HBWMA -Chapter 193 Shen Rang’s Story

Jiang Huashan and Fu Sui’er were completely unaware of what had happened behind them. The moment they returned to Juyuan, they shut the door and began whispering to each other. Zhang Ru had long since grown used to it.

The two sat on the edge of the bed, continuing the earlier topic.

“You’re saying Shen Ran definitely isn’t possible? Why?” Jiang Huashan asked.

Fu Sui’er said, “I only heard about this recently from my mom. Don’t be fooled by how my little uncle now controls the Dark Hall and seems so powerful—he actually lives with a lot of pain. He’s someone who doesn’t even dare to kill a chicken, but in the end, for my grandfather, he personally killed my little aunt.”

Jiang Huashan paused slightly. “Who did you say?”

Fu Sui’er let out a soft sigh, her tone carrying a trace of sadness.

“My little uncle’s story is far more melodramatic than the novels we read. He met my little aunt at a ball. She was hired to attend that event, and at the time, a few wealthy heirs were forcing her to drink and humiliating her. My little uncle couldn’t stand it, so he stepped in to help her out. After that, the two gradually fell in love.”

“But my little aunt’s status was too low—she simply didn’t match my little uncle. My little uncle knew the family rules as well. In order to get my grandfather to accept her, he even gave up the Shen family’s trillion-wealth inheritance and chose to leave with nothing. My grandfather tried to persuade him, but in the end could only let it go.”

“Later, Shen Mianzhi was born, and in the end my grandfather couldn’t bear to abandon his legitimate granddaughter, so he agreed to let my little aunt officially enter the family.”

“But that decision almost cost my grandfather his life.”

“My little aunt took advantage of the tea-serving moment, pulled out a pistol from her sleeve, and shot my grandfather directly. He collapsed on the spot. She even tried to fire again, but in the critical moment, my little uncle shot and killed her.”

This was a story from sixteen years ago. Jiang Huashan hadn’t even been born yet, but hearing it still made her feel a chill run through her.

“What happened after that?”

“After that, my grandfather fell into a coma, and the truth gradually came to light. It turned out that from the very beginning, my little aunt had been an agent sent by the Shen family’s political enemies. She deliberately approached my little uncle in order to assassinate my grandfather when the Shen family was off guard.”

“When my little uncle realized he had brought a wolf into the house, he was filled with regret. Because of this, the Shen family’s second branch turned on him and even demanded that Shen Mianzhi be sent away.”

“My little uncle knew he was deeply guilty and dared not beg for forgiveness, but when he heard even his newborn daughter might be implicated, he became completely despondent and carried Shen Mianzhi, intending to jump into a river with her.”

“At the critical moment, my grandfather woke up. After learning what the second branch had decided, he immediately ordered my fourth uncle to bring him back.”

“My mother said that my grandfather only had one sentence delivered by my fourth uncle at the time: ‘The Shen family does not discard its children. This child bears the Shen surname—her name is Mianzhi.’”

“After that, my little uncle carried Shen Mianzhi and knelt in front of my grandfather’s bed, knocking his head to confess his sins. After this incident, his personality changed completely. He took over the position of Dark Hall leader alone. According to my mother, this was his way of atoning for his sins—because he once brought a wolf into the house, he turned himself into the sharpest blade of the Shen family.”

Jiang Huashan fell silent.

Since this story came from Fu Sui’er, she had no reason to doubt its authenticity. If it was true, then Shen Rang’s suspicion indeed seemed much smaller. He once gave up everything for love, meaning wealth and status could not tempt him. He also killed his beloved for the sake of grandfather, showing that family outweighed romantic love. Someone like that did not seem likely to betray the family.

But it still couldn’t be completely ruled out, because there was now an uncontrollable variable—Shen Mianzhi.

Could Shen Rang, because of Shen Mianzhi’s death, resent the grandfather and seek revenge through betrayal?

As soon as this thought arose, Jiang Huashan immediately shook it off.

Her grandfather had forbidden Shen Mianzhi from being with Zhou Yanheng and forcefully arranged a more suitable marriage without regard for her wishes. Others might not understand, but Shen Rang, who had experienced everything himself, would surely understand the deeper intent. He would not resent the grandfather.

Seeing that she remained silent, Fu Sui’er continued on her own.

“My mom probably couldn’t stand my attitude toward Shen Mianzhi anymore, which is why she told me this. I used to wonder why everyone in the family never mentioned my little aunt, and why there was never even a ritual of remembrance. Now it all makes sense.”

Jiang Huashan said, “Then… does Shen Mianzhi know the truth?”

Fu Sui’er shook her head. “She probably doesn’t. Grandfather issued a strict order—no one in the Shen family is allowed to mention it again, and Shen Mianzhi must never be told.”

“Not necessarily.”

Fu Sui’er froze slightly, looking at her in confusion. “Not necessarily? You mean Shen Mianzhi already knows about her parents?”

Jiang Huashan looked thoughtful. “I’m not completely sure either. It’s just a suspicion.”

“A suspicion? What are you suspecting?”

Jiang Huashan said, “Xiao Lanlan… don’t you think her attitude toward Shen Mianzhi is especially hostile? Three years ago, when we were all giving gifts to Shen Lanxi, Shen Mianzhi only blocked Xiao Lanlan’s path, and she directly pushed her down the steps. And whenever Xiao Lanlan looks at Shen Mianzhi, there’s clearly contempt in her eyes—like she’s looking at a lower life form. She looks at me the same way, but not at you.”

Fu Sui’er recalled it for a moment and gradually sensed something was off too. “Now that you mention it… it does seem like that. Could it be that my aunt also told Xiao Lanlan about my uncle’s matter? Otherwise, how would she dare act so arrogantly?”

“Godmother told you, and likewise, Shen E might have told Xiao Lanlan too, so it wouldn’t be strange. The key is Shen Mianzhi’s attitude—she always tolerates Xiao Lanlan’s provocations to an extreme degree, as if she already knows something.”

“Really? But who would tell her?” Fu Sui’er still found it hard to believe.

Jiang Huashan said, “It’s just my guess. It may not be true. But if someone really did leak this to Shen Mianzhi, then that person must be rotten to the core.”

Because that would be breaking Shen Mianzhi’s backbone.

Fu Sui’er felt a little sympathetic. She had always thought Shen Mianzhi was just mentally unstable to behave so viciously, but if she truly couldn’t control herself, then it was really pitiful.

How foolish—going to a hospital for treatment and still getting bullied by an unethical doctor.

The more Fu Sui’er thought about it, the angrier she got. “Huashan, what’s that quack doctor’s name?”

Jiang Huashan had been thinking about Shen Mianzhi’s situation when she heard this and suddenly smiled, as if remembering something. “You don’t need to worry about that. I’ve already handed him over to someone else.”

“Huh?”

Fu Sui’er looked confused and was about to ask further when Su Miao’s phone call suddenly came in.

“Su Miao.” Fu Sui’er handed her the phone. “Why is she calling you?”

“Shh.” Jiang Huashan made a shushing gesture, then answered and put it on speaker. “Hello?”

She had barely said a word when the person on the other end exploded like a machine gun.

“JIANG HUASHAN! You’ve got some nerve! Let me ask you—did you go to that neurology building later?! You’re ruthless! I just borrowed your name, and you went and got me labeled as mentally ill! A certified one with a specialist stamp on it! Jiang Huashan, you’re dead!!!”

“I’m telling you, this isn’t over! Just you wait—I won’t let this go!”

Beep—

“She hung up.”

Jiang Huashan shrugged and exchanged a glance with Fu Sui’er. Then, almost at the same time, the two of them burst out laughing and collapsed onto the bed, pounding it wildly.