Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 163

In ancient times, Bao Zheng executed the corrupt official’s son. Today, the magistrate of the capital flogged He Yujiao.

He Yujiao eventually received her flogging.

Ever since being titled a princess, she had been treated like royalty for many years. She had never been beaten or even contradicted, but today, in front of so many people, she was forcefully held down and flogged.

Shame and pain surged together. After thirty lashes, He Yujiao glared at the magistrate with bloodshot eyes. “You wait! I am a princess appointed by the Emperor. You want to be a righteous official, but don’t forget the crime of insubordination.”

The chief eunuch, who had accompanied the magistrate to bring He Yujiao to court, silently acted like he was invisible.

If I pretend not to hear or see, then it didn’t happen.

“The flogging is done, and you’ve shown your power. Is it time to release her now?” Gu Zhongming, with a dark face, reluctantly supported He Yujiao.

But the magistrate, unwavering, said, “The flogging was for her contempt of court and disrupting order. As for releasing her? That is impossible. He Yujiao is a shareholder of Dong Fabric Shop and personally committed the crime. She deserves the same punishment as Dong Yuzhu. Three years in prison and a tenfold compensation to Qiao Family Inn.”

Without regard for the expressions on Gu Zhongming and He Yujiao’s faces, the magistrate turned to Lu Tang. “How much was the market price of the goods you ordered?”

Lu Tang responded, “Ten thousand taels.”

“Then a tenfold compensation of one hundred thousand taels of silver must be paid within three days, or Dong Fabric Shop will be auctioned according to procedure.”

Auction?

Lu Tang now understood why the system’s task was to become the champion of acquiring Dong Fabric Shop.

She had wondered before, without competition, how could she be a champion?

It turned out it was an auction competition.

“But Host Daddy, our task deadline is today. The auction is in three days; we won’t make it in time.”

Gu Zhongming found the entire situation absurd, as if he were in a bizarre dream.

Why was the magistrate treating He Yujiao this way? It seemed as though the magistrate was out to ruin her, and yet he couldn’t openly plea for her.

He had thought that by personally appearing and giving the magistrate an appropriate way out, the magistrate would relent, but the magistrate remained incorruptible.

And the chief eunuch?

Throughout the entire process, the chief eunuch acted like a transparent figure standing aside, not uttering a word or even lifting an eyelid.

What did this mean?

Was this the Emperor’s intention?

No, he couldn’t let the magistrate imprison He Yujiao. If she ended up in prison and revealed something in a moment of desperation, he would be in serious trouble.

Huang Yunsheng was already in trouble, and the case in Jinling had been reopened. Huang Yunsheng was undoubtedly guilty.

Huang Bangyuan was now barely able to protect himself, with court officials beginning to impeach him, accusing him of stealing others’ achievements and claiming that the construction of the Liyang Dam had significant hidden dangers.

If any mishap occurred at this critical moment, Gu Zhongming didn’t dare to imagine the consequences.

But he couldn’t openly take her away either. Gu Zhongming planned to visit the magistrate’s home later to find out what was really going on.

Dong Yuzhu, unaware of Gu Zhongming’s plans, saw He Yujiao being flogged and then sentenced to imprisonment, and he began to cry out.

“Your Honor, please have mercy. Dong Fabric Shop may have a vast business, but it has no cash reserves. We can’t even come up with five thousand taels, let alone ten thousand.”

“Shut up!” He Yujiao, with bloodshot eyes, glared at Dong Yuzhu, her voice filled with malice. With blood at the corners of her mouth, she looked like a vengeful ghost.

Dong Yuzhu, now only afraid of imprisonment, ignored her and continued to plead to the magistrate, “Your Honor, I am the owner of Dong Fabric Shop in name only. All the shop’s profits are controlled by He Yujiao. She only gives me dividends every six months. Although I substituted inferior goods, I did so under her orders. She’s a princess; I couldn’t defy her. Please understand my predicament and show mercy.”

To avoid imprisonment, Dong Yuzhu placed all the blame on He Yujiao. She wanted to say that she had never instructed him to use inferior goods, but her words would seem empty. Who would believe her?

His words stirred up a commotion outside.

Dong Fabric Shop was the largest fabric shop in the capital, catering to both commoners and the royal family.

Could such a large business have no cash reserves?

Where did all the money go?

Who would believe that?

Dong Yuzhu, fearing disbelief, swore, “Your Honor, I have savings in Shunfeng Bank. I do have savings, but that is my hard-earned money. Managing such a large shop, even as an employee, I should receive some salary. If I have to use my own money to cover the compensation, what will become of me? If you insist on punishing me, I request you auction the shop directly.”

His children were still young, and now they wouldn’t even have the chance to take the civil service exams. He had to consider their future.

Dong Yuzhu hated He Yujiao. If she didn’t have the ability, why provoke Qiao Family Inn?

The goods for Qiao Family Inn were specially made, with the inn’s name embroidered on them. Even the Duke of Zhen wouldn’t want beddings with “Qiao Family Inn” embroidered on them.

It was clearly intended to make things difficult.

Now, she had shot herself in the foot and implicated him.

Suddenly, he remembered something and shouted, “Also, I know that He Yujiao keeps someone at her estate in Fengtai. That person is from Zhao Kingdom!”

Boom!

His words caused another uproar.

He Yujiao had accompanied Princess Zhao Yue to marry into Zhao Kingdom, where they were humiliated, and the princess had died.

Now, He Yujiao was keeping someone from Zhao Kingdom at her estate?

Without a second thought, Song Qingzhan turned and left.

He Yujiao, enraged, struggled to reach Dong Yuzhu, “You’re lying.”

Dong Yuzhu, standing tall, retorted, “You know if I’m lying. Last month on the fifteenth, you asked me to prepare ten thousand taels of silver. I gathered all the available money and sent it to your estate in Fengtai.

While I was there, I heard someone speaking in Zhao language.”