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“You…”
“I’m leaving.” Without giving him a chance to speak, Wen Chao walked away.
Wen Chao’s father felt uneasy seeing his son unwilling to exchange words with him.
They had ultimately made a mistake by sacrificing the elder son’s future for the sake of the younger one.
The damage done to their child’s heart was irreparable.
Early the next morning, Wen Chao went to the county office. The magistrate nodded approvingly upon seeing him.
After a busy day of work, Wen Chao’s capabilities impressed the magistrate greatly.
The magistrate was disappointed that Wen Chao had not pursued the imperial exams.
Back at the county office, the magistrate told Wen Chao, “If you continue with the imperial exams, you’ll have a brighter future.”
Wen Chao self-deprecatingly shook his head, “Thank you, but I’m fine as I am now.”
“Fair enough. Your performance today was excellent. Tomorrow, the princess will meet some people, and I want you to accompany me. I’ll have someone brief you on what needs to be done. Make sure to document everything today.”
Wen Chao nodded, “Understood.”
“You can stay at the county office for your residence to make your work more convenient.”
“Yes.”
Once Wen Chao was settled, the magistrate went to find his former steward.
When the magistrate found him, the steward was flirting with a maid, a sight that displeased the magistrate greatly.
How dare this fool…
“Starting tomorrow, you don’t need to come in anymore,” the magistrate said sternly.
The steward paused, “Brother-in-law, don’t joke around. This isn’t funny at all.”
“I’m not joking. I’ve already found a new steward. You can leave immediately,” the magistrate stated, surprised that the steward thought he was joking.
It was only at this moment that the steward began to take the magistrate’s words seriously. This was no joke; the magistrate was serious.
“Brother-in-law, are you serious?”
“Do you think I’m joking? Leave.”
“You’re kicking me out just to please the princess? Did you even consult my sister about this?”
The magistrate looked sternly at the steward, “How can a woman like your sister meddle in county office matters? Respecting her doesn’t mean I fear her. I gave you a chance to be the steward out of respect for her, but I also made it clear that if you didn’t perform well, you’d be dismissed without negotiation.”
These were the words he had spoken when he agreed with his wife initially.
“Do you think I don’t know what you’ve been up to all these years? Your greed has grown so large that you dare to covet anything. Have you even considered if you’re worthy of it?” The magistrate spoke coldly, his tone filled with disdain.
Enraged, the steward coldly retorted, “Explain this to my sister yourself.”
Observing the steward’s attitude, the magistrate’s eyes flashed with a chilling resolve, realizing that over the years, he had not realized the increasing appetites of these individuals.
The magistrate walked away, contemplating the need to tidy up his backyard to prevent any further issues.
Upon returning home that evening, the magistrate found his wife waiting for him.
Noticing her obvious anger, for the first time, the magistrate didn’t try to placate her directly but left on his own.
His wife stared in disbelief at his retreating figure, her eyes reflecting confusion.
How could he just leave like that?
With a grim expression, the magistrate’s wife followed after him.
When she caught up with him, she gritted her teeth and demanded, “What’s with your attitude? I didn’t say anything when you made my brother leave, yet you dare to give me that look?”
The magistrate was feeling vexed, “I indeed replaced him, and the new steward will officially take over tomorrow.”
A wave of icy realization washed over the magistrate’s wife. She could sense clearly that this time he was serious and wouldn’t show any favoritism towards their family.
“You know full well how much your family benefited from him. Yet, with such audacity to scheme against the princess, are you trying to bring harm upon me?” The magistrate’s anger flared.
Despite being married to him, she still seemed to prioritize her natal family. Any benefits for her family seemed to take precedence.
But why should that be the case? What entitled them to such privileges?
“Husband, we didn’t…”
“Whether you did or didn’t, you know deep down. When I agreed to let him be the steward, I made it clear that if he didn’t perform, I would not hesitate to replace him. When that time comes, no amount of pleading will make a difference.” The magistrate looked coldly at his wife, speaking firmly.
Faced with the magistrate’s words, the magistrate’s wife felt a burning sensation on her face.
“In the end, it’s all because of that princess, is she so magnificent just because she’s a princess? Daring to meddle in county office affairs.” The magistrate’s wife expressed her discontent.
“I’ll go find her now. I want to ask the princess if she can freely interfere in the affairs of the county office.” Without giving the magistrate a chance to respond, she stormed off.
She knew where Wang Jinhe and the others resided, making her search effortless.
By the time the magistrate realized what was happening, she had already left. He hurriedly followed, feeling a sense of irritation. That infuriating woman had been spoiled by him, daring to cause trouble for the Princess.
With a stern expression, he followed to where Wang Jinhe stayed and confronted someone.
Upon seeing Wang Jinhe, the magistrate’s wife, who usually prided herself on her beauty, suddenly felt a pang of self-consciousness.
Wang Jinhe, frowning slightly, looked at the intruder and asked, “Who are you?”
“I am the magistrate’s wife.”
“Do you have any business coming to where I reside?”
“I just want to ask the Princess if you, as a Princess, have the right to freely meddle in the affairs of the county office.”
Listening to the magistrate’s wife’s questioning, Wang Jinhe couldn’t help but find it somewhat amusing.
As the magistrate arrived, he heard his wife speaking to the Princess in such a disrespectful manner, failing to offer the proper courtesy upon meeting her.
“Before this Princess answers your question, there is something you must do. Yuan Lin, teach the magistrate’s wife how to properly show respect to the Princess.”
“Yes.”
Yuan Lin, looking at the magistrate’s wife, coldly inquired, “Madam, will you kneel and show respect on your own, or shall we assist you in kneeling?”
“If you require our assistance, you may end up in pain later.”
The magistrate was disappointed in his wife’s behavior.
He quickly knelt down and paid respects, saying, “This official pays respects to the Princess.”
The magistrate performed a grand gesture of respect, and Wang Jinhe was pleased with his attitude.
Turning his gaze to the magistrate’s wife, Wang Jinhe asked, “Have you learned your lesson?”
With a bruised ego, the magistrate’s wife knelt down and paid her respects, saying, “Greetings to the Princess.”
“No need to look so aggrieved in front of me. Even the courtesy of a prime minister can be borne by the Princess, let alone a county magistrate’s wife,” Wang Jinhe said coldly.
The magistrate’s wife, kneeling on the ground, was filled with discontent. Since becoming the magistrate’s wife, she had never been humiliated like this before.
“Even if you are a Princess, so what? You can’t act so arrogantly.”
Before Nan Qiao could speak, Wang Jinhe intervened, then turned to the magistrate, asking, “How do you respond to your wife’s accusation of me being arrogant?”
The magistrate shot a fierce glare at his wife and responded firmly, “That’s not true.”