HBWMA -Chapter 6 Goodbye, Shen Manor

As soon as Zhang Ru and the others left, Fang Mei finally seemed to react belatedly. Frowning, she looked at Jiang Huashan. “Shanshan? What exactly is wrong with you?”

But Jiang Huashan’s eyes didn’t register Fang Mei at all. She lifted her gaze and carefully scanned her surroundings.

Twelve floral deity carvings on rosewood doors. Light and shadow fell across the hall, forming floral reflections like a painted scroll. The grand hall was vast and open, and above it, a massive glass skylight resembled a flowing waterfall of liquid gold… This century-old foundation of a prestigious aristocratic family carried the scent of time-worn pages and sunlit dust, so real it made her fingertips tremble.

This was the main hall of the Shen residence.

“Shanshan, you—” Fang Mei was about to speak again, displeased at being ignored, when a figure came up from downstairs.

She quickly composed herself and greeted him with a smile. “Steward Shen.”

Shen Zhi was the chief butler of the Shen Manor. He had worked for the Shen family for forty years, and every word and action of his represented the will of the old master of the Shen family. Even Fang Mei did not dare to offend him lightly.

“Madam, the old master heard about what happened in the front hall and has invited Miss Jiang to come over for questioning,” Shen Zhi said, his gaze landing on Jiang Huashan.

Grandfather?!

Jiang Huashan froze for a brief moment.

“Steward Shen, Shanshan is also frightened. Could you let her rest for two minutes? Let her calm down a bit before going to see the old master?” Fang Mei quickly interjected.

The incident of pushing Fu Sui’er down the stairs could be serious or minor depending on interpretation. Fang Mei needed to properly instruct Jiang Huashan so she wouldn’t say anything wrong and anger the old master.

Shen Zhi looked at Jiang Huashan. Seeing her unfocused and unsettled expression, he reluctantly nodded. “Madam Jiang, don’t keep the old master waiting too long.” With that, he turned to leave.

“Wait.”

Jiang Huashan grabbed the corner of his clothing. “I’m going to see Grandfather now.”

Fang Mei froze, her expression turning extremely unpleasant. What is wrong with this girl today? Why is she defying her again and again?

Shen Zhi was also slightly surprised and couldn’t help but glance at Jiang Huashan. In the past, this young lady had always obeyed Fang Mei in everything—even placing the old master behind Fang Mei’s words. What’s going on today?

Fang Mei’s smile stiffened slightly, but at this point she couldn’t say anything more. She gently smoothed Jiang Huashan’s bangs, pretending to be caring. “Shanshan, when you meet the old master later, you…”

Before she could finish, Jiang Huashan slapped her hand away, turned her body aside, and looked at Shen Zhi. “Let’s go.”

Without waiting for him, she walked straight downstairs.

Fang Mei stared at her empty hand, stunned.

“Mom…” At the corner, a delicately dressed young girl stepped out.

Fang Mei waved her over, her eyes softening with affection. “Why did you come out? Didn’t I tell you to wait in the room for news?”

The girl hugged Fang Mei’s arm affectionately. “Mom, I saw that sister looked really angry. Do you think she’ll tell the old master that I was the one who accidentally pushed Fu Sui’er down the stairs?”

“Shh!” Fang Mei’s expression changed slightly as she quickly covered the girl’s mouth. “Remember, this matter must only be said to be your sister’s doing.”

Fu Sui’er was a cousin of the Shen family. If the old master learned that it was Jiang Wanyi who pushed her, they would likely be expelled from the Shen Manor in anger. But if it was Jiang Huashan, at most she would just receive a reprimand.

Jiang Wanyi smiled obediently. “Okay, Mom.”

The Shen Manor consisted of one main garden and eight courtyards. Qinyuan was the principal courtyard, the largest in scale. The old master of the Shen family loved classical studies; Qinyuan featured not only landscapes resembling paintings but also tea halls, waterside pavilions, and study rooms.

As they passed through the flower hall, a few rays of daylight filtered through the lattice windows and fell onto the rosewood table, dust drifting like dancing motes. The air carried a familiar scent of aged wood.

In the courtyard, an elderly man in a traditional Tang-style jacket stood with silver streaks at his temples, full of vigor despite his age. He held a pair of scissors, bending slightly as he studied a peony repeatedly. Hearing movement behind him, he immediately set down the scissors and turned around.

The April breeze brushed through the air, rippling the lake in Jiang Huashan’s heart. Her expression faltered slightly.

It was the kind and familiar old man from her memory.

The grandfather who had once treated her like his most precious treasure.

“Grandfather.”

At that moment, she could no longer restrain the emotions in her heart and rushed toward Shen Manor with a choked cry.