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Unfortunately, the two individuals had miscalculated. They likely did not anticipate Manager Lin’s unwavering loyalty and dedication to Wang Jinhe.
“Manager Lin, where have we wronged you? Why are you plotting against us like this?” one of them questioned.
“Manager Lin, you are being malicious. We have no grievances with you, yet you wish for the Princess to dismiss us,” the other accused, not giving Manager Lin a chance to respond, further infuriating him.
“Don’t blame others. This decision is mine,” Wang Jinhe asserted amidst their accusations.
“Wang Jinhe, just because you’re a county Princess, does that give you the right to mistreat the common people? We paid to learn here, and it was promised that we would have work,” one of them, frustrated by Wang Jinhe’s indifference, fumed.
They not only failed to see their betrayal for money as wrong but also deemed Wang Jinhe as petty for scrutinizing such a trivial matter.
Yuan Bao was about to intervene when Wang Jinhe stopped him, saying, “Let them continue.”
The two individuals, intrigued by Wang Jinhe’s silence, began angrily berating her with harsh words.
Yuan Bao clenched his fists tightly, on the brink of losing control.
After the verbal tirade from the two individuals, Wang Jinhe turned to Yuan Bao and asked, “Did you remember everything they said when they insulted me?”
Yuan Bao nodded, “Of course.”
“Good. Please bring the county magistrate here,” Wang Jinhe instructed.
“Understood.”
Manager Lin, aware that Wang Jinhe intended to deal with the two individuals, quickly fetched a chair for her and said, “Princess, please have a seat. The county magistrate will arrive shortly.”
Wang Jinhe sat down and looked at Manager Lin, saying, “Bring me the account books to review.”
“Don’t worry, they won’t escape,” assured by Wang Jinhe.
Manager Lin, now reassured, went to fetch the account books.
The two individuals were dumbfounded when they heard that Wang Jinhe was summoning the county magistrate.
Their earlier boldness in insulting Wang Jinhe quickly transformed into fear.
One of them, fearing punishment from the county magistrate, knelt down with a thud and pleaded, “Princess, I was out of my mind earlier. I spoke recklessly. Please forgive me this once. I promise I won’t dare to do it again.”
Wang Jinhe watched the person pleading with a calm expression, unmoved by their pleas for mercy.
The individual, continuously kowtowing, assumed that a simple apology would lead to forgiveness from Wang Jinhe.
After all, they had heard that this Princess was gentle and kind-hearted, easy to reason with. But was she really that easy to persuade?
“No need for this; we will discuss everything once the county magistrate arrives,” Wang Jinhe stated firmly.
Approximately half an hour later, the county magistrate arrived.
Having been briefed by Yuan Bao on the way, the county magistrate’s displeasure was evident upon entering.
“I pay my respects to the Royal Consort, Your Highness,” greeted the county magistrate.
“Your Highness?” Manager Lin stared blankly at Wang Jinhe.
The realization that their Princess was actually a royal consort hit them like a thunderbolt. This was a fact they were completely unaware of.
“I don’t want to be greeted on bended knee all the time,” Wang Jinhe addressed Manager Lin’s unspoken thoughts.
As the two individuals who had insulted Wang Jinhe heard the county magistrate refer to her as a royal consort, only two words filled their minds: it’s over.
Even though they might not understand the intricacies of royal titles, they knew enough to realize that insulting a royal consort could mean facing severe consequences, even execution.
“We acknowledge our mistakes, Your Highness. I will tell you everything. Please spare me. It’s all my fault. Please forgive me, Your Highness,” one of them, still young and unmarried, desperate to escape death, begged Wang Jinhe.
“I’ll leave this matter to you, County Magistrate. Handle it as you see fit,” Wang Jinhe instructed calmly.
While she was indeed gentle, being insulted didn’t warrant expressions of gratitude. She had her limits too.
“Your Highness, rest assured, I will handle this matter to your satisfaction,” the county magistrate assured.
“I trust you, County Magistrate. I have other matters to attend to at the warehouse, so I won’t keep you,” Wang Jinhe stated.
“You attend to your tasks, Your Highness. Don’t worry about me,” the county magistrate responded.
Wang Jinhe nodded and then glanced at Manager Lin beside her, saying, “Let’s go to the warehouse.”
One of the girls hastily approached, clinging to Wang Jinhe’s leg, “Your Highness, we know we were wrong. You are generous and shouldn’t lower yourself to our level. Please forgive us.”
Wang Jinhe frowned disapprovingly at the person’s actions.
“Yuan Bao, get this person of me,” Wang Jinhe commanded.
Yuan Bao walked over, grabbed the individual by the collar, and then tossed them aside, leaving the person pale with pain.
Surprisingly, Wang Jinhe paid them no further attention.
“Yuan Bao, accompany Your Highness to the warehouse. I’ll manage things here,” the county magistrate urged Yuan Bao to ensure Wang Jinhe’s safety.
Yuan Bao followed Wang Jinhe as they left. After their departure, the county magistrate’s expression darkened as they gazed at the two individuals.
“You have quite the audacity to scheme against the Princess,” the county magistrate remarked sternly.
“We didn’t, Your Excellency. She found out before we could even plan anything. This matter has nothing to do with us. Please spare us,” the individuals pleaded, hoping for mercy.
“The death penalty can be spared, but escaping punishment is unlikely. Each of you will receive twenty lashes and then be sent back. Inform your families of your actions. If there’s any further tarnishing of the Princess’s reputation, you will all be detained. Also, be more cautious about the Princess’s identity,” the county magistrate sternly declared to the two individuals.
The county magistrate gave them a harsh glare.
Despite being a severe punishment for the two girls, the twenty lashes were a consequence of their actions.
After the punishment, the two individuals lay on the punishment bench, barely conscious.
“This is the result of speaking without restraint. You should be grateful that the Princess is not unforgiving, or you and your families would face dire consequences. Reflect on your actions before daring to insult the Princess again,” the county magistrate concluded.
At this point, the two individuals dared not even harbor resentment. The thought of their parents finding out about their dismissal by the Princess and their misdeeds filled them with dread. They knew that life wouldn’t be easy once their families learned of their actions.
Their initial purpose for attending school, funded by their families, was to eventually work in the workshop established by the Princess to earn a living. Despite their families’ strong objections, they had secretly pursued this goal.
Now facing the grim reality of their situation, regret crept into their hearts.
“Pleading with the official to intercede with the Princess, the two individuals expressed remorse, seeking a chance to continue working there. We promised to rectify their mistakes and improve their behavior in the future.”
“Yes, Your Excellency, we will definitely change. Please, we beg of you,” the two individuals pleaded earnestly.
The county magistrate, looking at them unsympathetically, remarked, “Had you known this day would come, you wouldn’t have acted as you did. There’s no remedy for regret in this world. You must face the consequences of your actions.”
After giving the orders, the county magistrate instructed the attendants to escort the individuals back.
As they neared their homes, the fear in the hearts of the two individuals became increasingly palpable.