Nine Nights Owl Song

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

Luoyang, the residence of the Marquis of Dingyuan.

Before dawn, the lanterns in the Marquis's mansion were already lit.

Shen got up at dawn and went to the kitchen to keep an eye on things, the firelight from the stove reflecting on her face.

Su Jiuge was woken up from her bed by Shen Qing, who knocked on the door three times in a low, short voice: "Sect Master, it's Mao Shi (5-7 AM)."

Su Jiuge opened her eyes, lay on the bed for a moment, and then got up to get dressed.

I'm wearing my wedding dress today.

When Madam Shen entered with her maid, Su Jiuge was standing in front of the bronze mirror, wearing a white undergarment with her long hair draped over her shoulders.

The hairdresser was the best in Luoyang, over sixty years old, who had styled the hair of countless brides.

She made Su Jiuge sit down and used a sandalwood comb to gently comb through her long hair, chanting, "One comb to the end, two combs to white hair reaching the eyebrows, three combs to a house full of children and grandchildren..." Su Jiuge listened to those ancient blessings, her heart as still as water.

The wedding dress was bright red, made of silk, with phoenixes embroidered in gold thread.

The phoenix feathers were as fine as hair, each one clearly visible. The collar and cuffs were inlaid with pearls, and the hem of the skirt trailed on the ground, longer than her entire body.

Madam Shen helped her put on her wedding dress, fastened her belt, and put on a red gold phoenix hairpin. The hair ornament swayed gently by her ears, jingling with every step she took.

Su Jiuge looked at herself in the bronze mirror.

The bright red wedding dress made her face look less pale, and the gold hairpin shone with a warm light in the candlelight, while the hair ornaments tinkled by her ears.

She had never seen herself like this before, unlike Night Owl, unlike Ah Jiu, like a painting—a painting that didn't belong to her.

Madam Shen stood behind her, looking at her daughter in the bronze mirror.

"It's beautiful." Shen's voice trembled slightly.

"Prettier than your mother was back then."

Su Jiuge looked at Shen Shi in the bronze mirror.

"Mother, don't cry today."

Shen covered her mouth with a handkerchief.

She didn't cry.

At Chenshi (7-9 AM), the wedding procession arrived.

At the entrance of the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion, drums and music resounded, and firecrackers exploded.

Xiao Yan rode a tall horse, wearing a bright red python robe, a golden crown, a jade belt, and a large red flower on his chest.

Behind him followed a long wedding procession, stretching from one end of the street to the other.

The people of Luojing City crowded the streets to watch the spectacle, and children chased after the procession, shouting "Bride, bride!"

Xiao Yan dismounted and walked to the gate of the Marquis's residence.

Su Chengzhi and Su Chengen stood at the door to block the way; this was the rule—the groom had to overcome many obstacles before he could take the bride away.

Su Chengzhi held the Wind-Chasing Crossbow in his hand, while Su Chengen waved a folding fan. The two stood on either side of him, like two door gods.

Su Chengzhi spoke first:

"Sixth Prince, if you wish to take my sister away, please answer one question first. What is my sister's favorite food?"

Without hesitation, Xiao Yan replied, "Osmanthus cake."

Su Chengen closed his folding fan: "Second question. What is my sister's most frequently used weapon?"

Xiao Yan's reply was still swift: "A straight sword."

Su Chengen unfolded his folding fan and smiled:

"Your Highness, please come in."

The firecrackers went off even louder.

Su Jiuge heard the commotion outside her room, and her heart beat faster than usual.

She touched the straight sword at her waist—the sword, too, was hung up today, hidden beneath the hem of her wedding dress, unseen by anyone. It wasn't that she didn't trust Xiao Yan, but rather that she distrusted the world.

I only feel at ease when I have the knife in my hand.

Zhao Xiaohe and Su Wan'er helped her out of the room, across the corridor, through the courtyard, and to the gate of the Marquis's mansion.

The sunlight was blinding, and Su Jiuge squinted.

Xiao Yan stood at the door, wearing a bright red python robe with a large red flower on his chest. When he saw her come out, his eyes lit up, like a spring breeze rippling across a pool of water.

Su Jiuge walked up to him.

Xiao Yan stretched out his hand, and Su Jiuge looked at that hand—long, with distinct knuckles, warm and dry.

She reached out her hand, and Xiao Yan grasped it.

His hands were so warm that she almost forgot to let go.

We can't relax today; it's their wedding, and the whole of Luojing is watching.

"Let's go." Xiao Yan's voice was very soft, so soft that only she could hear it.

Su Jiuge nodded.

The two boarded the bridal sedan chair amidst the sound of drums and music, and the grand wedding procession headed towards the Prince Zhao's residence.

Su Jiuge sat in the bridal sedan chair, the curtains blocking her view from outside. The sedan chair swayed back and forth, and her heart swayed back and forth as well.

She lifted a corner of the sedan curtain and glanced outside—Xiao Yan was riding a horse in front of the sedan chair, his back straight, looking not like a spoiled prince, but like a true king.

The Prince Zhao's mansion was brightly decorated with lanterns, with large red lanterns hanging from the entrance all the way to the main hall.

The hall was filled with guests, including all the civil and military officials of the court; all the prominent figures in Luoyang had come.

Su Jiuge stepped off the bridal sedan chair, and Xiao Yan took her hand as they walked through the courtyard, across the covered walkway, and into the main hall.

The wedding ceremony was complicated and lengthy, requiring a bow to heaven and earth and a bow to the parents. Emperor Yong'an did not come, and the position of the parents was empty. Xiao Yan's mother had passed away many years ago. Emperor Yong'an sent someone to deliver congratulatory gifts, but he did not come in person.

As the couple bowed to each other, Su Jiuge looked into Xiao Yan's eyes. Those eyes, which were always languid and seemed perpetually sleepy, were now open and filled with light.

"Send them to the bridal chamber—" The best man's loud chant echoed throughout the main hall.

Xiao Yan led Su Jiuge by the hand toward the bridal chamber.

The guests started making noise behind them, their laughter, clinking glasses, and chatter mingling together.

Su Jiuge followed Xiao Yan quickly, wanting to get out of their sight as soon as possible.

As they walked along the covered walkway, Su Jiuge suddenly stopped.

Xiao Yan turned to look at her. "What's wrong?"

Su Jiuge didn't speak, but her ears twitched—there was a sound, the sound of weapons cutting through the air, coming from above her head.

"Get out of the way!" Su Jiuge shoved Xiao Yan aside.

An arrow was shot down from the roof and landed where Xiao Yan had just been standing; the arrow's fletching was still trembling.

Then came the second, third, and fourth arrows, raining down like a storm.

Su Jiuge lifted her skirt and drew her straight sword. The blade gleamed in the sunlight as she deflected the incoming arrows one by one.

Arrows fell to the ground, some stuck in pillars, some stuck in flower bushes, and some landed on bluestone slabs.

"There are assassins... Protect the Prince and Princess..."

Guards surged in from all directions, surrounding Xiao Yan and Su Jiuge.

Shen Qing rushed out from the crowd, drew his long sword, and stood in front of Su Jiuge.

The assassins jumped down from the rooftop. There were six men in black, their faces covered with black cloth, each holding a long knife, and all of them were skilled in martial arts at the Transformation Realm or above.

The leader was thin and his movements were so fast that they were almost invisible. His swordsmanship was unpredictable, and each strike came from an angle that no ordinary person could anticipate.

His eyes were bright, like two cold stars, as he coldly stared at Su Jiuge.

The people from the photo studio? No, the photo studio is finished.

The Second Prince's men? Perhaps.

Su Jiuge didn't care; she only knew one thing—

Today is her wedding day, but someone doesn't want her to live.

Today is also the day she killed someone. If someone doesn't want her to live, then she shouldn't live either.

She charged forward with her knife.

Six assassins, six knives.

Su Jiuge stood alone at the front, with Shen Qing's sword flashing like a bolt of lightning beside her, and guards surrounding her from all sides.

The assassins were outnumbered; three were killed on the spot, and two were wounded and captured. The leader, who was the most skilled in martial arts and had the best agility, charged left and right through the guards' encirclement and nearly escaped several times.

Su Jiuge blocked his way.

She stood at the end of the veranda, a straight knife held horizontally in front of her, the bloodstains on her wedding dress a shocking sight.

The man looked at her, and a glint of light flashed in his cold, star-like eyes—not fear, but something indescribable.

"You are Night Owl." The man's voice was hoarse and deep.

Su Jiuge did not answer.

She walked towards him, knife in hand. The man didn't run away; he stood still, watching Su Jiuge approach step by step.

"Two million taels for your head."

His voice was calm.

Xiao Yan stepped out from the crowd and walked to Su Jiuge's side. He looked at the assassin, his voice as cold as ice:

"Who hired you?"

The man did not answer.

A trickle of black blood spilled from the corner of his mouth—he had bitten open the poison sac inside his mouth.

His body slowly fell down, his eyes still open, but his pupils were dilated.

died.

Of the six assassins, four died and two were captured.

The two captured men will reveal their master in the Dark Pavilion's dungeon; Su Jiuge has plenty of ways to make them talk.

The veranda was in a mess, with bloodstains, arrows, corpses, and scattered flower petals.

Su Jiuge stood on the veranda, covered in blood. Her wedding dress was stained with blood, her phoenix hairpin was askew, her hair ornaments were gone, and her hair was disheveled over her shoulders.

She looked down at her wedding dress—a bright red silk gown embroidered with a phoenix in gold thread, soaked in blood, indistinguishable between the assassin's blood and her own.

When Madam Shen ran over from the main hall and saw Su Jiuge covered in blood, her legs went weak and she almost fell over.

Su Wan'er helped her up.

Su Zhentian's face was ashen as he walked up to Xiao Yan.

"Your Highness, leave the matter of the assassin to me to investigate." Xiao Yan nodded.

Su Jiuge sheathed her sword, the sound of the blade rubbing against the scabbard echoing clearly in the quiet corridor.

She turned around and looked at Xiao Yan.

"Shall we go into the bridal chamber?"

The guests were all looking at her.

The front courtyard of Prince Zhao's mansion was packed with people, all watching the bride.

Her wedding dress was stained with blood, her hair was disheveled, and her phoenix hairpin lay askew. She stood there, holding a knife, like a demon crawling out of hell.

Xiao Yan walked up to her and reached out to straighten her crooked phoenix hairpin.

His fingers touched her hair, very gently.

"Enter."

He took Su Jiuge's hand.

"Today is our joyous day, and no one can stop us from celebrating."

Su Jiuge looked into his eyes.

There was no fear or anger in his eyes, only something hotter than murderous intent.

Xiao Yan led her by the hand through the covered walkway and toward the bridal chamber.

The guests behind him automatically made way for him.

Su Jiuge followed behind him, her wedding dress trailing on the ground, leaving a long red trail of blood on the bluestone slab.

Shen Qing stood in the shadows of the veranda, watching the pavilion master's back.

Zhao Xiaohe peeked half her head out from behind a pillar and asked in a low voice:

"Brother Shen Qing, is Sister Jiu Ge injured?" Shen Qing did not answer.

Zhao Xiaohe asked again, "Sister Jiuge bled a lot."

Shen Qing said, "That's not her blood."

Zhao Xiaohe paused for a moment, then smiled.

"That's good." Shen Qing looked at her smiling face, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly, but only for a moment.

Standing at the entrance of the main hall, watching Su Jiuge and Xiao Yan's figures disappear at the end of the corridor, Shen finally shed tears.

Su Wan'er handed over a handkerchief, which Shen Shi took and covered her mouth with, crying and trembling all over.

Su Zhentian stood behind her, placing one hand on her shoulder without saying a word, gently pressing it.

The old drunkard sat in the corner of the main hall, with a plate of osmanthus cake in front of him.

He hadn't eaten a single bite, and his hand holding the gourd was trembling slightly.

He looked at the spot where Su Jiuge had just stood; there was a pool of blood on the ground.

Ghost Hand stepped out from the crowd and walked to the old drunkard's side.

"Senior brother, she's alright." The old drunkard took a swig of wine.

"I know." The voice was very soft, so soft that only Ghost Hand could hear it.

"The girl I raised will be fine."

The bridal chamber.

The dragon and phoenix candles burned on the table, their flickering flames casting two shadows on the wall.

Su Jiuge sat on the edge of the bed; the blood on her wedding dress had already begun to dry.

Xiao Yan brought in a basin of warm water and placed it at her feet.

He knelt down in front of her and reached out to lift her skirt.

Su Jiuge grabbed his hand and her gaze turned cold.

Xiao Yan looked up into her eyes and paused for a moment.

"I just wanted to check if you were hurt."

Su Jiuge stared at him for a moment, then slowly released her grip.

Xiao Yan lifted her skirt.

There were no wounds on her legs; the bloodstains were from the assassin.

There's an old scar on my calf, stretching from my ankle to my knee; it's from a long time ago.

Xiao Yan's gaze lingered on the scar for a moment, then she lowered her skirt and stood up.

"You're not hurt," he said softly.

Su Jiuge said, "I've said it before, that's not my blood."

Xiao Yan looked at her and suddenly smiled.

It's a heart-wrenching smile after surviving a catastrophe.

"Su Jiuge, you killed four people today while wearing your wedding dress."

Su Jiuge remained silent.

Xiao Yan sat down next to her, looking at the dragon and phoenix candles on the table.

"Today is a day of great joy for us. But someone doesn't want us to live."

"It's the Second Prince."

Su Jiuge's voice was calm.

Those six assassins were the Second Prince's men.

The photo studio is finished, Wumian has disappeared, and he's hired another group of people. Very well, kill as many as they come.

Su Jiuge touched the straight sword at her waist.

"I won't let him succeed."

Xiao Yan looked at her profile.

The candlelight flickered on her face; her eyelashes were long, her lips were thin, and her chin was pointed.

He had seen this face many times, but today was different. Today she was wearing a wedding dress; she was his bride.

"Su Jiuge".

Su Jiuge turned her head to look at him.

"I promise you. From now on, I'll be with you in every battle."

Su Jiuge remained silent for a moment.

"Aren't you afraid of dying?"

Xiao Yan looked into her eyes.

"I'm afraid. But I'm even more afraid that you'll have to shoulder this alone."

The candlelight of the dragon and phoenix candles flickered.

Su Jiuge lowered her head and looked at her wedding dress—a bright red silk dress with a phoenix embroidered in gold thread, stained with blood.

She can't wear this wedding dress anymore, but she'll keep it.

This is the outfit she wore on her wedding day, and also the battle robe she wore to kill on that day.

Su Jiuge placed the straight sword under her pillow and lay down.

Xiao Yan lay down next to her, with a person's distance between them.

The red candles flickered, casting the shadows of the two people on the wall.

Su Jiuge closed her eyes and listened to Xiao Yan's breathing.

His breathing was light and steady, like when brewing tea.

"Xiao Yan".

"Um."

"Was what you said today true?"

Which sentence?

"From now on, I'll be with you in every battle."

Xiao Yan remained silent for a moment.

"Really." Su Jiuge didn't ask any more questions and turned her back to him.

The red candle burned quietly on the table.

Su Jiuge stared at the top of the tent with her eyes open.