Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 156

“Little Tang, the curtains and drapes we use at the inn are from the Dong Fabric Shop. We already arranged everything a few days ago. Today, they should have a batch ready. Bring back the finished products and place another order for cushions using our usual Shu brocade,” Madam Qiao instructed weakly, leaning on soft pillows with two black circular medicinal patches on her temples, rubbing her forehead.

“The Dong family does business with many high-ranking families in the capital, supplying goods directly to the homes of many officials and wealthy merchants. We’re new customers here, so be polite. But also make sure to check the goods. Our curtains should be ‘After the Rain,’ and our drapes should be ‘Silk Cypress Brocade.’ Don’t let them give you subpar products.”

Lu Tang nodded eagerly at the bedside. “Don’t worry, Mother. I recognize them all.”

Miss Lu Shuqing, dragging her feverish body, climbed into Madam Qiao’s bed, resting her head on her mother’s lap and said to Lu Tang, “Are you really my sister and not my brother?”

Lu Tang glanced gloomily at Miss Lu Shuqing.

Miss Lu Shuqing tugged at Lu Tang’s hand. “Shall I check?”

“Do you want to fight?” Lu Tang glared at her.

Miss Lu Shuqing waved her hand dismissively. “Do you think you can beat me just because I’m sick? How did you go from being a boy to a girl and still be as dumb as a pig?”

Lu Tang: …

Madam Qiao tapped Miss Lu Shuqing on the head. “Enough, you’re almost of marrying age, yet you still argue with your brother. Little Tang, ignore her. Go quickly and come back soon.”

Last night, when she heard about her sister and Song Qingzhan’s engagement, she was shocked, happy, and sad at the same time.

She had gotten involved with Qin Mo first.

But while she had no progress, her sister and Song Qingzhan were about to get married. Song Qingzhan had already requested an imperial marriage decree from the Emperor, just waiting for the auspicious day to announce it.

Feeling drained, Lu Tang descended the stairs.

“Host, the system has detected a new task. Please be ready.”

Ever since Lu Tang discovered she could use the system points, it had become especially obedient, not causing any trouble lately.

Leaning against the wall at the stairway, Lu Tang asked, “What is it?”

“Please complete the acquisition task and become the acquisition champion.”

Lu Tang’s exhaustion vanished, replaced by a twisted expression. “What? Acquisition?”

Considering what she was about to do, Lu Tang’s mouth twitched.

“Are you asking me to acquire the Dong Fabric Shop?”

The system responded cheerfully, “Host is getting smarter. Please do your best. Completing this task will earn you three thousand points.”

Lu Tang: That’s absurd.

Acquire the Dong Fabric Shop? Why not ask me to acquire the palace?

“Let me see the exchange interface.”

“What would you like to exchange, Host?”

“Exchange for a drug that makes the Dong Fabric Shop’s owner obey my every command.”

System: …

If such a thing existed, I would have tricked you into taking it already!

After browsing the system interface for a while and not finding anything suitable, Lu Tang gave up.

Liang Cheng and Xu Shen were chatting in the backyard early in the morning. Hearing that Lu Tang was going to the fabric shop, they decided to accompany her instead of exploring the capital.

Only Er Bao was left behind at the inn, as Madam Qiao thought he was too young and might not handle the outing well. Fortunately, Xie Yu, who had promised Zhuang Yu to draw a special house layout, stayed behind too. They kept each other company, with one engrossed in drawing and the other thinking about visiting his brother.

“She’s coming out.”

Opposite the Qiao Family Inn, there was a wonton stall.

The stall usually did good business, but today it was unusually crowded with obviously wealthy and influential people.

The stall owner was puzzled and nervously told his wife, “Who are these people? They make me feel uneasy.”

His wife whispered, “I recognize the one in the red dress. I saw her at the Liu Family Troupe. She’s the troupe master’s daughter and married the Fourth Prince, becoming a princess consort.”

The stall owner: …

A princess consort?

What good fortune brought a princess consort to his humble stall?

Moreover, the people around her, both men and women, were clearly of high status.

Has my stall become this famous?

Creak~

As the back door of the Qiao Family Inn opened.

Swish!

The stall owner watched as his customers all turned to look at the inn’s backyard, eyes gleaming like hungry wolves eyeing rabbits.

The Five Young Masters of Qinshui: What’s with the reception?

“Little Tang, who are those people? They look scary,” Zhou Shu stood shivering next to Lu Tang, looking at the glaring crowd across the street. “Is your inn targeted by the capital’s underworld?”

Xu Shen pulled Zhou Shu away from Lu Tang. “Nonsense. Do you think underworld gangs come with a group of beauties?”

Guo Dawei stammered, “But those are no ordinary beauties. Look at the one in the pale blue robe, she has a sword.”

Liang Cheng, the only martial artist among the Five Young Masters of Qinshui, glanced at the girl in the pale blue robe. “She seems skilled.”

“Do gangs on a mission bring parrots?” Lu Tang’s gaze fell on the parrot cage.

At that moment, the parrot squawked, “Lu Tang is out, Lu Tang is out, Lu Tang is out!”

The Five Young Masters of Qinshui: !

The parrot then changed its tune, “Greetings to the Ninth Princess, greetings to the Ninth Princess, greetings to the Ninth Princess.”

The Four Young Masters of Qinshui: !

Lu Tang: ???

“Hurry, Brother, cover its beak. What do we call the sibling, oh no, the … person?”

“Still call them sister-in-law.”

“Right, don’t let this stupid thing scare her.”

“Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, sister-in-law,” the parrot squawked again, stopping abruptly when the eldest prince shot it a deadly glare. It dramatically played dead, even twitching its leg for effect.

The Four Young Masters of Qinshui: !

Lu Tang: ??

As the The Five Young Masters of Qinshui stood in stunned silence, the girl in the pale blue robe suddenly stood up. Her movement made the Five Young Masters of Qinshui retreat a step.

She hesitated for a moment but then grabbed her sword and walked towards them.

The Five Young Masters of Qinshui turned and ran back into the inn. “Mother, help!”

They looked like they had seen a ghost.

The girl in the pale blue robe: …

The woman in the red dress stood up immediately. “Sixth sister-in-law, your killing intent is too strong. Come back and don’t scare the Ninth sister-in-law.”

She giggled as she hurried to catch up with her sister-in-law, her laugh eerily similar to the villainess in a fairy tale.