Please sit down," Su Zhentian said, gesturing to the seat next to Shen Shi.

"Your mother specially saved this for you."

There was an empty seat next to Shen's. The chair was a little lower than the other chairs, the cushion was a little thicker than the other cushions, and a light pink velvet blanket was draped over the backrest.

She had prepared it carefully, afraid that her daughter wouldn't be comfortable sitting there.

Su Jiuge looked at that spot, remained silent for a moment, then walked over and sat down.

Shen's eyes reddened again, but she held back and didn't let the tears fall.

She placed a piece of spare rib on Su Jiuge's plate in a very gentle and slow motion, as if performing a sacred ritual.

"Try it," said Mrs. Shen.

"I did it."

Su Jiuge looked down at the piece of pork rib.

The ribs were cut neatly, all the same size, with a bright red color and a rich sauce. A few white sesame seeds were sprinkled on top. She picked up her chopsticks, took a rib, and took a bite.

The pork ribs were stewed until very tender, melting in your mouth, with a savory-sweet flavor that was delicious.

Su Jiuge chewed twice and swallowed.

"It's delicious," she said.

Shen finally couldn't hold back her tears, which silently streamed down her face. She quickly wiped them away with her handkerchief and said with a smile:

"Eat more if it's delicious. I made a big pot."

Su Jiuge didn't say anything, but picked up another piece of pork rib and chewed it slowly.

Seeing this scene, Su Zhentian's eyes also reddened slightly. He picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and suppressed the sour feeling that welled up inside him.

He was a military general and could not lose his composure in front of his children.

"Chengzhi." Su Zhentian put down his wine cup and looked at his eldest son.

Su Chengzhi immediately sat up straighter, like a soldier who had heard his commander call his name.

"This is your sister, Jiuge," Su Zhentian said.

You should have heard about it.

Su Chengzhi nodded, looked at Su Jiuge, his gaze lingered on her face for a moment, and then looked away.

His expression was restrained, revealing neither joy nor anger, but Su Jiuge noticed that the knuckles of his hands, which were clasped on his knees, were slightly white.

"Sister Jiuge." Su Chengzhi's voice was low and short, as if he had just finished a task, and then he shut his mouth.

Su Jiuge looked at him without saying a word.

The atmosphere at the dinner table froze slightly for a moment. Su Chengen broke the silence:

"Little sister Jiuge, Brother Chengzhi works in the Ministry of War and is very busy every day. He specially took half a day off today to come back and see you."

Su Chengzhi glanced at Su Chengen, his eyes filled with a barely perceptible gratitude, but he said nothing.

"Chengxun." Su Chengen then turned to his third son, born out of wedlock.

"Call someone."

Su Chengxun's face flushed red, from his ears all the way to his neck, like a boiled shrimp. He opened his mouth, but his voice was so soft it was like a mosquito's buzz:

"Jiuge... Sister."

Su Jiuge looked at the shy boy and nodded in response.

She noticed that Su Chengxun's eyebrows and eyes were somewhat similar to Su Chengen's; both had gentle, non-aggressive features. However, Su Chengen's gentleness was steady and powerful, while Su Chengxun's gentleness was naive and inexperienced.

"Chengxun is studying at the Imperial Academy," Madam Shen added from the side.

"He will be taking the imperial examination next year. He is doing very well in his studies, and his teacher says he has a good chance of passing."

Su Chengxun lowered his head even further, and the tips of his ears turned red.

Su Jiuge suddenly said something that surprised everyone:

"Dr. Wang of the Imperial Academy is quite learned, but he is rigid. His lectures on the classics follow a fixed formula; if you write according to his style, you won't stand out, nor will you make any mistakes. He's good enough to pass the provincial examinations. But not enough to pass the imperial examinations."

Su Chengxun suddenly raised his head, his eyes wide open, like a startled fawn.

He looked at Su Jiuge, his lips moved a few times, and a blush spread from his ears to his entire face.

"How...how do you know Dr. Wang?" he asked, his voice still very soft, but a little louder than before.

Su Jiuge did not answer. She glanced at Su Chengen, who shook his head slightly, signaling her not to continue.

Su Jiuge withdrew her gaze, picked up the teacup in front of her, and took a sip.

There was a moment of silence at the dinner table.

Su Zhentian coughed lightly, changing the subject:

"Jiuge, your mother started preparing for this meal yesterday. These ribs have been stewed for three hours. Try this fish; she made it too."

Su Jiuge picked up a piece of fish and chewed it slowly.

The fish was very tender and fresh, and the bones were removed very thoroughly.

The person who prepared this fish spent a long time carefully removing each and every bone.

Su Jiuge swallowed the fish and said:

"tasty."

Two words, exactly the same as before. But Shen sensed something different—the previous "delicious" was polite, but this "delicious" was... she didn't know what it was, but she smiled. Her eyes curved into crescent moons with her smile, and all the longing and tears of the past sixteen years turned into this moment of satisfaction.

Su Chengen watched this scene with a slight smile on his lips.

He gently nudged Su Chengzhi's leg under the table. Su Chengzhi glanced at him, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

Su Chengen silently mouthed two words – “Good thing.” Su Chengzhi did not respond, but his clenched hand loosened.

Su Chengxun was still looking at Su Jiuge, his eyes now filled with something new – curiosity.

He was looking at an unsolvable problem; the more he thought about it, the less he understood, and the less he understood, the more he wanted to see it.

The meal took almost an hour.

Su Jiuge didn't eat much. She tried a little of everything: two pieces of pork ribs, three pieces of fish, a few bites of greens, two spoonfuls of soup, one piece of osmanthus cake, and two sips of lotus seed soup.

Shen kept putting food on her plate, and she accepted it all, eating everything that was put on her plate, but never asked for any herself.

After the meal, the maids came to clear the dishes. Madam Shen held Su Jiuge's hand—she had finally mustered the courage to hold her daughter's hand—to prevent her from helping.

"Sit down and rest," said Mrs. Shen.

"You don't need to do these things."

Su Jiuge looked down at her hand that was being held.

Ms. Shen's hands were warm and soft, with thin calluses on her palms—calluses from doing housework, embroidering, and writing.

That was a mother's hand.

Su Jiuge did not pull her hand away.

Su Zhentian and Su Chengzhi went to the study to discuss official business, while Su Chengen accompanied Su Chengxun back to the backyard.

Only Su Jiuge and Madam Shen remained in the main hall.

Madam Shen sat beside her, holding her hand, without saying a word.

She just stared at Su Jiuge's face, at her eyebrows, nose, and lips, at those features that were exactly the same as hers when she was young, as if to confirm that this was not a dream.

"Where's your knife?" Shen suddenly asked.

Su Jiuge glanced at her: "I didn't bring it."

Madam Shen nodded, paused for a moment, and then said:

"Jiuge, I know you're not an ordinary person. Your hands are calloused, your body is scarred, and the way you look at people isn't like that of a sixteen-year-old girl. I don't understand any grand principles, but I know one thing—you are my daughter. No matter what you've done, no matter who you are, you are my daughter."

Su Jiuge looked at her but did not answer.

Shen's tears flowed again, but this time she did not wipe them away.

She held Su Jiuge's hand, pressed that calloused and scarred hand against her face, feeling the marks that didn't seem like those of a sixteen-year-old girl.

"You've suffered," said Mrs. Shen.

"I'm sorry, Mother."

Su Jiuge always felt that the word "mother" was unfamiliar and distant, something that had nothing to do with her.

But at this moment, when Madam Shen uttered the words "Mother is sorry," a crack appeared on the icy surface of her heart.

She did not speak.

She simply sat there, letting Shen hold her hand, letting Shen's tears drip onto the back of her hand, warm, drop by drop.

As it was getting dark, Su Jiuge got up to say goodbye.

Shen did not keep her any longer, but took something out of her sleeve and put it into Su Jiuge's hand.

It is a jade pendant.

It is made of white jade, round in shape, with a small hole in the center, cloud patterns carved on the edge, and the character "Su" carved on the front.

The jade pendant is small, only about the size of a copper coin, but the jade is warm and smooth to the touch, and it is a fine mutton fat white jade.

"This was prepared for you by your father on the day you were born," said Mrs. Shen.

"I wanted to put it on you, but I didn't have time... Later, I thought you were dead, so I put this jade pendant away and kept it for sixteen years."

Su Jiuge looked down at the jade pendant.

The jade pendant was warm in her hand, carrying Shen's body temperature.

"I accept it," Su Jiuge said.

She tied the jade pendant around her waist, turned around, and walked out of the main hall.

Madam Shen stood at the door, watching her figure disappear behind the screen wall. This time, she did not chase after her.

She just stood there, smiling, smiling, and then tears started falling, but the corners of her mouth were still turned up.

Su Jiuge walked on the streets of Chongrenfang. It was already dark, and there were very few pedestrians on the street.

A jade pendant now adorned her waist, swaying gently with her steps, occasionally brushing against the scabbard and producing a soft tinkling sound.

She touched the jade pendant; the white jade was warm and smooth, with clean edges.

She remembered Shen's hands.

Warm, soft, calloused, and trembling slightly when I held her hand.

She remembered those hands that used to serve her ribs, ladle soup for her, and remove fish bones from her bones.

She remembered Shen's eyes.

It was red and swollen, covered with blood vessels, but when you looked at her, she shone as if a lamp had been lit.

Su Jiuge quickened her pace.

She didn't like these feelings.

These sensations softened her, dulled her, and made her less like a knife.

All she needs is hardness, sharpness, and indifference.

Only the hardest things can survive, only the sharpest knives can kill, and only the coldest hearts can live in this cannibalistic world.

She touched the hilt of the straight sword at her waist; it was cold, hard, and rough to the touch.

well.

The knife is still there.

She is still a night owl.

She told herself that these things wouldn't affect her.

She is a night owl.

Owls don't need warmth.

The owl only needs its prey.

She told herself this over and over again as she walked away into the night.