Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 165

Lu Tang was caught in the middle, scratching the back of her head. “I… I just made it up.”

Lu Shuqing raised her hand and smacked the back of Lu Tang’s head. “Are you out of your mind, making up such nonsense? Do you know what this can do to a girl’s reputation?”

Zhou Shu and Guo Dawei, two of the Five Young Masters of Qinshui, were stunned: “Girl?”

Lu Tang, rubbing her head in pain, yelled, “If you hit me again, I’ll get even dumber.”

Lu Shuqing rolled her eyes. “Getting dumber might be a good thing. At least you wouldn’t be making up lies about yourself.”

Lu Tang pouted, trying to defend herself. “It’s not lying. I’m cooperating with the authorities to solve the case.”

Lu Shuqing gave her a sideways glance: “Keep making things up.”

Lu Tang continued, “Didn’t you see? When Dong Yuzhu mentioned He Yujiao harboring people from Zhao Kingdom, Song Qingzhan immediately left the courtroom.”

“Why did he leave? He must have gone to search the place.”

“This Gu Zhongming is clearly in cahoots with He Yujiao. By stalling Gu Zhongming, I gave Song Qingzhan time.”

Originally, Lu Tang was just making things up, but as she spoke, she began to believe her own words.

Then she pouted, giving her sister a resentful look. “See, I did it for your man, and you hit me.”

Lu Shuqing’s face turned red instantly.

Outside, the other four members of the Five Young Masters of Qinshui chimed in: “Oh, looks like Big Sister Shuqing is getting married!”

“Who’s Big Sister Shuqing’s man? Is his surname Song?”

“Is this something we should be hearing?”

Lu Shuqing pulled the carriage curtain down and snapped at them, “If you’re so full of energy, why don’t you go visit the City God Temple instead of loitering here?”

This made the group outside burst into laughter.

From early morning till now, after being surrounded and then causing a commotion in the courtroom, everyone was starving. Instead of visiting the temple, they all headed back to the Qiao Family Inn.

Since the necessary items for the grand opening were not ready, the inn couldn’t open yet.

They pushed two tables together in the dining hall, and everyone squeezed around for a meal.

Zhuang Yu returned to Song Qingzhan’s home, while Xie Yu and Er Bao joined the group.

The dishes at the Qiao Family Inn were always top-notch. Er Bao was stuffing his cheeks with food and said to Lu Shuqing, “Eldest Miss, I asked around today. I heard Eldest Miss’s husband is a high-ranking official. Can you please ask him to help me find my brother? I don’t need to meet him; I just want to know if he’s okay.”

“Eldest Miss’s husband?”

Everyone was stunned for a moment before realizing he meant Song Qingzhan.

They were finally getting a break from the teasing from Zhou Shu and the others, but here came a little rascal saying it all seriously.

Lu Shuqing, who liked Er Bao, couldn’t bear to scold him. She just pinched his cheek and said, “Alright, I’ll help you.”

Er Bao immediately beamed, “Thank you, Eldest Miss. You really are a living Bodhisattva.”

“Such a sweet talker.”

Lu Tang looked at Er Bao and then lowered her head, sighing softly.

If only Er Bao knew that his brother was gone…

Beside her, Madam Qiao nudged her with her elbow. “Why are you sighing?”

Lu Tang, not daring to tell the truth in front of Er Bao, said, “I was just thinking about how much it would cost to buy Dong Fabric Shop.”

Madam Qiao looked at her, frowning. “Why do you want to buy that shop?”

Everyone at the table looked at Lu Tang.

Lu Tang thought about her mission to acquire the fabric shop. Even though she had failed due to the time constraint, she felt it would be beneficial to acquire it.

“Well, Liang Cheng’s family runs a fabric business. Since he’s here in the capital now, I thought he could manage it.”

Liang Cheng immediately shook his head. “My family can’t afford that much money. Dong’s business is big, and we have limited resources and connections.”

Xu Shen suddenly said, “What if we all join forces?”

Everyone looked at Xu Shen.

Xu Shen put down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth with a napkin. He said to Madam Qiao, “Here’s what I’m thinking. Since Tang wants to come to the capital, and we want to see if there’s potential for development here, we had discussed this before. Liang Cheng’s family is in the fabric business, and I happen to want to start a drama troupe like the one Tang had. Running a drama troupe will require custom-made costumes and props. So, we might as well cooperate, each of us handling a different part. That way, if we make a profit, we share it. If we lose, we all bear the loss together. It’s just a way to see if we can make it.”

Guo Dawei agreed immediately, “I’m in. I love the idea of us brothers working together.”

Zhou Shu nodded, “I don’t mind either. Whatever you guys decide, I’m in.”

Madam Qiao shook her head. “Running a business is not child’s play. Even brothers need to be clear about money matters. I know you have a strong bond, and I understand you don’t want to part with Tang. But remember, Tang may not stay in the capital. We still need someone to look after the business in Qinshui.”

Xu Shen looked at Lu Tang: “You haven’t told your mother about Qin Mo?”

Lu Tang pouted: “With everything going on, what’s the point?”

Xu Shen fell silent for a moment, then smiled at Madam Qiao. “It’s just an idea for now. If we really want to go through with it, we’ll set the rules clearly in advance.”

Lu Shuqing said, “Don’t let small profits ruin your friendship. The bond you have is more valuable than any profit.”

“Got it, sis!”

The Five Young Masters of Qinshui shouted in unison.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. The inn’s attendant opened it, and seeing the crowd outside, he froze, leaning against the door frame, too shocked to speak.

His reaction made everyone at the table look over. Madam Qiao stood up. “What’s wrong?”

Before she could finish speaking, she saw the crowd outside.

Eight princes, seven princesses.

That morning, this group had been blocking their backyard door, talking to Tang. Madam Qiao hadn’t thought much of it since she wasn’t feeling well and figured these princes were friendly, having visited a few times before with Song Qingzhan.

But why were they here again?

Thinking quickly, Madam Qiao hastily curtsied. “Greetings, Your Highnesses.”

The Five Young Masters of Qinshui were stunned: “Princes? Princesses?”

Thud.

Zhou Shu and Guo Dawei fell off their stools.

Xu Shen and Liang Cheng slowly stood up, their faces full of shock, and instinctively moved behind Lu Tang. Seeing them, Zhou Shu and Guo Dawei also got up and stood behind Lu Tang.

In an instant, Lu Tang looked like a leader with four little followers.

The Crown Princess entered first, holding Madam Qiao’s hand and smiling. “No need to be so formal. We’re here to see Tang. There was a misunderstanding this morning, and we came to explain.”

The Four Young Masters of Qinshui were dumbfounded: “Eight princes and seven princesses came to explain a misunderstanding to Tang?”

If they didn’t know better, they might think Tang was the Emperor!