Nine Nights Owl Song

October 15th, the eighteenth year of Yong'an.

Luoyang, Prince Zhao's residence.

With the matter of military power in the northern border settled, Xiao Yan went from being a "spoiled brat" to the "Pacification Commissioner of the Northern Border".

The way people in the imperial court looked at him changed.

Previously, it was contempt, disdain, and mockery; now it's scrutiny, examination, and reassessment.

Suddenly, the useless guy was no longer useless; he now held military power—albeit indirectly—and Su Jiuge was also in charge.

People who had never associated with him before started sending him invitations. The Vice Minister of War invited him to dinner, the Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel sent him a visiting card, and the Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue sent someone to ask him about matters concerning the northern border.

The letters piled up on the table, but Xiao Yan didn't reply to a single one. He went to court as usual every day, kept his head down and looked at his toes, and remained silent as usual.

Su Jiuge sat opposite him, looking at the pile of posts.

Aren't you going to reply?

Xiao Yan picked up his teacup.

"If I reply to one, the rest will follow. It's better not to reply to any of them."

Su Jiuge remained silent.

She didn't understand, nor did she want to understand, the social interactions within the imperial court.

Bai Yu walked in from outside, holding a secret report in his hand, his expression grim.

"My lord, the Crown Prince's men have gone to the northern border."

Xiao Yan put down his teacup.

"When?"

"Three days ago, the Crown Prince sent the Vice Minister of Revenue to the northern border under the pretext of 'comforting the troops,' but in reality, he was there to bribe the generals. Zhou Tieshan, Li Dingguo, Liu Wu, and Chen Daniu were all contacted by the Crown Prince's men."

Bai Yu paused for a moment.

"Zhou Tieshan was nowhere to be seen, Li Dingguo kicked him out, Liu Wu hid, and Chen Daniu took the money."

Su Jiuge placed her hand on the hilt of the knife.

Xiao Yan pressed down on her hand.

"Don't rush." ​​He looked at Bai Yu.

"How much money did Chen Daniu receive?"

"Five thousand taels." Xiao Yan remained silent for a moment.

"Bought him with five thousand taels? He wasn't like this before."

Bai Yu said, "His family is in dire straits. His elderly mother is sick, but they have no money for treatment. They also have many children and can't even afford to eat."

Xiao Yan nodded.

"I see."

Su Jiuge looked at him.

"What are you planning to do?"

"There's not much to do. Chen Daniu is Chen Daniu, and the Northern Border is the Northern Border. He can't turn the world upside down by himself. The Crown Prince's men went to the Northern Border to bribe generals and divide the army's morale—that's a ruthless move. You think he only wants military power? He wants to undermine the morale of the Northern Border's army as well. Zhou Tieshan didn't meet with them, Li Dingguo kicked them out, and Liu Wu hid. These three are former subordinates of the Marquis of Dingyuan, and former subordinates of the Marquis of Dingyuan won't betray the Su family. Chen Daniu accepted the money; he surrendered later, his foundation isn't deep, and he's easily bribed. Someone who can be bought off with five thousand taels of silver isn't worth getting angry over."

Su Jiuge looked at him.

"You knew all along that Chen Daniu would try to bribe you?"

Xiao Yan did not answer.

Su Jiuge understood.

Chen Daniu was bait he deliberately laid out.

When the prince's men go to the northern border, they always have to bribe one or two people to feel that their trip was worthwhile.

Chen Daniu is a man who takes money but doesn't do his job.

He was timid and dared not actually pledge allegiance to the Crown Prince.

The prince's men spent five thousand taels of silver to buy a fake "surrender".

By the time the crown prince discovered it, the money had already been spent and the person was gone.

"When did you learn all this?" Su Jiuge asked.

Xiao Yan looked at her.

"I learned it from you. You're a master at warfare. I'm also a master at understanding people's hearts."

Xiao Yan not only made arrangements in the court, but also expanded the intelligence network of the Thousand Machine Tower.

Every move of the Crown Prince, every move of the Second Prince, and every move of every minister in the court were under the surveillance of the Thousand Machine Tower.

Xiao Yan was in no hurry to make a move; he was waiting.

The Marquis of Dingyuan's Residence.

Su Zhentian was reading military books in his study when Su Jiuge walked in and sat down opposite her father.

Su Zhentian put down his book and looked at her. The wind and sand of the northern border had left their marks on her face. She looked more mature than when she left the capital. She hadn't grown up, but she had aged.

Su Zhentian spoke first.

"You did a good job with the Northern Frontier," Su Jiuge said, looking at her father.

"Father, the Crown Prince has sent people to the Northern Border." Su Zhentian nodded.

"I know. Zhou Tieshan wrote me a letter, and Li Dingguo wrote one too. They asked me what to do, and I told them to listen to the Sixth Prince. Whatever the Sixth Prince says, they will do."

Su Jiuge remained silent for a moment.

"Father, do you believe in Xiao Yan?" Su Zhentian looked at her for a long time.

"I don't believe him, I believe you."

On October 18th, Xiao Yan went to the Ministry of War for a meeting.

This was his first visit to the Ministry of War since being appointed as the Pacification Commissioner of the Northern Frontier.

The officials in the Ministry of War looked at him with mixed feelings—they used to be outwardly respectful but inwardly mocking him, but now they were outwardly respectful but inwardly apprehensive.

After the meeting, Xiao Yan walked out of the Ministry of War's gate, where a person was standing.

The Second Prince, Xiao Jingyan.

His confinement period was over. He had lost a lot of weight, his cheekbones were high, and his eye sockets were deep, but his eyes were brighter than before.

"Sixth Prince." The Second Prince's voice was hoarse.

Xiao Yan looked at him.

The second prince stared at his face.

"You did a good job with the Northern frontier. I underestimated you before."

Xiao Yan smiled.

"Second brother, you've just finished your confinement. Why aren't you resting at home? What are you doing out here?"

The second prince did not answer and turned to leave.

Xiao Yan watched his retreating figure.

The second prince has changed—he used to be like a fierce tiger ready to bite, but now he's like a wolf lurking in the shadows, observing its prey.

On October 20th, Xiao Yan received a letter from the northern border.

The letter was written by Chen Daniu; the handwriting was crooked and full of typos, but the meaning was very clear:

"Your Highness, I am deeply sorry. The Crown Prince's men gave me five thousand taels of silver, which I accepted. My elderly mother is ill, and I have no money for treatment. I had no choice. I will return the silver. Your Highness may kill me or punish me as you see fit, I accept it."

After reading the letter, Xiao Yan handed it to Su Jiuge.

Su Jiuge also finished reading. "He's honest, isn't he?"

Xiao Yan nodded.

Chen Daniu is a timid, uneducated man from a poor family who is easily bribed.

But once he accepts the money, he will be afraid, and he will take the initiative to confess and admit his mistake.

This kind of person is more worthwhile to use than those who take money and keep quiet.

"Reply to him," Su Jiuge said.

Xiao Yan picked up his pen and wrote a line at the end of the letter:

"Keep the money for your elderly mother's medical treatment. Stay and guard Jizhou well."

October of the eighteenth year of Yong'an.

The court was rife with undercurrents, and Xiao Yan seemed to do nothing all day except attend court, return home, and brew tea.

Su Jiuge practices her swordplay, returns to the Marquis's residence, and eats osmanthus cake every day.