Volume 1, Chapter 5: They All Came for Her

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Song Yueyi’s gaze lingered briefly on Song Jiayin but quickly shifted away. Seeing Song Jiaying’s all-seeing eyes made her inexplicably uneasy. Song Jiayin had already noticed Song Lin and bowed slightly, speaking softly, “My clothes are wet. I fear I might dirty the noble guests, so Yun Nu will not trouble you any longer.”

With that, she slowly walked into the room, not glancing at anyone from the Song family again. Her steps were unsteady and labored, stirring silent sympathy from everyone present.

Last night, Song Lin had been occupied with chasing down the remnants of rebels and had not appeared. Nobody knew when he had arrived, but now he stood under the nearby corridor, having witnessed everything.

The crowd turned to salute him. Song Jing, with a hint of sarcasm, asked, “Why has His Highness the Crown Prince come?”

As Crown Prince, Song Lin should have been residing in a better courtyard and, having spent the entire night catching fugitives, must have had little rest.

“We siblings should have breakfast together, shouldn’t we?” Song Lin’s expression was calm, his tone natural.

Song Jing, however, showed displeasure, casting a glance at the medicine bottles and ointments in Han Wuhen’s hands. “If it weren’t for Jia Jia, you wouldn’t have come, right?”

Song Lin countered, “Jia Jia has returned. As her elder brother, is there a problem with me bringing her some medicine?”

Song Jing felt reluctant deep inside. Song Jiayin had grown up with him. The Fourth Prince, Song Lin, had been neglected since childhood—why did he now dare to call himself elder brother? If anyone deserved affection, it should be him. What was Song Lin?

The Crown Prince was supposed to be the exclusive domain of the Emperor’s eldest son. Yet Song Lin was clearly a son of a concubine, and he only became Crown Prince because of his minor military achievements in conquering Jin.

Song Jing retorted, “She wouldn’t want to see you. Even though she rode your carriage yesterday, she wouldn’t feel a shred of gratitude today. She has long changed.”

Song Lin was unfazed. “So what? We’re family. Why be so calculative? Elder Brother, don’t you agree? This is just concern for family, not a demand for thanks.”

Song Jing was momentarily speechless.

Song Lin turned to Han Wuhen, instructing, “Deliver the medicine to the Eldest Princess, and find a suitable set of clothes for her to be sent as well. We depart for Nanjing in three days.”

Han Wuhen nodded and headed toward Song Jiayin’s room.

At that moment, Song Yueyi approached with concern. “Elder Brother Crown Prince, you look thin. You must have been working very hard lately.”

Only then did Song Lin turn his cold gaze to her. “In these chaotic times, you shouldn’t have come.”

Song Yueyi immediately felt aggrieved. “Elder Brother, do you dislike Yue’er now? Did Yue’er do something wrong?”

Song Lin remained indifferent. “Go have your breakfast. I have matters to attend to and must leave.”

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Song Zhen had always feared Song Lin and now, feeling guilty, stood far away, afraid to come close.

But Song Lin cast a sharp glance at him and said coldly, “Song Zhen, have you forgotten the order of seniority?”

Song Zhen scratched his head. “Fourth Elder Brother, I just thought it was amusing. You still defend her, but her surname is Gao, not Song.”

Song Lin glared coldly. “But she came to marry into the Jin Kingdom for the sake of the Song family.”

Everyone instantly fell silent. That statement hit hard.

After all, it was they who had said Song Jiayin was not a princess and had insisted she marry into the Jin Kingdom.

After finishing, Song Lin turned and walked out of the courtyard.

Shortly after, Su Lingfeng sat upright in his room, reading, when Song Jing arrived.

Song Jing’s first words were an accusation: “Why have you come?”

“I was sent by His Majesty to assist the Crown Prince,” Su Lingfeng replied calmly and deliberately.

Song Jing frowned and pressed, “You actually came to the capital for Jiayin?”

Su Lingfeng lowered his gaze, eyes fixed on the book, saying nothing.

Song Jing suddenly grew anxious. “You didn’t come on your own, did you? Father didn’t even issue an order?”

Su Lingfeng remained indifferent.

Song Jing knew that was tacit approval.

Angered, he blurted out, “Su Lingfeng, what do you mean? You’re Yueyue’s husband. When Jiayin used to cling to you, you always looked cold and annoyed. Now you come all the way to the capital to see her? You must be courting death!”

Hearing this, Su Lingfeng was not intimidated by the accusation of betraying the sovereign. He raised his eyes, a mocking smile curling his lips. “Stop pretending to care about Jiayin, Prince Qin. She sees through everything.”

He knew that yesterday Song Jing had thrown Song Jiayin into the snow.

Song Jing was speechless, staring at Su Lingfeng and arguing, “You were also among those who forced her into marriage. She hates me and will only hate you more.”

“Your Highness need not remind me,” Xiao Heng said with a faint self-mocking tone, his gaze lowered, unreadable. “She lay in the snow, saw my men but never called for help.”

If Song Lin hadn’t dragged her onto the carriage, she might have had to walk back to Nanjing.

What was the first thing she said to him when they met yesterday evening?

“Yun Nu has met the Prince of Anle?”

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Yet she used to only call him Brother Lingfeng.

Thinking of this, Su Lingfeng’s mood grew heavier.

He thought of Song Jiayin’s injured knee and slow pace, filling Song Jing with anger.

How dare these Jin traitors treat a princess sent for marriage so cruelly!

Even if the two countries were at odds, Song Jiayin was still a princess of the Great Zhou! The Jin people were truly vicious to the extreme!

Song Jing instinctively placed a hand over his chest, feeling an unpleasant tightness.

He was about to leave when he noticed a brocade box on Su Lingfeng’s desk.

“What is this?”

Su Lingfeng answered lightly, “Medicine for wounds.”

Song Jing picked up the box. “For her? With me here, you can forget that. If you want to wrong Yueyue, you don’t stand a chance!”

With that, Song Jing took the box and prepared to leave.

There was not a trace of the dignity befitting the eldest son of the Emperor.

Su Lingfeng’s lips curved into a half-smile, ambiguous and faintly mocking, as if to say he had long expected this.

“This medicine helps the knee.”

But Song Jing said, “She won’t use your medicine.”

He snorted coldly and swept out.

Xiao Heng smoothed his robe with one hand, then went to the wardrobe, taking out another brocade box. A slight smile touched his lips, as if seeing through everything.

He called his trusted aide in. “Deliver this brocade box to the princess.”

The aide was puzzled. “The Eldest Princess has arrived. Won’t Your Highness go yourself?”

Before he finished, Xiao Heng’s sharp glance silenced him. The aide understood this princess was no ordinary princess.

He immediately shut his mouth and turned to leave.