Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 169

The Sixth Princess picked up the ring and caught up with the Crown Princess who was already walking ahead. “If you don’t want this nice ring, I’ll take it.”

The Crown Princess glanced disdainfully at He Yujiao. “You can have it. I find it dirty.”

He Yujiao, whose legs had just been struck, felt a chill in her heart and almost coughed up blood.

In the entire capital, He Yujiao feared no one except the Crown Princess.

This woman felt more noble than the Empress. Her pride came from her very bones, and her disdain for He Yujiao was also deeply rooted.

The Crown Princess was always gentle and kind to everyone, speaking softly and courteously. But towards He Yujiao, she was never kind, regardless of the occasion or the audience. She always looked at her with contempt, as if she were trash.

Despite her several attempts, He Yujiao never succeeded against her.

When the two princesses suddenly arrived, the officials quickly stood up to greet them.

The Crown Princess, approachable as always, pressed the Magistrate Zhao back into his seat. “Lord Zhao, please sit. My sister and I are just here to observe. Please continue with the trial.”

She then placed a letter on the table in front of the Magistrate Zhao.

The attendants quickly brought two chairs. The Crown Princess and the Sixth Princess sat opposite the Minister of Punishments and the other two officials, nodding in acknowledgment.

Once the princesses were seated, the Magistrate Zhao resumed his seat and read the letter. His face changed dramatically as he passed it to the Minister of Punishments and slammed the gavel. “He Yujiao, do you admit your guilt?”

He Yujiao, already frustrated by the Crown Princess’s presence, was even more infuriated by the situation. Being a prisoner while the princess remained high above was unbearable.

Her face flushed with anger, and she snapped, “I admit to what happened at the Qiao Family Inn, but I refuse to be slandered with other crimes.”

The Magistrate Zhao glared at her. “Slander? You intercepted military reports and detained official documents. These are well-documented facts. How is that slander?”

He Yujiao trembled.

How did they know about this?

Impossible!

“You’re lying. I never did such a thing. I’m just a minor county princess. How could I intercept military reports? Stop slandering me.”

As she spoke, He Yujiao glanced at the letter being passed around, then directed a venomous look at the Crown Princess.

“Fabricating evidence? Has the Crown Princess stooped to such underhanded tactics? I thought the Crown Princess was above such petty means, but it seems not. Such deceitful and despicable methods—”

Before she could finish, the Sixth Princess flicked the ring at her.

With a loud slap, He Yujiao screamed, her mouth filling with blood as the ring knocked out one of her teeth.

She spat out a mouthful of blood, saliva, and the ring, which landed on the floor with her tooth.

The Sixth Princess clicked her tongue. “Now it’s really dirty. I can’t keep it.”

She leaned forward, propping her elbow on her knee, and used a whip to lift He Yujiao’s chin.

“I advise you to watch your mouth. Otherwise, you’ll suffer for it. I don’t mind; after all, my only role here is to make ‘severe interrogation’ truly live up to its name. But it’s different for you. If you die here, that’s one thing. But what if you’re innocent and survive? What then? Leaving here, already ugly, and now with a disfigured face and a crippled body—ugh, even more repulsive.”

The Sixth Princess’s words were harsh and crude. He Yujiao, having just lost a tooth, was in pain, anger, and fear, but she dared not retaliate.

She knew too well the reputation of this Western Frontier General.

She was ruthless and decisive, with countless deaths to her name. Calling her a demon on earth wouldn’t be an exaggeration. Many had perished at her hands.

After glaring resentfully for a while, He Yujiao could only kneel there obediently, though with a straight back. “I didn’t do it. I never intercepted any intelligence or detained official documents.”

The Magistrate Zhao continued, “Then explain the 10,000 taels of silver you sent to the battlefield last month.”

He Yujiao replied, “I partnered with Dong Yuzhu to run a business. The shop made money. As a county princess, I benefit from the Emperor’s grace and should contribute to the country. That silver was a subsidy for the soldiers. Is that wrong?”

The Magistrate Zhao sneered. “Do you think you can fool me? Perhaps the old me would have been deceived, but not today’s me!”

The Minister of Punishments: …

You are indeed today’s you.

You wouldn’t have been so upright if you were yesterday’s you.

“Fine, let’s assume the 10,000 taels were for the soldiers. Then explain the Zhao Kingdom people at your Fengtai estate.”

He Yujiao shook her head. “Nonsense, all fabricated by Dong Yuzhu.”

“Is that so? But the Ninth Prince has already captured them.”

He Yujiao’s heart skipped a beat. Qin Mo captured them?

Impossible!

He couldn’t have moved that quickly.

When she was summoned to the Justice Ministry, her attendants were waiting outside. The moment Dong Yuzhu mentioned the Zhao Kingdom people, she saw her attendants turn pale and leave, faster than Song Qingzhan.

So, they couldn’t have been caught.

This official must be bluffing.

After calculating in her mind, He Yujiao said, “If you have captured someone, bring them to confront me. There’s no such person. I’ve done nothing wrong.”

The Magistrate Zhao replied, “If you’re so confident, let’s have a confrontation. Bring the prisoner—”

As soon as he called out, an officer responded.

He Yujiao’s face turned pale, and she quickly looked back.

The Magistrate Zhao watched her intently, a cold smile on his lips: Guilty conscience.

“Wait, this person can’t be seen whenever you want. After the interrogation, according to procedure, you’re not allowed to meet.”

The Minister of Punishments: …

The Chief Justice of the Dali Temple: …

The Censor-in-chief: …

He sounds so convincing, as if this procedure actually exists.

“However, I have another question for you. What really happened to Princess Zhao Yue back then?”

Everyone present: Huh?

The question was too abrupt and sudden. Even the usually composed Crown Princess twitched and glanced at the Magistrate Zhao.

But he was staring intently at He Yujiao. “I want you to repeat exactly what you said back then. Every word recorded. Now, say it again, without any changes.”

He Yujiao’s heart raced, and she quickly avoided his burning gaze. “I don’t remember. I said everything back then. It’s been so many years.”

“So many years should make it clearer. After all, every day of your life now is thanks to Princess Zhao Yue’s sacrifice.”

The Crown Princess was Zhao Yue’s childhood friend. The princess’s sudden marriage, mistreatment, and mysterious death at the border had always puzzled her.

But nothing had been uncovered over the years.

Now, the Magistrate Zhao brought it up, and seeing He Yujiao’s expression…

The Crown Princess looked at He Yujiao, silent for a moment. When she didn’t speak, the princess said firmly, “Use torture. Speak, and we’ll stop.”

The Sixth Princess rolled up her sleeves and walked towards He Yujiao, grabbing her hair and dragging her away.