HBWMA -Chapter 223 House Arrest, Threat

“Huh? This?”

Shen Zhuang looked a little troubled.

Everyone’s gaze naturally fell on Shen Guiling. Shen Guiling had probably already guessed that Jiang Huashan was talking nonsense again and stared at her without blinking.

Shen Qingyu had already heard Jiang Huashan calling Shen Guiling’s name earlier. He had assumed it was just delirious talk from a nightmare, but now that she was awake, she was still thinking about him. His mood turned sour, and with his sharp phoenix eyes, he flicked her forehead.

“You don’t have a brain? And you want to eat someone else’s?”

Bang—

Jiang Huashan closed her eyes and was flicked straight back onto the bed, falling asleep again.

Shen Qingyu froze for a moment, his displeased expression stiffening instantly.

“Little Hua’er!”

Everyone’s expression changed. Even Shen Lanxi couldn’t help but step closer to the bedside.

Shen Jiao leaned in to feel Jiang Huashan’s face. After a moment, she heard the girl’s faint snoring. She finally exhaled in relief and looked up.

“She’s fine. She just fell asleep again.”

Her previous coma was because Jiang Huashan had been studying the “stage gate” inside her sea of consciousness. This time, it was actual rest.

Shen Qingyu was so startled he almost felt his blood run in reverse, but he still refused to back down verbally.

“How can she be this lazy?”

Before he could finish speaking, Shen Zhuang shot him a death stare.

“Is your hand itchy? Who told you to hit her?”

Shen Qingyu knew he was in the wrong and took a few steps back. “I just lightly touched her.”

Shen Zhuang grabbed his cane and struck him right on the backside.

“A light touch? Then let me lightly touch you too!”

“Ow! Grandpa! You’re serious!”

That one strike numbed half of Shen Qingyu’s leg. Seeing that Shen Zhuang was really going to escalate, he quickly hid behind Shen Lanxi.

Shen Lanxi glanced at him and calmly stepped aside.

“……”

Everyone had finally managed to wait until their precious girl opened her eyes, only for her to be knocked right back asleep again by a slap. The more Shen Zhuang thought about it, the angrier he became. He turned to Shen Lanxi.

“Lanxi, when you go back, keep an eye on this brat. Until Little Hua’er fully recovers, he’s not allowed anywhere near her.”

Shen Lanxi’s eyes flickered slightly. “Yes, Grandpa.”

Shen Qingyu was unconvinced. “Why?”

Shen Zhuang: “What are you yelling for? Did you finish weeding those few acres in the back?”

“……”

Shen Qingyu was speechless. After hearing that Jiang Huashan and Shen Guiling had been captured, he had rushed over with the others—he hadn’t had time to weed anything.

“No argument now?”

Shen Qingyu lifted his head, full of rebellious energy. “Who says I have nothing to say? I do!”

Shen Zhuang leaned on his cane and looked at him.

Shen Qingyu pointed at the boy in the wheelchair. “Then you should also ban him.”

This scheming demon was always good at bewitching people. If they didn’t guard against him, that silly Jiang Huashan would be tricked sooner or later.

Shen Guiling looked at him with feigned confusion.

Shen Zhuang knocked Shen Qingyu’s hand away with his cane. “Ban what ban? What do you take A-Ling for?”

Then, as if remembering something, he turned to Shen Guiling.

“Your father told me he wants you to stay in South Bay to recuperate. The National Political Military Academy entrance exams are coming up. Recovering your health is the top priority. What do you think?”

In Country A, military merit was equivalent to honor medals, and the National Political Military Academy was practically the dream institution of every young person. Eighty percent of Country A’s decision-makers were alumni of that academy.

After the new president took office, reforms were introduced to the military and political system. All elite military academies now required applicants to be at least eighteen years old and pass a theoretical exam on warfare.

This was a very high barrier, because Country A’s military knowledge base was largely sealed off. That meant ordinary people could not simply study their way in. The reform had a profound impact, nearly cutting off social mobility for civilians and deepening the divide between civilians and nobles.

In response, elite schools expanded preparatory classes, and these students were all aiming for the National Political Military Academy. In other words, the students in these classes were essentially the future decision-makers of Country A for the next decade.

After a year of hard work, with the entrance exams approaching, Shen Zhuang didn’t want anything to go wrong at this critical moment. That’s why he asked for Shen Guiling’s opinion—he usually let the children decide such matters themselves once they were grown.

“My father already discussed this with me. I also want to stay in South Bay.”

Originally, Shen Guiling planned to stay in Nanyan for a while. First, he hadn’t visited Shu Mu in a long time, and this was a good opportunity. Second, he still had Bai Zheng’s information in his possession, and it needed to be digested as soon as possible. In the Shen Residence, he would easily be watched, while things would be more convenient in Nanyan.

Shen Zhuang didn’t suspect anything. “Alright, since you’ve made up your mind, we’ll arrange it that way. When your injuries are a bit better, remember to call home. Grandpa will send someone to pick you up. Oh, right—no later than next month. It’s Xiaohua’s birthday.”

Shen Guiling smiled and agreed. “I know, Grandpa.”

“Outrageous!”

Yao Ge’s face twisted in fury as she flipped the table over in one motion. Porcelain and glass shattered with a loud crash.

“Has Shen Qian lost his mind? He actually let that bastard stay in Nanyan—and even let him go pay respects to that wretch!”

Shen Qian had been deeply rooted in Nanyan for three years. At this time, his willingness to keep Shen Guiling by his side was enough to prove his attitude toward him had changed. Yao Ge lost control precisely because she understood this.

Her hysterical, distorted expression was chilling. Mo Ran kept her head lowered, not daring to approach.

Over the past three years, Madam’s temper had grown increasingly violent—she no longer had the demeanor of the First Lady of Country A. She was practically a madwoman.

“I’ve done everything for him, endured even his illegitimate son, and this is how he treats me? Heh…”

Yao Ge suddenly grabbed Mo Ran by the hair and yanked her forward, her eyes filled with hatred.

“Where is that little bastard?”

Mo Ran’s scalp burned, but she didn’t dare struggle. Carefully, she replied, “The old master agreed for him to recover in Nanyan. Sir has already sent people to bring him back to the Nanyan villa.”

Yao Ge shot her a cold look and let go. Just as she turned away, Mo Ran hurriedly grabbed her arm.

“Madam, you can’t go. The old master has ordered that you return to Jing Port with everyone else, and also said…”

Yao Ge’s gaze turned icy. “Said what?”

Mo Ran didn’t dare meet her eyes. “He said… the Fifth Master will be watching you. You are not allowed to leave Jing Port for now.”

This was a disguised house arrest?

Yao Ge slapped Mo Ran across the face. Her expression was ferocious. “Useless! And Shen Qian? Where is he?”

If the old master was starting to doubt her, then Shen Qian wouldn’t be spared either!

Mo Ran covered her face and took out an envelope from her coat. “This is what Sir asked me to give you.”

Yao Ge took it and tore it open casually. But the moment she saw the photos inside, her expression froze.

In the pictures, a gloomy-looking man was surrounded by women, indulging in pleasure.

Yao Ge recognized him instantly—it was her own son.

All the frozen emotions in her eyes cooled in an instant, leaving her entire body ice-cold.

“What does Shen Qian mean by this?”

“Sir said the old master already suspects Madam. He hopes this matter will end here with Madam. If Madam cooperates, he will still honor marital ties. Once the Shen family’s affairs are settled, Madam will remain Madam.”

Yao Ge’s gaze was hollow. “And if I don’t cooperate?”

Mo Ran replied, “Sir said… one son is enough. Survival of the fittest. He will choose only the most capable—the young master Guiling—to stay by his side.”

A vile man—he was actually using their own child to threaten her!

Yao Ge remained eerily calm and slapped Mo Ran again without hesitation.

Mo Ran lowered her head.

“You’re Shen Qian’s person?”

Mo Ran said nothing.

Yao Ge looked down coldly. “Get out.”

“Yes.” Mo Ran bowed and quietly withdrew.

A faint smile curled on Yao Ge’s lips as she calmly fixed her disheveled hair, her demeanor completely different from her earlier hysteria.

Two sons?

Then what was the one she had personally strangled back then supposed to be?

Shen Qian—since you are so heartless, don’t blame me for being ruthless.