Nine Nights Owl Song

The eighth day of the third month in the eighteenth year of Yong'an.

Luoyang, Prince Zhao's residence.

Tomorrow is the wedding day. The Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion is decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and the Prince Zhao's mansion is also adorned with red and colorful decorations. The entire city of Luoyang is immersed in a joyous atmosphere.

Su Jiuge didn't stay at the Marquis's residence. Madam Shen made her try on her wedding dress three times, her hair twice, and her makeup countless times. She couldn't take it anymore and climbed over the wall to leave.

She was wearing a dark blue cotton robe, her hair was tied into a braid with a strip of cloth, and a straight knife hung at her waist as she walked on the streets of Yongningfang.

She's getting married tomorrow, and she has to sign a contract today.

Xiao Yan was brewing tea in his study.

He was dressed in bright red casual clothes today, his hair was tied up with a jade crown, and he looked much more energetic than usual.

Seeing Su Jiuge climb over the wall and come in—

She had never walked through the main entrance before, and Xiao Yan's lips curved into a slight smile.

"The wedding is tomorrow, and you're still climbing over the wall today?"

Su Jiuge sat down opposite him and took out a roll of paper from a hidden pocket in her waistband, placing it on the table.

"Prenuptial agreement"

Xiao Yan picked it up and unfolded it.

The handwriting on the paper was Su Jiuge's; each stroke was written with great force, as if she were fighting with the paper while writing.

Article 1: Sleep in separate rooms after marriage.

Xiao Yan's lips twitched slightly, but he continued reading.

Article 2: Each party shall not interfere in the other's affairs.

The Dark Pavilion is under Su Jiuge's jurisdiction, while the Thousand Machine Tower is under Xiao Yan's jurisdiction. Xiao Yan makes the decisions in the imperial court, while Su Jiuge makes the decisions in the martial arts world.

Article 3: Su Jiuge may leave at any time, and Xiao Yan shall not stop her.

Article 4: Su Jiuge will not become Empress.

Article 5: Su Jiuge will not enter the harem.

Article 6...

Xiao Yan put down the agreement and looked at Su Jiuge.

"Article Six: Su Jiuge must return to the Marquis's residence for at least three days each month. Did you write that?"

Su Jiuge nodded.

"Are you afraid your mother will miss you?"

Xiao Yan asked.

Su Jiuge remained silent.

Xiao Yan picked up the agreement again and continued reading.

Article 7: Xiao Yan shall not interfere with Su Jiuge's daily life.

Article 8: Xiao Yan shall not interfere with Su Jiuge's clothing and appearance.

Articles 9, 10, 11, 12... all the way up to Article 20.

Xiao Yan finished reading it.

From the first to the twentieth item, none of them mention what Su Jiuge should do for Xiao Yan.

The entire text is filled with phrases like "Xiao Yan cannot," "Su Jiuge has the right," and "no interference between them."

This is not a marriage contract; it is clearly a declaration of independence.

Xiao Yan picked up the pen and signed his name on the agreement.

Each stroke was deliberate and precise, without hesitation or haggling.

Su Jiuge looked at the signature on the paper, then at Xiao Yan's face.

His lazy eyes held a smile, as if he had signed not a contract that left him with no rights in the marriage, but something he had finally waited for.

"Aren't you going to bargain?" Su Jiuge asked.

Xiao Yan countered, "If I try to bargain, will you change your mind?"

Su Jiuge thought for a moment. "No."

Xiao Yan smiled.

"That settles it then. I agree to everything you wrote. We can sleep in separate rooms, or not in the harem; you can go back to the Marquis's residence. If you want to leave, I won't stop you. If you want to come, you're welcome."

Su Jiuge asked, "Don't you think it's unfair?"

Xiao Yan looked at her and his smile faded.

"Su Jiuge, you are not anyone's possession. You are not my possession, not the possession of the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion, not anyone's possession. You can do whatever you want, go wherever you want. I will not stop you, I will not restrict you, and I will not make you do things you don't want to do. This is not unfair; this is what you deserve."

Su Jiuge remained silent for a long time.

She picked up the teacup and slowly sipped the tea, finishing the cup before putting it down.

"Xiao Yan, sometimes you're the kind of person who leaves people speechless."

Xiao Yan refilled her cup.

"Then don't answer."

Su Jiuge stood up, folded the contract neatly, and tucked it back into her waistband.

"I'm leaving now; I have to get up early tomorrow."

She walked towards the door, took a few steps, stopped, and didn't look back.

"Xiao Yan".

"Um."

"You signed the contract, and you have to keep your promise."

"I will definitely keep my promise."

Su Jiuge didn't say anything more and climbed over the wall to leave.

Xiao Yan sat alone behind his desk, looking out at the empty window.

Su Jiuge was standing there when the sunlight shone in from behind her, gilding her silhouette with a golden hue.

Xiao Yan wondered what she would look like in her wedding dress tomorrow. He didn't know, but he couldn't wait.

Su Jiuge walked on the streets of Luojing City at a moderate pace.

She touched the waistband; the contract was inside. Xiao Yan had signed it without hesitation or bargaining.

No man would agree to the conditions she wrote down.

Xiao Yan agreed; he actually agreed to everything.

She quickened her pace and walked towards the Marquis's residence.

"I have to get up early tomorrow," Shen said, adding that she should get up at 3:00 AM to do her hair and makeup.

Su Jiuge never gets up at the hour of Yin (3-5 AM) – when she is on a mission, she sleeps at the hour of Hai (9-11 PM) and gets up at the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), and the hour of Yin is when she sleeps the most soundly.

But not tomorrow; it's up to the Shen family.

March 8th, Second Prince's residence.

The Second Prince, Xiao Jingyan, sat in his study with a secret report spread out on the table in front of him.

The faceless one has disappeared.

The last top assassin of the photo studio vanished without a trace, neither alive nor dead.

"One million taels, I paid it. The photo studio, I contacted them. Faceless, I invited them. And the result? Su Jiuge is still alive, Zhao Wenchang is dead, the photo studio was besieged by the court, and Faceless has disappeared."

Xiao Jingyan's voice was deep as he crumpled the secret report into a ball and threw it on the ground.

The chief of staff lowered his head, not daring to breathe.

The second prince looked at his chief of staff.

"The photo studio is finished, and Wumian is useless. Who among my men can kill Su Jiuge?"

The chief of staff remained silent for a moment.

"Your Highness, I have a recommendation."

"explain."

"There is a lone assassin in the martial arts world, whose true identity is unknown to anyone. He never misses a kill, never leaves anyone alive, and never lets anyone see his face. He charges high prices, but he never fails."

The second prince looked at him.

"What's your name?"

"Code name: 'Shadow'".

The second prince leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrests.

"How much?"

The chief of staff spoke in a very low voice.

"Two million taels. Half will be paid upfront, and the other half upon completion of the transaction."

Two million taels.

The second prince did some mental calculations.

His fiefdom's annual tax revenue was only three million taels.

He would have to spend almost a year's worth of taxes to kill Su Jiuge.

The chief of staff asked tentatively:

"Your Highness, shall we raise the stakes?" The Second Prince gritted his teeth.

"Two million taels more, deal."

The chief of staff accepted the order and left.

The second prince sat alone in his study, the setting sun outside the window dyeing the sky a dark red, like congealed blood.

One by one, the lanterns in the Dingyuan Marquis's residence lit up.

Su Jiuge stood in the courtyard looking at the pomegranate tree, its tender green leaves swaying gently in the evening breeze.

Tomorrow is the wedding day.

She didn't know what kind of expression Xiao Yan would have as he watched her put on her wedding dress, but she knew one thing—the contract she signed was her way out.

She could leave at any time, return to the Marquis's mansion at any time, and do whatever she wanted at any time, without being trapped in the harem as a caged bird.

Xiao Yan agreed, he agreed to everything.

Su Jiuge turned around and walked back to her room.