To give her a proper burial place, so she wouldn’t have to remain submerged in the lake—this was already an immense kindness to her.
"I don’t know why, but whenever I think of that scene, my heart aches," Song Yu murmured. "Yet I can’t make out the girl’s face, and among those I saved today, none had lost their limbs."
"If it’s just a dream, Father, you needn’t trouble yourself over it."
Song Shihuan’s heart trembled violently. Why would her father dream of scenes from her past life?
"If only I could see that girl’s face clearly," Song Yu said with a bitter smile. "Then I could find her in advance and spare her from death."
Hearing these words, Song Shihuan could only bite back the overwhelming urge to weep.
In her past life, she had already died.
The rainstorm continued to pour outside. Song Yu glanced toward the window and heaved a heavy sigh.
"If the rain doesn’t stop soon, I don’t know how much longer Laijin Prefecture can hold on."
Song Shihuan’s expression darkened as well. Tongyang County was already overflowing with refugees, and all those dispatched to rescue civilians had gone days and nights without rest. If the floods continued to rage...
"Father, do you know when General Gu Mingning will arrive in Laijin Prefecture? If he comes, he could assist in the rescue efforts."
Father and daughter silently prayed in their hearts for the storm to cease soon.
"Tomorrow, we’ll check on Hou Zhiyuan and Tan Ye’s progress in dredging the river channels."
......
The next morning.
When Song Yu saw the streaks of white at Hou Zhiyuan and Tan Ye’s temples, he fell silent.
In just a few days, their black hair had turned gray.
"Your Highness, Princess, the three neighboring prefectures near Laijin have been working tirelessly to clear the river channels. It’s estimated... it will take five more days to complete the dredging and open the floodgates. If Laijin can hold out for those five days, there’s hope."
"Five days..."
Song Shihuan clenched her fists beneath her sleeves and pointed at the map. "The number of flooded towns in Laijin increases daily. There’s no telling what state the prefecture will be in after five days. If we can’t endure, we’ll have no choice but to open the city gates and let the people flee to other regions."
But once that door was opened...
If disease broke out, it would become a catastrophe sweeping across the entire Great Qi Empire.
"No matter."
Song Yu’s voice cut through the tension.
"Since ancient times, no dynasty has been more righteous than Great Qi. Our vast empire is blessed by heaven—no hardship can defeat us."
"If the floods rage, I will join the soldiers in rescuing the people. Wherever the waters haven’t reached, we’ll shelter the refugees. What are five days? Nothing!"
His words injected a surge of determination into everyone present.
"Father is right. Heaven protects Great Qi."
"Heaven protects Great Qi!"
One after another, voices rose in unison before the group dispersed to their duties.
"Ahuan, I’m going to help with the rescues."
"Understood, Father. I’ll oversee the refugee shelters."
Father and daughter parted ways, and the room emptied in an instant, leaving only the relentless thunder echoing across Laijin’s skies.
......
Years later, survivors of Laijin Prefecture would still weep when recalling those five days.
They were the most harrowing days in Laijin’s history.
The people fled, but the floodwaters swallowed them faster than they could escape. One moment, a person stood alive; the next, they were swept away.
The soldiers rescuing them risked their lives, plunging into the torrents without hesitation—officials of Laijin, even Prince Qin, who held the Crown Prince’s seal, were no exception.
In those moments, status and rank ceased to exist. Only reverence for life remained.
United in desperation, Laijin’s people summoned an indomitable will to survive.
When Tongyang County could no longer hold the refugees, they spilled into its outskirts. Princess Fu’an rushed between shelters daily, checking for signs of disease.
Among the refugees, skilled seamstresses stitched veils for her, hoping to shield her from infection.
"Don’t make these for me. The refugees need clothing more—save the fabric for them."
Song Shihuan’s face had thinned, her chin sharp, yet her hands never paused as she flipped through ancient texts.
"Princess, the people worry for you. Accepting their gifts puts their hearts at ease."
Outside, on the streets...
Refugees who had barely recovered begged to join the rescue efforts.
"You’re all severely injured. The Princess ordered that the wounded must not enter the floodwaters—they’re contaminated. Your wounds could reopen, and you’d die."
"But we can’t just sit here!"
A man at the front, eyes bloodshot, argued fiercely. "Girl Yingchun, the Princess is only eleven years old, yet she bears this burden in Tongyang. How can we, grown men with limbs intact, just lie here eating relief grain? We can’t live with ourselves!"
"Even if I die saving one more person, it’s worth it!"
As the pleas grew louder, Yingchun hurried back to report.
Song Shihuan remained calm, her reply firm. "They may assist in transporting the injured, but they must not enter the water."
"General Gu Mingning’s troops should arrive soon. We must endure a little longer."
Laijin’s sealed gates stood like a chasm between hell and salvation. On the other side, people hurled food and medicine over the walls.
And so, Laijin endured two more days.
On the final stretch, Gu Mingning and his soldiers arrived alongside Gu Zheng.
"Father!"
Gu Mingning waved urgently. "Laijin’s situation is dire—order the gates opened!"
The father and son, reunited after five years, exchanged no more than a few words before charging into the city.
......
On the embankment...
Song Yu, drenched and smeared with mud, wiped his face with a ragged cloth.
"Your Highness, that bastard Xie Zhiyi deserves death! For decades, he neglected flood control. If not for him, Laijin wouldn’t be defenseless against this disaster!"
Yu Fan’s curses were echoed by every rescuer present—all yearning to tear Xie Zhiyi apart.
"That wretched scoundrel," Song Yu growled through gritted teeth. "Once Laijin is safe, I’ll make him pay."
Before more could be said, the floodwaters surged anew.
"Enough talk. Let’s get back in—"
Just as Song Yu and Yu Fan prepared to dive in, the thunder of approaching troops rang out. Song Yu’s eyes blazed with hope.
"General Gu Zheng, leading thirty thousand elite troops, has come to aid Laijin!"
"General Gu Mingning, leading three thousand elite troops, has come to aid Laijin!"
Exhausted and travel-worn, the father and son stood before him.
Song Yu threw his head back and laughed.
"Truly, heaven has not abandoned Laijin!"
