Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 31

He stumbled and barely managed to stand upright. The first people he saw were Madam Qiao and Lu Shuqing.

Madam Qiao wore a moon-white satin robe, without the golden hairpins and elaborate accessories like his mother, Jiang Pan’er. Instead, she had a few simple white pearl flowers in her hair, yet she exuded an air of nobility and elegance.

Meeting Lu Shuqing’s gaze, Lu Yuchen felt a surge of anger.

She looked at him with disgust, as if he were a fly or a cockroach.

They were all Lu Deren’s children; what gave her the right to look at him that way?

Not far behind Lu Shuqing stood Lu Tang and Liang Cheng, talking about something with exaggerated laughter.

Their laughter made Lu Yuchen’s temples throb.

He had sent people to take Lu Tang to the brothel!

Yet, Lu Tang was perfectly fine, while he had woken up in a brothel woman’s bed with not one, but three women!

Before he could figure out what had happened, the steward of the Spring Fragrance House had dragged him out of bed, accusing him of murder!

How could this happen?

Fuming with anger, Lu Yuchen clenched his fists, trying to control himself.

Seeing the chaotic scene around him, he quickly understood the situation.

Suppressing his boiling rage, Lu Yuchen shifted his gaze from Madam Qiao, Lu Shuqing, and Lu Tang to his mother, Jiang Pan’er.

“I didn’t kill anyone. I was framed. I don’t even know how I ended up at the Spring Fragrance House.”

“You’re full of it! Everyone knows the girls at Spring Fragrance House are sturdy. You played with three girls all night and killed one. Now you’re pretending to have amnesia?”

The brothel steward showed no respect for Lu Yuchen, kicking him again.

Jiang Pan’er rushed forward, pleading, “Let’s talk this through. Our Ahchen is a scholar. He would never go to such a place, and besides, he’s injured.”

The steward’s kick missed, and he spat on the ground.

“So what if he’s a scholar? I’ve seen plenty of hypocrites! They talk about morals but are full of filth in their heads!

I won’t waste words with you. A life for a life. Even if our brothel girls are lowly, they are still human!

Enough talk. Either we settle this privately, or we go to court!”

Jiang Pan’er turned to look at the steward of the Chunxi Inn.

The inn’s steward was pale and sweating profusely.

Now he understood why he had seen Lu Tang early that morning. It was Lu Yuchen who had been taken to the brothel last night!

How could it be Lu Yuchen?

He had clearly taken someone from Lu Tang’s room!

Wiping his sweat, the inn steward was too scared to speak, while Jiang Pan’er realized they had fallen into a trap.

Her son had gone to the brothel, and now he was being accused of murder. Meanwhile, Madam Qiao’s son was unharmed. Enraged, Jiang Pan’er lunged at Qiao Rou.

“You, Qiao, you harmed my son! I’ll fight you!”

Lu Shuqing kicked Jiang Pan’er away, “Disgusting woman, where are you lunging? Your son played with women and killed a prostitute. How is that our family’s fault? Did my mother send your son there?”

With great strength, Lu Shuqing’s kick sent Jiang Pan’er flying, and she landed heavily on the ground.

With a loud thud, Jiang Pan’er felt her chest tear apart and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Seeing this, Lu Yuexi was terrified. She rushed over, her voice trembling, “Mother!”

Supporting Jiang Pan’er, Lu Yuexi glared at Lu Shuqing, “How can you be so cruel?”

Lu Shuqing didn’t even blink.

The onlookers were stunned!

What a spectacle this morning!

Madam Qiao’s face remained unchanged, as if she had no interest in the current situation. She lightly twirled the emerald bracelet on her wrist and said calmly, “In that case, let’s go to the county court. Whether Lu Yuchen is innocent, the magistrate will decide. But if he did kill someone…”

Madam Qiao paused, her smile widening as she looked at Lu Yuchen, whose eyes burned with anger. Then she looked at Jiang Pan’er.

“I will ensure justice for the poor girl who died!”

She then turned to the brothel steward, “Our Qiao Family Inn will cover the funeral and compensation costs for the girl’s family.”

The brothel steward, who initially intended to extort money from the Chunxi Inn, was delighted to hear this. He learned that Madam Qiao owned the Qiao Family Inn and couldn’t be happier.

“Whether we go to the county court or the Emperor himself, this case is undeniable! There were many witnesses to Lu Yuchen’s wild behavior last night, and the county magistrate will find out the truth!”

Madam Qiao smiled warmly, “That’s good.”

She then instructed Qiao Fu, “Take him to the county court immediately. Our dispute with the Chunxi Inn can wait, but the dead girl cannot be delayed!”

Qiao Fu obeyed and immediately took the brothel steward to the county court.

Ignoring her chest pain, Jiang Pan’er, supported by Lu Yuexi, rushed at Madam Qiao again.

“You’re just afraid my son is better than yours, so you framed him! Do you really think I don’t know it was you?”

Madam Qiao sneered, “What does your son have to do with me? What do I have to fear?”

“Mother!”

Sensing what Jiang Pan’er was about to say, Lu Yuchen hurried to cover her mouth, but it was too late.

“Of course, because my son is also Lu Deren’s son!”

Boom!

The crowd was in an uproar again.

Oh my!

Thank goodness they woke up early today!

They were witnessing the juiciest gossip first-hand!

At this moment, the crowd held their breath, not wanting to miss a single word.

Madam Qiao stared at Jiang Pan’er in shock, “You’re saying your son also calls Lu Deren father?”

Lu Yuchen grabbed Jiang Pan’er, signaling her to stop talking, but Jiang Pan’er couldn’t hold back anymore.

It was one thing for the inn to be raided, but Lu Yuchen was her lifeline. She couldn’t let him be framed, especially by Madam Qiao.

She had lived under Madam Qiao’s shadow for most of her life!

Why should she!

She, Jiang Pan’er, was no less than Madam Qiao!

Madam Qiao only had a good father and some money!

Clenching her fist, Jiang Pan’er looked at Madam Qiao with venom, raising her chin, “Yes, my Ahchen and my Yue’er are both Lu Deren’s children!”

Slap!

Lu Shuqing slapped Jiang Pan’er hard.

Boom!

The crowd exploded again!

Oh my!

The Qiao Family Inn belonged to Lu Deren’s father-in-law, while the Chunxi Inn belonged to Lu Deren’s mistress.

And everything the Chunxi Inn operated was taken from the Qiao Family Inn, with Lu Deren as the bridge between them.

Wow!!!

Even storytellers wouldn’t dare make this up!