Nine Nights Owl Song

November 20th, the eighteenth year of Yong'an.

Luoyang, the Eastern Palace.

Crown Prince Xiao Jingrui has not slept well for three consecutive days.

It's not a physical problem, it's a feeling of unease in my heart.

The second prince left to serve as a soldier in the northern border, which meant one less formidable rival in the court. He should have been happy.

But he couldn't be happy—the second prince was gone, and the sixth prince had appeared.

The battle in the North was fought so brilliantly that even the ministers in the court who used to look down on the Sixth Prince have started to change their tune.

"The Sixth Prince is a man of hidden talents." "The Sixth Prince has the talent of a general." "The Sixth Prince is better than the Crown Prince..." The Crown Prince heard the rest of the sentence.

What does Lao Liu rely on? He relies on Su Jiuge.

Without Su Jiuge, he is nothing.

Su Jiuge beheaded Helian Tieshu in the western border and incorporated 40,000 scattered soldiers in the northern border, conquering cities and seizing territories with unstoppable momentum.

The sixth brother was just following behind her, picking up the credit.

A good-for-nothing married a good wife. Everyone in the world knows Su Jiuge, but who still knows the Sixth Prince Xiao Yan?

The crown prince sat in his study, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table. This was a habitual action he took when he was agitated.

The chief of staff stood opposite him, not daring to utter a sound.

"How many times has Father summoned the Sixth Prince recently?"

The prince's voice wasn't loud, but every word sounded like it was coated with poison.

The chief of staff answered cautiously.

"Your Highness, three times in the past two weeks."

The prince's finger stopped.

three times.

He was only summoned once every two weeks, while Lao Liu was summoned three times.

The Emperor used to never pay any attention to the Sixth Prince, but now he summons him to the palace every few days. What do they talk about? State affairs? Things the Sixth Prince doesn't know?

The prince stood up and walked to the window.

Outside the window was the courtyard of the East Palace, where withered yellow leaves covered the ground. He clenched his fists.

"Sixth Brother, a good-for-nothing. He couldn't concentrate on his studies or improve his martial arts from a young age; all he does is eat, drink, and have fun. What makes him so special? He only gained his authority through Su Jiuge's military achievements, didn't he?"

The chief of staff dared not respond.

The crown prince turned around and looked at his chief of staff with a sinister gaze.

"This woman, Su Jiuge, cannot be allowed to live."

The chief of staff's expression changed.

"Your Highness, Su Jiuge is the Sixth Prince's consort, the General of Anxi, and the head of the Dark Pavilion. To harm her is to harm the Sixth Prince, the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion, and the Dark Pavilion itself. Even the neutral faction in the court will turn against us. Please reconsider, Your Highness."

The crown prince gave a cold laugh.

"Who said I was going to kill her? Killing her would be too obvious. Sending her to the Southern Border is like sending a warlord to a prefecture, where powerful local warlords hold sway and imperial decrees can't even leave the prefectures. What can she do there? Kill a few people? The Southern Border isn't the Western Border, nor the Northern Border. The Western Border has the Qiang tribe as an external enemy, and the Northern Border has rebel armies. The Southern Border? It's a quagmire. The warlords are deeply entrenched, and the alliances between powerful local warlords are complex. If you kill one, ten more will appear. No matter how powerful Su Jiuge is, can she wipe out the entire Southern Border by herself?"

A cold smile played on the prince's lips.

The chief of staff understood.

The goal wasn't to kill Su Jiuge, but to get her away.

The Southern Territory is a bottomless pit. If Su Jiuge goes there, she won't be able to return for at least three to five years.

Three to five years from now, what role will she play in the imperial court?

Without Su Jiuge, the Sixth Prince is like a tiger with its teeth pulled.

The Crown Prince can mold it however he wants then.

"Your Highness is wise." The chief of staff bowed.

The prince walked to the desk, picked up his brush, and began to write a memorial. His brush moved swiftly and powerfully, each character resounding with strength.

The document on the folded document was not an impeachment or a complaint, but a letter of recommendation.

"The various regional military governors in the south are not submitting to the emperor's rule, and the people are suffering greatly. The court has repeatedly tried to quell the rebellion but to no avail. I recommend General Su Jiuge of Anxi to go to the south to quell the rebellion of the regional military governors. General Su has a distinguished military record and is renowned throughout the land. He will surely live up to the emperor's expectations."

The wording was grand and dignified, every sentence was for the country and the people, and there was not a trace of selfishness in it.

The prince put down his pen and looked at the writing on the folded paper.

"What will Father think when he sees this memorial?" the chief of staff asked carefully.

"Your Majesty values ​​the nation. The troubles in the south have been a headache for the court for many years. If someone is willing to go, Your Majesty will not object." The Crown Prince nodded.

The Emperor will not object, because he is unaware that this is the Crown Prince's scheme.

Even if they knew, they wouldn't object, because the Southern Territory truly needs people to pacify it.

If Su Jiuge's departure leads to pacification, it is a blessing for the imperial court; if it fails, it is due to Su Jiuge's incompetence.

Regardless of the outcome, the crown prince will not lose out.

"Before handing over the folded document, let the southern border make some moves first," the Crown Prince instructed.

"Let the southern border vassals cause trouble, the more trouble the better. When the court is in a headache, Father will remember Su Jiuge."

The chief of staff clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"I will arrange it immediately."

Prince Zhao's Mansion.

Su Jiuge sat on the veranda wiping her knife.

The straight sword had been with her for many years, and its blade was covered with tiny scratches and nicks—marks left from countless battles.

Her fingers traced the marks, each one corresponding to a life-or-death struggle.

Xiao Yan came out of his study and sat down next to her.

He was holding a secret report in his hand.

"The Crown Prince submitted a memorial today."

Su Jiuge did not look up.

"What folding?"

"I recommend you to go to the southern border to quell the rebellion of the regional military governors." Xiao Yan's tone was calm, but the fingers holding the secret report tightened slightly.

Su Jiuge paused for a moment while wiping the knife.

"The Southern Territory?"

"In the southern border region, there are numerous warlords and powerful local lords, and the imperial decrees cannot even leave the prefectures. The Crown Prince says that you are the most capable general in the court, and that no one else can replace you."

Su Jiuge raised her head and looked at Xiao Yan.

"He's trying to get rid of me."

Xiao Yan nodded.

With Su Jiuge gone, there was no one left in the court to protect Xiao Yan.

The Crown Prince can't touch Su Jiuge, but he can certainly touch Xiao Yan.

Su Jiuge remained silent for a moment.

What do you think?

Xiao Yan looked at her.

"The Southern Territory definitely needs people."

"You also think I should go?"

"It's not that I should, it's that I have no choice but to go."

Xiao Yan paused for a moment, "The Crown Prince recommends you, and Father will not object. Because the southern border is indeed a major threat to the court. If you go and pacify it, there will be one less hidden danger in the court; if you don't go, the Crown Prince will say that you are afraid of war, that you are greedy for credit, and that you are using your military power for personal gain."

Su Jiuge continued wiping the knife.

She polished the blade until it gleamed, reflecting her face.

"Then let's go."

Xiao Yan looked at her.

"The South is not like the West, nor the North. The West and the North can be dealt with by fighting. The South is a quagmire, with deeply entrenched warlords and powerful clans forming alliances. Kill one, and ten more will spring up. Going to the South is not about fighting, but about quelling the chaos. It's not about using a sword, it's about using your brain."

Su Jiuge sheathed her sword.

I have a brain.

Xiao Yan's lips curved slightly.

"I know."

Su Jiuge stood up.

"I'm going to the Southern Border. You'll be alone in Luoyang. The Crown Prince will deal with you, so be careful."

Xiao Yan also stood up.

"I'm not afraid of him."

Su Jiuge looked into his eyes.

There was a light in those eyes, not of murderous intent, but of confidence.

He is the Pacification Commissioner of the Northern Border, with the support of 40,000 elite troops from the Northern Border, the support of the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion, and the support of the Thousand Machine Tower.

The crown prince can't touch him.

"Leave half of the Dark Pavilion's people in Luoyang to protect you," Su Jiuge said.

Xiao Yan shook his head.

"Take them to the Southern Border; you need them more than I do."

"The Ghost Hand is for you."

"If he leaves me, you'll lose one of your helpers."

Su Jiuge remained silent for a moment.

"A ghost is in the southern border."

Xiao Yan's eyebrows twitched slightly.

Ghost Shadow – After Zhao Wenchang's death, Su Jiuge sent Ghost Shadow to infiltrate the southern border, where it has been for a long time.

Su Jiuge looked into his eyes.

"To plan ahead."

Xiao Yan smiled.

This person has foreseen everything.