Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 6

During the day, Liang Cheng had mentioned that bandits had come to the Western Hills. Was it true?

Suddenly wide awake, Lu Tang got up and headed straight for the main gate.

The gatekeeper, who was peering outside through a crack in the door, turned around upon hearing the commotion. Seeing Lu Tang, he quickly greeted him, “Young Master, why are you up in the middle of the night?”

He wanted to ask why Lu Tang wasn’t asleep but thought better of it, remembering the trouble Gu Changming had caused earlier. Instead, he said, “It seems like there are bandits outside.”

Lu Tang peered through the crack but saw nothing. “Did you see any bandits?”

The gatekeeper shook his head. “I only heard a shout from the east. It wasn’t very loud, and after that, there was no more noise. I’m not sure if they took anything.”

The east? Wasn’t that where the Gu family lived? Maybe the bandits had taken Gu Changming.

After waiting a while and seeing no more activity outside, Lu Tang instructed, “Tell the steward to stay alert tonight.” As he was about to return to the inner courtyard, the gate suddenly thudded with loud knocks.

Lu Tang jumped.

The gatekeeper also shivered in surprise.

They exchanged worried glances: Were the bandits here?

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Lu Tang took a deep breath and shouted towards the gate, “Who are you? This is…”

From outside, a voice boomed, “It’s your father!”

Lu Tang was taken aback. “Nonsense! You say you’re my father, and I’m supposed to believe you? Prove it!”

The gatekeeper tugged on Lu Tang’s sleeve, whispering, “Young Master, that really sounds like the Master.”

Lu Tang knew it was his father. He was just too angry to acknowledge it.

Lu Deren’s voice, filled with anger, came through the door, “You unfilial child! You’ve become lawless! Open the door! Once your sister is married, I’ll deal with you!”

“Rubbish! Gu Changming is out visiting brothels, and you expect my sister to marry him? You should be the one getting married! May you live happily ever after with him!”

Having said that, Lu Tang yelled, “Don’t open the door for the liar outside!”

However, Lu Deren’s servant had already climbed over the wall.

Landing on the ground, the servant rushed to Lu Tang, “Young Master, it really is the Master outside!”

He then turned to the gatekeeper and snapped, “What are you standing there for? Open the gate!”

The gatekeeper hesitated but obeyed.

Lu Deren entered with a furious expression, raising his hand to slap Lu Tang.

Lu Tang dodged, shouting, “There are bandits outside! I thought it was a trick! Who would expect you to be out and about in the middle of the night?”

He didn’t address him as father.

Lu Deren, unable to land the slap, lowered his hand but his chest heaved with anger. He pointed at Lu Tang, “Just wait. I don’t have time to deal with you now!”

With that, he strode towards the inner courtyard.

Lu Tang hurried after him. “What are you doing?”

“The Gu family will be here soon to take your sister!” Lu Deren said, walking briskly.

Lu Tang felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over him, his anger flaring up. “Take her? What right do they have? My sister won’t marry!”

Lu Deren ignored him, quickening his pace.

Before they reached the main hall, the sound of celebratory music echoed from afar.

In the main hall, Madam Qiao sat with a stern face. When Lu Deren entered, she didn’t move or speak. “This wedding is off,” she declared.

Lu Deren, anxious about the wedding, didn’t notice her unusual demeanor.

“Madam, I’ve found out the truth. Changming was framed. Someone drugged him and sent him to the brothel. The Gu family has already reported it to the authorities!”

Madam Qiao didn’t look at him. “I don’t care if he was framed. The fact is, he’s tainted. My daughter will not marry a tainted man!”

“Tainted? Changming is not tainted! Before he married Shuqing, he didn’t even have a maidservant! He was a victim at the brothel! Besides, the Gu family is already here to take the bride. How can we cancel the wedding now? What reason do we have? I know you’re angry, but you can’t ruin Shuqing and Changming’s lives because of it. That’s selfish!”

If it hadn’t been for Lu Tang’s words, Madam Qiao might have wavered at this point.

She clenched her fists within her sleeves, slowly raising her eyes to meet his.

Just as she was about to speak, the steward hurried in.

“Madam, Master, the Gu family’s wedding procession is here.”

Lu Deren glanced at Madam Qiao, then waved his sleeve dismissively, “Let them in quickly.”

The steward didn’t move.

Lu Deren, puzzled, turned to look at him.

The steward, named Qiao Fu, lowered his head, awaiting Madam Qiao’s orders.

He was an old servant of Madam Qiao’s father. Not knowing the details of Lu Deren’s plans, he only followed Madam Qiao’s instructions regarding the Gu family’s marriage proposal.

Seeing the steward’s reluctance, Lu Deren’s face contorted in anger. “What do you mean by this? Are you now holding a grudge against me because of the Gu family? I can’t even command the servants in this house anymore?”

It was the first time he had spoken to Madam Qiao in such a harsh, sarcastic tone.

He snorted, “Changyuan, let the Gu family in!”

Changyuan, Lu Deren’s personal attendant, stood outside and obeyed the order.

Madam Qiao stood up abruptly. “I want to see who can take my daughter away today! Qiao Fu, do not let the Gu family in!”

Qiao Fu, taking his orders, left.

Lu Deren, taller than Madam Qiao, looked down at her. “Madam, don’t be impulsive. If we cancel the wedding without cause, what will the people think of us?”

He paused, then added darkly, “Besides, the county magistrate himself is attending the Gu family’s wedding banquet. Even he believes in Changming’s innocence. This proves Changming’s innocence.”

Outside, the festive yet piercing music grew louder.

In no time, Changyuan led the Gu family’s wedding procession into the main courtyard.

Lu Tang was alarmed. Where was Uncle Fu?

“Go see what’s happened to Uncle Fu,” Lu Tang whispered to Yuan Bao.

Among the wedding procession, there was no sign of the groom, Gu Changming. Leading the group was his already married elder brother, Gu Songming.

Madam Qiao, seeing them enter, knew something had gone wrong with Qiao Fu and felt a cold chill in her heart.

“Gu Changming is bedridden after two months of torment, and you come to take the bride? Are you here to divorce and remarry?”

Gu Songming ignored Madam Qiao’s remarks and directly addressed Lu Deren, “Uncle Lu, you know how it is. Changming was targeted out of jealousy because he passed the imperial exam and is marrying Miss Lu. Despite the mess yesterday, his sincerity towards Miss Lu is undeniable. He couldn’t come personally, but his heart remains unchanged. The county magistrate is already at our house, just waiting to toast the newlyweds.”

The Gu family’s entourage chimed in, “Where’s the bride? The auspicious time is approaching!”

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