HBWMA -Chapter 33 I Demand the Expulsion of the Family Thief

By the time dusk approached, Jiang Huashan finally made her way back to the Chrysanthemum Courtyard at a leisurely pace. Just as she reached the entrance, she unexpectedly ran into Zhang Ru.

Zhang Ru took the initiative to step forward. “Miss Jiang, the old master asked me to come and ask you—what do you need to prepare for your trip to Xiangying?”

Prepare?

So Grandpa was thinking the same thing as her. It really was time to clean house.

Originally, she had planned to quietly observe what kind of connections Fang Mei had with the second branch of the family. But now that she was about to leave for Xiangying, this hidden danger—Fang Mei—could absolutely not be left behind.

After a moment of thought, Jiang Huashan said, “Come in with me.”

Inside the main hall, Fang Mei was sitting on the sofa with her hand pressed against her head. Jiang Wanyi had been crying since she returned, occasionally sniffing and secretly glancing at Fang Mei’s expression.

Soon after, an aunt from the courtyard walked in from outside.

“Madam, Miss Jiang has returned, but…”

Jiang Wanyi had already secretly told Fang Mei about how Jiang Huashan had provoked Shen Guiling earlier. Fang Mei had already decided to correct her stubborn temper properly before she went to Xiangying, so she replied coldly on purpose.

“What do you mean ‘but’? She causes trouble every day. Tell her to go back to her room. I don’t want to see her right now.”

The maid looked awkward. “Miss Jiang didn’t say she wanted to see you. She went back to her room—but she brought someone with her.”

Fang Mei froze for a moment, not immediately reacting. “She brought who?”

Jiang Wanyi suddenly seemed to remember something and cried out, “Mom, we can’t let anyone discover what’s in sister’s room—”

“Shut up!” Fang Mei’s expression changed slightly. After a brief thought, she stood up and headed out of the main hall.

Jiang Wanyi pouted and followed reluctantly.

Fang Mei went straight to the embroidered pavilion. Before even entering, she heard voices from inside.

“Miss Jiang, if we register things like this, some items might be missed. How about I ask Steward Shen to come over?”

“Shanshan!”

Fang Mei deliberately raised her voice and stepped inside.

She first glanced at Zhang Ru. Recognizing her as the woman who had previously confronted her, Fang Mei’s smile turned meaningful.

“Oh, it’s you.”

Zhang Ru bowed respectfully. “Madam.”

Fang Mei then turned to Jiang Huashan.

Jiang Huashan was sitting on the edge of the bed, playing with her phone, completely ignoring her presence.

Fang Mei suppressed her irritation. “Shanshan, I just heard you mention calling the steward Shen. What happened?”

Before Jiang Huashan could respond, Zhang Ru spoke first.

“Madam, Miss Jiang said her room was ransacked by a thief and asked me to help register the missing items so we can report it to the old master.”

“What do you mean ‘ransacked by a thief’?” Fang Mei’s face instantly darkened. “Shanshan, didn’t I say those things were just lent to your younger sister for a couple of days? Are you deliberately trying to embarrass me with this?”

Jiang Huashan completely ignored her, casually controlling the Snake game on her phone as it slithered around.

Fang Mei was furious at her attitude. In the past, Jiang Huashan wouldn’t even dare sit calmly in front of her, let alone ignore her like this. Unable to hold back, Fang Mei strode forward and snatched her phone.

“Say something! Didn’t I explain it to you the day you came back from Qinyuan?”

“Oh, that day?” Jiang Huashan thought for a moment, then calmly took her phone back. “So your explanation was to act first and report later? Taking things without asking?”

“……”

Fang Mei froze, momentarily speechless. The features were the same, yet she suddenly felt that the girl in front of her was strangely unfamiliar.

Jiang Huashan turned to Zhang Ru.

“Sister Zhang, please tell Grandpa for me,” she said calmly. “My home has been completely ransacked. I demand the expulsion of the family thief.”