Nine Nights Owl Song

In the twentieth year of Yong'an, on the fifth day of the fifth month.

Luoyang, the residence of the Marquis of Dingyuan.

The pomegranate tree is still in the same spot, but its trunk is thicker than before, and its branches and leaves are lush.

Hearing the noise, Mrs. Shen came out of the kitchen, wiped her hands on her apron, and walked over with a smile.

Mrs. Shen has aged; she has more white hair at her temples than she did a few years ago, and the wrinkles around her eyes are deeper, but she is in good spirits.

After the old drunkard left, Su Jiuge would come back every month to stay for a few days, to talk to her, and to help her with chores.

Although Su Jiuge doesn't know how to do any work, all she knows is how to practice killing with a knife and eat osmanthus cake.

Su Jiuge called out "Mother".

Madam Shen took her hand and led her into the house:

"I made your favorite osmanthus cake today, eat it while it's hot."

Bowls and chopsticks had already been set out in the main hall. Su Zhentian sat in the main seat, holding a copy of the official gazette in his hand.

Seeing Su Jiuge walk in, he put down the official gazette and nodded.

Su Chengzhi returned from the Ministry of War, still in his official robes, with a sword hanging at his waist.

He sat down opposite Su Jiuge and poured her a glass of wine:

"Come, let me toast you. You are the Empress now, things are different from before."

Su Jiuge picked up her wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.

Su Chengen smiled and poured her another cup, saying, "Drink slowly."

Su Chengxun called out "Sister Jiuge" once, and then fell silent.

Su Wanning also returned today, with her two children. She sat next to Shen Shi and seemed much more cheerful than before.

The family sat together for a meal.

The dishes were the same as before: pork ribs, sea bass, green vegetables, old hen soup, osmanthus cake, and lotus seed soup—exactly the same as the first time Su Jiuge ate at the Marquis's residence.

At that time, she was carrying a knife, covered in thorns, and saw everyone as an enemy.

Now she sits in this position, without a knife in her hand—

The knife was hanging on the stool at his waist, within easy reach.

But she doesn't need to take it; there are no enemies here.

Su Jiuge took a bite of the osmanthus cake; it was very sweet and soft, just as delicious as before.

Even now, she still thinks the osmanthus cakes made by Ms. Shen are delicious.

Su Zhentian picked up his wine glass and suddenly said:

"Jiuge, your mother told me yesterday that she wants to go to Cangwu Mountain to take a look."

Su Jiuge put down her chopsticks and looked at Madam Shen.

"Mother, do you want to go to Mount Cangwu?"

Ms. Shen was somewhat embarrassed:

"I've heard you say many times that the sea of ​​clouds at Cangwu Mountain is beautiful. I want to see it. Your dad said he'd go with me."

Su Jiuge was silent for a moment, then said, "I'll have someone make arrangements. We'll go in a few days when the weather is better."

Madam Shen smiled and nodded.

Su Jiuge lowered her head and continued eating.

In the autumn of the twenty-second year of Yong'an.

Western Regions, Dark Pavilion West Fortress.

Three years have passed, and Linmo's fortress has been transformed into a small town.

The three-story stone building has walls ten feet thick, and six improved crossbows with a range of up to a thousand paces are mounted on the roof.

The fortress is fully equipped with a well, granary, armory, council chamber, dormitories, and kitchen.

The moat outside the fortress was widened by three zhang (approximately 10 meters), and the bottom of the moat was filled with pointed stakes. Traps were buried in the surrounding sand.

The bandits from the Western Regions attacked twice, but both times they were defeated and suffered heavy casualties.

From then on, no one dared to approach the fortress.

Zhao Ying stood on the lookout platform atop the fortress, not flinching as the sand and wind lashed her face.

Behind him stood a dozen or so members of the Dark Pavilion, each one sharp and capable, with keen eyes, like a flock of eagles crouching in the desert.

From Luoyang to the Western Regions, from a carefree lone assassin to the leader of the Western Regions branch of the Dark Pavilion, he has traveled a long way.

The sound of camel bells could be heard in the distance; a caravan of a dozen or so camels was heading towards the fort along the ancient road.

The leader rode a chestnut horse, wore a faded brocade robe, and had a cold iron knife hanging at his waist.

Zhao Ying's lips curved into a smile as she turned and walked down from the observation deck.

When Qian Shaoqing dismounted, Zhao Ying was already waiting at the fortress gate.

Three years had passed since I last saw him. Qian Shaoqing had gotten a bit tanned, but his figure was more upright. The delicate features he had when he was in Qingjiang had faded, replaced by a ruggedness honed by the wind and sand.

He didn't speak, but his lips curved slightly when he saw Zhao Ying.

"What brings you here?" Zhao Ying patted him on the shoulder.

"The Pavilion Master sent me to the Western Regions to take over the intelligence network. The silk shop's business has expanded to the west, and I need to connect it with the trade routes here."

Qian Shaoqing paused for a moment, then said, "The Pavilion Master said that someone needs to be in charge here in the Western Regions. You're too reckless on your own; someone needs to keep you in check."

Zhao Ying paused for a moment, then burst out laughing, slapping her thigh in exasperation: "What exactly did she say?"

Qian Shaoqing thought for a moment and said, "She said Zhao Ying is fine fighting, but not managing things. Go and help him manage things."

Zhao Ying's laughter stopped as she smiled.

Su Jiuge is right; he can fight, but he can't manage things.

For three years, he guarded this fortress and protected the peace of the area, but he left all the documents, accounts, and intelligence reports to his subordinates.

She was probably worried that he wouldn't be able to handle it all.

"Alright, you're here." Zhao Ying turned and walked into the fortress. "You take care of the steward, I'll handle the fighting." Qian Shaoqing followed behind him.

The two walked side by side through the gate of the stone castle, and the gate slowly closed behind them.

The setting sun in the Western Regions cast a long shadow of the fortress, like a giant beast lurking in the desert.

A flock of wild geese flew by in the distance, forming a V-shape, heading south.

They have to fly over mountains and rivers to reach warmer places to spend the winter.

Zhao Ying looked up at the flock of geese: "Tell me, what is the Pavilion Master doing right now?"

Qian Shaoqing also looked up and said, "They must be eating osmanthus cake."

Zhao Ying thought about it and felt that the answer was reasonable, so she stopped asking.