Nine Nights Owl Song

Qian Shaoqing knew that what the Qian family wanted was not an official position, but the chance to survive.

"My father won't agree," Qian Shaoqing shook his head.

"He has been in power in Qingjiang for many years, with troops under his command and connections in the imperial court. Getting him to relinquish his military power is harder than killing him."

Su Jiuge stood up.

"If your father doesn't agree, the Qian family will cease to exist in Qingjiang. The imperial army is on the southern border and could march in at any time. The imperial court has won battles in the western and northern borders. In your opinion, in what ways is Qingjiang stronger than the western and northern borders?"

Qian Shaoqing fell silent.

Su Jiuge turned and walked towards the door, with Zhao Ying following behind her.

Su Jiuge stopped at the door without turning around.

"Your father only has one son, you. His life is in your hands." With that, he pushed open the door and walked out.

Zhao Ying looked at Qian Shaoqing, wanting to say something.

His lips moved a few times, but he didn't say anything.

He turned and followed Su Jiuge.

Qian Shaoqing sat alone in the dormitory courtyard, with the folded paper spread out in front of him, and the plum blossoms outside the window were in full bloom.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Qian Shaoqing went to the Yuelai Inn.

Zhao Ying was not there; only Su Jiuge was in the room wiping her knife.

Qian Shaoqing stood at the door watching Su Jiuge wipe the knife. Her movements were slow and meticulous, as if she were polishing a precious piece of porcelain.

"I thought about it all night." Qian Shaoqing walked in.

"You're right. I'm my father's only son, and his life is in my hands. I can't let him go down the wrong path."

Su Jiuge looked up at him.

"You've decided to persuade him."

Qian Shaoqing nodded.

Give me a few days. I'll give you an answer before the fifth day of the Lunar New Year.

Su Jiuge put down the knife in her hand.

"it is good."

On the fifth day of the first lunar month, Qian Shaoqing arrived.

Carrying a handwritten letter from Qian Shigui.

The letter contained only a few lines, written by Qian Shigui himself in vigorous and powerful handwriting:

"Qian Shigui of Qingjiang is willing to submit to the imperial court. The military power of Qingjiang Town will be handed over to the imperial court. The Qian family has been loyal to the imperial court for generations and has never had any disloyal intentions."

Su Jiuge finished reading the letter and put it into her waistband.

"Where's your dad?"

"At home. He said he wanted to see the Sixth Prince. He wouldn't feel at ease if he couldn't see the Sixth Prince."

Su Jiuge nodded.

"The Sixth Prince will come to the Southern Border. Go back and tell your father to wait patiently."

Qian Shaoqing stopped at the door.

"Where's Zhao Ying?" Su Jiuge asked, looking at him.

"He's not coming to see you off?" Qian Shaoqing shook his head.

"No need." He pushed open the door and walked out.

Zhao Ying stood at the window of the next room, watching Qian Shaoqing's figure disappear at the end of the street.

He gripped the short blade tightly in his hand.

Su Jiuge walked in.

"Why didn't you go to see him off?" Zhao Ying did not answer.

It's not that I don't want to go, it's that I'm afraid to go.

I'm afraid to see him, afraid he'll say, "You're from the Dark Pavilion," afraid he'll say, "You lied to me," afraid he'll say, "We're not friends." If he doesn't say anything, he'll feel even worse.

Su Jiuge said, "He is your friend."

Zhao Ying's eyes reddened. "I know. That's precisely why I can't send it."

The fifth day of the first month of the nineteenth year of Yong'an.

Qian Shaoqing persuaded his father.

Qingjiang Town submitted to the imperial court.

The Crown Prince has lost one of his pawns in the southern border.

Su Jiuge stood by the window, looking in the direction of Qingjiang City.

Qian Shaoqing walked on the streets of Qingjiang City, holding the cold iron knife in his hand.

He knew Zhao Ying was watching him. He didn't turn around.

The sixth day of the first month of the nineteenth year of Yong'an.

Qingjiang, Qian Mansion.

Qian Shigui had been sitting in his study for a long time without saying a word.

He was dressed casually, his hair loose and hanging over his shoulders.

His son, Qian Shaoqing, stood before him, holding the secret memorial from the sixth prince, Xiao Yan.

He recognized every word on the secret memorial, but it took him many readings to truly understand its significance—the court would not hold him accountable for past transgressions, Qingjiang would remain under the Qian family's control, no officials would be dispatched, no taxes would be collected, and no troops would be stationed there.

The sixth prince, Xiao Yan, did not promise amnesty; he made a deal.

The Qian family relinquished their military power in Qingjiang, and the imperial court gave them a way out.

"Young Master, do you think the Sixth Prince's words are credible?"

Qian Shigui looked up at his son.

Qian Shaoqing remained silent for a moment.

"Father, everyone in the court calls the Sixth Prince a good-for-nothing. But what he did in the Northern Frontier is something no good-for-nothing could do. He incorporated 40,000 scattered soldiers, recovered the three prefectures of Yan and Yun, and made veteran generals like Zhou Tieshan and Li Dingguo willingly risk their lives for him. A good-for-nothing could not have done these things."

He paused.

"Moreover, Su Jiuge is by his side. Su Jiuge wouldn't cooperate with someone who can't be trusted."

Qian Shigui looked at his son.

Su Jiuge – General Anxi, Head of the Dark Pavilion, and Sixth Prince's Consort.

This woman killed Helian Tieshu in the western border and incorporated 40,000 scattered soldiers in the northern border.

Her knife is more effective than any promise.

Qian Shigui wasn't afraid of the Sixth Prince's secret report; he was afraid of Su Jiuge's knife.

You can ignore the folds in the paper, but you won't recognize the knife.

"What's going on between you and that Zhao Ying?"

Qian Shigui suddenly asked an unrelated question.

Qian Shaoqing's fingers twitched slightly.

"He is a member of the Dark Pavilion, and he approached me on Su Jiuge's orders."

"I know."

Qian Shigui said,

"That's not what I'm asking. What's going on between you and him?"

Qian Shaoqing fell silent.

What's going on between him and him?

Friends, friends who share challenges, drinks, and fireworks. I don't know if that counts.

He lied to him; he knew it all along, but he didn't expose him.

He waited for him to tell him himself that he hadn't.

He was a member of the secret service, and he was the son of the military governor of Qingjiang. They were on opposite sides and could no longer be friends.

Qian Shigui looked at his son's expression and didn't ask any further questions.

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the plum blossoms in the garden.

He has been in Qingjiang for twenty years, rising from a minor local general to the Qingjiang military governor.

He had soldiers, money, and territory under his command, and the imperial court couldn't do anything about him. But he was old, and his son was still young; he couldn't let him inherit a mess.

"Bring Zhao Ying here, I want to see him."

Qian Shaoqing looked at his father.

"father……"

"I'm not trying to make things difficult for him." Qian Shigui turned around.

"I want to talk to him in person."

On the afternoon of the sixth day of the first lunar month, Zhao Ying stood at the entrance of the Qian residence.

Su Jiuge didn't come with him; she made him come by himself.

Zhao Ying took a deep breath and went inside.

Qian Shaoqing waited for him under the moon gate, and the two looked at each other for a moment.

Zhao Ying spoke first.

"Brother Qian." Qian Shaoqing nodded.

"My father is waiting for you in the study."

The two walked side by side on the veranda.

Qian Shaoqing walked in front, and Zhao Ying followed behind, neither of them speaking.

The plum blossoms on both sides of the covered walkway were in full bloom, and the petals drifted gently in the wind, landing on the bluestone path and on the shoulders of the two people.

Qian Shaoqing spoke first.

"On New Year's Eve, you said this year's New Year would be different. How would it be different?" Zhao Ying asked, watching his retreating figure.

"I have friends."

Qian Shaoqing was silent for a moment. He stopped and looked at Zhao Ying.

"Me too."