Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 149

Du Xuan agreed without a second thought, “Alright, I’ll sign. Whatever terms you say, I’ll accept. But you must agree to my condition.”

Lu Tang smiled, “I only want to buy the manuscripts you write over the next five years. All the profits from the manuscripts, in every aspect, will be yours—whether it’s fame or fortune. Our Qiao Family Inn will just provide you with the platform.

“If you can write a popular story, not just in Yuhang, you know we have many branches of Qiao Family Inn.”

Du Xuan waved his hand dismissively, “I don’t have such grand ambitions. I just want to prove myself to my father.”

Xu Shen interrupted, “What if you can’t prove yourself?”

Du Xuan replied gloomily, “Then I’ll have to inherit my family’s inn business.”

Lu Tang:

Oh my, another one who has to inherit millions if he doesn’t succeed.

While they were talking, Qin Mo was waiting silently at the other end of the corridor for Lu Tang. He didn’t come over to disturb or urge them, his long legs crossed, leaning there lazily.

If anyone truly had feelings for him, just one look would make their heart race.

Lu Tang took a deep breath and said to Xu Shen, “Well then, you…”

Xu Shen glanced at Qin Mo, “I know. I’ll take the manuscript to the Qiao Family Inn and bring Du Xuan along. You go ahead.”

Lu Tang punched Xu Shen lightly on the shoulder, “Good brother.”

After rubbing her hands and taking a deep breath, Lu Tang walked towards Qin Mo. When Qin Mo saw her coming, he adjusted his posture, “Are you done?”

Lu Tang nodded, “Were you waiting just for me?”

Qin Mo smiled, “Who else would I wait for?”

Lu Tang always thought of herself as carefree and untroubled, but now she felt embarrassed and didn’t know what to say.

“Hungry? Want to eat?”

Qin Mo’s voice came from above, making Lu Tang’s neck tingle.

Yuhang had a plethora of delicious foods. Qin Mo took Lu Tang to a sophisticated tavern and ordered four or five dishes, all of which happened to be Lu Tang’s favorites.

With the private room door closed, Qin Mo looked at Lu Tang, “Do you want to speak first, or should I?”

Lu Tang took a sip from her cup and exhaled deeply, “I’ll go first.”

Qin Mo looked at her with a silent smile, waiting for her to continue.

Lu Tang had been thinking about what to say for a long time. When she finally spoke, it was straightforward, “I just want to ask, if, and this is a big if, if I were a girl, would you still feel the same?”

When Lu Tang and Xu Shen were talking in the corridor, Qin Mo had been pondering what Lu Tang wanted to say to him. He thought of countless possibilities but didn’t expect her to ask this.

Did this even need asking?

I’d take you back to the capital immediately, go to the Imperial Astronomer, no, I’d go to your house, propose, then take you to the capital and see the Imperial Astronomer.

Qin Mo looked at Lu Tang, sensing the gravity of her question.

After a moment of thought, Qin Mo found a suitable response, “I’ve told you before, I’ve never felt this way about anyone else. It doesn’t matter what you are, I like you for who you are.”

The word “like” made Lu Tang’s body tingle.

She looked at Qin Mo again and asked, “If I were a girl, it wouldn’t matter?”

It wouldn’t matter at all.

“As long as it’s you.”

Qin Mo’s answer made Lu Tang feel relieved, and she smiled, “I don’t have anything else to say.”

She wanted to say she liked him too. But in ancient society, it seemed improper for women to be so forward, so she hesitated and didn’t say it.

“Now it’s my turn.” Qin Mo looked at Lu Tang with gentle eyes, “I’ve never told you about my family, but now I think it’s necessary. I’m not a high-ranking official.”

Lu Tang’s eyes widened.

“My father is the Emperor, my mother is a concubine, I have eight older brothers who are all princes, and seven or eight younger brothers who are not yet of age. I also have thirteen sisters who are all princesses.”

I am a prince.

The Ninth Prince.

Lu Tang’s eyes, already wide, grew even larger. In shock, the cup she was holding slipped from her hand and rolled on the ground.

She had gotten involved with a prince?

Her mind froze.

Seeing Lu Tang’s expression, Qin Mo said, “I didn’t mean to hide it from you. I just thought it wasn’t necessary to mention it before. Later, I didn’t know why I wanted to be good to you. I never thought about it that way. Then, after that night, but soon after…”

Soon after, Lu Tang said those words, and Qin Mo left in a fit of anger.

Qin Mo’s fingers twitched slightly, then he reached out and grabbed Lu Tang’s hand, “Don’t worry, in our family, we don’t practice polygamy. All eight of my brothers have only one wife each. Only those who can’t inherit the throne will be forced to take concubines, but the harem isn’t as scary as you think, and I’m definitely not the most incapable one.”

Lu Tang: Huh?

In your family, the one who can’t inherit the throne does?

What kind of logic is this?

Qin Mo didn’t want to talk more about his family. Unless one was madly in love, who would want to marry into the royal family?

“Your eight sisters-in-law, who are they?”

“My eldest sister-in-law is the daughter of the Minister of Rites, the second sister-in-law is the daughter of a marquis, the third sister-in-law is from the Miao region, known for its mysterious and magical practices, the fourth sister-in-law is the junior sister of a troupe master, the fifth sister-in-law is the daughter of a society leader, the sixth sister-in-law is the daughter of a general, the seventh sister-in-law is the leader of a beggar sect, and the eighth… the eighth is still being pursued by my eighth brother.”

Lu Tang: …

I understand each word you say, but together they make my head hurt.

Lu Tang suddenly had the urge to have Qin Mo’s head checked.

Is this person delusional?

“The case of Huang Yunsheng requires me to return to the capital. I’ve already informed the prefect here, so focus on managing your inn.

“When my business in the capital is done, I’ll come to Qinshui County to propose, okay?”

Lu Tang’s head was still buzzing, “No rush, I need to talk to my mother first. Huh? You said propose?”

Qin Mo smiled, “When I return to the capital, I’ll tell my father to grant a marriage decree. Although we are different from others, you’ll have everything others have.”

Lu Tang originally planned to tell her mother first before telling Qin Mo that she was actually a girl. But now, with things said to this point, if she didn’t say it now, wouldn’t she be deceiving Qin Mo?

“Actually, I am a wom—”

Bang bang bang!

Suddenly, there were loud knocks on the door, followed by Song Qingzhan’s urgent voice, “Qin Mo, I’m coming in.”

Lu Tang’s sentence was cut off.

As the knocking subsided, Song Qingzhan rushed in with an anxious expression, holding a letter, “Urgent report.”

Qin Mo took it, and his face changed immediately after reading it. He stood up abruptly.

Lu Tang hurriedly stood up too, “What happened?”

“I must return to the capital immediately. Wait for me.”

The matter seemed urgent. Qin Mo was already halfway out the door as he spoke, but he turned back, pulled Lu Tang into a tight embrace, and whispered, “Wait for me.”

The embrace was brief. Qin Mo let go and hurried out, while Song Qingzhan’s face looked like he was attending a funeral.

Usually, Song Qingzhan was always gentle with Lu Tang, but today, he didn’t even glance at her.

Lu Tang wanted to chase after them to finish what she wanted to say since Qin Mo had mentioned proposing.

But Qin Mo was already out of sight.