Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 111

“No.”

Qin Mo immediately denied it.

“We planned a different case, aiming to get Xie Jin locked up to test his father’s reaction. But before we could act, you jumped into the water, and right after, the young owner of Laifu Inn fell into the water too.”

This messed up the plan that Qin Mo and Song Qingzhan had carefully crafted.

And it landed her in jail.

Lu Tang caught the key point in Qin Mo’s words, “Not Xie Chengnian? It’s Xie Jin’s father?”

Qin Mo nodded. This was not the place to talk. He gently patted Lu Tang’s shoulder, “Bear with it for a while. I’ll get you out soon.”

With that, Qin Mo turned to leave.

Lu Tang quickly grabbed him, “Wait, I have something to tell you.”

Glancing at the opposite cell, worried their conversation might be overheard, Lu Tang pulled Qin Mo to the far corner of her cell and whispered, “The man in the cell opposite is named Zhou Jing. He used to be an innkeeper. Three years ago, he was framed by the victim and the perpetrator while trying to help a girl being molested. This ruined his family. I suspect the people who framed him are connected to the Xie family.”

Qin Mo was surprised by her revelation.

Looking down at her, he asked, “How do you know?”

Lu Tang didn’t mention the system and said, “When I came in, I chatted with him. After he learned about my situation, he sighed a lot. So, I coaxed the information out of him.”

Qin Mo was astonished.

“Have to reassess someone after not seeing them for a while?”

This little fool could coax information out of people now?

She could swim, rescue people, and now even get information out of them. How amazing.

Unconsciously, Qin Mo ruffled Lu Tang’s hair, “You suspect the person who framed Zhou Jing three years ago is also behind your current situation?”

Lu Tang explained, “Zhou Jing had a son studying at Baiyun Academy. He said his son was an excellent student, but after Zhou Jing’s incident, his son was forced to leave Yuhang. Xie Jin was also at the same academy.”

Qin Mo smirked, “You even know which academy Xie Jin attended?”

Lu Tang had guessed it, but seeing Qin Mo’s reaction, she realized she was right.

“Although I don’t know why someone would want to harm me, if the same person who framed Zhou Jing is targeting me, they’re likely to try to tamper with the evidence.”

In the cramped, dark cell corner, Qin Mo’s tall figure loomed over Lu Tang. Their bodies almost touched as they spoke, their breaths mingling.

Qin Mo gazed at Lu Tang’s long, curled eyelashes, his Adam’s apple bobbing, “So, you want to stay in this cell?”

Lu Tang nodded, “I want to get more information from Zhou Jing. He’s not very talkative, so it’s difficult to get information. And if someone really wants to harm me, leaving the cell might alert them. There might be more traps waiting for me. Of course, if I’m overthinking, the magistrate will clear things up tomorrow and let me go. This is a good opportunity to test things.”

Qin Mo crossed his arms, looking at Lu Tang. She used the same approach to deal with Gu Yunhe before.

“This place…”

Lu Tang grinned, “It’s okay, I can handle it. You go quickly and figure things out so I can leave with peace of mind.”

Qin Mo had always thought this little fool was a pampered young master. But now, seeing him in this dark cell, he realized there was more to him.

Even in such an environment, he could think of all this?

A quarter of an hour passed quickly. The jailer loudly ordered Qin Mo out of the cell. Before leaving, Qin Mo glanced at the opposite cell and said to Lu Tang, “Don’t worry, I will definitely get you out.”

Lu Tang waved him off, leaning against the door, “I’m innocent. I don’t need your help.”

Qin Mo followed the jailer out.

Lu Tang called over to Zhou Jing, “Old man, my friend said I’ll be out in a few days. Since we’re fated to know each other, when I get out, I’ll bring you some good food. What do you want to eat?”

Zhou Jing remained silent, reverting to his initial state.

Lu Tang watched him for a while, then turned to lie on her invisible mattress, talking to herself, “Old man, what did you do before? My family runs an inn. When I get out, I plan to open an inn in Yuhang. I don’t know if it’ll succeed since I’m new here. I’ll probably need Xie Yu’s help.”

“By the way, old man, do you know why Xie Yu turned out the way he did? He’s a pitiful man. He was poisoned. Do you know who poisoned him? I heard it was his brother, Xie Jin. But I don’t believe it. Xie Jin is a scholar, and I saw him today. He looks very refined. Do you think Xie Jin really pushed the young owner of Laifu Inn? Why would he do that? Maybe the young owner just fell in by accident.”

“I heard Xie Jin is an excellent student, the best at their academy. Oh, right, their academy used to have a student named Zhou. He was truly brilliant. Unfortunately…”

As soon as Lu Tang mentioned the student named Zhou, Zhou Jing’s breathing hitched. He turned to look at her, his eyes blazing, “Unfortunately, what?”

“Unfortunately, I heard he had poor character. He was expelled from Baiyun Academy and left Yuhang in disgrace.”

Zhou Jing glared at Lu Tang, biting his lip until it bled, the red stark against his gaunt, gray face.

Lu Tang couldn’t see this. After saying all this, she couldn’t think of anything else to provoke Zhou Jing and turned over to sleep.

“System, come out.”

She called out mentally, but there was no response.

Closing her eyes to sleep, Lu Tang was almost dozing off when Zhou Jing suddenly spoke, “You won’t get out.”

Lu Tang turned to face Zhou Jing, drowsily, “Don’t talk nonsense.”

Zhou Jing sneered, “You and Xie Jin are both involved in the case. Why are you locked up here, but not Xie Jin? Where is Xie Jin?”

Lu Tang was stunned, “Huh?”

Zhou Jing continued, “Xie Jin’s family has connections in the court. Even if he’s the culprit, he’ll walk free. But you, you’re here to take the fall for him.”

“I was saving someone!” Lu Tang sat up abruptly.

Zhou Jing mocked, “So what? Saving the wrong person is your fate!”

In that moment, Lu Tang was sure Zhou Jing’s case was connected to the Xie family. She chuckled softly, “I don’t believe in fate. My family also has connections in the court. Minister Feng of the Ministry of Justice is my sworn brother!”

Zhou Jing had not expected such a statement from her.

Lu Tang smiled, “Surprised? So, I’ll definitely get out unless the Xie family’s connections in the court are more powerful than my brother and willing to turn against him for the Xie family. Otherwise, I’m sure I’ll be released.”

Zhou Jing shot up, stumbling to the door, “Are you serious?”