HBWMA -Chapter 5 Returning to Shen Garden

“Someone help! Miss Sui’er has fallen! Quick!!!”

“Oh my! My little ancestor, you’ve caused trouble! Big trouble!!”

【Ding——】

A clear, lingering chime rang out. Jiang Huashan’s unfocused eyes gradually cleared.

At that moment, Shen Manor was in complete chaos. Maids and housekeepers were running around in a panic.

Jiang Huashan couldn’t make sense of what was happening. She looked around in confusion. A woman who looked like a younger version of “Nanny Zhang” was angrily grabbing her hand, her mouth moving rapidly as she spoke.

What was going on? Didn’t she perish together with that broken book? Why was she back in Shen Garden again? Was this an illusion?

Seeing that Jiang Huashan was completely unresponsive, Zhang Ru pointed toward the direction downstairs. Following her gesture, Jiang Huashan finally noticed someone lying on the steps below. The butler and several maids were gathered around, all of them pale with fear.

It was Fu Sui’er!

So she had failed to resist and returned to the day of the conflict with Fu Sui’er? What happened to Fu Sui’er? Could it be that the Book Spirit had controlled her again?

As soon as the thought arose, Jiang Huashan grabbed Zhang Ru’s hand.

“Nanny Zhang, quickly cal—”

She stopped mid-sentence, stunned.

Her voice… why had it become so soft and childish?

Not only her voice—her hand… had also become smaller.

At that moment, she noticed more anomalies. Even Nanny Zhang—she looked younger now, appearing to be only in her early thirties.

“Quick! Carry Miss Sui’er back to Winter Garden!”

The butler had already called the family doctor. Following the doctor’s instructions, the bodyguards lifted Fu Sui’er up.

Jiang Huashan froze. Only then did she realize that Fu Sui’er had also become smaller.

Was this a dream within a dream? Or had she really returned to the past?

Zhang Ru had been observing Jiang Huashan the entire time. This young miss Jiang, relying on the old master’s favor, had always been willful, arrogant, and unruly. But now, these small, soft hands were trembling as they clutched hers. Zhang Ru assumed she was scared. Feeling both heartache and relief, she softened her expression.

Being afraid meant her nature wasn’t entirely bad.

Zhang Ru crouched down and spoke gently, “Miss Jiang, don’t worry. Miss Fu is fine. When she wakes up, just go apologize to her and she’ll forgive you.”

“Xiao Zhang, what are you doing? Huashan is still young. If you have something to say, just speak properly. Why are you scaring her like this?” a voice interrupted.

Jiang Huashan was still dazed when she was suddenly pulled away. The pain in her arm snapped her back to reality.

Pain? So this wasn’t a dream?!

She lowered her head and saw a hand with crystal nail extensions gripping her arm tightly. The nails were sharp, digging deep into her flesh.

She had already guessed who it was.

After a brief hesitation, she slowly raised her head.

Fang Mei pulled her forward. Not even glancing at her, she instead looked gently at Zhang Ru, clearly waiting for an explanation.

Zhang Ru quickly said, “Madam, you’ve misunderstood. I was just anxious earlier and didn’t mean to be harsh with Miss Jiang.”

A faint smile remained on Fang Mei’s face as she spoke softly, “So you’re saying I wrongly accused you?”

Zhang Ru froze and quickly shook her head. “Mrs. Jiang, that’s not what I meant. It’s just that Miss Jiang’s actions were too extreme… she… she pushed Miss Sui’er down the stairs. Thankfully it was only the second floor and the butler was there to break her fall, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable. I was just too panicked and said a few things to Miss Jiang. I meant well.”

“….”

The smile in Fang Mei’s eyes faded sharply. “Xiao Zhang, you can eat anything, but you can’t speak nonsense. Huashan is my daughter—how could I not know her? She’s timid; how could she possibly push someone? Clearly someone was careless, and now they’re trying to blame my daughter!”

“Mrs. Jiang!!”

Zhang Ru was shocked. Only now did she truly understand what it meant to have a smiling face with hidden blades.

She stepped forward to argue further, but several other maids quickly pulled her back, afraid the situation would escalate.

Zhang Ru felt wronged but had no choice. They were servants—no matter what Miss Jiang had or hadn’t done, it wasn’t their place to speak. Seeing how difficult Fang Mei was to deal with, she could only swallow her anger.

But Fang Mei had no intention of letting it go.

She pushed Jiang Huashan forward and pointed at Zhang Ru and the other maids. “Huashan, tell Mom honestly—did they fail to take care of Sui’er properly and are now trying to frame you?”

Jiang Huashan looked up. Fang Mei’s eyes weren’t on her at all; she was clearly signaling her.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Huashan expressionlessly pulled her arm away from Fang Mei’s grip.

“Huashan, what’s wrong?” Fang Mei was completely caught off guard. She had not expected her daughter, who had always obeyed her, to suddenly defy her.

Jiang Huashan turned to Zhang Ru and said, “There’s nothing for you to do here. You can all leave.”

Zhang Ru froze slightly.

Was Miss Jiang… helping her speak up?

The other maids exchanged glances, then quickly pulled Zhang Ru away and left the scene in haste.