Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 159

The young attendants looked at Dong Yuzhu.

Liang Cheng, seeing this, didn’t wait for the attendants to act. He and Xu Shen moved the boxes on top aside and personally opened the bottom box.

As soon as the box was opened, Lu Tang glanced inside and turned to Dong Yuzhu. “Are these our goods?”

In the past, Madam Qiao always brought Lu Shuqing to place orders and discuss styles, while the young master of the family was said to be always in Qinshui County.

This was Dong Yuzhu’s first time meeting Lu Tang. He hoped this young master was unfamiliar with the order details. Bluffing, he said, “Of course, these are your goods. Isn’t this Shu brocade?”

Lu Tang kicked the box over.

“Rubbish! Our Qiao Family Inn only uses the best. Are you trying to trick me with this substandard garbage? Open your eyes and see clearly. Do you think you can fool me? According to the laws of our dynasty, merchants committing fraud and substituting inferior goods face severe punishment. Do you know the consequences?”

As she spoke, Lu Tang suddenly realized the nature of today’s task.

Acquisition Champion.

“So, Boss Dong, you thought you could take advantage of me, thinking I wouldn’t check the goods or wouldn’t recognize them. You planned to accuse us when my mother came to confront you, saying that our Qiao Family Inn was trying to frame you? On a normal day, I would just make you bring out the right goods. But today, you’re unlucky. I’m in a bad mood. With such a large batch, you try to fool me with this trash? I won’t let you get away with it. Yuan Bao, report this to the authorities!”

At Lu Tang’s command, Yuan Bao turned to leave.

Dong Yuzhu panicked. “Please, Young Master Lu, don’t be hasty. This is a mistake. Of course, these aren’t your goods. It’s a mix-up.”

Lu Tang remained silent as Yuan Bao continued to leave. People from Dong Fabric Shop moved to block him.

Yuan Bao, skilled in martial arts, wasn’t someone they could easily stop.

Lu Tang looked at Dong Yuzhu. “A mix-up? I think it was you who deliberately gave the wrong goods. You don’t have the right stock, do you?”

Dong Yuzhu was speechless, cursing inwardly. How could a supposed troublemaker know so much?

Lu Tang sneered. “You gave our goods to someone else. You couldn’t afford to offend them, so you decided to bully our Qiao Family Inn, an outsider? Let me guess, if it were any other day, you’d claim the machinery broke down and you couldn’t produce the goods on time. We couldn’t argue with that. But you used substandard goods instead. For a seasoned merchant like you to do this, it means only one thing: you don’t have the stock, and you can’t get more of the Shu brocade we ordered. Am I right?”

Lu Tang’s guess was spot on. Dong Yuzhu’s initial panic dissipated. After all, he wasn’t the one in charge. There was someone above him. If it came to that, his superior would be the first to be held accountable. As long as that person was safe, so was he. Reporting to the authorities? There was nothing to fear.

With a quick mental adjustment, Dong Yuzhu said, “This matter is our fault. Young Master Lu, do as you see fit.”

Zhou Shu jumped and shouted, “So, you’re saying we can do whatever we want, and you’re not afraid? Fine, let’s see who backs Dong Fabric Shop. They say in the capital, you can’t throw a stone without hitting an official. We’re from the countryside and could use some enlightenment. At worst, we’ll consider this a lesson learned and move on.”

Since Dong Yuzhu had this attitude, they straightforwardly took the evidence and headed straight to the capital’s magistrate’s office.

A group of princes and princesses had chased them from the capital, only to be told they had returned. They had to turn back again.

Such idleness.

At the capital’s magistrate’s office.

By the time Lu Tang and her group arrived, Madam Qiao and Lu Shuqing had already received the news and hurried over, along with Song Qingzhan.

Seeing only the Five Young Masters of Qinshui and Dong Yuzhu, and no sign of Qin Mo, Song Qingzhan looked puzzled.

Where is he?

Didn’t he say he was going to find Lu Tang first thing in the morning?

Where did he go?

Didn’t he say his brothers and sisters-in-law had successfully surrounded Lu Tang and were going to Dong Fabric Shop together?

Was the information wrong?

While Song Qingzhan was still figuring things out, Lu Tang had already reported the entire situation to the magistrate.

Madam Qiao, her head still aching, looked particularly grim as she addressed the magistrate. “Please, Your Honor, do us justice.”

The magistrate sat beneath the plaque reading “Justice” with a troubled expression.

This was a difficult situation.

Couldn’t they discuss this privately?

Dong Fabric Shop had a powerful backer, which most people might not know, but he did.

That backer was none other than He Yujiao.

And who was He Yujiao?

She was a national hero.

Years ago, during the continuous conflicts between the Nanzhao Kingdom and their own, their forces suffered repeated defeats. In a bid for respite, the court unanimously decided to seek peace through marriage.

The Nanzhao Kingdom agreed.

A princess had to be chosen. The palace ladies, though reluctant, agreed to let the Emperor choose.

The Emperor chose the Empress’s legitimate daughter, Princess Zhao Yue.

He Yujiao accompanied Princess Zhao Yue to Nanzhao as part of her dowry.

However, the Nanzhao Kingdom reneged at the last moment. On the day the princess arrived, they launched an attack.

Fortunately, He Yujiao escaped and alerted the border outpost, preventing a surprise attack.

Though Nanzhao failed to invade, they frequently blamed the legitimate princess. He Yujiao eventually found a way to bring the princess back from Nanzhao.

Sadly, the princess succumbed to illness upon reaching their border.

He Yujiao was brought back to the capital and made a county princess by imperial decree.

Even the Emperor and Empress had to respect her.

He Yujiao was someone he couldn’t offend.

But the old master of Qiao Family Inn also had ties to the Emperor, having once saved his life.

Both sides had connections to the royal family, making it impossible to rule impartially.

Upholding justice clearly meant siding against Dong Fabric Shop, but Dong Yuzhu, cunning as he was, hadn’t mentioned He Yujiao by name. Yet his defiant stance spoke volumes.

The atmosphere in the court was tense.

Dong Yuzhu glanced disdainfully at the Qiao family, head held high, confident in his backing.

“System, open the points exchange menu.”

“Alright, Host. What would you like to exchange?”

“The Bao Zheng Buff for fearless and impartial justice.”

Cultural Insight: Bao Zheng

Bao Zheng (包拯), also known as Bao Gong (包公), was a famous judge during the Song Dynasty in China (960-1279 AD). He is widely celebrated in Chinese folklore and history as a symbol of justice and integrity. Bao Zheng is known for his strict, fair, and impartial judgments, and he is often depicted as a righteous official who fought against corruption and injustice.