Sheng Minmin was only relieved that Qingying had handled the matter so well—how could she possibly blame her?
“So that’s what happened. I hadn’t even considered that— cough, cough—
“Get up. You handled this perfectly. Not only will I not punish you, I should reward you—”
At the time, she had only been thinking about how to properly compensate the women and their families.
Money was a must, but giving a large sum all at once might not be good—sudden wealth could bring its own troubles for those unused to it.
She had planned to give them a portion first, then quietly instruct the estate manager to keep an eye on them and offer additional help if needed in the future.
Two hundred taels of silver could buy ten acres of fertile land, build a sturdy house, and still leave dozens of taels to spare.
With their own land and decent housing, those tenant farmers would finally have something to look forward to.
She hadn’t anticipated the families of the perpetrators causing trouble. If the women’s assaults were spread everywhere, it would defeat the very purpose of her wanting to help them.
Qingying’s solution was excellent. After a moment’s thought, she softly said to Xiangxiang,
“Bring me that red pearwood carved jewelry box.”
For a mistress, having well-dressed servants was a way to enhance her own status.
Huang Yaning was wealthy and, above all, a woman who cared deeply about appearances.
In the past, second-tier maids in this courtyard received four new outfits per season—two more than ordinary servants.
First-tier maids got six sets, all made from high-quality fabric.
But well-dressed maids also needed proper accessories to avoid being looked down upon.
Thus, Huang Yaning had a dedicated jewelry box for rewarding servants.
Soon, Xiangxiang returned with the box and placed it on the daybed, opening it.
The box had three layers: the first held earrings and hairpins, the second necklaces and rings, and the third was filled entirely with bracelets.
All the pieces—silver, gold, jade, coral, pearls—were exquisite, glittering under the lamplight.
For a moment, Sheng Minmin was dazed.
Even the jewelry Huang Yaning gave to servants was this beautiful. Yet in her past life, the pieces prepared for her had been tacky, the kind only elderly women would wear.
They had made her the target of countless mocking remarks from the household servants.
And she had only received them once.
Later, some were stolen by servants, others traded for food…
At this thought, Sheng Minmin forcibly suppressed the faint bitterness rising in her chest.
Huang Yaning had never been her mother.
Not in her past life.
And certainly not in this one.
After scanning the contents, she pointed to a pair of high-quality jade bracelets in the third layer.
“Those jade bracelets are yours. Pick a jade hairpin, two pairs of earrings, and a few agate rings…”
Qingying was her most capable servant. She deserved both tangible rewards and visible prestige.
After a pause, she pointed to an ornate gold hairpin and a string of red coral beads.
“Xiangxiang, the hairpin is for you. The coral necklace goes to Qingchi…”
By the time they finished, it was already time for dinner.
Sheng Minmin, pitying Qingying for her long journey, dismissed her early to rest and told her to return the next day.
With Xiangxiang’s help, she ate a bowl of yam porridge and retired early.
…..
“Sheng Minmin, why did you come back? If you hadn’t, you wouldn’t have died. Your child wouldn’t have died…”
“What a pity… You just had to return and seek death…”
“You two—break her arms and legs…”
Once again, Sheng Minmin heard Sheng Mingzhu’s venomous voice, as if whispering directly into her ear.
Then came the sound of her arms and kneecaps being shattered.
The stench of oil. The scorching heat of the burning woodshed…
She crawled desperately across the ground toward her child, who could no longer make a sound…
“Mistress—!”
Xiangxiang saw her mistress drenched in tears, the pillow nearly soaked through, her face twisted in agony as if trapped in a nightmare.
She leaned over and gently shook her mistress’s shoulder, hoping to wake her.
But the moment Xiangxiang touched her, Sheng Minmin let out a piercing scream and bolted upright.
Xiangxiang met a pair of blood-red eyes—like a vengeful ghost from hell.
Her body froze. In that instant, the mistress’s hands closed around her throat.
Sheng Minmin pinned her down, choking her with terrifying strength.
Her eyes burned with fury, yet beneath the flames lay an abyss of despair…
The emotions were so overwhelming that, for a moment, Xiangxiang forgot her fear of death.
Only when Qingying and Qingchi rushed in at the commotion did they manage to pull Sheng Minmin away.
Xiangxiang gasped for air, coughing violently.
“Mistress, what’s wrong? Should I summon the physician…?” Qingying asked urgently.
It took Sheng Minmin a while to fully wake. Not wanting to arouse Sheng Yong’s suspicion, she grabbed Qingying’s wrist.
“No need for the physician—”
Seeing their worried expressions, she added,
“It was just a nightmare. No need to call anyone. Xiangxiang—are you alright?”
Xiangxiang coughed. “I-I’m fine…” Her voice was hoarse, her neck ringed with red marks.
As if to prove it, she struggled to her feet.
“Just my throat… It’ll heal in a few days…”
The sight of her trying so hard to downplay her injuries filled Sheng Minmin with guilt.
These past two days of rest had given her too much time to dwell on the past—and she had dreamed again of the moments before her death.
That was why hatred had clouded her mind, making her choke Xiangxiang without realizing it.
She rubbed her throbbing temples.
“Qingying, send someone to Renxin Hall to fetch a physician.”
Then, remembering she needed to maintain the facade of doting on Sheng Mingzhu, she added,
“Have the physician check on Sixth Miss at Haitang Courtyard first.”
“She’s suffered lately—tell the physician to prescribe her plenty of tonics. If any rare medicines are needed, take them from my pharmacy.”
“After he’s seen her, bring him here. Xiangxiang, go change and rest. No need to attend to me. I’ll send for you after the physician arrives.”
This time, Xiangxiang didn’t refuse and withdrew.
Sheng Minmin’s body was drenched in cold sweat. Qingying helped her bathe and change into warm, dry clothes before she finally felt somewhat settled.
Since she had explicitly ordered her sons and daughters not to visit during her illness—to avoid spreading it—the mornings in Peony Courtyard had been unusually quiet.
After breakfast, the physician from Renxin Hall arrived.
