Just one day after the incident at the Prince of Qi’s residence, Sheng Minmin received a letter from the Princess of Jing right after dinner.
It turned out that Zhu Qisheng had met with Sheng Mingzhu, and after returning to the residence, he fed Xia Zhi pastries laced with something, causing Xia Zhi, who was one month pregnant, to miscarry…
When Xia Zhi woke up, she was devastated and revealed that Sheng Mingzhu had used some strange medicine back then to treat her leg injury, leaving her unable to have children.
The Princess of Jing summoned the imperial physician who had most recently treated Sheng Mingzhu for questioning. The physician assured her that Sheng Mingzhu had not been poisoned by cold toxins.
But since Xia Zhi had been so certain, the Princess ordered an investigation. The results showed that Xia Zhi had purchased that type of medicine before entering the Prince of Qi’s residence…
The Princess guessed that the two sisters, Xia Zhi and Sheng Mingzhu, were tearing each other apart…
After reading the letter, Sheng Minmin sent everyone in the room out.
She sat in silence for a moment, then suddenly threw her head back and burst into laughter.
Over the years, she had used various schemes to damage the health of the three Sheng Mingjian brothers, more or less.
Sheng Yong would soon be exposed to Qingxin, and once that happened, he wouldn’t have many years left to live.
But Sheng Minmin had never tried to ruin Sheng Mingzhu’s ability to have children.
Because every time she thought about it, she couldn’t help remembering her poor child from her previous life…
She wanted Sheng Mingzhu to experience the pain of childbirth, then take away her child, leaving Sheng Mingzhu never to see her own flesh and blood again, drowning in agony.
Yet she also felt that Sheng Mingzhu was selfish and might not even love her own child.
So she had been hesitating all along.
Now, hearing this news, Sheng Minmin felt that this outcome was just as good…
The next morning, Sheng Minmin used the excuse that there was stagnant, unhealthy qi in the courtyard.
She had the entire yard washed down, inside and out, early in the morning.
When Xian Jie’er, Huang Yaning, and Sheng Mingzhu came to pay their respects, the paths in Peony Court were wet and slippery.
Qingying, Qingzhu, and Qingdai hurried over to help them.
Qingdai supported Sheng Mingzhu and casually felt her pulse with her fingers.
Originally, Sheng Minmin had wanted Qingdai to examine Sheng Mingzhu precisely because she had recovered so quickly — to see if anything fishy was going on.
Today was a good opportunity to check. After the others had paid their respects and left, Sheng Minmin dismissed all the servants.
Qingdai had a serious expression.
“Madam, her body has indeed been poisoned with cold toxins, making it impossible for her to have children in the future. But it seems that’s not all…”
“What do you mean?” Sheng Minmin was puzzled.
Qingdai hesitated. “I can’t be sure yet. The medicinal effect in her body doesn’t seem strong enough, and it hasn’t been activated. I need to observe further…”
Qingdai’s earnest expression made Sheng Minmin instantly tense up.
“What did you see?”
“She… also has a faint scent on her, very subtle, somewhat similar to the scent on Qingxin’s body…
“I need to examine her more. Ideally, I’d need to get a sample of her blood…”
Countless thoughts flashed through Sheng Minmin’s mind.
If Sheng Mingzhu really had the same medicine in her as Qingxin, then she didn’t have much longer to live either.
But Qingdai wasn’t sure yet, and before she died, Sheng Mingzhu might still seduce even more men…
Sheng Minmin didn’t like this feeling of uncertainty.
Uncertainty meant variables!
She didn’t like variables!
In this life, she was determined to push Sheng Mingzhu into the abyss!
For a moment, a wild urge to kill surged in Sheng Minmin’s heart.
Perhaps seeing how awful her expression had become, Qingdai suddenly changed the subject.
“Madam, there is also some good news.
“Jiaojiao says Feng Laoda wants to kill Taoniang. She’s asking how she should proceed…”
Jiaojiao used to be a prostitute who was abandoned after contracting a venereal disease.
Sheng Minmin had come across her by chance one time when leaving the residence, and unable to bear the sight, she had Qingdai save her.
After Jiaojiao recovered, she started working for Sheng Minmin.
When Taoniang returned to the capital, Jiaojiao infiltrated her household and even gained Taoniang’s trust, working in the kitchen.
It could be said that Sheng Minmin could poison Taoniang with just a word.
Later, the Feng family moved in with Taoniang, and Taoniang had Jiaojiao keep an eye on them. Jiaojiao quickly became familiar with Old Lady Li and Little Li.
No one expected that Feng Laoda would develop feelings for Jiaojiao. Jiaojiao played along, stringing him along while also reporting everything to Taoniang.
Some time ago, Old Lady Li and Feng Laoer became paralyzed. The Feng family suspected Taoniang was behind it, and out of fear, they all obeyed her completely.
Who would have thought that in such a short time, Feng Laoda would find the courage to try and kill Taoniang…
Perhaps, from the very beginning, Feng Laoda had gotten close to Jiaojiao with the idea of using her one day to poison Taoniang.
Now, Feng Laoda believed Jiaojiao was on his side.
And Taoniang believed Jiaojiao belonged to her.
None of them realized that Jiaojiao actually worked for Sheng Minmin.
Sheng Minmin sat in her chair, unable to stop thinking about the suffering she had endured in the Feng family in her previous life…
She racked her brain but couldn’t recall a single thing that felt warm.
A cold smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth.
“Tell her to reveal Feng Laoda’s intentions to Taoniang. If Taoniang strikes again, then discreetly leak the information to the surviving Feng family members.”
Sheng Minmin sat back, ready to watch the Feng family tear each other apart.
Qingdai nodded and went out. Just then, Qingying walked in, her expression not particularly good.
“Madam —
“Yujing saw the eldest young master making contact with a handyman from the outer courtyard. He looked into it, and that man’s wife currently works for Ruan Yiniang…”
Upon hearing this, Sheng Minmin’s eyes turned icy cold.
What kind of trouble was Sheng Mingjian about to stir up now?
Although every time Sheng Mingjian caused trouble, he ended up suffering himself in the end.
After another one or two incidents, Sheng Yong would surely lose all hope in Sheng Mingjian.
In that sense, Sheng Mingjian making trouble worked in Sheng Minmin’s favor. But Ruan Yiniang was Sheng Mingshu’s birth mother, and Sheng Mingshu had helped her in her previous life.
Ruan Yiniang was the mother of her benefactor, and in this life, Sheng Minmin had spent time with her — she was kind, clear-headed, and deserving of respect.
She couldn’t let Sheng Mingjian harm Ruan Yiniang.
“Have our people watch them closely. Report to me immediately at the slightest sign of anything wrong.”
“I understand, Madam. I’ve already arranged it.”
——-
At the back courtyard, in Ruan Yiniang’s yard.
Ever since Huang Yaning and Huang Xianjie took over household management and raised the allowances for the concubines, Ruan Yiniang had been taking medicine to regulate her body for some time.
She felt much lighter. Now she could even indulge in cold foods without her body rebelling.
The doctor from Renxin Tang had left behind a tonic prescription as well.
After finishing the regulating medicine, she was supposed to take tonics for a while, then get her pulse rechecked for a new prescription.
Two days ago, Ruan Yiniang started drinking the tonic decoction.
But somehow, instead of feeling more energetic after taking the tonic, she felt worse.
Having taken medicine for years, Ruan Yiniang was very sensitive to changes in her own body.
“Yiniang, it’s time to take your medicine…”
Just then, Wen Yan, the new servant, walked in with a steaming bowl of medicine and smiled.
After Dousha left, Madam had sent a group of servants of various ages for Ruan Yiniang to choose from.
Not wanting to pick another young girl who would eventually leave her, causing more heartbreak, Ruan Yiniang chose Wen Yan, who was in her thirties.
Wen Yan looked very ordinary, but she was neat and clean. Over the past few days, she had proven to be efficient and good in all aspects — except that she was very insistent on Ruan Yiniang taking her medicine on time.
