HBWMA -Chapter 11 Clearing Suspicion of the Culprit

The Shen Residence was vast. Apart from the central main estate, Qinyuan, there were also eight smaller courtyards named after the four seasons and the four noble plants—plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum. Fu Sui’er’s Winter Courtyard was located quite far from Qinyuan; even taking the shortcut across the covered corridor bridge took fifteen minutes.

In the midsummer of July, blue wisteria vines covered the corridor bridge, and purple buds swayed gently in the breeze like shy, playful young girls.

Jiang Huashan walked alone beneath the corridor trellis, continuing her mental analysis.

In human nature, when faced with two harms, one chooses the lesser; when faced with two benefits, one chooses the greater. Therefore, Fang Mei definitely had a problem.

However, which part exactly was problematic, she still couldn’t determine.

The real culprit could command the entire Shen Residence and even keep her grandfather completely unguarded. Considering the timeline and ages involved, there were many people in the Shen family who could potentially do it—but Fang Mei definitely could not. With her status, she wasn’t even qualified to freely enter and exit Qinyuan.

So the most likely scenario was that even if Fang Mei had participated in something, she was at most an insignificant accomplice. The true mastermind was still hiding in the shadows.

That made things difficult. With her current young age and such a powerful opponent, how was she supposed to break this deadlock?

Lost in thought, Jiang Huashan unknowingly arrived at the Winter Courtyard. When she looked up at the plaque above the gate, she suddenly paused, a strange glint flashing in her eyes.

Right—Shen Jiao!

If Old Master’s death implicated the entire Shen family, there was still one person who absolutely could not be considered a suspect: Shen Jiao.

Because this young lady of the Shen family was destined to die suddenly in three years.

Jiang Huashan slightly raised her head, staring at the words “Winter Courtyard” on the plaque for a long moment.

Shen Jiao was the most honored young lady of the Shen family and the old master’s most beloved daughter. He once said that the Shen family’s gun should never be pointed at their own people. Since Shen Jiao had already been cleared as a suspect in his death, she needed to find a way to ease relations with her. Perhaps they could even become allies in the future, which might help in saving the old master.

Having made up her mind, Jiang Huashan clasped her hands behind her back and stepped casually over the threshold.

Three managers and seven or eight maids were standing guard at the entrance of the Winter Courtyard. Zhang Ru was also there. The moment Jiang Huashan stepped into the front courtyard, everyone froze and looked over in unison.

Jiang Huashan acted as if she noticed nothing. Her gaze swept across the crowd before she walked straight up to Zhang Ru.

“Aunt Zhang, how is Fu Sui’er?”

Zhang Ru paused. She was only in her early thirties, and being called “Aunt” should have made her uncomfortable, but Jiang Huashan said it so casually that it instead felt oddly familiar.

“…Miss Jiang,” Zhang Ru looked her over strangely, keeping a polite but distant tone. “Miss Fu has just woken up. Aunt Feng is inside coaxing her.”

Aunt Feng was also an old servant of the Shen family. She had watched Shen Jiao grow up, and the Shen family treated her with more respect than ordinary staff. Now that everyone else had been sent out and only she remained inside, Fu Sui’er was clearly throwing a tantrum.

Jiang Huashan understood and nodded, immediately lifting her foot to enter the house.

Zhang Ru, acting out of kindness, instinctively grabbed her. “Miss Jiang, you’d better not go in right now. Miss Sui’er is in the middle of a temper tantrum.”

Jiang Huashan replied, “I know. That’s exactly why I want to see how she’s throwing it.”

“….”

Zhang Ru was speechless. This Miss Jiang really seemed to enjoy stirring up trouble. She was about to say more when a coworker quickly pulled her back, signaling frantically with her eyes.

Jiang Huashan shot the woman a cold glance. “What? Got something in your eye?”

The maid: “……”

Jiang Huashan ignored them and walked straight into the villa.

Zhang Ru originally wanted to follow, but her coworker stopped her again. “Can’t you see how troublesome that little one is? Why bother with her? If something happens later, are you going to offend Miss Shen because of her?”

After all, they were just hired help of the Shen family. It was better to avoid trouble than to invite it. Zhang Ru understood this too; she sighed softly and nodded.