HBWMA -Chapter 148 You’re Talking Nonsense!

Be a princess?

Jiang Huashan almost laughed at Xiao Lanlan’s suggestion.

“What are you laughing at?”

That earlier line—“born evil”—had already completely offended Xiao Lanlan. She originally thought that being caught on the spot, Jiang Huashan would at least show some guilt. Yet not only did she show none, she even dared to mock her proposal?!

Xiao Lanlan’s expression turned cold as she snapped, “What? Do you think my suggestion is funny?”

Jiang Huashan froze slightly, then deliberately looked toward Fu Sui’er with a frightened expression.

“Huh? Did I just laugh?”

Fu Sui’er played along perfectly, shrugging. “Nope. You didn’t laugh. Cousin Lan must’ve seen wrong.”

Jiang Huashan’s eyes curved slightly as she raised her brows at Xiao Lanlan.

“You heard that? You saw wrong.”

“You—”

Xiao Lanlan hadn’t expected Jiang Huashan to be this bold. She was the proper young lady of the Shen family, while this “stray” was nothing more than an outsider adopted by the old master. Even Fu Sui’er and Shen Mianzhi didn’t dare openly oppose her—so why did she?!

Chin lifted, Xiao Lanlan’s eyes sharpened.

“Then what about earlier when you called me ‘born evil’? Did I hear wrong too? I’ll remind you—not only me heard it. Are you saying all of us misheard?”

She then turned to Shen Lanxi.

“Brother Lanxi, you’re the fairest. You heard her insult me too, right?”

Before Shen Lanxi could answer, Jiang Huashan immediately seized the loophole and turned to Shen Qingyu instead.

“Brother Qingyu, she’s saying you’re not fair.”

Shen Qingyu almost laughed out loud. This little troublemaker usually called him by his full name without any respect, and now she was calling him “Brother Qingyu” when she needed him?

He glanced lazily at Xiao Lanlan. “Oh, I heard it.”

“……”

Xiao Lanlan was stunned. “Brother Qingyu, don’t listen to her nonsense!”

Jiang Huashan leaned in. “Brother Qingyu, just say it fairly—did I insult her or not?”

Shen Qingyu couldn’t hold back his laugh. “Unfairly speaking… no, you didn’t.”

Xiao Lanlan froze completely. Even if she was slow, she could tell—Shen Qingyu was clearly taking sides.

But Shen Qingyu was from the second branch; logically he should be closer to her than Shen Lanxi. Why wasn’t he helping her?!

Jiang Huashan’s gaze swept past Shen Guiling. From beginning to end, he hadn’t said a word. Only when her eyes passed over him did his eyelids lift slightly.

Their eyes met for just a second before calmly separating again.

Finally, Jiang Huashan’s gaze landed on Shen Mianzhi.

“Zhizhi, did you hear me call her ‘born evil’?”

The sudden question startled Shen Mianzhi. She glanced at Xiao Lanlan, hesitated for a moment, then shook her head.

“I was distracted the whole time. I didn’t hear what you were saying.”

“You’re lying!”

Xiao Lanlan suddenly snapped.

Shen Qingyu was one thing—but even Shen Mianzhi was lying for her?!

She lost control instantly, pointing at Jiang Huashan in fury.

“You’re all doing this on purpose! You’re ganging up on me!”

Jiang Huashan pretended to be startled and clutched her chest.

“Yeah, yeah, we’re just trying to anger you to death~ anger you to death! Bleh bleh bleh!”

“……”

Shen Lanxi: “……”

Xiao Lanlan completely broke down and rushed forward to hit her.

Shen Mianzhi was closest and tried to step in to stop her, but Xiao Lanlan, already resentful that Shen Mianzhi hadn’t sided with her—and used to being domineering among the younger girls—didn’t take her seriously at all. She directly shoved her away.

The force was strong. Shen Mianzhi, unprepared, stumbled down the garden steps outside the hall entrance.

Everyone’s expressions changed instantly.

Shen Guiling finally reacted, rushing down the steps to help her up.

Fortunately, there were only two steps. Shen Mianzhi wasn’t seriously hurt—only her knee and arm were scraped.

But the commotion outside had already drawn the attention of the elders inside.

Old Master Shen came out with the Shen family members from both branches.

“What’s going on?”

Xiao Lanlan immediately reacted, crying as she grabbed the old master’s arm.

“Grandpa, Sister Shanshan is bullying me!”

At this moment, mentioning only Jiang Huashan clearly meant she had no backing.

Shen Rang’s face darkened. He walked straight down to check on Shen Mianzhi.

“She bullied you? Then why did you push Mianzhi?”

Xiao Lanlan panicked. “I didn’t mean to. I just—”

She couldn’t admit she was about to hit Jiang Huashan and stammered instead.

Shen E couldn’t stand it anymore and stepped forward to shield her daughter.

“Fourth brother, why are you being so harsh? Lanlan has always been kind to her sisters. How could she push Mianzhi? There must be some misunderstanding.”

She then turned gently toward Shen Mianzhi.

“Mianzhi, tell us what really happened.”

Shen Mianzhi looked up at Shen Zhuang, hesitated, then lowered her head.

“Dad… it wasn’t Sister Lanlan’s fault. I just accidentally twisted my foot and fell.”

Shen Rang’s expression turned complicated, but he said nothing more, only instructing the servants to take her to treat her wounds.

As Shen Mianzhi was helped away, her eyes lifted slightly and briefly glanced at Jiang Huashan.

Jiang Huashan met her gaze openly—and even smiled faintly.

“Grandpa,” Xiao Lanlan said quickly when she saw Shen Mianzhi didn’t expose her, emboldened again, “Shanshan sister suddenly insulted me. She called me ‘born evil.’”

“What?!” Shen E frowned, looking Jiang Huashan up and down with a harsh gaze.

“What an ungrateful wretch. Living off the Shen family, wearing the Shen family’s clothes, and instead of being grateful, she stirs up trouble? Dad, Lanlan and the others are usually very well-behaved. It must be this girl. If you don’t discipline her, she’ll climb over everyone’s heads.”

Shen Jiao’s face turned cold as she was about to speak—

Bang!

Shen Zhuang struck his cane hard on the ground.

“Then maybe you should run this family instead?”

Shen E’s face stiffened instantly. “Dad, that’s not what I meant!”

Shen Jiao chuckled softly, even rolling her eyes.

Shen Zhuang swept his gaze over the group of youths in front of the hall, finally landing on Jiang Huashan.

“Little Huashan, did you insult Lanlan?”

Jiang Huashan shook her head sincerely.

“No.”

That wasn’t an insult. It was just a fair evaluation—how could that count as insulting?