Upon seeing the Crown Prince's seal, it was as if one stood before His Highness himself.
This was common knowledge for every citizen of Daqi.
Within moments, both the commoners and the soldiers inside the city gates knelt down, their voices rising to the heavens in unison, proclaiming, "Long live the Crown Prince!"
"If this prince were acting solely in his capacity as a royal, he would have no authority to command the local garrison," Song Yu said slowly as he walked toward Xie Zhiyi. "But what if the Crown Prince's seal is in my hands?"
"Your... Your servant, Xie Zhiyi, pays homage to His Highness the Crown Prince."
Xie Zhiyi's face was a mask of panic. "This lowly official was blind to Your Highness's authority. I beg for punishment."
"Now, Magistrate Xie, you will personally open the city gates."
Trembling, Xie Zhiyi rose to his feet and approached the gates, his hands shaking uncontrollably.
Outside, the refugees seethed with hatred for him. If he opened the gates now, they would surely tear him apart.
"Open them!"
A sharp command rang out, leaving Xie Zhiyi no room for hesitation. The gates creaked open.
Instantly, he was met with the furious gazes of the refugees.
"Kill the corrupt official Xie Zhiyi!"
Countless voices roared in unison. Song Yu raised the Crown Prince's seal high and declared:
"By my order, evacuate the city's residents within one hour. Then, allow the refugees to enter for shelter."
"As for Xie Zhiyi's life—once the flood disaster has passed, this prince will settle the final reckoning on behalf of all the refugees."
Song Yu's words acted like an anchor, calming the enraged crowd. The refugees retreated three meters from the gates, silently waiting for the evacuation to conclude.
An hour later, Song Yu spoke again.
"Enter the city now. Warm porridge has been prepared outside the yamen. Line up in order to receive your share."
Yet, silence was the only response.
Song Shihuan took a few steps toward the gates, only to see the refugees retreat further.
"Your Highness, Princess, you must evacuate first. We will enter only after you have left."
The refugees had heard everything that transpired.
Had it not been for the prince and princess's insistence, they would never have had the chance to cross these gates.
They could not risk infecting them with disease.
"Do not worry," Song Shihuan reassured them. "We have already taken preventive medicine. Soon, you will all receive doses as well. We must also survey the flood conditions in the villages. Please, come inside."
Without hesitation, she stepped beyond the gates and picked up a child no older than three or four.
Only then did the refugees begin to enter.
Song Shihuan's eyes reddened as she turned to the flood control officials hastily summoned from neighboring regions.
"Let us inspect the villages."
......
Houses had been entirely swept away by the floodwaters, which showed no sign of receding. The raging currents continued to devour homes and land along the Mi River.
Two officials returned from their assessment, their faces grim.
"Your Highness, Princess, the flood is relentless. With heavy rains forecasted in the coming days, the situation will worsen. Nearby cities will also be affected."
"Fortunately, Your Highness opened the gates in time. We still have a few days to prepare."
"What do you propose, Magistrate Hou?"
At Hou Zhiyuan and Tan Ye's report, Song Yu and Song Shihuan both stiffened.
"Evacuate the population immediately to safe zones. Reinforce the riverbanks and dredge the waterways with all available manpower."
"Will we have enough time?"
Hou Zhiyuan pressed his lips together.
"Laijin Prefecture has neglected flood control for decades. Had we acted at the first sign of disaster, it would have been manageable. But now... I cannot guarantee anything. We can only do our best and leave the rest to fate."
"Then we must rely on your efforts, gentlemen."
"Chief Shen, deploy all imperial guards under their command. The Laijin garrison will also assist."
Even as he spoke, Song Yu's heart remained heavy. Heavy rain...
How could they withstand it in the midst of such devastation?
Just then, a heart-wrenching sob pierced the air. Song Shihuan rushed toward the sound.
"Let me go! I must—I must retrieve my mother's keepsake!"
Mo Yu struggled against those restraining her, her body wracked with sobs as she tried to run toward the worst-hit village.
The magistrate of Xiangyao County, his official robes filthy, stood with bloodshot eyes.
"That village was the first to be swallowed. No one made it out alive."
Song Shihuan exhaled sharply.
"Baoxia, stay with her. Do not let her come to harm. She is the last survivor of her village."
Her voice was thick with sorrow.
......
Every available guard and soldier toiled day and night, battling the floodwaters at the front lines.
Inside a makeshift shelter, Song Yu and Song Shihuan studied a map on the wall. The other officials crowded into the small room, the atmosphere suffocatingly tense.
"If the rains come, the consequences will be beyond reckoning," Song Yu said, his eyes bloodshot from days without rest. "Let me be clear—if the worst comes to pass, the people evacuate first. Officials stay behind."
"If I discover anyone fleeing for their own safety, do not blame me for showing no mercy."
A deafening crack of thunder split the air. The faces in the room turned ashen.
"Father, the imperial physicians sent by the Emperor should arrive tomorrow," Song Shihuan said. "Yingchun has also prepared preventive medicines. We need not worry about disease spreading."
"The greatest threat now is the unpredictability of the flood's severity."
That night, no one in the room slept.
They watched as raindrops, then sheets of rain, pounded the earth, the storm growing fiercer by the minute.
"Report—Wucun village submerged!"
"Report—Meicun village submerged!"
"Report—"
One dire message followed another. Song Yu and Song Shihuan rushed outside, their faces grim as they faced the tempest.
Song Shihuan stormed into the woodshed where Xie Zhiyi was held, seizing him by the collar.
"Magistrate Xie, your so-called expertise was utterly wrong. The storm has barely begun, yet a dozen villages across nine counties are already underwater—and the rains grow heavier."
"Had you not spent years lining your pockets while concealing the truth, this catastrophe would never have happened. This time, your entire family will pay the price."
Her fury burned.
Had she not sensed the danger and come to Laijin, Xie Zhiyi would have waited until the disaster was beyond control before reporting to the capital. How many more would have died needlessly?
