Did they want to split the credit between the two of them?
Xuanyuan Ce's heart ached again. He glanced at Song Jingchen in disdain and drank the wine in one gulp. He said, "I've long heard that there's a genius in Great Xia. Now that I've seen him today, he's indeed worthy of his reputation."
The emperor saw the disdain on his face and thought that Xuanyuan Ce was saying this to disgust him. He didn't think that he was deliberately speaking up for Song Jingchen.
Although he didn't know why Xuanyuan Ce despised Song Jingchen, he was more or less relieved.
Otherwise…
Everyone was waiting for him to speak. Even if the emperor did not want to reward Song Jingchen, he had no choice. He pondered for a moment before saying in a low voice, "Minister Song has contributed to the invention of the printing technique. He is specially conferred the title of Earl Zhongyi, and his wife shall be known as Madam Zhongyi."