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If the two children weren’t so young, Su Yu would have suspected they wanted to go and study along with the others.
Similar to Hong Yi back then, who, even at a young age, imitated and learned alongside the his elder brothers and sister.
Even if he couldn’t understand the poems and literary works, he still wanted to join in, finding it all very engaging.
Now, Xixi and Xiao Chen were the same way.
At times, Su Yu began to wonder if his two children had become little geniuses.
How else could they come up with such bizarre ideas?
“Well, you might as well endure it and take the two little ones with you,” seeing Su Yu’s helpless expression, Wang Jinhe didn’t need to guess what he was thinking.
“One must spoil their own children, even if they kneel down,” Su Yu pretended to be helpless.
Wang Jinhe chuckled at Su Yu’s words, giving him a playful push and shaking her head in amusement, “What kind of talk is that?”
Su Yu pondered for a moment before responding seriously, “I speak nothing but the truth.”
“Be careful when you go there tomorrow. If you run into any trouble, just let me know, and I’ll come to help you,” Su Yu expressed his concern, looking at Wang Jinhe anxiously after the recent commotion.
Wang Jinhe nodded with a smile, appreciating Su Yu’s care.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine on my end. They wouldn’t dare lay a hand on me. Those behind the scenes are just trying to provoke me, but little do they know that these matters are of no concern to me; I simply don’t care,” Wang Jinhe dismissed the issue as trivial.
Apart from causing her temporary annoyance, there was little else this person could do.
“It’s good that you see it that way.”
The next morning, after breakfast, Wang Jinhe and Su Yu parted ways at the doorstep.
Su Yu took the two children into the palace, while Wang Jinhe went to the village with Yuan Bao.
Since Yuan Xu was still recovering, Su Yu had Yuan Bao accompany Wang Jinhe upon his return.
With Yuan Bao and Lin Zixun around, Su Yu felt a bit more at ease.
Standing beside Wang Jinhe, Yuan Bao spoke up, “Madam, are we leaving now?”
Wang Jinhe nodded, “Yes, let’s go.”
“Understood.”
They boarded a carriage and headed to the village they visited the day before.
Upon arriving, a few individuals eagerly looked at her, but their expressions soon turned to disappointment and regret.
Observing their reactions, Wang Jinhe realized that they too wanted her to establish a workshop there, but due to the influence of the village chief, they reluctantly consented.
The village chief’s status in this village was significantly higher than in most villages, leaving Wang Jinhe puzzled.
“This village is quite peculiar, Madam,” Yuan Bao whispered.
Wang Jinhe nodded with a smile, “You’re right. The people in this village are indeed quite strange. The village chief here holds a remarkably high position, and even if the villagers have differing opinions, they dare not voice them.”
Lin Zixun nodded in agreement, “It is indeed strange. Typically, village chiefs wish for the improvement of their villages. How did things become different in this village?”
“As long as one isn’t foolish, they would understand the significant benefits of establishing a workshop in the village for the surrounding villagers. Yet, they refused. Madam, can’t we choose another location?” Lin Zixun inquired.
“We’ve looked at other places before, but none are as spacious as this one, and they wouldn’t serve our purposes as well,” Wang Jinhe explained.
The workshop she intended to build required not just the workshop itself but also accompanying facilities like warehouses. While there were other suitable locations for just the workshop, setting up in those areas would necessitate establishing a separate warehouse elsewhere, which wasn’t ideal.
Lin Zixun hadn’t realized this aspect of the situation and said, “I see, now it makes sense.”
“Let’s go, we’ll speak with the village chief again and see what he thinks. If he remains adamant, then we’ll have to let it go,” Wang Jinhe shrugged.
When they arrived at the village chief’s house and met him, he greeted them with some discontent, “What are you here for again? We’ve already said we won’t sell to people like you. Leave now.”
The onlookers felt frustrated but dared not speak up, sitting there in a subdued mood.
Wang Jinhe noticed their expressions and subtly smirked, knowing that the village chief was likely to face backlash for his actions.
“Village chief, I hope you will seriously consider this matter. After all, this is a great opportunity that could benefit your village significantly,” Wang Jinhe addressed the village chief in a gentle tone.
The village chief’s disdainful demeanor only worsened, as he replied, “I said we won’t sell, so leave now,” moving to push Wang Jinhe away.
Yuan Bao and Lin Zixun immediately shielded Wang Jinhe, their faces grim as they glared at the village chief who was about to act. “Outrageous! This is County Princess Wang Jinhe, and also the Royal Consort of Prince Yu, a princess. How dare you lay a hand on the royal consort? You’re asking for trouble.”
Startled by Yuan Bao’s words, the village chief hesitated. A royal consort?
Then, with a touch of disdain, he retorted, “So what if she’s a princess? I could claim to be the Emperor himself.”
Yuan Bao couldn’t help but chuckle at the chief’s audacity, while Wang Jinhe, unperturbed, glanced at Yuan Bao beside her. “Go and fetch the county magistrate.”
“Understood.”
The village chief became visibly nervous upon hearing about the county magistrate’s impending arrival.
Trembling, he stammered, “Wh-who are you trying to scare? Do you think I’m afraid just because you say so?”
Amused by his response, Wang Jinhe quipped, “If you’re not scared, then speak clearly and boldly.”
“You…!”
“Yuan Bao, please go now.”
“Madam, I’ve sent for help. You shouldn’t stay here alone. What if these people try to harm you?” The onlookers observed the village chief’s discomfort, secretly pleased by his unease.
Seeing the chief fearful, they knew this woman must indeed be a royal consort. They wouldn’t dare impersonate someone of such high status.
“Village chief, a princess’s identity isn’t something one can pretend to be. She might genuinely be a princess,” whispered one of the chief’s associates.
Impersonating royalty was a serious offense, and the chief was aware of the consequences.
Glaring at his companions, the chief hesitated. Could she truly be a princess?
Maybe even her summoning the county magistrate wasn’t a bluff.
Soon enough, the village chief found himself proven wrong.
The county magistrate indeed arrived.
Upon seeing the magistrate, the village chief was dumbfounded.
“I pay my respects to the Princess,” the magistrate knelt and bowed directly to Wang Jinhe.
This grand gesture left the village chief stunned. The sight compelled him to take a step back involuntarily, swallowing hard.
It was truly the Royal Consort, a princess. How could this be possible?
“Now, could you explain why you reneged on our initial agreement?” Wang Jinhe addressed the chief calmly.
The chief, feeling guilty, couldn’t meet Wang Jinhe’s gaze and hung his head in shame.
Seeing his sudden meekness, Wang Jinhe furrowed her brows slightly, “Did you not understand this princess’s words?”
“I… I understood,” he responded, not daring to pretend otherwise.