HBWMA -Chapter 16 Rebellion

“What are you shouting about?”

Jiang Wanyi could afford to act childish, but Fang Mei could not.

The reason they were able to live under the roof of the Shen family was all because of Jiang Huashan. In truth, Jiang Huashan was the only one Elder Shen Zhuang truly intended to adopt. As for Jiang Wanyi, she was Fang Mei’s daughter with another man. The old master had merely taken Jiang Huashan’s face into account when he reluctantly allowed them to stay. If Jiang Wanyi dared to try and take over this embroidery building, there would be no need for Shen Jiao to act—by tomorrow, the Shen family would already be making them pack up and get out of Shen Manor.

Fang Mei understood this clearly.

Looking at Jiang Wanyi’s angry, unrestrained expression, Fang Mei only felt she had been living too comfortably, to the point of becoming foolish.

But as someone who preferred to remain in control, she disliked Jiang Huashan’s behavior even more at this moment. It was as if she was being reminded that everything she had obtained in Shen Manor was nothing but a fragile illusion—something that would vanish the moment Jiang Huashan became unhappy.

Fang Mei’s face darkened. “Yiyi, remember this: the embroidery building was given to your sister by the old master. Don’t treat something you’ve used for a while as if it already belongs to you. It depends on whether you actually have the ability to keep it.”

Jiang Wanyi’s face turned pale and green in turns, humiliated by the words. Over the past three years, she had tried countless times to please the old master, but no matter what she did, his eyes were always only on Jiang Huashan.

After warning Jiang Wanyi, Fang Mei quickly put on a gentle smile again. “Shanshan, although Chrysanthemum Garden is large, it won’t be easy to tidy up a room on short notice. You and Yiyi are sisters—don’t let a small matter create distance between you. You’re the older sister, so you should be tolerant and generous. Your sister is still young and doesn’t understand things. Don’t follow her into making trouble. There’s no need to move. If word gets back to the old master, who knows what he’ll think? What do you say?”

It sounded like a discussion, but the decision had already been made.

Jiang Huashan did not respond. Jiang Wanyi, however, looked pleased with herself.

In Shen Manor, the old master’s word was law—but in Chrysanthemum Garden, her mother’s word was law. Jiang Huashan wanting to kick her out and take over the embroidery building alone? Dream on.

Fang Mei took in both of their expressions. Just as she thought she had everything under control, Jiang Huashan suddenly acted out. She picked up the bowl in her hand and smashed it toward Jiang Wanyi’s feet.

The change happened without warning. The sound of porcelain shattering on the ground startled both of them. Jiang Wanyi especially let out a scream and jumped back in panic.

Fang Mei clutched her chest, still shaken, and glared at Jiang Huashan in anger. She was about to scold her when Jiang Huashan spoke first.

“I said it! Let her move out!”

“!”

Fang Mei froze, momentarily unable to react.

Jiang Wanyi looked like she had seen a ghost. In the past three years, Jiang Huashan had tried so hard to please her mother that she practically obeyed everything without question. And now she dared to smash a bowl in front of her mother?

Fang Mei quickly realized the seriousness of the situation and raised her voice. “Shanshan, you should stop this temper tantrum. If you keep acting like this, I’m going to be angry! If you disappoint me, I’ll have no choice but to take your sister back to Huai City. Don’t forget, I stayed in the Shen family all because of you.”

The same tired excuse again.

Jiang Huashan couldn’t help but laugh at herself inwardly.

Her father had died early. After giving birth to her, Fang Mei ran off with another man. She grew up with her grandmother. Later, even her grandmother passed away, leaving her alone in Huai City with no relatives.

Kind neighbors had once helped her contact Fang Mei. She begged her mother through tears to come back, but Fang Mei told her coldly: “You don’t have a mother. From now on, just pretend I’m dead.”

She still remembered that broken alley, the flickering streetlight, and the dial tone after the call was hung up…

She had wandered aimlessly under the dim light, like a lost soul.

When she was at her lowest point, a kind old man in traditional Tang attire appeared at the end of the streetlight. He crouched down and opened his arms.

“You’re little Huashan, right? From today on, Grandpa will protect you in place of your grandmother.”

Later, she followed him back to Shen Manor. Not long after, Fang Mei came back with Jiang Wanyi, acting as if nothing had ever happened. As a mother, she never mentioned her mistakes, only cried and spoke of how the family should never be separated again.

Because she had been abandoned for so long, Jiang Huashan had once clung desperately to that warmth—even though she knew Fang Mei did not love her.

She even went so far as to please her mother, using the Shen family’s power to win her favor, knowing Fang Mei loved wealth and status.

But she never expected the end result would be even more trampling on her dignity.

Jiang Huashan looked at her mother’s performative expression with unusual calm.

Fang Mei, unaware of her thoughts, assumed silence meant submission. This trick had always worked before.

“Madam Jiang, what’s going on here?”

Just as Fang Mei was about to smooth things over, Shen Zhi suddenly appeared in Chrysanthemum Garden. Fang Mei’s expression changed slightly, but she quickly put on a smile and greeted him.

“Steward Shen, what brings you here?”

Shen Zhi had not just arrived—he had been standing outside for a while. He showed no intention of explaining further and said coolly, “The manor made Huai City-style sweet soup in Qinxin Garden. The old master would like to invite Miss Jiang to taste it.” His gaze then fell on Jiang Huashan.

Fang Mei’s eyes flickered. Hadn’t she just come back from Qinxin Garden? Why was she being called again? Could it be that the old master already knew she had been wronged in Winter Garden?

Being invited to Qinxin Garden now was clearly a good thing. Fang Mei was secretly pleased and said gently, “Shanshan, go quickly. Don’t keep the old master waiting.”

Jiang Wanyi looked unwillingly at Jiang Huashan. In her eyes, her so-called sister was stupid and arrogant, lacking both brains and character. She only enjoyed the old master’s favor because of her grandmother. It was unfair.

Jiang Huashan said, “I’m not going. The previous matter hasn’t been resolved. I’m not going anywhere.”

Shen Zhi pretended not to know. “The previous matter? What matter?”

Jiang Huashan said, “It’s about Jiang Wanyi saying the embroidery building is—”

Fang Mei’s expression changed drastically. She quickly pulled her aside. “Shanshan, what’s wrong with you today? If you keep disobeying, I’m really going to be angry.”

Jiang Huashan ignored her and turned back toward Shen Zhi. “They want to take over my—”

This was the first time Fang Mei had felt things slipping out of control. But with Shen Zhi present, she couldn’t afford to lose her temper. After a brief moment of panic, she quickly regained composure.

“I understand! I agree!”

She slowly crouched down to meet Jiang Huashan at eye level, her expression gentle. “Mom agrees. Is that enough to satisfy you?”