HBWMA -Chapter 173 A house that can field a hundred chariots does not keep officials who hoard wealth

The next second, the mocking laughter and derisive voices from the camera exploded through the otherwise quiet tea room.

The footage from the lotus pond only captured the earlier segment—about a minute or so—but it was enough to explain the entire situation.

However, the camera contained more than just what happened at the lotus pond. The experiences of those victims were even more severe than tonight’s incident.

On the video, the victims’ desperate cries for help and the perpetrators’ playful, mocking laughter tore at everyone’s ears present. Even Shen E was stunned, staring at her daughter as if she no longer recognized her.

A catalogue of crimes, repeated offenses without repentance—if not a habitual offender, then what was she?

Xiao Lanlan’s face turned pale. Time and circumstances had changed, and the cries for mercy in the video now felt like a cruel mockery of her current predicament. In that moment, the string of rationality in her mind snapped.

“That’s not me! You’re framing me!” Xiao Lanlan suddenly stood up and lunged toward Jiang Huashan.

Shen Guiling was standing right behind Jiang Huashan. Seeing the “mad dog” charging forward, he casually pulled her aside without a word.

Shen Qingyu, however, had no such reservations. He directly stepped in front of Jiang Huashan to shield her.

Xiao Lanlan already hated Jiang Huashan. Shen Qingyu’s protection was the final straw that broke the camel’s back—she completely lost control. She screamed at Jiang Huashan hysterically.

“I just taught a few lowly commoners a lesson—so what? Who told them to be born inferior and still try to compare themselves to me?! And you! What right do you have to dance the first dance with Brother Lanxi? That was supposed to be mine! Mine!”

The more she spoke, the more agitated she became. Ignoring Shen Qingyu’s restraint, she lunged again to grab the camera.

Shen E was also frightened out of her wits and hurried forward to pull her back.

“Lánlan, calm down!”

But she didn’t listen at all, continuing to struggle toward Shen Qingyu. Eventually, Shen Qingyu grew irritated and grabbed her arm, throwing her aside.

Jiang Huashan seized the opportunity and secretly tugged at the blanket wrapped around Xiao Lanlan.

“Ah!”

When she was thrown out, the side seam of the blanket came loose, exposing her lower waist completely—her underwear was visible.

Shen Qingyu’s expression changed slightly as he turned back to look at Jiang Huashan.

Jiang Huashan casually turned her head away as if it had nothing to do with her. Just as she looked away, Shen Lanxi shot her a sharp, piercing glance.

“……”

She pretended to stretch her neck and turned naturally in another direction—but the moment she did, Shen Guiling caught her.

“……”

What’s going on? All three of them saw it?

She kept turning again, chin lifted, looking upward.

“!”

Shen Zhuang was silently watching her.

“……”

Jiang Huashan pursed her lips and slowly lowered her head.

Alright. She had behaved.

“Ahhh!” Xiao Lanlan crouched down, hugging her knees, crying in shock and rage. “Waaah—you’re all bullying me! None of you are helping me!”

Shen E’s heart ached. She quickly picked up the blanket from the ground and wrapped it around her daughter. Xiao Lanlan clung to it like a lifeline, but she still refused to accept it. Tears streaming down her face, she shouted: “What did I do wrong?! Think about it carefully—are you all really clean yourselves? This isn’t bullying, this is power of the upper class! Has the Shen family never used its power to reach where it is today?”

She had gone completely mad.

Shen E was so frightened she felt her heart stop and slapped her hard across the face.

The sound was sharp and heavy. Xiao Lanlan was stunned—Shen E had always indulged her, never even raising her voice before, let alone hitting her.

Shen E hugged her tightly. “Dad, I failed to teach my daughter. It’s all my fault. I’ll educate her properly when we get back. I promise this will never happen again.”

Old Master Shen let out a faint sigh.

“Lanlan, do you even understand what the power of the upper class is?”

Xiao Lanlan trembled all over but still glared at him stubbornly.

Old Master Shen said calmly: “If you only use the Shen family’s power to bully the weak, then you don’t deserve to use it at all. Today, I will take it back.”

Shen E froze, staring at him in disbelief.

“Dad? What do you mean?”

“The Shen family has stood firm in this country for a hundred years not because of any single person, but because of every generation of the Shen family. A family does not thrive because of one person, but it can collapse because of one. We cannot afford that risk.”

Shen E’s heart sank instantly. She remembered—years ago, the old master had used the same reasoning to expel Shen Nian from the country.

Old Master Shen continued:

“Lanlan has grown up, but her heart has grown in the wrong direction. The Shen family temple is too small to contain her anymore. From now on, she need not come to Shen Manor again.”

“Dad!” Shen E collapsed to her knees, hugging his leg. “I know I was wrong! I’ll take her back and discipline her properly! She will never bring shame to the family again!”

Hearing that she might be cut off, Xiao Lanlan finally panicked. Her father still needed the Shen family’s influence to secure the marriage alliance with the Zhou family. Without them, Zhou Yanheng would never choose her.

“Grandpa! I was wrong, Grandpa! Please!”

But Old Master Shen had no more patience for this.

He waved his hand.

“Shen Zhi, see them out.”

“Send us out?”

Shen E went weak all over and began crying uncontrollably.

Shen Zhi helped them up. “Miss, please go back first. Wait until the old master cools down.”

Shen E glanced at Old Master Shen one last time and, supported by Shen Zhi, left the tea room with Xiao Lanlan.

The other two girls had already broken down in tears. As soon as Xiao Lanlan left, they hurriedly began defending themselves.

“Old Master Shen, it wasn’t us! It was all Xiao Lanlan! She threatened us! If we didn’t listen, we’d be the next ones bullied!”

“Yes! Yes! We were forced! And today—she said Jiang Huashan was worthless, that even if she died no one would care… that’s why we… that’s why we attacked her!”

Old Master Shen didn’t bother speaking to children.

He looked at Shen Jiao.

“Find out which families they belong to. Send their parents to take them back.”

Then he turned to Shen Yan.

“Find the victims. I don’t care what method you use—you must obtain their forgiveness.”

“Yes.”

Shen Yan took the camera from Jiang Huashan and left the tea room with Shen Jiao.

Now, only six children remained.

Old Master Shen scanned them with a serious expression.

“Do you know why I expelled Lanlan?”

Silence.

“Xiao Hua’er, you answer.”

Jiang Huashan’s eyelid twitched. She blurted out: “A house that can field a hundred chariots does not keep officials who hoard wealth.”