HBWMA -Chapter 417 The Path of Immorality

Under the side gate wall of Chrysanthemum Garden, Lei Xing stood there trembling under the weight of intense moral condemnation, holding the ladder unsteadily. Only after he saw Shen Guiling climb down did he finally let out a sigh of relief.

“Young Master, you’ve finally come down. I just saw Gao Zhi heading toward the main gate of Chrysanthemum Garden—he didn’t notice you, did he?”

Hearing this, Shen Guiling glanced in the direction of Orchid Garden. “Let’s go back.”

“Yes.” Lei Xing rubbed his hands awkwardly.

When they reached Bamboo Garden, Shen Guiling turned and went straight back to the master bedroom, leaving Lei Xing alone to suffer in turmoil.

Now he finally understood what was going on.

So it turned out that the gentle and considerate Young Master Ling had fallen for the arrogant, domineering, and unreasonable Miss Jiang?

What was he supposed to do about this?

If the old master found out, Young Master Ling would be thrown into a pig cage as punishment!

Lei Xing paced anxiously in the courtyard, and in the end, with a desperate, do-or-die resolve, he knocked on Shen Guiling’s door.

Climbing roses were full of thorns. Although Shen Guiling had been careful, his arm was still pricked with many fine thorns. He was sitting on the sofa tending to his wounds when he suddenly heard the knock. His eyes darkened slightly. “Come in.”

Lei Xing pushed the door open. “Young Master, your clothes have been washed.”

Shen Guiling nodded. Lei Xing consciously went into the walk-in closet to sort out the clothes. After dawdling for a long time, he finally shuffled over awkwardly to Shen Guiling.

“Young Master Ling… you went to see Miss Jiang so late at night—is it because it’s inconvenient to see her during the day?”

Shen Guiling lifted his gaze, looking at him calmly.

“…” Realizing he had asked a stupid question, Lei Xing laughed awkwardly. “I… I didn’t mean it like that. I mean, if there’s something to do, can’t it be done during the day? Why must it be at night?”

Shen Guiling lowered his arm and leaned against the sofa without saying a word.

Lei Xing slapped himself on the head. “Young Master, what I mean is… do you have that kind of feeling for Miss Jiang?”

Shen Guiling replied, “What kind?”

Embarrassed, Lei Xing stretched out both hands and made a gesture of interlocking fingers rubbing together.

“…” Shen Guiling raised the corner of his eyes slightly—too embarrassed to say it, but bold enough to act it out.

“No.” His expression remained indifferent.

Lei Xing was instantly overjoyed, clutching his chest. The young master never lied—so it turned out his own wooden brain had overthought everything.

But then Shen Guiling added, “I just simply like her. I haven’t thought about doing anything yet.”

Lei Xing’s heart, which had just healed, shattered on the spot. He stared at Shen Guiling in disbelief.

Like her?

“Y-Young Master, you… you’re confused! So many people like you—why do you have to like Miss Jiang? You and Miss Jiang are impossible!”

Shen Guiling remained composed. “So? What do you plan to do? Help me, or report me to the old master?”

He had no interest in discussing whether he and Jiang Huashan were possible. The reason he confessed to Lei Xing was because Lei Xing had gradually become part of his life. If he wanted to win Jiang Huashan’s heart, Lei Xing would inevitably find out. Rather than guard against him in the future, it was better to be honest now—and take this opportunity to test Lei Xing’s loyalty.

Lei Xing’s expression changed slightly. Of course he wouldn’t report to the old master. The young master had finally gained a chance to rise—if the old master found out about this, he would surely assume the young master had seduced Miss Jiang, and the one punished would only be the young master.

But… if he didn’t stop him, wouldn’t the young master be walking down a path of immorality with no return?

Seeing his dilemma, Shen Guiling rubbed his temples. “You don’t have to answer right away. Think it over first—it won’t be too late to decide later.”

“Yes.” Lei Xing looked full of guilt, hanging his head as he trudged out of the room.

On the other side, after delivering the letter, Gao Zhi turned back toward Lan Garden.

Shen Lanxi was reclining on a chaise by the lotus pond, casually feeding the fish. Hearing footsteps, he lifted his eyes to glance at Gao Zhi. Seeing his empty hands, he immediately looked away and continued tossing in fish food.

Gao Zhi stepped closer. “Young Master, the letter has been delivered.”

“Mm.” Shen Lanxi remained expressionless.

Gao Zhi rolled his eyes inwardly, then coughed lightly. “Um… Miss Jiang asked me to pass a message to you.”

Shen Lanxi’s gaze shifted slightly. “She… what did she say?”

Gao Zhi replied, “Miss Jiang said she received your feelings, and the gift as well. She’s forgiven you.”

Shen Lanxi froze. “She really said that?”

Of course she didn’t. When Gao Zhi went to Chrysanthemum Garden to deliver the letter, he didn’t even see Jiang Huashan. But if he told the truth, this rookie young master probably wouldn’t be able to take the blow—and the one who’d suffer in the end would still be him.

Putting himself in Jiang Huashan’s shoes, Gao Zhi’s lies flowed more and more smoothly. “Absolutely true. Miss Jiang also said she’s not actually angry at you—she’s angry at Young Master Qingyu and Young Master A-Ling. She knows you had your reasons, so she doesn’t blame you.”

That should soothe him, right?

“She’s not angry at me?” Shen Lanxi pondered for a moment, but his mood inexplicably turned cold again. “Then why is she only angry at Shen Guiling and Shen Qingyu? Does she feel nothing toward me?”

Gao Zhi: “……”

Shen Lanxi lowered his eyes and, with a flick of his hand, scattered all the fish food in his palm into the pond.

He’s throwing a tantrum?

Gao Zhi clenched his fists and hurried to patch things up. “It’s… not that she wasn’t angry at all. She only stopped being angry after reading your letter. Before that, she was very upset. Miss Jiang said that before, the person she disliked the most was you.”

Hearing this, Shen Lanxi’s expression eased slightly. He lifted his head to look at the bright moon in the night sky.

Afraid the “rookie” young master might stir up more trouble, Gao Zhi quickly changed the subject. “Young Master, Grey Hawk has already arrived in Jinggang.”

A sharp glint appeared in Shen Lanxi’s previously distant gaze. “Have him keep a close watch on Shen Che.”

Gao Zhi let out a long breath. “Weren’t there two groups that night? Why are you only focusing on Fourth Master Shen?”

Shen Lanxi said, “The other group was arranged by Shen Yuan. Why do you think Shen Qingyu got shot? He’s not an idiot. If Shen Yuan hadn’t done something out of line, would he have made such a big move?”

Gao Zhi thought it over. “Then what about Eldest Master Shen?”

Shen Lanxi lightly tapped the windowsill with his fingers. “He’s even less of a concern. The one I’m worried about is someone else.”

A spark of realization flashed across Gao Zhi’s face. “You’re worried about Young Master A-Ling?”

Shen Lanxi looked up and gave Gao Zhi a meaningful glance. “You noticed it too?”

To rise to the position of council chairman, Shen Qian was no ordinary man. Yet Shen Guiling had already extended his blade toward Shen Qian’s throat while the latter remained completely unaware. The fact that he could toy with his own uncle so effortlessly showed just how deep Shen Guiling’s schemes ran.

For some reason, Shen Lanxi always felt that Shen Guiling was different from the others in the Shen family—he had no real sense of belonging there.

That look of acknowledgment thrilled Gao Zhi. He lifted his chin, looking smug.

Of course he’d be worried. Young Master A-Ling clearly knew how to handle romance—while this “rookie” young master obviously feared he didn’t stand a chance.