Chapter 7: Making Changes

Before this, Shen Zhuang had already heard about Jiang Huashan pushing Fu Suier down the stairs. Though he doted on her, this was not something he would let slide.

The old man had steeled his face, ready to teach her a lesson. But the moment he turned around, Jiang Huashan came barreling into him, teary-eyed and pitiful, and the sheer weight of her dependence was enough to melt solid steel.

"What's with the tears? Who bullied you?" Shen Zhuang abandoned all his principles in an instant. He bent down and comforted her in a low, gentle voice.

Shen Zhi: "..."

Just moments ago, who was it saying they couldn't keep spoiling Miss Jiang and needed to lay down some rules?

Jiang Huashan couldn't believe what she was seeing was real. She stared hard at Shen Zhuang, studying him. "Grandfather, is it really you? I'm not dreaming, am I?"

Shen Zhuang found it amusing. "You saw Grandfather just this morning. Why are you talking like you haven't seen me in years?"

Jiang Huashan's eyes burned, and she fought hard to hold back tears.

Not one day less. Three whole years.

"Ahem..." Shen Zhi couldn't watch anymore. He cleared his throat to remind the old master they had business to attend to.

The old man's expression switched in a heartbeat. "Do you know why Grandfather called you here?"

Jiang Huashan was still drowning in the shock and joy of reunion, and didn't respond right away.

Shen Zhuang took it for her usual act of playing dumb. A flicker of disappointment crossed his face. "Xiao Zhang and the others said you pushed Suier down the stairs. Grandfather is asking you — is that true?"

Since taking Jiang Huashan in, Shen Zhuang had showered her with affection. He'd never been able to bring himself to say a harsh word to her, let alone fix her with a glare like this.

Jiang Huashan blinked. The memory of this scene surfaced.

In the previous story, the exact same thing had happened. Jiang Wanyi had run to her crying, saying Fu Suier was bullying her. Furious, Jiang Huashan had gone to confront Fu Suier. They'd argued in the stairwell. And then — she still didn't know how — Fu Suier had fallen down the stairs.

Grandfather had questioned her the same way. Back then, terrified of being punished and coached by Fang Mei, she'd lied and said Fu Suier had fallen on her own. Grandfather had said nothing more, and the matter had quietly faded away.

Shen Zhuang saw Jiang Huashan hanging her head in silence and assumed she was dodging responsibility again. He shook his head inwardly.

"All right. Grandfather knows—"

"Grandfather..." Jiang Huashan suddenly looked up, cutting him off.

Her eyes were a mirror of her grandmother's — peach-blossom eyes, wide and upswept, the irises so black and bright they were impossible to look away from.

Shen Zhuang faltered. For an instant, it was like seeing someone from long ago.

Jiang Huashan bowed deeply to the old man. "I'm sorry. I let you down. Jiang Wanyi told me Suier was always picking on her, so I went to confront Suier. We argued in the stairwell. Suier said Wanyi was trying to drive a wedge between people and raised her hand to hit her. I stepped in to stop her, and I accidentally pushed her down."

Shen Zhuang never expected Jiang Huashan to own up to it just like that. After a brief, stunned silence, he asked gravely, "So you did it to protect Wanyi? But Shanshan — did you ever stop to think that Suier is your cousin too? What did Grandfather teach you? In the Shen family, our guns point only at outsiders — never at our own. Have you forgotten?"

Jiang Huashan shook her head. "I haven't forgotten."

When she'd first awakened, her mind had been chaos. But the one thing she remembered clearly was her grandfather's teachings.

Jiang Huashan drew a deep breath, her gaze clear and earnest. "Grandfather, I'm sorry. I handled this badly. I promise it won't happen again."

Shen Zhuang was deeply gratified, but he kept his face stern. "The one who got hurt wasn't me. The person you should be apologizing to isn't me either."

"You're right, Grandfather. I'll go apologize to Suier."

"Are you sure? Suier has a fierce temper. Getting her to forgive you won't be easy — you'll have to eat some humble pie. Grandfather's telling you upfront: this time you're in the wrong, and if it gets ugly, I won't step in to bail you out."

Fu Suier's mother was Shen Jiao, the second young lady of the Shen family — the old master's youngest daughter.

The Shen and Fu families had arranged a marriage alliance. Shen Jiao married Fu Jiaming, the youngest son of the Fu family, and gave birth to Fu Suier within a year. Fu Suier and Jiang Huashan were the same age, each the pampered little princess of her respective family — both spoiled, willful, and stubborn. Shen Zhuang knew full well that the little tyrant wouldn't let this slide just because she'd gotten the worst of it this time.

Jiang Huashan nodded. "Grandfather, I've thought it through!"

To her, Fu Suier might have a nasty temper, but right now she was still just a child. What kind of grievance could a child's bullying cause? The three years after Grandfather died — the mockery, the humiliation, the slow murder of her spirit — that had been the real cruelty.

Shen Zhuang cast a discreet glance at Shen Zhi beside him. Shen Zhi understood immediately and stepped forward with perfect timing. "Old Master, shall I escort Miss Jiang to the Winter Garden?"

At Shen Garden, Shen Zhi's presence meant Shen Zhuang's presence. With him by her side, even Fu Suier at her most willful wouldn't dare go too far. Palm and back of the hand were both flesh — Shen Zhuang couldn't bear to see Jiang Huashan suffer.

Jiang Huashan shook her head. "No need. I can handle it myself."