As soon as Qingtian stepped into the laundry, she was spotted by the overseer, Granny Xu. The old woman’s face immediately lit up with a fawning smile as she hurried forward.
“Oh dear, Miss Qingtian! What brings you here? If you needed anything, you could’ve just sent someone with your orders—no need to trouble yourself to come all this way… Quick, someone brew tea for Miss Qingtian! Use that new Longjing I got this year from my cabinet!”
Granny Xu issued a flurry of commands, ushering Qingtian into the most presentable room in the courtyard.
Once seated, Qingtian smiled faintly. “No need for such trouble, Granny Xu. I’m just here to pick up some clothes on my way.”
Granny Xu blinked in confusion. The laundry was in the most remote corner of the estate—nowhere was it “on the way.” Qingtian had once been the Madam’s trusted aide, and now she was a first-rank maid serving the Sixth Miss. Though the laundry handled her clothes, Qingtian had never come to collect them personally…
After a moment’s thought, Granny Xu had a sudden realization. The “errand” was just an excuse—Qingtian was here to gloat over Taoniang’s misery.
Granny Xu quickly plastered on another smile. “How diligent of you to come in person! Let me fetch your clothes for you.”
She strode to the doorway, planted her hands on her wide hips, and barked at the workers outside: “Taoniang! Bring Miss Qingtian’s laundered clothes here!”
Qingtian’s sharp eyes spotted a disheveled woman rising from behind a pile of dirty laundry—unkempt hair, haggard face, dressed in drab, grayish clothes.
She was stunned. That was Taoniang.
In just a few days, Taoniang had wasted away. Her once well-maintained face had aged visibly; if she had looked barely twenty before, she now appeared a decade older.
Wrinkled and ugly!
But how wonderful! How delightful!
The Sixth Miss would never keep such a wretched-looking servant around. In this state, Taoniang had no hope of returning to the Haitang Courtyard.
Qingtian had always been sweet-faced but vicious at heart. Now that her enemy was down, she would beat the drowning dog—she’d make sure Taoniang never returned.
With that, Qingtian flashed Granny Xu a sugary smile.
“Granny, this place must be blessed. Taoniang took twenty lashes, yet after just a few days here, she’s recovered so well! What good fortune she has!”
Granny Xu was no fool. She immediately understood: Qingtian was scolding her for not making Taoniang suffer enough.
“You flatter me, Miss. Some people are just born low—the harder they work, the livelier they get. Rest assured, I’ll discipline them properly from now on. Wouldn’t want any trouble to disturb the household.”
Qingtian’s smile deepened. Both women understood each other perfectly.
When Taoniang returned with a bundle of clothes and offered it respectfully, Qingtian didn’t even glance at her. Granny Xu snatched the bundle first, patting it vigorously as if brushing off filth before handing it over. Only then did Qingtian accept it with a nod and leave.
Taoniang kept her head down, hiding the fury and murderous intent in her eyes.
She thought of the Madam’s sudden, inexplicable hostility toward her and felt wronged beyond words!
For years, she had been cautious, leaving no room for blame. Seventy percent of the fine items in her room had been gifts from Mingzhu, the remaining thirty from the Madam herself!
The Madam had always known—had even been generous to her in the past. Why had she suddenly turned vicious a few days ago, as if possessed?
Taoniang racked her brain and concluded that jealous underlings must have slandered her to the Madam, poisoning her mind…
And as for the slanderer? Taoniang was certain it was Qingtian!
Who else but Qingtian, now serving in the Haitang Courtyard?
She swore to remember this grudge.
It never crossed her mind that the Madam’s soul had been replaced.
Taoniang clung to the belief that Mingzhu would save her. Besides, she still had one last card to play—a way to save herself if pushed to the brink.
For now, she could only endure…
Her fists clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms. One day, she vowed, she would make every single one of them pay.
Peony Courtyard
Qingying noticed that the Madam had spent the morning reviewing account books. After lunch, the Madam reclined on a daybed for a nap.
Just as Qingying assumed the Madam was asleep and began to retreat, a lazy voice drifted from above.
“How is Taoniang faring?”
Sheng Minmin’s eyes remained closed, her tone indifferent.
“Reporting to Madam, the medicine the Eldest Young Master sent seems miraculous. Taoniang recovered enough in three days to start working again—though Overseer Xu seems to dislike her. She’s given the heaviest tasks and has grown much thinner…”
After a pause, Qingying added, “This morning, Qingtian went to the laundry.”
“Mm. You may leave.” Sheng Minmin’s response was cool.
Once Qingying exited, Sheng Minmin slowly opened her eyes, a faint smile flickering in their depths.
She hadn’t even begun her retaliation, yet Taoniang already seemed half-dead from torment.
The feeling of holding Taoniang’s fate in her hands was intoxicating.
From now on, she would take her time, savoring every moment of Taoniang’s suffering.
As for Sheng Mingzhu and her brothers, Sheng Minmin decided the best revenge was to ruin them slowly.
They were still too young to cause major havoc, and as their “mother,” she couldn’t execute them over trivial matters.
Moreover, she wasn’t yet secure in her position or fully staffed. Revenge required patience.
For now, she would mold them into worthless, depraved creatures.
When the time came—when she was certain she could escape unscathed—she would crush them underfoot, repaying every ounce of suffering they’d inflicted in her past life.
The plan was long-term, but she relished the thought of watching them spiral into ruin.
Though she spared her main enemies for now, she showed no mercy to the servants who had once tormented her.
Using Taoniang’s embezzlement as pretext, she purged the estate of those who had wronged her.
Servants with lifelong contracts were sold off—their fates would be grim.
Those with term contracts were assigned the most grueling tasks.
As for those who had merely sneered at her without crossing the line, she simply dismissed them—including Huang Yaning’s personal maid.
Only two former tormentors escaped punishment: Qingtian and Qingxin, Huang Yaning’s former first-rank maids.
Qingtian had a sweet face and lively demeanor but was ruthless, stopping at nothing to get her way.
In her past life, Qingtian had fancied a young shopkeeper already betrothed to another. To eliminate the rival, Qingtian ruined the girl’s reputation, driving her to suicide—and then married the man herself.
Sheng Minmin had overheard this secret during a heated argument between Qingtian and Qingxin.
A cunning, vicious woman with influential family connections? Perfect for corrupting Sheng Mingzhu.
And an added bonus: Qingtian would make Taoniang’s life hell.
Two birds with one stone.
