"Princess, His Highness the Crown Prince left the palace an hour ago."
Upon hearing the nanny's words, Song Shihuan merely nodded.
"Princess, shall we keep the tea warm?" the nanny ventured to ask again. His Highness had always been at the princess's beck and call; why was he willing to make her wait so long today?
A trace of unease flickered in the nanny's eyes, unsure of what had happened.
"Keep it warm."
Song Shihuan lowered her gaze. Father promised he would come.
Meanwhile, Song Yu was at the Shen residence, downing cup after cup of wine.
"Since childhood, Your Highness has only come to the Shen residence to drown his sorrows twice: once when he was framed by the deposed Empress, and once today."
Under the bright moonlight, Shen Qingping's expression remained calm, having not touched a drop of wine.
In contrast, Song Yu's eyes were hazy with intoxication, his dark hair disheveled, his fingers loosely hooked around a wine cup.
"Master Qingshan has already recovered. Why are you like this, Your Highness?"
"Shen Qingping, I... I'm useless..."
Song Yu even forgot to use the royal 'We', just drinking incessantly. "I always prided myself on protecting Ah Huan well. I was truly too foolish and naive."
"At the birthday banquet that day, Ah Huan staked everything on choosing me."
"It wasn't until today that I realized she has endured far more than I ever imagined."
Drunk, Song Yu became like a chatterbox, pulling at Shen Qingping and rambling on and on.
Song Yu felt as if he had hit a dead end.
When he realized that the Ah Huan before him was the Ah Huan with memories of her past life, he couldn't bear to look her in the eye for a moment.
He was afraid Ah Huan would find him useless.
Finally, Song Yu wiped his face. "Shen Qingping, no wonder Master Qingshan was the only one who didn't praise me."
Shen Qingping looked at the drunkard before him, who kept muttering things he couldn't understand, yet the sorrow within was so palpable it made him ache in sympathy.
Shen Qingping beckoned to Nian'an and Liuxi.
"Take His Highness the Crown Prince and toss him over to Master Qingshan."
Seeing that Nian'an and Liuxi hadn't yet reacted, Shen Qingping spoke again:
"Now. Immediately."
And still muttering, "No wonder Master Qingshan was the only one who didn't praise me..."
Who understands?
Throw him over and let this drunkard ask Master Qingshan himself, to his face, why!
......
Song Yu sobered up.
Under Master Qingshan's puzzled gaze, Song Yu sobered up faster than ever before.
"Master Qingshan..."
Song Yu swallowed hard with difficulty.
Master Qingshan stared at Song Yu for a long moment, then placed his hand on the back of Song Yu's. Now aware of the events of the past life, Master Qingshan felt immense gratitude towards Song Yu.
"Good child."
Song Yu was taken aback for a moment, then seemed to make a firm resolution.
"Master Qingshan, I too have dreamed of the past life."
Song Yu recounted in detail the humiliations Ah Huan suffered in the dream of her past life. Master Qingshan listened until his eyes turned red with fury.
He spoke for a full half-hour.
Then, Master Qingshan slowly rose and actually bowed towards Song Yu.
"Master Qingshan, I did too little. If I could have done more, protected Ah Huan more, she wouldn't have had to suffer so much."
"I am useless."
"You are wrong." Master Qingshan's eyes welled with tears. "Do you know why Ah Huan chose you as her father in this life? She could have chosen the Prince of Chu or the Prince of Qi, yet she chose you."
Song Yu shook his head upon hearing this.
"In her later world of darkness and despair, you were a rare glimpse of light."
Song Yu was stunned, his heart pounding like thunder.
"Therefore, even though you were notorious, the recognized wastrel prince of all Da Qi, she was still willing to choose you. She never once thought you were useless."
"This wasn't a desperate gamble, because you were her only choice."
Master Qingshan struggled to stand straight and addressed Song Yu solemnly:
"Thank you."
It was as if a blockage had suddenly cleared within Song Yu.
Many scenes began to surface before his eyes.
When the deposed Empress and Song Ling plotted against him, the final, heavy blow of the raised board had landed on Ah Huan, who had run over to shield him.
When he recklessly confronted the Sun family, Ah Huan beat the Sun heir black and blue to get him out of trouble.
When he was impeached by the officials, Ah Huan exhausted all means to clear his name...
Song Yu's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
"The day I arrived in the capital and met Ah Huan, she was very happy." Master Qingshan smiled. "I wanted to take Ah Huan back to Qingyun Realm, but do you know what Ah Huan said?"
"She said, someone at the Eastern Palace is waiting for her to come home."
Song Yu took a few steps back and knelt before Master Qingshan.
"In the past life, Master offered his heart's blood in sacrifice to give Ah Huan a second chance. Song Yu is endlessly grateful. If ever needed, even my head, I would give it to you without hesitation."
With that, he strode away amidst Master Qingshan's laughter.
Behind him, Master Qingshan coughed a few times. "He should hurry back, or Ah Huan will grow anxious waiting."
......
Eastern Palace.
Song Shihuan was growing drowsy, her head nodding like a pecking chick, yet she insisted on waiting for Song Yu's arrival.
A gust of wind blew, and Song Shihuan's sinking chin came to rest in a warm, large palm.
"Father!"
The little girl instantly perked up, her almond-shaped eyes bright as she looked at Song Yu.
"Ah Huan, we are father and daughter destined by fate, right?"
Song Shihuan nodded emphatically.
"In the past life, Master was missing, and my blood relatives discarded me like worn-out shoes. It was Father who fished me out of the lake. You and I are connected by fate."
Song Shihuan paused. "Actually, today I only wanted to tell Father one thing."
"Even though the lake water that day was biting cold, I am no longer afraid of lakes now."
Instantly, all the unease in Song Yu's heart dissipated with the wind.
Leaving behind a sweetness, three parts full.
"What I did in the past life wasn't good enough, so now I must treat Ah Huan even better."
Song Yu pulled the little girl before him into an embrace. The small figure now reached his chest, completely different from the thin, frail shadow of years past.
Then, a tiny voice spoke:
"Father, before, I didn't tell you I knew about the past life because I was afraid you would be heartbroken. Now, I can finally truly thank you for your kindness in that past life."
"You are the best father in the world."
The three parts of sweetness became ten.
Song Yu finally understood he need not be trapped by the suffering Ah Huan endured in the past life. What he must do is ensure that in this life, Ah Huan does not suffer the slightest harm.
"Ah Huan, I have received the best praise."
Song Yu breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Look forward; from now on, all days will be peaceful and happy.
"But..."
Song Shihuan rubbed her eyes. "Why were you so late today, Father?"
Song Yu's body stiffened slightly, somewhat embarrassed.
Then he saw Song Shihuan wrinkle her little nose. "A smell of wine... Father, have you been drinking?"
What to do?
Now, recalling his drunken antics at the Shen residence that evening, Song Yu only felt shame.
Adhering to the principle of sacrificing one's comrades rather than oneself, Song Yu spoke:
"It's all Shen Qingping's fault. He was so willful, insisting on dragging me to drink, that's why I lost track of time."
