Nine Nights Owl Song

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

Su Jiuge woke up before dawn.

She sat up in bed and saw that Xiao Yan was already dressed and sitting by the window reading a book.

Today he changed into a moon-white python robe, his hair was tied up with a golden crown, and his left hand, wrapped in white cloth, rested on his knee without moving.

Hearing the noise, he turned around and glanced at her: "Awake?"

Su Jiuge responded.

The two of them did sleep in separate rooms last night.

After the farce on his wedding night ended, Xiao Yan took his quilt and went to the study next door.

Su Jiuge lay alone on the large wedding bed, listening to the wind outside the window, unable to fall asleep for a long time.

It wasn't that she wasn't used to it—she had slept alone for seventeen years, so there was nothing she wasn't used to.

Now that it's dawn, Xiao Yan has returned.

Su Jiuge washed up, got dressed, and put on the lotus-root-colored cotton robe.

Today we will not enter the palace, visit the Marquis's residence, or return to our parents' home. Yesterday was our wedding day, and we should have entered the palace to express our gratitude today. However, after what happened last night, Emperor Yong'an issued an imperial edict telling them to rest well and not to rush to the palace.

Xiao Yan's hand was badly injured; the doctor said it would take at least half a month to recover.

Su Jiuge sat down opposite Xiao Yan and looked at him.

What are your plans for today?

Xiao Yan closed the book.

"Wait. Wait for the news to spread throughout Luoyang, wait for Father to summon me, wait for the Second Prince's reaction." He paused.

"The news you released should reach the imperial court today."

Su Jiuge picked up her teacup and took a sip.

"Not a single piece of information I released was false. The Second Prince offered a reward of two million taels for my head, and Shadow was sent by the Second Prince. Everything I said was the truth."

Xiao Yan looked at Su Jiuge.

"I'm saying the Second Prince sent assassins. What outsiders think is their business."

Xiao Yan smiled.

When he smiles, his eyes curve like crescent moons.

"Your move was ruthless. The Second Prince is now speechless with anger."

Su Jiuge put down her teacup.

He hurt you.

Xiao Yan's smile faded.

He looked at Su Jiuge's face—a face that rarely showed any expression, but now there was a light he had never seen before.

It's not anger or heartache, but something deeper and more irrational.

Su Jiuge said, "He hurt you, I can't let him get away with it."

Xiao Yan felt a sharp pain in his heart, as if something inside him had been violently struck.

An hour later, the news spread like wildfire throughout Luoyang.

"The Second Prince sent assassins to kill the Sixth Prince, and they did it at the wedding."

"The Sixth Prince was seriously injured in the hand while protecting the bride."

"The second prince didn't even spare his own brother in his quest for the throne."

"This isn't the first time. It's said that Zhao Wenchang's death last time was also related to him."

The topic of conversation was everywhere – in the streets and alleys, in teahouses and taverns.

It has a nose and eyes, details and plot, like a grand drama.

No one doubted the veracity of the news—the assassination attempt at the wedding was real; four of the Second Prince's men were dead, and two were captured, and the Ministry of Justice was interrogating them. The two captured men endured three days of torture and confessed everything.

When the news reached the Second Prince's ears, he was in his study reviewing official documents.

The chief of staff stumbled in, his face deathly pale.

"Your Highness, rumors are circulating that you sent someone to assassinate the Sixth Prince at the wedding."

The second prince paused, his pen still.

"What?"

"The rumors are spreading all over the streets that you plotted assassinations to seize the throne, not even sparing your own brother. They say the Sixth Prince's hand was almost crippled, and that the bride was seriously injured."

The second prince slammed the pen he was holding onto the table with a "thud".

"I didn't! I only sent the first group! The group from the photo studio had already been recruited by Su Jiuge, and the group led by Shadow wasn't sent by me! I only paid for their lives; who knew that madman Shadow would act on his own!"

The chief of staff spoke with a bitter expression.

"Your Highness, no one will believe these things now. The Shadows' men came from your residence, the money came from your account, and you set the target. Su Jiuge spread the word that you sent someone to assassinate the Sixth Prince, and the confessions from the Ministry of Justice also say that you sent someone to assassinate Su Jiuge. Su Jiuge is the Sixth Prince's wife, so killing her is killing the Sixth Prince. This logic makes perfect sense."

The second prince's face was as white as paper.

He slumped into the chair, his lips trembling.

He wasn't afraid, he was angry.

He only wanted to kill Su Jiuge, only wanted to sever Lao Liu's arm, only wanted to pave the way for himself.

He didn't want to kill the sixth brother, didn't want to bear the infamy of fratricide, and didn't want his father to think he was a beast who wouldn't even spare his own brother.

But now he has no way to defend himself.

He couldn't say that the first group he sent had nothing to do with the second group.

He couldn't say that he only wanted to kill Su Jiuge and didn't want to kill Lao Liu.

He couldn't possibly say that Shadow, that madman, had changed his plans and insisted on making his move on his wedding night.

No one will believe him; everyone will say he's just making excuses.

The second prince clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh.

"Su Jiuge, you have such ruthless methods."

March 10th, at 1-3 PM.

Emperor Yong'an summoned the second prince to his study.

The second prince knelt on the ground, his forehead pressed against the cold gold brick, trembling all over.

It wasn't fear, it was humiliation.

He did something he didn't do, but people forced him to do it.

He tried to defend himself, but the more he argued, the worse it got.

He said that the first group of people was sent by him, but they only wanted to kill Su Jiuge, not Lao Liu.

Emperor Yong'an sneered: "What's the difference between killing Su Jiuge and killing the Sixth Prince? Su Jiuge is the Sixth Prince's wife, the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion, and the head of the Dark Pavilion. Killing her is like cutting off the Sixth Prince's arm. If you cut off the Sixth Prince's arm, won't your next step be to kill him?"

The second prince's lips were trembling.

"Father, I didn't..."

"You didn't? You didn't send anyone to Prince Zhao's residence? You didn't offer a two million tael bounty for Su Jiuge's head? Didn't that money come from your account? Weren't those assassins you hired?" Emperor Yong'an's voice grew louder and louder.

"I'm not even dead yet, and you dare to lay a hand on your own brother! If I die, will you rebel?"

The second prince's head slammed heavily to the ground.

"Your subject wouldn't dare!"

Emperor Yong'an looked at him, his heart filled with weariness.

He knew his son better than anyone else what kind of person he was. He was ambitious, resourceful, and ruthless, but he wasn't destined to be an emperor.

Zhao Wenchang is dead, the photo studio is finished, and now he's also saddled with the infamy of assassinating his own brother.

How will the court officials view him? How will the people of the world view him? How will history books view him?

Assassinating his own brother, vying for the throne—he would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. These words would stay with him for the rest of his life.

"You are hereby fined three years' salary and ordered to reflect on your actions within your own residence for three months. Without my decree, you are not permitted to leave your residence."

The second prince's body suddenly stiffened.

Three years' salary and three months of confinement for reflection were not severe punishments, but they represented an attitude—the emperor believed the rumors circulating outside and believed that he had instigated it.

He kowtowed.

"Your subject...accepts the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude."

He stood up and walked out unsteadily.

Emperor Yong'an sat alone in his study, picked up his vermilion brush, and wrote a single word on the Second Prince's petition for forgiveness—"Approved." Approved, punished, that was it. But he was not pleased, because he knew that the Second Prince might not be as incompetent as he seemed.

But he was the emperor, and he had to give an explanation to the people. He had to give an explanation to the sixth prince, an explanation to Su Jiuge, and an explanation to the Dingyuan Marquis's mansion.

As for the truth—the truth is no longer important.

When the news reached the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince was having a meal.

Upon hearing the chief of staff's report, he put down his chopsticks, and the corners of his mouth slowly curved into a smile.

The second prince was punished.

He was confined to his quarters for three months to reflect on his actions, and his salary was reduced to three years' worth. With one less formidable rival in the court, he was one step closer to that position.

The prince picked up his cup and sipped it slowly. It wasn't wine, but tea. He never drank alcohol and was impeccable in front of outsiders.

"The second brother has fallen this time." The chief of staff remained silent.

"Su Jiuge is quite capable. She can not only kill people, but also destroy their spirits."

The Crown Prince realized something—Su Jiuge was now the Sixth Prince's consort.

She has the Hidden Pavilion in her hands, the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion behind her, and the Thousand Machine Tower by her side.

The sixth brother is a good-for-nothing, but Su Jiuge is not.

This woman is far more terrifying than Lao Liu.

The prince put down his wine cup.

"Keep an eye on Lao Liu. Also keep an eye on Su Jiuge."

The chief of staff clasped his hands in a fist salute. "Yes, sir."

Prince Zhao's Mansion.

Xiao Yan moved a chair to the corridor at some point and lay down wrapped in a quilt.

Su Jiuge came out of the house wearing a blue cloak.

The afternoon sun was warm and gentle. The two sat side by side, neither of them speaking.

Xiao Yan spoke first.

"The Second Prince has been punished and confined to his quarters for three months to reflect on his actions. You've taken your revenge quickly and ruthlessly."

Su Jiuge looked at the pomegranate tree.

He hurt you.

Xiao Yan tapped his fingers lightly twice on his knee.

"Are you avenging me?"

Su Jiuge didn't look at him.

"I've said it before, whoever makes me unhappy, I'll make sure they never feel happy again. He made you unhappy."

Xiao Yan knew she didn't say the last sentence—that he made her unhappy, which was more painful than making him unhappy himself. She couldn't say it, she never could.

"Su Jiuge," Xiao Yan called to her.

Su Jiuge looked at him.

The sunlight in the courtyard was warm, but his face was still a little pale, and his hands were bandaged, making him look rather pitiful.

"Thank you for avenging me." He smiled, a smile filled with relief, the relief of surviving a disaster.

Su Jiuge looked away.

"It's not for you, it's for myself."

Xiao Yan's smile deepened. He went along with her words.

"Okay, it's for your own sake."

The corridor was quiet for a while.

The tender buds of the pomegranate tree swayed gently in the spring breeze; spring had come exceptionally early this year.

Su Jiuge touched the straight sword at her waist. The Second Prince had been punished; the revenge for his wedding night had been served.

She once said that she would not let those who hurt her get away with it.