Volume One, Chapter 14: Haven’t Liked You for a Long Time
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Su Lingfeng remained silent, carrying the medicine box as he quietly left. Song Jing had also lost interest and silently returned to the prince’s palace. He had reached the age of twenty and, by the coming spring when flowers bloom, he would move out of the palace to begin an independent life.
Not long after Song Jiayin’s return, the imperial physician hurried over, bringing an array of medicines for treating scars, knee care, and various nourishing tonics—all exquisite and plentiful.
Song Jiayin’s frail body, blood deficiency, and poor nutrition were undeniable truths.
After the imperial physician left, Song Jiayin changed clothes and, by dusk, hastily ate a few bites. Under the cloak of night, she silently made her way to Cian Palace.
The palace maids there seemed somewhat lax; Song Jiayin cleverly avoided one and smoothly entered the inner chamber.
The room was filled with a strong medicinal fragrance, evidently the Empress Dowager had been bedridden for some time.
Originally residing in the pleasant climate of Bianjing, she had now moved to the colder Nanjing, likely suffering from the unfamiliar climate and water.
As she quietly entered the inner room, she heard a soft voice from the couch: “Is Jia Jia here?”
Song Jiayin paused, her eyes instantly moistening.
Though she had not spoken, the Empress Dowager sensed her arrival.
She hurried to the bedside, knelt, but hesitated with her outstretched hand before withdrawing it respectfully and greeting, “Greetings to the Empress Dowager, may Your Majesty be blessed with long life and peace.”
The Empress Dowager, eyes red, tightly grasped her hand, her voice tinged with reproach and affection: “Child, how have you become so distant now? You don’t even call me grandmother anymore? But, it’s good that you’re back…”
Only then did Song Jiayin carefully study the Empress Dowager’s face—haggard, sallow, and aged far beyond the robust and radiant figure of three years prior.
She answered softly and cautiously, “I dare not, nor can I address you as before.”
She no longer called herself 'Yun Nu' to avoid startling the elderly Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager’s gaze locked on Song Jiayin’s face, her eyes reddening again: “Child, why have you become so thin?”
At these words, Song Jiayin could no longer hold back. She clutched the Empress Dowager’s hand tightly and, leaning on the couch, wept aloud, “Great-grandmother, forgive me…”
At that moment, a palace maid carrying a bowl of medicine entered. Seeing this scene, her eyes too welled up.
Recalling three years ago before the marriage alliance, after Song Yueyi returned from her fief, it took only three months for Song Jiayin to lose all favor and protection.
Now, she realized that only the Empress Dowager had never treated her coldly but often privately comforted and encouraged her.
On the way back, Ziyan told her that over these three years the Empress Dowager had been sending people to the capital searching for her. This time as well, it was the Empress Dowager who insisted the Crown Prince find her, even arguing before the Emperor to secure her return.
Although some whispered behind her back, calling her nothing but a bastard and questioning why bother searching—would it not have been better if she had died in the capital?
Yet, at this moment, the grandmother and granddaughter embraced and wept together, all grievances and pains melting into tears.
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With Song Jiayin’s support, the Empress Dowager slowly sat up, tenderly wiping the tears from her face. “From now on, I will protect you. No one will dare bully you again. When you were sent off for the marriage alliance, the Emperor knew I would miss you terribly, so he allowed me to pray at the national temple. Unexpectedly… but do not blame your father; at that time, circumstances forced his hand. The Jin were too ruthless.”
The Empress Dowager’s words brought sudden clarity to Song Jiayin, as if the dark clouds in her heart were swiftly dispersed. Such warmth planted a tender sprout of hope in the barren field of her soul that had lain fallow for three years.
She solemnly nodded. “Great-grandmother, may you live a thousand and a thousand years.”
The Empress Dowager stroked Song Jiayin’s somewhat sallow hair, managing a comforting smile. “You child…”
After taking her medicine, the Empress Dowager dined together with Song Jiayin.
About half an hour later, an announcement was made: Empress Zhou arrived at Cian Palace with Song Jing, Consort Li with the Third Prince Song Xiang, and Song Yueyi to pay their respects.
Morning and evening tributes were the custom of the centuries-old Great Zhou dynasty.
Seeing the close bond between grandmother and granddaughter sharing the meal, Empress Zhou was deeply moved. “Mother, with Jia Jia’s return, has your health improved?”
The Empress Dowager responded with a hum: “My eldest granddaughter’s return is a joyous event; it has lifted my spirits greatly.”
Following proper etiquette, Song Jiayin greeted the guests before returning to the Empress Dowager’s side.
Consort Li naturally had to speak: “Jia Jia still relies most on Your Majesty. Watching you two together is truly heartwarming.”
But the Empress Dowager replied, “When you returned from your fief, Jia Jia was already fifteen. She was raised by Empress Zhou; it’s normal that she isn’t close to you.”
Consort Li forced a smile. “Indeed, I just noticed a certain distance between Jia Jia and Empress Zhou, which made me feel this way.”
The Empress Dowager, sensing the attempt to sow discord, said, “I’m full; clear the dishes. Send the remaining pastries and Jia Jia's favorite dishes to Hanzhang Palace.”
The maids promptly removed the food.
Resuming her seat, the Empress Dowager clasped Song Jiayin’s hand, unwilling to let go.
Empress Zhou was about to speak, but Consort Li interrupted: “Empress Dowager, now that Jia Jia has been found and the Jin have been defeated, I was thinking, shouldn’t Yueyi’s marriage be settled?”
Song Jiayin didn’t even raise her eyelids at this.
Mentioning the Jin was one thing, but why mention her? What did their marriage have to do with her?
The Empress Dowager looked at Song Jiayin kindly and asked, “Jia Jia, do you still like Su Lingfeng? Before the marriage alliance, you chased after him every day; I saw it all.”
Song Jiayin hesitated, sensing Song Yueyi’s gaze.
She looked at her, and Song Yueyi’s eyes immediately reddened.
Consort Li held her daughter’s hand, offering comfort.
Song Jing even gave a warning look.
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Empress Zhou said, “Jia Jia, you must answer properly. After you left for the marriage alliance, your father betrothed Lingfeng to Yueyi. Now that you’re back, I will find you a better match. Your husband will surely be the finest in all of Great Zhou.”
Song Jiayin’s eyes stung.
She was the child raised by Empress Zhou, yet Empress Zhou feared she would steal Song Yueyi’s marriage.
Song Yueyi’s birth mother was Consort Li.
Fortunately, she had long since let go, completely erasing Su Lingfeng from her heart—how could she still care?
Everyone was so anxious because they worried she hadn’t forgotten Su Lingfeng.
Thinking this, Song Jiayin calmly said to the Empress Dowager, “Great-grandmother, I never liked Su Shi, not before, not now, and never will in the future.”
Outside the hall, the newcomers stopped in their tracks upon hearing this.
The Empress Dowager was a little incredulous. “Jia Jia, you needn’t force yourself. Back then, you followed him in everything like a little shadow. How come now?”
“That was childish; I couldn’t distinguish liking from habit. Su Shi and the princess were married by imperial decree. It was impossible to defy the decree.”
The Empress Dowager seemed pained but held Song Jiayin’s hand tightly. “Alright, if you don’t like him, that’s for the best.”
Not liking him was better.
At this moment, an announcement was made: Su Lingfeng was allowed to enter.
Song Jing, who had been silent, directly asked, “Su Lingfeng, what brings you here again?”
He suspected Su Lingfeng was here for Song Jiayin.
He was Yueyi’s husband—why did Su Lingfeng still obsess over Song Jiayin?
As Song Jing was about to speak again, Empress Zhou stopped him: “Jing’er, speak properly.”
Song Jing shut his mouth.
Su Lingfeng bowed and was granted a seat.
Song Jiayin spoke once more, “I was sent for the marriage alliance; I am already married. How could I marry the heir? When I went for the marriage, the Jin emperor was already sixty-five years old.”