Outside the Sheng residence, the long street was packed shoulder to shoulder with people. The sheer size of the crowd surprised Huang Yaning. She had only asked Qingtian’s family to disguise themselves and blend in, posing a few key questions at the right moments. She hadn’t arranged for anyone to spread the news and attract more onlookers, fearing it would seem too deliberate and raise suspicion.
Yet, so many had come. It seemed Sheng Mingzhu was simply out of luck…
Huang Yaning didn’t know that Sheng Minmin also had a hand in this.
It turned out that Qingdai, by Sheng Minmin’s side, had once saved a group of young beggars with her superb medical skills while wandering outside. Grateful, these beggars had been gathering information for Qingdai ever since.
Later, after Qingdai entered the Sheng residence to serve Sheng Minmin, Minmin, pitying these beggars and recognizing their usefulness, provided them with money and opportunities to learn skills. Over the years, some had learned to run small businesses as vendors, hawking their wares through the streets. Others had picked up trades like masonry, cooking, or bookkeeping…
And of course, a small number continued in their old profession—begging, for news traveled fast in the beggars’ circles.
Right now, this group was spreading the word everywhere: “The family of Disciple Dale’s master is ‘begging for food’ at the Sheng family’s gates…”
Master Dale’s name was a household legend. Naturally, it drew swarms of commoners, all flocking to the long street outside the Sheng residence. The crowd was massive!
“The Sheng family young miss is coming out!” someone shouted loudly. The crowd immediately parted to make way.
The previously buzzing spectators fell silent, all staring eagerly at the approaching figure, their faces brimming with anticipation for the drama to unfold.
“You… are you Liuya?” Old Madam Li stared wide-eyed at the person before her, unable to believe her sight. This young lady looked like a fairy from heaven. Old Madam Li simply couldn’t connect this vision with the former “Liuya.”
The expressions on the other Feng family members ranged from shock to envy and fear. That little wretch they used to bully at will, who was once dark and skinny, now stood before them adorned in gold and silver, lofty and untouchable. And look at them—ragged clothes, old or crippled, unable to even get a full meal…
In just a few short years, their positions had completely reversed. Now, “Liuya” could crush them as easily as turning her hand.
The Feng family’s wretched state pleased Huang Yaning. The last time she’d seen them was in Taohua Village… How time flew. Huang Yaning spoke coolly, “Old Madam Li, after all these years, you’re still so… spirited.”
She remembered from Minmin’s memories how Old Madam Li used to vent her displeasure on Minmin. “You always liked to slap me. A single slap from you could hurt for an entire day…”
Old Madam Li trembled violently, her knees giving way as she thudded to the ground. “Seventh Young Miss Sheng! This old woman was blind and foolish before, she offended you! Please, a great person like yourself doesn’t hold grudges against small folks, don’t take it to heart… I beg you, Seventh Young Miss, don’t punish us…”
The rest of the Feng family also knelt, heads bowed, not daring to meet Huang Yaning’s gaze. Feng Dabao and Feng Erbao clutched the hems of their clothes tightly, bodies trembling slightly—whether from regret, fear, or something else, it was unclear.
The atmosphere around them tensed instantly. The commoners all widened their eyes, afraid of missing any thrilling moment.
Huang Yaning had long since heard from the village chief of Taohua Village about the Feng family’s hard life these past few years. She thought it was good for them to continue living lowly, like insects. So, she wasn’t here to cause trouble for the Feng family.
She was here to tie the Feng family and Sheng Mingzhu together in the public eye, and then let the Fengs jump about and do plenty of disgusting things. Given the Feng family’s character, they certainly wouldn’t disappoint her. By then, even if the noble families of the capital didn’t openly mock Sheng Mingzhu, they would despise her privately. And the common people would no longer view Sheng Mingzhu through the filters of Master Dale and Lin Zhijing.
Huang Yaning’s plan was progressing smoothly. She hadn’t expected an unexpected helper to appear—Xiazhi.
Her gaze fell on Xiazhi, who lay unconscious on the ground. A trace of mockery flickered in Huang Yaning’s eyes. The wound on Xiazhi’s wrist was indeed ghastly and horrifying. Did Sheng Mingzhu keep Xiazhi by her side just to use her as a punching bag? Sheng Mingzhu was truly deranged. But the more unhinged Sheng Mingzhu became, the more it benefited her!
Huang Yaning’s brows furrowed slightly on her face as she spoke. “If you wish to seek some money from your biological granddaughter, the young miss, to get by, you could simply tell the gatekeeper you’re looking for her! Although she holds the title of Sixth Young Miss in the Sheng family, when it comes down to it, she is your flesh and blood. Could she truly disregard you and watch you starve to death? There’s no need for you to abuse Xiazhi like this—”
The Feng family automatically tuned out the last sentence, only hearing the first part. The incident from five years ago had terrified them, making them afraid to claim any connection to Sheng Mingzhu. But now, hearing Liuya—no, Seventh Young Miss Sheng—say this, hope was rekindled in each of them. Could they really see Sheng Mingzhu? Would Sheng Mingzhu really help them? But Seventh Young Miss’s tone was so certain, and her words made sense.
They were Sheng Mingzhu’s family. Surely Sheng Mingzhu couldn’t just watch them starve… They had no money now, they were old and crippled… it seemed they had nothing left to lose anyway…
Old Man Li’s eyes gleamed with calculation.
“Young Miss, don’t trouble yourself with their affairs! That Xiazhi is a bad person! Back when you were switched to the Feng family, Xiazhi bullied you relentlessly!” Qingtian, standing beside her, stomped her foot and said urgently, her expression and tone perfectly mimicking a loyal maid indignant on her mistress’s behalf.
“Ah…” Huang Yaning sighed. “Even though Xiazhi bullied me terribly before, and I really disliked her for it, I still can’t just stand by and watch her be abused like this!”
Xiazhi, who was pretending to be unconscious: “…”
Five years ago, when the Seventh Young Miss found out she was in the Sheng residence, she had tormented her relentlessly—hanging her up, beating her, humiliating her in various ways, even threatening to strip her clothes and hang her in the courtyard for all to see… She had been terrified out of her wits back then. Left with no choice, she had revealed her mother’s whereabouts to save herself. It was all because of the Seventh Young Miss that her mother became crippled and grew to hate her…
The Seventh Young Miss had brought such misery upon her, and now she had the audacity to put on an act of “magnanimity” in front of others. Bah! Xiazhi cursed the Seventh Young Miss vehemently in her heart. The pain from her wound made her curse even more fiercely.
She thought the people around her were all idiots! They had been talking for so long without getting to the point. The important thing was to quickly cast suspicion on Sheng Mingzhu!
Anxious and furious, yet unable to speak while feigning unconsciousness, Xiazhi grew even angrier.
