Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 160

Back at the inn, Lu Tang had glanced through the system’s points exchange menu. She had scrolled through it and, although she hadn’t selected anything at the time, she had noticed the Bao Zheng Buff.

Otherwise, no matter how angry she was, she wouldn’t have dared to act so boldly at Dong Fabric Shop.

In the capital, where even a random stone could hit a fifth-rank official, how could they, as outsiders, dare to provoke a local business?

It was because of this exchange option that she dared to be so brazen.

Taking advantage of the various emotions in the courtroom, Lu Tang quickly clicked to exchange for the buff.

“Use it on the magistrate!”

“Got it, Host Daddy!”

Ding~

“Host Daddy, it’s done!”

With the system’s notification, Lu Tang burst into tears, kneeling down as if she were mourning.

“Your Honor, please give us justice. My family has worked diligently and honestly, investing all our savings to expand into the capital. Now, Qiao Family Inn is on the verge of opening, and at this critical moment, Dong Fabric Shop is cheating us.

We’ve lost not only our deposit but also our hard-earned money, saved by generations of our family. If my grandfather knew we were being bullied like this, he’d be rolling in his grave.”

Lu Tang sobbed, wiping her nose, crying so hard that even Madam Qiao and Lu Shuqing felt their heads throb.

When did Little Tang become such a crier?

And when did our family become so pitiful?

With a loud wail, Lu Shuqing also knelt down. “Your Honor, please give us justice. They say you are as fair as Bao Zheng. We’re counting on you to redress our grievances.”

Song Qingzhan:

Doesn’t this make me seem useless?

Just as Song Qingzhan was about to intervene, and as Dong Yuzhu sneered at the siblings, the magistrate slammed the gavel.

“Bold Dong Yuzhu, do you admit your guilt?”

Dong Yuzhu: ?

You’re putting me on trial?

Do you dare challenge He Yujiao?

Don’t forget, even the Emperor gives her some respect.

Under Dong Yuzhu’s astonished gaze, the magistrate slammed the gavel again. “I ask you, did Qiao Family Inn order goods worth eight thousand taels from you, which you then failed to deliver, substituting inferior goods instead? Kneel and answer!”

Dong Yuzhu fell to his knees. “Your Honor, please understand, I had no choice.”

Seeing the magistrate’s anger, Dong Yuzhu quickly confessed. “I had prepared the goods for Qiao Family Inn, but this morning, Miss He came to the shop. She said that Lord Gu’s household urgently needed those items and ordered me to send them there.”

Lu Tang immediately asked, “Which Lord Gu? Does his family run an inn too?”

Dong Yuzhu replied, “Lord Gu of the Ministry of War. I don’t know if his household runs an inn, but the goods were indeed sent there. Although I am the owner of Dong Fabric Shop, Miss He owns shares in it. I had to obey her orders. Please understand, Your Honor. As for substituting inferior goods, I had no choice. I was afraid of delaying Qiao Family Inn’s business and could only take this measure. Otherwise, Qiao Family Inn wouldn’t have received any goods.”

The magistrate was stunned.

“You’re saying you did this out of goodwill? Nonsense! How dare you mock me! You claim Miss He ordered you to send the goods to Lord Gu’s house? Summon He Yujiao!”

Dong Yuzhu: !

You dare summon Miss He?

In high-society cases, matters are typically resolved privately. Do you really intend to interrogate her publicly?

The magistrate sat there, unyielding.

The bailiffs, seeing their superior was serious, quickly went to summon her, wondering if their magistrate had gone mad.

As expected, the bailiffs returned without He Yujiao.

“Your Honor, Miss He said she twisted her ankle this morning and can’t come. She asked that any questions be postponed until she recovers.”

This statement made everyone in the hall lower their heads, not daring to look at the magistrate.

Outside, the crowd of onlookers brightened their eyes: Oh wow! Today’s drama is juicy!

Xu Shen raised his voice. “Miss He is impressive indeed!”

Zhou Shu added, “My goodness, we country folk are truly inexperienced. I didn’t know one could behave like this!”

Guo Dawei chimed in sarcastically, “So if someone is dying, Miss He can’t come. Does that mean the person has to wait to die? Amazing~”

Dong Yuzhu turned his head, raising his eyebrows at Lu Tang.

Before he could fully look at her, the magistrate slammed the gavel again.

“Wait here. I’m going to the palace for an imperial decree!”

Dong Yuzhu nearly collapsed.

Your Honor, must you be so dedicated to justice?

The magistrate, maintaining his stern demeanor, stepped out of the courtroom. Outside, the crowd, led by the Four Young Masters of Qinshui, applauded enthusiastically.

The situation had taken an unexpected turn.

Now, Dong Yuzhu began to feel real fear.

The nine princes and seven princesses, returning from Fengtai, arrived in a rush.

As soon as Qin Mo got off the carriage, he headed straight for the courtroom. Seeing Lu Tang kneeling with red eyes, he shot a fierce look at Dong Yuzhu and started towards her.

Song Qingzhan grabbed him.

Qin Mo raised an eyebrow at him. Song Qingzhan shook his head and whispered, “Don’t interfere. The magistrate is going to the palace to request an imperial decree to summon He Yujiao for interrogation. Think it through. If you intervene now, this case might turn from a legitimate complaint by Qiao Family Inn into a scandal of the Ninth Prince manipulating the law.”

Qin Mo paused.

Outside, the sixth princess, a great general, overheard Song Qingzhan’s words and immediately stopped those with her. “Let’s have tea across the street.”

This group had been friends for so long that they moved in unison.

Hearing her, the princes and princesses turned and went to a teahouse on another street, leaving a servant behind to keep watch.

Qin Mo, desperate to talk to Lu Tang, held back and left.

In the palace.

The Emperor was in the study, cursing his nine unfilial sons. On the opposite wall were nine abstract portraits he had personally drawn of his sons.

In the midst of his tirade, the chief eunuch knocked and reported, “Your Majesty, the magistrate seeks an audience.”

The Emperor wiped the corner of his mouth, angrily tore down the portraits, and pretended to read a book. With a deep breath, he said, “Come in.”