Volume One, Chapter 13: Jia Jia, You Just Got Here Too, Right?

Song Jing absolutely could not tolerate Song Jiayi suffering even the slightest grievance.

Song Jiayin had been sent far away for a marriage alliance, lasting three long years, and during that time, Song Jiayi quietly filled her place.

Song Jiayi was gentle, obedient, and delicate—so fragile that it stirred pity.

The faint sympathy he had just felt was instantly withdrawn as he spoke coldly, “You’re feeling unwell all over; why force yourself out? Your clothes don’t fit, and yet you said nothing. You were like this back in the capital.”

If she had shown even a little weakness then, he would never have ignored her.

Song Jiayin responded with an unruffled tone, devoid of emotion, “I made it clear long ago. Does Your Highness have a poor memory, or have you already forgotten?” She quietly hid her hands within her voluminous sleeves, clenching them tightly to ease the hidden pain.

Even amid the bustling capital, with the family in turmoil, she still addressed him as “Your Highness.” This distance only fueled Song Jing’s anger.

His voice was icy, edged with reproach: “You have trained in horsemanship and archery since childhood—are you still not strong enough to deal with mere northern tribesmen?” His words were like sharp blades, piercing Song Jiayin’s heart so deeply it stole her breath.

Lowering her head to avoid his gaze, her eyes flashed with fierce resolve, yet her voice was tinged with grievance, “If resistance could change fate, why would I end up like this? Your Highness surely understands the principle of ‘the few cannot defeat the many.’ My strength alone could match ten, but how could I oppose hundreds or even an entire nation? I could fight to the death and reply with words, but what would the result be? Starvation, cold nights in a sheepfold, and tattered clothes.”

Silence fell like a suffocating shroud. Slowly, Song Jiayin lifted her head, her gaze cold and distant, as if cut off from the world.

Song Jing’s lips trembled slightly; a tide of sorrow surged within him, overwhelming and uncontrollable.

“I tried to escape once, only to be beaten and starved for days with no food at all! I also sought help, writing over ten letters in stolen ink, but not a single reply came—they sank like stones to the bottom of the sea. So I stopped running, only hoping to suffer less pain, and I no longer pinned hopes on letters, just clung to leftover scraps to fill my stomach.”

Those present wore varied expressions, their eyes filled with disbelief and a strange sympathy. Song Jiayin scanned them all before her clear, cold eyes settled on Song Jing.

She said lightly, “Your Highness, do you think I’ve deliberately sought humiliation just to win your pity and guilt?”

“What a ridiculous notion. I am fully aware of my identity and circumstances. You may feel guilty or compassionate seeing me like this, but you will never regret it. Perhaps in your hearts, you secretly feel relieved that it was I who went for the marriage alliance, not Song Jiayi.”

Song Jing looked at Song Jiayin’s cold, resolute face and listened to her relentless accusations, feeling as if a thousand fine threads were tearing his heart apart, unbearable pain searing through him.

In the end, he was left speechless; all his retorts dissolved into silent sighs.

“Jiajia, my daughter, stop—Mother cannot bear to hear this!” Empress Zhou wept uncontrollably, throwing herself into Song Jiayin’s embrace, choking out, “It’s all Mother’s fault. Jiajia, Mother is sorry.”

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Consort Li, who had remained silent until now, seemed moved: “Jiajia, it’s good you’re back. The Empress is so heartbroken; you must say no more!”

Song Jiayin let Empress Zhou weep and cling to her without lifting a hand, only softly replying, “Empress has never wronged me. My birth was difficult, and I was raised by Empress Zhou. I have never forgotten the kindness of my foster mother.”

Though she offered no direct rebuttal or sharp words, her presence felt like an invisible weight, stifling and inescapable.

Song Jing shouted irritably, “But your heart is full of resentment!”

He sneered, “You’re deliberately making us feel guilty! You’re cold and distant, even falling on purpose to make Mother worry. Song Jiayin, don’t think you can treat us like this just because you went for the marriage alliance! Even back in the capital, you pretended to be weak and pitiful in front of Su Lingfeng. Are you still harboring illusions about him? Let me tell you, don’t even think about it! Yueyi and Lingfeng are about to marry! And Song Lin—since he’s now Crown Prince, you want to cling to him, don’t you?”

Is this really the brother who grew up with her? He mentioned all the people she once cared about, each name like a sharp knife stabbing her heart repeatedly.

Yet after all she had endured, these words felt light and empty to Song Jiayin, devoid of any weight.

“Your Highness is truly forgetful. Didn’t you already know I had a knee injury back in the capital? Just now, when I stumbled, I didn’t say it was your fault, did I? The Crown Prince treats me well—I can’t repay kindness with enmity. Su Shizi went to the capital on business—what does that have to do with me? Your Highness, what’s different about me now compared to then? I may look a little disheveled, but I have never pretended to be weak or pitiful. Su Shizi isn’t a fool—how could he have any feelings for a mere servant like me?”

Her words left everyone present exposed and speechless.

After all, Song Jiayin had gone in place of Song Yueyi and suffered injuries from that marriage alliance.

Worried about Song Yueyi’s feelings, Song Jing glanced toward his younger sister and saw her crying. His voice turned colder as he said to Song Jiayin, “You really know how to talk, and how to complain. You’ve always been spoiled, willful, and unreasonable. Don’t think you can fool us by pretending to be obedient now. As long as I’m here, you won’t bully Mother or Yueyi!”

“Elder Brother!” Song Yueyi wiped her tears and approached Song Jing, grabbing his arm pitifully, “Sister has never bullied me. Since we met in the capital, she has never done anything to me.”

Others might not catch the implication, but Song Jiayin knew that Song Yueyi was referring to how she used to provoke her before the marriage alliance, leading to complaints.

Consort Li, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief, said, “Jiajia went for the marriage alliance in place of Yueyi. It’s understandable she’s a bit angry now. Jiajia, you should go along with your sister, you know?”

Song Yueyi nodded obediently, “Mother, I understand.”

“You’re just too gentle, Yueyi. You went all the way to the capital to bring her back, and look how she treats you!” Song Jing said, nodding toward Song Jiayin, “She’s different from you! Her heart is full of hatred now! She spent three years enduring humiliation in your place! Now that she’s back, she must hate us deeply! Mother is crying like this, and she shows no reaction!”

Indeed, Empress Zhou was clutching her chest, crying bitterly.

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Hearing her son’s words, Empress Zhou was left speechless, as if she could not find words.

Song Yueyi found it strange seeing Empress Zhou so upset.

She thought back to when Song Jiayin went for the marriage alliance—Empress Zhou had never been this heartbroken.

Today was different… very strange.

She unintentionally glanced at Song Jiayin, who looked back at her.

Their eyes met, but Song Yueyi quickly looked away—Song Jiayin’s gaze was so cold it seemed to pierce right through her.

Song Jiayin bowed to Empress Zhou. “My attire is disorderly; I shall return first to change.”

With that, she headed toward Hanzhang Palace.

She walked with trembling steps, each seeming to require immense effort.

She had been on this path for so long... so very long…

At some unknown moment, Su Lingfeng and Song Lin arrived near Cian Palace.

But as soon as Song Jiayin left, Song Lin also departed.

Song Jing, ignoring Song Lin, approached Su Lingfeng and asked, “What are you doing here?”

Su Lingfeng’s face was calm as he explained, “The Empress Dowager’s health is frail. I came on my mother’s orders to visit her.”

Song Jing frowned, clearly unconvinced. “You knew Jiajia was coming to see her grandmother today, didn’t you?”