Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 33

Lu Deren was stunned and looked at Lu Yuchen in shock.

Lu Yuchen, gnashing his teeth in anger, said, “I didn’t do it, I was framed! I don’t even know what’s going on!”

The manager of the Spring Fragrance House said, “You say you were framed, so let the authorities find out who framed you. But it was you who enjoyed the services at our Spring Fragrance House, so you should pay the bill. I can’t be the one to investigate who framed you. And the death happened in your bed!”

In front of so many people, Lu Yuchen couldn’t explain the situation.

Seeing Lu Yuchen’s expression, Lu Deren knew there was more to the story.

Thinking about Madam Qiao heading straight for Sihé Town early in the morning and Lu Tang suddenly going to the Chunxi Inn last night, he understood everything.

Suddenly, Lu Deren’s eyes looked venomously at Madam Qiao.

“Qiao Rou! I spared you out of respect for our past relationship, but you are so cruel as to want to kill Ah Chen! Don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

He grabbed Lu Yuchen and said, “Take your mother and sister to the carriage first!”

Then he turned to the manager of the Spring Fragrance House and said, “Since there was a murder, let’s see the authorities. The county magistrate will decide who should compensate your Spring Fragrance House!”

He ordered his trusted aide, “Personally take him and the body to the county office!”

After giving his orders, Lu Deren, full of anger and arrogance, glared at Madam Qiao, “I will not let go of the person who framed my son! You’d better come to the county office honestly, or else don’t blame me.”

He left the threat unfinished and headed for the carriage.

Once in the carriage, Jiang Pan’er cried in Lu Deren’s arms, and Lu Yuexi clung to his arm, tears streaming down.

Only Lu Yuchen clenched his fists and said to Lu Deren, “Father, they…”

Lu Deren looked at Lu Yuchen with pain in his eyes, “Don’t worry, Father won’t let anything happen to you!”

On the way, he had ordered Changyuan to take people and pose as mountain bandits, planning to capture Madam Qiao, Lu Tang, and Lu Shuqing on their way back to the county.

Since there were already bandits in the Western Mountains, he might as well use their infamy!

Lu Deren left with his Mistress, leaving the townsfolk of Sihé Town dumbfounded.

The townspeople were stunned!

Was society really like this now?

A live-in son-in-law and his mistress being so arrogant?

Everyone turned their eyes to Madam Qiao.

Holding the divorce paper, Madam Qiao said to Lu Shuqing, “Guard this place well, don’t let anyone tamper with it.”

She then turned to the townsfolk with tears in her eyes and a choked voice, bowed deeply, and said, “For the past two years, the business of Qiao Family Inn has been managed by Lu Deren. I didn’t realize that under his management, the Qiao Family Inn had deteriorated so much. I have let everyone down who trusted the Qiao Family Inn and tarnished the reputation my father built.”

Without saying more, she wiped her tears and left with Qiao Fu.

Her image of someone who had suffered but remained strong and unyielding was firmly established in the hearts of the townsfolk.

It even left them in awe!

When Lu Deren left, he took the managers, workers, and cooks of the Qiao Family Inn and Chunxi Inn with him. Madam Qiao returned to the county with a lighter burden.

Lu Tang quickly pulled Liang Cheng into her mother’s carriage.

When Lu Deren threw out the divorce paper, Lu Tang was furious. That old scoundrel was really awful!

If Liang Cheng hadn’t held her back, she would have hit Lu Deren on the head with a brick.

“Mother!” As the carriage started, Lu Tang couldn’t help saying to Madam Qiao, “He must have colluded with the county magistrate. Otherwise, how could he have produced such an absurd divorce paper!”

Liang Cheng, also furious, said, “Auntie Qiao, don’t worry. When we get back, I’ll go find my father. If Lu Deren’s divorce paper really works, our business families will definitely unite to demand an explanation from the county magistrate!”

Madam Qiao knew that Lu Tang’s friends were close to her and treated them like her own children. She patted Liang Cheng’s head.

“Thank you for your concern, but there’s no need to do that now. If it comes to that, I will definitely seek help from your parents.”

Madam Qiao’s words were calm and steady. Lu Tang hesitated, “Mother, did you expect Lu Deren to be so shameless? Then…”

She glanced at Liang Cheng, feeling a bit uneasy.

“Did I act impulsively?”

Liang Cheng also got nervous. If Auntie Qiao had other plans and they disrupted them, they would be to blame!

Liang Cheng held his breath and looked at Madam Qiao.

Holding the divorce paper, Madam Qiao clenched her fists, took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. Then she opened her eyes and sneered, “Actually, this is the best outcome. Catching Lu Deren off guard will make him lose time to prepare.”

She looked at Liang Cheng and Lu Tang, holding their hands.

“Silly children, how could you be impulsive? You did the right thing. You didn’t act rashly but informed the family first. That’s very good.”

She paused, then asked Lu Tang, “Did Lu Yuchen’s involvement in the murder have anything to do with you?”

Lu Tang immediately replied, “The only thing I did was put Lu Yuchen in my bed. It was the manager of Chunxi Inn who took him to Spring Fragrance House and drugged him.”

Originally, Yuan Bao wanted to give Lu Yuchen a potent aphrodisiac, but Lu Tang had second thoughts at the last moment.

Luckily, she changed her mind.

Otherwise, with a death on her conscience, she wouldn’t know what to do!

However, why did Gu Changming only cause a commotion after taking the aphrodisiac while Lu Yuchen ended up causing a death?

Was Lu Yuchen stronger than Gu Changming?

Suddenly realizing her thoughts were wandering, she snapped back and said, “So, the murder case at Spring Fragrance House can’t be traced back to me or Liang Cheng. Mother, don’t worry.”

At this, Lu Tang remembered something important and quickly took out a ledger from her pocket, “Mother, look at this.”

Madam Qiao took it and, upon seeing it, was overjoyed, “Where did you get this?”

Lu Tang didn’t dare tell her mother about her stomach ache the previous night, so she vaguely replied, “Last night, Liang Cheng and I found a mechanism near the outhouse wall while investigating the backyard of the Qiao Family Inn.”

She glanced at Liang Cheng, who understood and remained silent.

Madam Qiao said happily, “I thought today would be more challenging, but with this, we’re sure to win!”

Hearing this, Lu Tang and Liang Cheng were completely relieved.

Madam Qiao wasn’t most afraid of Lu Deren turning against her, but of him turning against her after thorough preparation.

He had controlled the business for too long. The more prepared he was, the harder the battle would be for Madam Qiao!

So, when she went to Sihé Town today, she desperately tried to provoke Jiang Pan’er.

She wanted Jiang Pan’er to speak the truth in public.

She didn’t expect Lu Deren to rush over and throw out a divorce paper, which actually saved her the trouble of taking drastic measures!

And with the matter at Spring Fragrance House…

Her original goal was to lure Lu Deren to court, and now, everything was in place!

The carriage headed straight for the county office.

As soon as Madam Qiao and her group left Sihé Town, Qin Mo and Song Qingzhan followed.

“Should we intervene?” Song Qingzhan asked Qin Mo.

Qin Mo sat in the carriage, frowning in thought. After a while, he said, “As agreed, help Madam Qiao deal with the people. As for the rest… that little guy might manage on his own.”

Song Qingzhan: Huh?