Ping Prince's Mansion.
"Second Brother."
Song Xiyan's voice rang out, and Song Yanchao instinctively furrowed his brows. "Xiyan, what brings you here?"
Since moving out of the Eastern Palace, he had rarely spent his days revolving around Song Xiyan as he once did.
In the past, Song Xiyan had been the most outstanding princess of Da Qi, and he had willingly sought out treasures to adorn such a pearl. But now... it seemed another pearl had taken her place.
Even in the depths of night, Song Yanchao would sometimes resent Song Ling and Lady Chang for refusing to acknowledge Song Shihuan at the birthday banquet back then.
It would have only meant adding another pair of chopsticks—could they not afford it? Instead, they had carelessly handed her over to the Qin Prince's Mansion.
Had Song Shihuan stayed in the Eastern Palace, he would have treated her just as he had treated Song Xiyan. They wouldn’t have ended up in such a wretched state.
At this thought, a trace of bitterness flickered in his eyes.
"Second Brother, I heard you’re leaving tomorrow. The books say epidemics often follow floods, so I went to the palace to ask Imperial Physician Mei for medicine."
Song Xiyan sensed Song Yanchao’s impatience and tightened her grip around the white porcelain vial in her hand.
If she had been born a man, would she have needed to rely on her brothers like this, humbling herself just to salvage their so-called sibling bond?
"You’ve gone to too much trouble," Song Yanchao replied indifferently. "When I return to the capital, I’ll bring you some trinkets from Laijin Prefecture."
"Thank you, Second Brother. I won’t disturb your rest any longer."
Once she left the room, a tear slid down Song Xiyan’s cheek. The day she found a suitable protector, she would no longer hesitate to cast them aside.
The next morning, Song Yanchao departed the capital, leaving the white porcelain vial untouched in his room at Ping Prince's Mansion.
He hadn’t even spared it a glance.
......
Laijin Prefecture.
Song Yu and Song Shihuan finally found time to visit Shen Qinghui, who was imprisoned in the jail.
"Your Highness, Princess—how is Laijin Prefecture now?"
Behind the iron bars, Shen Qinghui shouted frantically, his expression deranged. "Has the flood receded, just as Xie Zhiyi said?"
"Fool."
"The flood didn’t recede as Xie Zhiyi claimed. Instead, it became the worst disaster in decades. Only twelve counties in Laijin remain untouched—the rest have been completely destroyed."
Song Yu recounted the recent events in Laijin Prefecture word by word, and Shen Qinghui’s face turned deathly pale.
"To this day, we still can’t calculate how many lives were lost in this calamity. The numbers are beyond counting. Countless families have been torn apart—and you, Shen Qinghui, are the one most responsible!"
"I... I didn’t..."
Shen Qinghui shook his head weakly. "Xie Zhiyi said it would be fine. He said he’d handled things like this before!"
"If Xie Zhiyi told you to die, would you do that too?!"
Song Yu kicked the iron door with a thunderous crash. "Shen Qinghui, because Laijin Prefecture neglected flood control for decades—because no one built dams or dug drainage channels—the death toll is catastrophic! As the governor, you knew and did nothing. The people of Laijin would tear you apart and boil your bones if they could!"
Shen Qinghui staggered as if struck by lightning.
He stumbled backward until his back hit the cold prison wall.
He was finished. With such a grave crime, what would become of his wife and children?
Suddenly, Shen Qinghui dropped to his knees as if clutching at his last hope. "Your Highness, Princess—my father and third brother are your most trusted aides. Please... please plead for mercy on my behalf. I swear I’ve learned my lesson!"
"The Shen Family serves under you. If I’m condemned, they’ll be implicated too. Spare me, and I’ll... I’ll be a better official, a better man!"
A soft laugh escaped Song Shihuan as she observed the once-proud nobleman now groveling before her.
"Weren’t you the one who boasted of being from a distinguished family? Since ancient times, noble houses have prided themselves on their unyielding integrity. But Shen Qinghui, I must say—your spine seems rather pliant. You disgrace the word ‘noble.’"
With that, she drew something from her sleeve.
When Shen Qinghui recognized it, his eyes bulged unnaturally.
"You... how do you have the Shen Family’s seal?!"
How could such a thing be in the hands of someone who wasn’t even a Shen?
"You were disowned long ago. Your name no longer exists in the Shen Family’s records."
"Your crimes will only fall upon your wife and children—not the Shen Family in the capital."
If Song Yu’s words had instilled fear, Song Shihuan’s were a death sentence to his spirit.
A blade to the heart.
"Impossible! My father would never cast me out. I’m the eldest son!"
Shen Qinghui clung to his last shred of defiance.
"The seal is right here. Do you still refuse to believe it?"
"My father and I came only to tell you this: you will rot here, awaiting judgment. Death would be a mercy—but no one will grant it to you."
No matter whose idea it had been to conceal the truth, as the governor of Laijin Prefecture, he would pay the price in blood.
With that, Song Yu and Song Shihuan left the cell.
Behind them, Shen Qinghui’s wails echoed, but neither father nor daughter showed the slightest flicker of emotion.
"When Shihuan asked Shen Mingwen to revise the family records, I thought she was being overly cautious. Now, I see how necessary it was."
"Some roots of disaster must be torn out early."
Song Shihuan murmured to herself. Left to fester, they would only rot deeper.
......
Song Yanchao arrived in Laijin Prefecture five days later, taking his time.
He had expected Song Yu and Song Shihuan to greet him personally—or at least send someone of rank. But when he saw Liuxi waiting for him, his expression darkened.
"Where are Uncle and Shihuan?"
"Your Highness, the Prince and Princess are inspecting the refugee camps." Liuxi smiled politely. "His Highness prepared a set of work clothes and a face covering for you. Once you’ve changed, I’ll take you to the refugee settlement."
"What?"
The moment he heard he would be sent among the refugees, Song Yanchao recoiled in disgust.
Song Yu and Song Shihuan were nobility—how could they risk infection by mingling with the destitute?
"Please change quickly, Your Highness. Laijin Prefecture is in dire need of hands."
A wave of dread washed over Song Yanchao.
He... he was a prince! How could he be expected to endanger himself like this?
