HBWMA -Chapter 357 Flowers and Schemes

“After careful deliberation, this court finds that although the prosecution has raised numerous charges, the existing evidence contains serious flaws and doubts. Regarding key physical evidence, its source is unclear and lacks lawful, valid records of collection, making it impossible to conclusively establish an inevitable connection to the defendant.

Based on the principle of presumption of innocence, the law must determine guilt on the foundation of solid evidence. The evidence currently presented before the court fails to form a complete and rigorous chain, and is insufficient to prove that the defendant committed the alleged crimes. Therefore, this court rules that the defendant is not guilty and orders her immediate release.”

“Miss Jiang, you may go home now.”

Lawyer Chen removed his glasses and let out a long breath of relief.

Law, after all, does not exist apart from human sentiment. If Jiang Huashan’s self-defense had moved the judge and jury through compassion, then the old master’s stance was the anchor that determined the overall direction of events.

On the surface, this battle seemed to be about determining Jiang Huashan’s guilt alone, but in reality, it was a suppression of the Shen family by the government and multiple factions. Because of that, the attitude of the Shen family’s head became crucial.

Old Master Shen had stayed out of politics for many years. Even this visit to Country S was only due to the Queen of the Bai family’s earnest invitation.

Since the second year of the Cold War between the two nations, Country A’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had been trying hard to push through the “Twenty-One Articles Agreement,” but the Queen had remained firm—preferring even conflict over reconciliation.

Originally, Shen Zhuang’s visit to Country S was merely to seek an explanation for Bai Zheng’s death. But unexpectedly, the long-retired Old Master Shen took action and secured a century-benefiting agreement for both countries in one move.

With such a monumental achievement, let alone the fact that Jiang Huashan had already turned the tide with her own defense—even if she had truly killed someone, the upper echelons of the government would still be willing to give the Shen family face.

All parties understood that the overall situation had already been decided. At a moment like this, opposing the Shen family was practically a death wish. Cutting losses in time was a fundamental lesson every decision-maker understood.

In the courtroom, aside from the prosecution team wearing gloomy expressions, everyone else erupted in cheers.

Gongyi Hui stepped down from the bench, her expression gentle. “Congratulations, child.”

Jiang Huashan smiled in return. “Thank you for your leniency.”

Gongyi Hui turned to look at Shen Jiao in the audience. “Thank your mother.”

Jiang Huashan lifted her gaze and followed her line of sight.

Shen Jiao smiled softly through tears. Fu Sui’er waved her arms vigorously at her. Shen Mianzhi smiled with reddened eyes. Shen Lanxi stood with his hands in his pockets, as aloof as ever. Shen Guiling’s gaze was deep—uncharacteristically, he wasn’t smiling.

But Jiang Huashan smiled. She ran toward the audience and threw her arms around Shen Jiao.

“Thank you.”

Fu Sui’er, who had barely held back her tears, immediately broke down. She tugged at Jiang Huashan’s sleeve in dissatisfaction. “What about me!”

Shen Jiao laughed through her tears and tapped Fu Sui’er’s forehead. “You little rascal~”

Shen Mianzhi chuckled as well, her voice hoarse. “You’d better hug her too, or she’s really going to cry.”

Jiang Huashan grinned and ruffled Fu Sui’er’s hair. “That letter you wrote was really good.”

Fu Sui’er stood up and hugged her tightly. “Next time, don’t face things alone. I was really scared.”

Jiang Huashan lifted her head, her gaze sweeping across everyone, and smiled. “I wasn’t alone—you were all with me, weren’t you?”

“Jiang Huashan!! Jiang Huashan!!!”

Outside the courthouse, there was a sea of people. Girls holding flowers formed a human wall, shouting the name of their superhero with excitement and passion.

Jiang Huashan had never imagined that one day, she—once rejected by everyone—would simultaneously receive love and flowers.

Shen Guiling and Shen Lanxi watched as she was swallowed by the enthusiastic crowd, both instinctively reaching out toward her. The scene was chaotic, and the girls were overly excited. Afraid of any inappropriate contact, the two turned to Lei Xing and Gao Zhi.

Entrusted at a critical moment, Lei Xing and Gao Zhi fought their way through the crowd and finally managed to reach Jiang Huashan.

Suddenly, a crazed fan jumped out from the crowd.

“Baby, I love you!”

The girl lunged forward in a bear hug. Lei Xing reacted quickly and sidestepped. Before Gao Zhi could react, Lei Xing had already disappeared from his spot—replaced instead by a fiery, passionate kiss.

The moment the kiss landed, the noisy crowd fell into sudden silence.

Jiang Huashan stood on tiptoe to look, and after confirming that it was real, she gave an awkward smile. “Everyone, please stay rational—don’t just kiss people casually.”

“Ahhhhhhh!!!”

The crowd’s excitement ignited once again.

“Hey, move! Dead fish eyes! Don’t just stand there taking advantage of us!”

“?”

Gao Zhi snapped back to his senses in anger. Taking advantage of you ugly lot? I haven’t even accused you of ruining someone else’s innocence!

He raised his hand, ready to teach this pack of wolf-like girls a lesson, but suddenly, someone grabbed the back of his collar and flung him aside like a rag.

“Move, skinny dog.”

“?”

Skinny dog?!

Are you forcing me to show off my muscles?!

Gao Zhi turned back fiercely, only to see a group of emotionally overwhelmed girls crying as they rushed forward into the crowd.

“Huahua baby, Mommy loves you!”

“……”

In an instant, Gao Zhi lost all strength and will to fight. Forget it, forget it—if I squeeze in there again, my dignity really will be gone.

“Everyone, don’t push! Don’t scare Huahua!”

Someone in the crowd shouted, and with Jiang Huashan at the center, the girls spontaneously formed a safety circle about a step wide around her.

“One! Two! Three!”

The crowd surged forward, lifting Jiang Huashan into the air and tossing her upward as they cheered loudly:

“Long live the superhero!”

At the same time, countless bright and delicate flowers were thrown into the air along with her.

Beneath the solemn national emblem, for a fleeting moment, it was as if a hundred flowers bloomed in dazzling colors.

“Grandpa.”

Outside the crowd, Su Zhuo withdrew his gaze from Shen Mianzhi and turned to Su Jingliu. “The Shen family really fought this battle beautifully.”

Su Jingliu looked at Jiang Huashan blooming alongside the flowers, his eyes filled with emotion. “Indeed. No wonder Shen Zhuang dared to stay in S Country without returning.”

Su Zhuo felt a hint of shame.

Su Jingliu gently patted his eldest grandson’s shoulder. “No need to be discouraged. Now it’s our turn to counterattack.”

Meanwhile, in the outskirts of the capital.

An abandoned warehouse.

Fu Jiaming was on the phone.

“Cut the crap with me! You’re from the Shen family—don’t tell me you don’t know what they’re plotting! Let me tell you, the Fu family isn’t as easy to deal with as the Yao family. Push me too far, and you won’t have an easy time either!”

“Once Shen Zhuang returns, the Fu family is finished. What exactly are the Su and Shen families scheming? If you don’t make it clear now, then we’ll just drag each other down to hell!”

Fu Jiaming was furious. The intelligence had been wrong again and again—how could he not suspect the other party had ulterior motives?

The voice on the other end of the phone remained eerily calm. “I hate being threatened.”

“So what if I’m threatening you? You’d better come out and explain yourself right now. Don’t think I don’t know who you are, Shen—”

Before he could finish—

A gunshot rang out.

A bloody hole exploded in the center of Fu Jiaming’s forehead, and he collapsed straight into a pool of blood.

The young man removed his glasses, picked up the phone that had fallen to the ground, and spoke in a light tone:

“Boss, it’s done.”