Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 141

“Why? Did you have a hand in the Jinling case from back then, Lord Huang? I heard it involved four high-ranking officials,” the prince said, his tone icy.

Huang Yunsheng kept his forehead pressed to the ground, not daring to move.

“You heard wrong, Your Highness. There was no—”

Xie Chengnian interrupted, his face livid, “No? You two, it’s been fifteen years. How can you live with your conscience?”

Xie Jin’s father turned and shouted at Xie Chengnian, “Father, are you trying to get me killed?”

Xie Chengnian didn’t even look at him. “I gave you a chance back then.”

Xie Jin’s father wouldn’t listen to such words. “I am your son! What good does it do you to get me killed? Who will take care of you in your old age?”

Qin Mo watched Xie Jin’s father’s hysterical outburst and found it amusing.

Xie Chengnian agreed to cooperate only because Qin Mo had promised to spare Xie Jin’s life.

As the commotion continued, the Yuhang prefect, who had received the news, stumbled in, holding onto his official hat. Seeing who was in the main seat, he hurriedly fell to his knees, “I did not know Your Highness was here. I am guilty of not welcoming you properly.”

Huang Yunsheng had thought this was a trap set by the Yuhang prefect and Qin Mo. But seeing the prefect’s panicked state, his doubts eased. He was just puzzled. Why was the Ninth Prince here?

Wasn’t it said that the Ninth Prince had gone to Mount Changbai?

And why did Xie Chengnian arrive so conveniently?

Did the Xie family set a trap for him?

Qin Mo glanced at the Yuhang prefect, inwardly rolling his eyes at the performance. If given a stage, the prefect could perform a face-changing opera.

Ignoring the prefect, Qin Mo waved his hand and looked at Xie Chengnian. “Is what you said about the Jinling case fifteen years ago true?”

Xie Chengnian cupped his hands and lowered his head. “I dare not lie, Your Highness. Every word is true.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Mo slammed the table. “Guards, arrest these two!”

Song Qingzhan led the men to take them away.

From start to finish, only the case from fifteen years ago was mentioned. Not a single question was asked about why Huang Yunsheng was here. No innocent parties were implicated.

It seemed Qin Mo had arrested Huang Yunsheng solely for the case from fifteen years ago. Of course, that case was serious enough to justify the arrest.

Huang Yunsheng was the son of Huang Bangyuan and a current high official. He couldn’t be interrogated like Xie Jin’s father and son. After capturing him, Qin Mo wasted no time and had him secretly sent back to the capital immediately.

The outcome of the trial in the capital would be entirely different from one held in Yuhang.

As for the Xie family, a few rounds of torture made them confess everything honestly. Qin Mo only took the confessions related to the case fifteen years ago, leaving the rest to the Yuhang prefect to handle.

Before leaving the prefect’s office, Qin Mo, with a faint smile, said to the prefect, “I heard a new inn is opening here, called Qiao Family Inn or something. I stayed at the Qiao Family Inn in Qingshui County for a few days. It’s indeed a good inn. I hope this inn in Yuhang prospers as well.”

Leaving such an off-topic remark, Qin Mo strode out with his long legs, completely ignoring the prefect’s stunned and confused expression.

Huh?

What?

The Ninth Prince arrested Huang Yunsheng but didn’t instruct him on the case, instead congratulating him on an inn’s opening?

Was he hearing things?

The advisor standing nearby tugged at the prefect’s sleeve. “My lord, the Ninth Prince is giving us a hint to take care of the Qiao Family Inn.”

The Yuhang prefect snapped out of his shock, realizing the implication.

“Take care of it!”

“Arrange it!”

That afternoon, Zhou Jing, who had been imprisoned for over three years, saw the first rays of sunlight in his life. Though it was already sunset, he stood outside the prefect’s office in ragged clothes, staring at the twilight, tears streaming down his face.

The officer, knowing his case, felt sympathy and asked, “Brother, is there no one here to pick you up? Where are you going? I can have someone take you.”

Zhou Jing wiped his tears, his voice trembling, “No need, I’ll walk by myself.”

He wanted to walk slowly and savor the freedom, the air, and the liveliness of the world.

After so many days and nights, so much despair, the freedom before his eyes felt unreal, as if it would vanish with a blink.

When Zhou Jing arrived at the Qiao Family Inn, the moon had already risen.

The inn’s lobby was almost fully renovated. Lu Tang was discussing matters with Liang Cheng on the first floor.

These past few days, Liang Cheng had been overseeing the renovations with Zhou Shu and Guo Dawei, while Lu Tang and Xu Shen handled the storytelling aspect.

Not all scholars liked or were good at writing stories. Those who did weren’t necessarily suited for the imperial exams.

Most were scholars who had failed the exams and had disappointing lives, seeking to fill their empty spirits with stories.

They put the ideals and ambitions they couldn’t achieve in reality into their stories, satisfying themselves and earning some living expenses.

A few simply loved writing stories despite lacking material wealth or fame, enjoying the worlds they created.

Lu Tang just wanted to borrow the academy’s name.

She needed to find such a group without alerting other competitors.

Perhaps blessed by heaven, Lu Tang and Xu Shen found a gem today.

Du Zhongming’s son, Du Xuan!

Du Zhongming had sent Du Xuan to the best academy in Yuhang. This spoiled kid, instead of studying, spent his time outside the classroom narrating made-up stories to amuse his classmates.

His plots were absurd but unique.

Now, the question was how to recruit a competitor’s son to work for their inn and compete against his father’s business.

Lu Tang and Xu Shen were racking their brains when a shout came from the door, “Zhou… Manager Zhou?”

The speaker was a waiter who had stayed on from the original Prosperity Inn.

When Lu Tang took over the inn, it had only four staff members, and only this one had chosen to stay. Lu Tang had kept him on.

The waiter stared at Zhou Jing in disbelief and excitement, rushing to embrace him.

“Manager Zhou, is it really you?”

When Zhou Jing was arrested, the owner of Prosperity Inn was anxious, and the staff were also worried.

The inn had been sold, but who would have thought their manager would be released?

Released indeed.

The waiter hugged Zhou Jing excitedly, “Manager Zhou, you’re really out?”

In the waiter’s embrace, Zhou Jing saw Lu Tang looking over.