Nine Nights Owl Song

The 9th day of the 6th month of the 18th year of Yong'an.

Liangzhou.

When Xiao Yan arrived in Liangzhou, it was evening, and the setting sun had dyed the western sky a dark red.

He rode on horseback, covered in dust, with dark circles under his eyes and chapped lips, having traveled for days and nights.

Su Jiuge stood at the city gate waiting for him, dressed in a dark blue outfit with a straight sword hanging at her waist.

Her face bore the fine marks of wind and sand, and the scar on her cheekbone had not completely faded—she had not mentioned this scar in her letter.

Xiao Yan didn't mention it either; some things don't need to be said.

He dismounted.

Xiao Yan looked at her, and she looked at him; neither of them spoke.

Zhao Ying peeked out from the city wall, but Shen Qing pulled her back.

There were only the two of them at the city gate. The wind blew from the west, carrying yellow sand that stung their eyes.

Su Jiuge spoke first: "You've arrived."

Xiao Yan said, "Hmm."

There's nothing more to say.

She had won the battle, she was still alive, and he came.

This is enough.

Xiao Yan paid his respects to Su Zhentian in the commander's tent.

Su Zhentian looked at his son-in-law, whose moon-white casual clothes had turned gray, whose boots were worn out, and whose lips were chapped and bleeding. He had obviously rushed all the way from Luojing just to see his daughter.

Su Zhentian nodded: "It's good that you're here."

Without saying much, he left the space to the two young people.

Xiao Yan and Su Jiuge walked side by side on the city wall of Liangzhou.

The setting sun cast long shadows of the two people.

Xiao Yan asked her when she would return to Luoyang.

Su Jiuge thought for a moment and said that although the Qiang tribe had retreated, the hidden dangers remained. With Helian Tieshu dead, the various Qiang tribes were leaderless and unable to move south in the short term.

However, in the long run, the western border of Daliang has always faced threats and needs a buffer.

"What barrier?" Xiao Yan asked.

Su Jiuge remained silent for a moment.

"The Wusun people were wiped out by the Qiang. Some died, some fled, and the rest were captured by the Qiang and enslaved. Ayiguli rescued several hundred Wusun people from a prisoner-of-war camp; they needed a home."

Xiao Yan looked at her.

He saw the light in her eyes, not murderous intent, but something softer.

"You want the Wusun people to settle on the outskirts of Liangzhou?"

Su Jiuge nodded.

"West of Liangzhou lies a grassland, lush with water and grass, yet uncultivated. Every year, the Qiang people raid this area from the south. Rather than letting the Qiang people occupy it, it's better to give it to the Wusun people. The Wusun people have a blood feud with the Qiang people, and they won't help the Qiang people fight against Daliang. Give them land and food so they can rebuild their homes; they will become a bulwark for the western border of Daliang."

Xiao Yan remained silent for a long time.

"I cannot make this decision on my own. It requires the Emperor's approval, the court's approval, and the coordination of the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Rites. It involves land, grain, and border tribes, and will take at least several months to discuss."

Su Jiuge looked at him.

"So I'm discussing this with you, not with the imperial court."

Xiao Yan understood what she meant—going from the bottom up would create much less resistance in the court than going from the top down.

He thought for a moment and said that he needed a leader of the Wusun people.

Ayiguli—Su Jiuge said she was the daughter of a Wusun nobleman, respected among her people, young but able to command respect, just like you—Xiao Yan smiled.

Xiao Yan's smile faded, and he said seriously, "You have it much harder than she did. Surviving in the court of Liang was a hundred times harder for you than for her to survive on the grasslands."

June 11th, outside Liangzhou City.

Su Jiuge took Xiao Yan to see Ayiguli. The hundreds of Wusun people that Ayiguli had rescued from the prisoner-of-war camp were living in an open area outside Liangzhou City.

With no tents and no food, they built some makeshift shelters out of branches and rags. The elderly and children huddled inside, while the women cooked over a fire.

Aygul was distributing food to her people when she saw Su Jiuge arrive. She put down what she was holding and walked over.

There was a light in his amber eyes that Su Jiuge had never seen before. It wasn't gratitude, but scrutiny—"You were my comrade-in-arms on the battlefield, and now you are a general of Liang in the city."

Our relationship will not change, but it needs to be redefined.

Su Jiuge thought so too.

Ayiguli looked at Xiao Yan, who was wearing a moon-white python robe—the attire of a prince of the Great Liang Dynasty.

Su Jiuge introduced: "The Sixth Prince, Xiao Yan. My husband."

Aygul sized up Xiao Yan—there weren't many people worthy of Su Jiuge, and this one didn't seem very capable in combat. She extended her hand and said, "Aygul, a Wusun person. Su Jiuge's friend."

Xiao Yan grasped her hand, held it briefly, and then let go.

Su Jiuge told Ayiguli about the Wusun people settling in Liangzhou.

Daliang can provide land, food, and seeds to help the Wusun people rebuild their homes.

The condition was that the Wusun people would form an alliance with Liang for generations to jointly resist foreign enemies.

Aygul fell silent.

She looked at the ragged tribesmen behind her, the old and the children, all emaciated.

The Wusun needed a home, and Su Jiuge gave them one. She didn't give it away for nothing—she wanted the Wusun to guard the western border for Liang for generations; it wasn't about being used, it was a transaction.

The Wusun people now have a home, and Daliang has a protective barrier—a win-win situation.

"I agree." Ayiguli looked at Su Jiuge.

"But I have one condition: the affairs of the Wusun people are their own business. The Great Liang will not interfere in the internal affairs of the Wusun, will not send officials, will not collect taxes, and will not station troops there."

Su Jiuge said, "Okay."

Xiao Yan watched her from the side—he hadn't told her about this condition; she had come up with it herself.

This person is born to do great things.

On June 15th, Su Jiuge and Xiao Yan left Liangzhou and returned to Luoyang.

Aygul escorted them to the city gate, with a row of Wusun warriors standing behind her.

Su Jiuge reined in her horse and looked back at her—"When are you coming to Luojing?" Ayiguli replied, "You'll know when the time comes."

Su Jiuge nodded and rode away.

Xiao Yan, standing beside her, glanced back at Ayiguli. Ayiguli was still standing at the city gate, watching them leave, with her people, whom she was about to rebuild their homeland, behind her.

The amber eyes reflected the rising sun, like two burning flames.

Xiao Yan turned his head and said, "She will come looking for you."

Su Jiuge did not answer.

"She once said, 'It is the custom of the Wusun people that when a friend leaves, you must watch them until they are out of sight.' She was waiting for you to say 'Go back.' She stood there until you said it."

Su Jiuge turned around, and Ayiguli was still standing at the city gate.

She called out, "Go back." Aygul turned and left.

Su Jiuge spurred her horse to speed up.

Xiao Yan, standing beside him, smiled – this man is tough on the outside but soft on the inside.