"Father, you acted impulsively earlier."
Song Shihuan spoke with disapproval. "Even if you wanted to save someone, you should have worn lighter clothing like the others when entering the water. What if something had happened?"
Hearing her words, Song Yu nodded with parched lips, but his mind was filled with the image of the girl he hadn’t managed to save in his vision.
He had never rescued anyone from the water before—why had he suddenly seen such a scene?
That night, Song Yu dreamed of the same scenario again, waking up drenched in sweat.
Pursing his lips, he got up and stepped outside for air.
The rain was still drizzling beyond his door. Song Yu raised a finger toward the sky, his expression defiant. The person I, Song Yu, want to save—how could they possibly die?
......
The next morning, when Song Shihuan awoke, Song Yu was already gone from the courtyard.
"Baoxia, where is my father?"
"Your Highness, the prince changed his clothes early this morning and said he would join Young Master Yu Fan in rescuing people from the water."
At Baoxia’s words, Song Shihuan froze for a moment. Hadn’t they agreed yesterday to visit the displaced refugees together today?
"The prince also said Your Highness should go ahead and check on the refugees first."
A flicker of worry passed through Song Shihuan’s eyes. "Tell Liuxi to keep a close watch on Father. Don’t let anything happen to him."
After a hasty breakfast, she set off for Tongyang County, where the refugees were being housed.
"Your Highness, you’ve arrived."
Yingchun hurried forward to greet her. Sent by Song Shihuan to assist in the relief efforts, she had visibly lost weight in just a few days.
"You’ve grown thinner," Song Shihuan said softly.
Yingchun’s eyes reddened instantly. "Your Highness has worked even harder. The little weight you’d gained is all gone again."
"How are the refugees faring?" Song Shihuan smiled and changed the subject.
"Everything has been carried out as you instructed. Upon arrival, they are given fresh clothes, medicinal decoctions to prevent illness, and lime is scattered around the shelters and wells."
To stave off an epidemic, Song Shihuan had spent sleepless nights poring over ancient texts.
"Have there been any signs of illness so far?"
"None, Your Highness."
Only then did Song Shihuan let out a relieved breath.
"The princess is here..."
"It’s Her Highness! She’s come!"
The refugees knelt and kowtowed fervently at the sight of her. "Thank you for saving us, Your Highness! We owe you our lives!"
"Please, rise—all of you, rise."
Song Shihuan urged them to their feet. "It is I who should thank you on behalf of Daqi—for staying in Laijin Prefecture to weather this crisis together."
"Your Highness, my mother says the tents we sleep in and the warm porridge we eat are all thanks to Prince Qin and your kindness. Everyone in Laijin is grateful."
A child’s voice piped up. Song Shihuan crouched down to meet the little girl’s grape-like eyes.
"So well-mannered."
While Song Shihuan won hearts in Tongyang, Song Yu was frantically rescuing people like a man possessed.
......
"Your Highness, you’ve already saved twenty-four people today. You must rest, or you’ll exhaust yourself."
Yu Fan watched Song Yu, who seemed fueled by some inexplicable energy, and couldn’t help speaking up.
"Were all twenty-four saved?"
Song Yu had been hauling victims from the water nonstop, never waiting to see if the physicians revived them.
"Every one survived."
Those four words sounded like heaven to Song Yu.
"I—I told you. If I, Song Yu, want to save someone, how could they possibly die?"
"Every single one will live."
That meant the scene from his dream was false.
"I’ll eat first, then return to help." Clapping Yu Fan on the shoulder, Song Yu added, "You’ve done well, lad!"
"My thanks, Your Highness."
Yu Fan wiped the water from his brow with the back of his hand and stepped back onto the rescue raft.
After a quick meal, Song Yu plunged back into the floodwaters.
When Song Shihuan returned from Tongyang, she found her father tirelessly searching for survivors. The sight instantly reminded her of her past life—when Song Xiyan had ordered her thrown into the lake, and her father had dived in without hesitation to save her.
Though by the time he pulled her out, she was already dead.
With that thought, Song Shihuan changed into lighter clothing.
"Your Highness, how strong a swimmer are you? If you’re not entirely confident, this official must... advise against entering the water," Xu Xu cautioned.
"Magistrate Xu, are there enough rescuers at present?"
"Far from it."
No sooner had he spoken than Song Shihuan leaped onto a raft.
Xu Xu’s heart trembled at the sight—a prince and a princess, joining commoners in rescue efforts.
This was the stuff of history books!
"Take my hand. I can pull you up."
Song Shihuan reached for a woman, but the current swept her farther from the raft. Without hesitation, Song Shihuan dove in after her—just as Song Yu looked up.
"Ahuan!"
His head throbbed violently.
The dream’s images surged before his eyes again.
Moments later, Song Shihuan broke the surface with the woman in tow, hauling her to safety.
"Father, were you calling me just now?"
Noticing Song Yu’s dazed expression, she asked worriedly, "Are you unwell?"
Song Yu shook his head. "It’s nothing. I only wanted to remind you to be careful."
That evening, father and daughter returned to their quarters soaked.
At dinner, Song Shihuan watched Song Yu’s distracted gaze and finally said, "Father must have something weighing on your mind. You’ve been unsettled all day."
"You won’t even share your troubles with Ahuan now."
Struggling for words, Song Yu finally spoke.
"Today, I saved thirty-two people. All of them lived—not a single life lost."
"I know. Yu Fan told me earlier. He said you were unstoppable!"
Song Shihuan managed a smile, but it froze when Song Yu continued quietly:
"But I dreamed that I jumped into the water to save a girl whose limbs were severed... and I failed to bring her back."
A wave of grief radiated from him, though even he couldn’t explain why a mere dream haunted him so.
"Father blames yourself?"
Digging her nails into her thigh to stay composed, Song Shihuan whispered, "She would have been endlessly grateful just for you trying."
