HBWMA -Chapter 25 Yao Ge

As soon as the words fell, a woman stormed into the main hall.

Shen Qian slightly furrowed his brows and warned coldly, “Don’t be insolent in front of the old master.”

The woman was none other than the mastermind behind the South Bay arson case—Shen Qian’s wife, Yao Ge.

She seemed to have not heard her husband’s warning. With a chilling expression, she rushed forward, snatched the tray of hot tea from Shen Zhi’s hands, and splashed it directly over Shen Guiling’s head.

“You wretch! With me here, you won’t take a single step into the Shen family!”

“Ah!”

The hot tea splashed across Shen Guiling’s face. He didn’t react much, but Shen E on the side was scalded on the calf by the splashing liquid and screamed in shock.

Shen Yuan glanced at Old Master Shen first, then stood up and seized the teacup from Yao Ge’s hand. “Sister-in-law, calm down.”

The people from the third branch also instinctively looked at Shen Zhuang’s reaction. Seeing the old master sitting expressionlessly, giving nothing away, they immediately knew things had escalated. They quickly stood up and pretended to pull Yao Ge away.

The fifth son had a strong grip and was not polite at all, dragging Yao Ge back until she nearly lost her balance. “Exactly, sister-in-law, what are you doing? Father is still here—who are you trying to embarrass?”

Yao Ge looked deranged and couldn’t listen to anyone.

“So this is how your Shen family treats people?” she screamed. “You drove my son away, and now you’re bringing in an illegitimate child! Who are you trying to humiliate? Let go of me! If I don’t get an explanation today, I’ll go down with you all!”

Shen Qian’s brow twitched; his hands trembled with rage.

Jiang Huashan held her teacup and quietly observed everyone in the room, trying to find even the slightest clue from their movements and expressions—but unfortunately, she found nothing.

She then turned her attention to Shen Guiling. After being splashed with tea, he had kept his head lowered without moving. His ears looked as if they could drip blood from the burn, and tea trickled down the bridge of his straight nose, dripping drop by drop.

No—he wasn’t completely still.

Jiang Huashan observed more carefully and noticed that one of his knees was slightly lifted, resting loosely over the other. It was a posture suggesting he had been about to stand up.

He clearly resisted kneeling to Yao Ge, yet still forced himself to endure it. From this angle, however, it was very deliberate—almost like a carefully composed “close-up” prepared for the old master.

Jiang Huashan touched her chin. Shen Guiling—this scheming little bastard—had some real skill. No wonder he would eventually rise to the top.

Fu Sui’er and Jiang Wanyi did not share her insight for the moment. One enjoyed the chaos, while the other was so frightened by the scene that she hid in the corner, afraid of attracting trouble.

In an instant, the flower hall was in complete chaos.

Old Master Shen slowly raised his eyes, his gaze sharp. “Let her go.”

With a single commanding sentence, no one dared to ignore it.

The members of the third branch exchanged glances, then reluctantly released their grip and stepped aside. Yao Ge’s frenzied expression paused for a moment, and she ultimately did not dare to act too recklessly. She unconsciously straightened her disheveled collar.

Shen Qian also dared not remain silent. He stepped forward and knelt heavily, knocking his head to the ground.

“Father, I am incompetent. Please calm your anger.”

Yao Ge’s expression shifted slightly. Shen Qian was a congressional speaker; he had never bowed his head, not even before the president. She felt a flicker of hesitation and finally regained a bit of rationality. Her eyes turned red as she looked cautiously at Old Master Shen.

“Old master, sob…”

Old Master Shen raised his hand to stop her, then turned to Shen Zhi.

“Steward Shen, the children are frightened. Take them to the side hall. Also, call Dr. Meng to check on A-Ling.”

“Understood.” Shen Zhi nodded and stepped forward to help Shen Guiling up. “Young Master A-Ling.”

When Shen Guiling was pulled up by Shen Zhi, his body swayed slightly before he barely steadied himself. From beginning to end, he never lifted his head, nor did he try to defend himself even once. His obedient, sensible demeanor formed a stark contrast with Yao Ge’s unrestrained, hysterical rage.

Seeing this, Yao Ge grew even more furious and tried to rush forward again, but Shen Qian, who had been keeping his head down, seemed to have eyes on the back of his head—he grabbed her firmly.

Jiang Huashan, who had been watching the drama with great interest, was suddenly asked to leave. She reluctantly put down the pastry in her hand.

She remembered that last time the plot had developed the same way: because of Yao Ge’s outburst, the old master had sent all the children of the Shen household to the side hall.

Before leaving, Fang Mei had specifically warned her not to get too close to Shen Guiling, because children of the Jiang family were already living under someone else’s roof. If she also befriended an illegitimate son, people would only look down on her even more.

Jiang Huashan kept Fang Mei’s warning in mind, so she had always maintained an attitude of disdain and contempt toward Shen Guiling.

As if struck by sudden inspiration, Jiang Huashan seemed to understand something and turned to look at Jiang Wanyi. Unlike her, Jiang Wanyi’s gaze toward Shen Guiling was full of kindness and sympathy. Jiang Huashan curled her lips slightly in amusement. Falling in love with a man always starts with pity—looks like she was right; Fang Mei had given her and Jiang Wanyi completely different “tasks.”

At that moment, Fang Mei had no time to pay attention to Jiang Huashan. Normally, as an outsider, she should have excused herself, but without Old Master Shen speaking, she didn’t dare move. Everyone in the Shen family was ruthless in their own way, and knowing too much meant becoming a target. She was sitting on pins and needles.

After Shen Zhi escorted the children out, the maids and bodyguards in the flower hall also withdrew. The wooden doors engraved with the Twelve Flower Gods were closed from the outside, and the crisp sound of the lock clicking shut made everyone’s hearts tighten. No one dared speak; they all silently returned to their seats.

Old Master Shen rested both hands on his dragon-headed cane, slowly rubbing the prayer beads inside the carved handle with his thumb. “Daughter-in-law of the eldest branch, there are no outsiders here. Repeat what you just said.”

Yao Ge’s brows jumped. She dropped to her knees crying and begged for mercy. “Dad, I was just too emotional earlier and said some thoughtless things, I…”

Old Master Shen raised his hand, then turned his gaze to Shen Qian. “Eldest son, you speak.”

Shen Qian’s expression changed slightly, his face filled with gloom. “Dad, I’ve thought it through. Tomorrow I’ll hold a press conference and give A-Ling and the public an explanation.”

The moment those words were spoken, everyone present was stunned.

Especially Yao Ge. She stared in shock and screamed without regard for decorum, “Are you crazy?! Shen Qian, are you insane? For an illegitimate child—some bastard—you’re going to disregard the reputation of the Shen and Yao families?!”

Shen Qian remained unmoved and pushed her away.

Seeing she could not persuade her husband, Yao Ge turned to the old master. “Dad! You can’t agree to this! If he does this, his political career will be ruined!”

Old Master Shen glanced at her coldly—just one look, heavy with judgment and warning.

Yao Ge’s body trembled violently, and all the words she had prepared got stuck in her throat.

Seeing her fall silent, Old Master Shen turned back to Shen Qian. “Since you’ve already decided, I won’t stop you. Do it.”

He actually agreed?!

Everyone in both the first and second branches looked at each other in shock. After Shen Xi’s death, the old master had focused all his energy on cultivating Shen Qian. The entire Shen family had pooled their strength to push him to where he was today—yet now they were going to tear it all down themselves?

But in the Shen family, no one dared question Old Master Shen’s decisions. Once it was spoken publicly, it was final.

Old Master Shen stood up and swept his gaze across everyone. “One by one, all of you are nothing but troublemakers. Not a single one of you has a useful brain.”

No one dared make a sound; they were already used to being scolded and kept their heads down.

Old Master Shen continued, “Since you’re all finally back together, stay for a meal. I had the kitchen make pork brain soup—go on, all of you, nourish yourselves properly.”

“……”