A few days later, Song Yu brought Song Shihuan to the Ping Prince's Mansion.
Whether by coincidence or design, Prince Chu and Prince Qi also chose that day to visit Song Ling at the Ping Prince's Mansion.
Song Ling's room was soon packed with people.
"What did Imperial Physician Mei say?" Prince Chu was the first to speak, his face etched with worry.
The children of the Ping Prince's Mansion stood to the side, their eyes red and swollen.
Shen Hua'er sat by the bed, her eyes puffy from crying, resembling walnuts.
Anyone who saw this scene would think Song Ling was blessed—to have such a devoted wife and filial children.
Only the Ping Prince's concubine was absent.
"Imperial Physician Mei also said there's no cure," Shen Hua'er sobbed. "Why must our prince suffer such a cruel fate?"
On the bed, Song Ling's face was contorted, his eyes wide open, his mouth uttering incoherent sounds.
His hands kept reaching toward the crowd, as if trying to grasp something.
The medicine they had forced Song Ling to take to deal with Song Shihuan... was now exacting its toll.
To prevent Mei Zhilin from detecting the drug, they had delayed for another half-month before announcing Song Ling's critical condition.
By now, even divine intervention couldn't save him.
"Second Brother is still so young..." Prince Chu reached to hold Song Ling's hand, but Song Ling recoiled, nearly breaking Prince Chu's facade of grief.
Prince Qi stepped forward as well. "Second Brother, it's me, your fourth brother. Don't worry, we’ll take good care of your children."
Yet Song Ling still refused Prince Qi's outstretched hand.
All eyes turned to Song Yu—and the girl standing behind him, Song Shihuan.
"Ah—ah—!"
With his last ounce of strength, Song Ling twisted his neck to stare directly at Song Shihuan.
Tears streamed from his eyes. He was consumed by regret.
These past few days, he had heard that Shihuan had won first place in the competition and even drawn the legendary Lingxiao Sword. Such a brilliant child—she should have been his.
But he had been blind, pushing her away into another's arms.
If only he could hold her hand tightly—would her fortune have healed him? He didn’t want to die.
"Second Brother, don’t frighten my daughter."
Song Yu swiftly shielded Song Shihuan, blocking her completely. Song Ling's agitation only intensified.
"Uncle, Shihuan is still Father’s daughter. In his condition, won’t you let him look at her a little longer? I beg you." Song Yanchao dropped to his knees before Song Yu.
"Shihuan, we were wrong before. We don’t ask for your forgiveness—just step closer to Father, please?"
Song Yanming also knelt.
They were using filial piety to pressure Song Yu and Song Shihuan.
"Big Brother, have mercy. Pity Second Brother," Prince Chu and Prince Qi chimed in. Song Yu's expression darkened, but he remained steadfast, shielding Shihuan.
Just as Song Yu was about to lose his temper—
A sob rose from behind him. "Father, I’m scared. Take me home."
The moment Song Yu turned, Song Shihuan threw herself into his arms.
"The people in Ping Prince's Mansion don’t like me. They called me a wild child and said they’d send me to Huangjue Temple."
The moment those words left her mouth, the Ping Prince's household paled—especially Song Yanchao and Song Yanming, still kneeling, for Shihuan was recounting their past cruelty.
"Does Second Uncle want to hit me?" Shihuan wept, her eyes brimming with tears. "He keeps glaring at me. He looks so angry."
"Don’t be afraid, Shihuan. Father is taking you home."
Without another glance at the room, Song Yu covered Shihuan's eyes and led her out.
The crowd was left in stunned silence.
"Well... Shihuan is just a child. Second Brother, don’t take it to heart," Prince Chu offered weakly.
As Song Ling realized Shihuan was leaving, he thrashed violently.
But his slurred speech failed him—he couldn’t beg her to stay.
His fists pounded the bed, his eyes fixed on her retreating figure.
The lucky star was gone.
And so was the Eastern Palace.
That night, Song Ling had a strange dream.
In it, he ascended the throne. Xi Yan remained his beloved daughter, while Song Shihuan—who had never chosen Song Yu—was trapped in the Eastern Palace, drained of every last drop of worth.
On his coronation day, Xi Yan pushed Shihuan into the lake.
A eunuch rushed to report, adding that Xi Yan had forbidden anyone from saving her.
The dream version of Song Ling panicked—Shihuan was the lucky star. If she died, how could his reign endure? Yet he was powerless to stop the dream’s events.
The dream-him barely glanced up. "My princess may do as she pleases."
Fool!
Watching his dream-self, Song Ling nearly laughed at the stupidity.
The eunuch hesitated but said no more.
An hour later, a servant hurried in.
"Your Majesty, Prince Qin has retrieved Song... Song Shihuan’s body from the lake. He wishes to bury her in the imperial mausoleum."
Song Xiyan had decreed that all in the palace must refer to Shihuan by name, treating her like the lowest of slaves.
The dream-him, clad in imperial robes, sneered. "He can’t even save himself, yet he fusses over others."
Darkness flickered in his eyes as he waved a hand. "Then let them be buried together. At least they’ll have company in the afterlife."
One a lifelong bachelor with no heirs, the other his discarded shame.
How fitting, he thought venomously—a makeshift father and daughter.
The next day, he ordered Song Yu’s execution.
The vision shattered. Song Ling jolted awake, gasping for air.
The image of Song Yu’s death throes left him trembling.
Why had he dreamed this?
And why did reality mirror it—Shihuan choosing Song Yu as her father?
Sweat beaded on his forehead. His breathing grew labored.
"Father, why did you treat me this way?"
A voice echoed in his mind. Song Ling clutched the sheets. Where was it coming from?
"Father, the lake is so cold. Why wouldn’t you let them save me?"
It was the dream version of Shihuan!
Song Ling’s eyes reddened, reality and nightmare blurring.
"What wrong did Prince Qin commit by retrieving me? Why kill him, your own kin?"
"I hate you!"
"If there’s a next life, I’ll choose Prince Qin as my father!"
The instant the words faded, Song Yu breathed his last.
