Reborn in Each Other’s Bodies: A Mother and Daughter’s Deadly Revenge - Chapter 125

Two days before the auction was set to begin, the shopkeeper delivered a passionate speech.

He announced that the Seventh Miss Sheng, in a remarkable act of generosity, had decided to donate the majority of the auction proceeds to the imperial court.

A small portion would be kept to buy gifts for the villagers of Taohua Village, as a token of gratitude for their care over the years…

The common people always enjoyed seeing the wealthy and powerful donate their money, and they cheered enthusiastically.

“How noble of Seventh Miss Sheng—”
“Seventh Miss Sheng knows how to repay kindness, she’s truly a fairy descended to earth—”

On the day of the auction, the restaurant was several times busier than usual, with crowds of people even pressed against the windows outside the first floor…

As the auction progressed, everyone witnessed just how extravagantly the Sheng family’s impostor young mistress had been living!

Previously, when folks heard the impostor spent over ten thousand taels of silver each month, they found it hard to believe.

But seeing the items up for auction made them realize their poverty had limited their imaginations…

How many people in this world genuinely wish for others to have a better life than their own?

Watching someone live like a princess through theft, while they themselves struggled just to make ends meet…

The bitterness and jealousy in the people’s hearts swelled uncontrollably, and their opinion of Sheng Mingzhu soured.

However, thinking of the real young mistress’s tragic circumstances made them feel slightly better.

For so many years, the impostor had enjoyed delicacies and fine clothes…

While the true young mistress suffered hunger and cold in the village, nearly dying several times.

In comparison, the real young mistress was truly pitiable…

At this moment, even though they hadn’t yet met the Seventh Miss Sheng, the public felt immense sympathy and affection for her, the true daughter who had spent seven years as a peasant girl.

Thus, Seventh Miss Sheng’s reputation was completely turned around in an incredibly short time.

It had to be said, Huang Yaning’s series of maneuvers was absolutely masterful!

First, she had the Princess help gather the “her” tragic stories from Taohua Village and publicize them widely, harvesting a wave of sympathy and tears by presenting herself as the victim.
Then, the auction exposed Sheng Mingzhu’s lavish lifestyle, thoroughly trampling her reputation.
Finally, the handling of the auction proceeds elevated her character to a whole new level.

All of this was set in motion because Huang Yaning only wanted the best for Minmin.

Huang Yaning had thought that one day, perhaps, Minmin might switch back with her.
When that time came, she wanted to find Minmin a good marriage, prepare a generous dowry, see her get married and have children, living a happy, peaceful, and fortunate life.

Therefore, she couldn’t leave a bad reputation for Minmin.

Huang Yaning had thought even further ahead.

She knew that once this body grew a bit older, Sheng Mingjian would certainly use her past as a child bride to attack her.
While any sensible person would know she was only seven when she became a child bride, that nothing could have truly happened, and that it wasn’t her choice… it would still be an unpleasant topic.

So, Huang Yaning pondered day and night, racking her brains, before devising this scheme.

Now, by taking the initiative and laying her past open for all to see,
the people of the capital, when they thought of her, would only remember her kindness and gratitude, feeling nothing but sympathy and affection for her.
With the current public perception, even if someone brought up the “child bride” matter in the future, it would no longer pose a threat.

When Minmin returned to this body, she would have far fewer troubles…

While Huang Yaning executed her plan, Sheng Yong also played his part perfectly.

He first took a few days off work. When colleagues inquired about what was wrong with Master Sheng,
word slowly spread that Sheng Yong had fallen ill, unable to eat or sleep well, heartsick over his youngest daughter donating half the family’s wealth…

Some commoners heard about this too; while they offered words of sympathy outwardly, inwardly they were secretly pleased.

Thus, Sheng Yong managed to craft an image of the “pitiable father,” and his reputation gradually improved.

The ones having the hardest time in the Sheng household were naturally the three legitimate brothers.

Sheng Mingbo, covered in injuries, was confined to his bed, cursing daily in his courtyard.
Sheng Mingyi, weighed down by gloom, refused to leave his quarters.
Sheng Mingjian wore a perpetually dark, stormy expression, as if ink were about to drip from his face.

Sheng Mingjian had guessed Huang Yaning’s intentions as soon as he learned about the activities at the restaurant.

He wanted to stop it, but the restaurant wasn’t a place where he could act recklessly!

Previously, he hadn’t hesitated to send Xiong San to set a fire and kill, all to brand that wild girl as a cursed star, ensuring she could never hold her head high.
It was also meant to serve as a foil for Mingzhu, spreading her reputation as a lucky star. He never expected things to turn out like this.

Now, that wild girl had become the pitied and beloved true young mistress, while his Mingzhu was labeled a shameless, greedy thief by the public.

He didn’t even dare tell Mingzhu about the situation in the capital, afraid she would be so upset it would hinder her recovery.
For now, he would keep it from her as long as possible.

He had come to realize that his mother was different from before, and that wild girl was certainly no ordinary seven-year-old.

Could it be that Mother and that wild girl were also having some kind of dreams?

Sheng Mingjian wasn’t sure; he needed to find an opportunity to probe further.

But it wasn’t the right time recently to make another move against that wild girl.

Once he understood this, Sheng Mingjian suddenly realized he had been losing sight of his priorities lately, getting stuck in a narrow mindset and limiting his own options.

What he should be doing now was focusing on his studies!

In his dream, he had passed the imperial exams as the Tanhua (Third Place Scholar) at just eighteen, rising swiftly and smoothly through the official ranks…

As long as he gained power in the future, dealing with that wild girl, or competing with Zhu Qisheng for Mingzhu, would become much easier.

At the same time, his third and fifth brothers couldn’t continue as they were. In his dream, they were both his allies!

Having sorted out his mindset, Sheng Mingjian’s expression was no longer thunderous.

He went to have a detailed discussion with Sheng Yong. When he emerged from Sheng Yong’s study, he even wore a faint smile.

Soon, Sheng Minmin received a notification from Sheng Yong.

Sheng Yong had agreed to let Sheng Mingyi return to the academy to continue his studies.

He also said that once Sheng Mingbo recovered, he would hire a martial arts master for him.

Hearing this news, Sheng Mingbo laughed heartily, even stopping his curses against those who had beaten him.

Sheng Minmin went to see Sheng Yong, hoping to make him change his mind, but this time Sheng Yong’s attitude was very firm.

He even countered her, “Madam, haven’t you noticed that keeping Third Son confined to the courtyard to recuperate has only made his condition worse?”

Sheng Minmin: “…”

Of course she knew! Her goal was precisely for Sheng Mingyi’s condition to worsen so he could no longer cause trouble.

“Since resting quietly isn’t effective, perhaps getting out more would help. I recall Third Son’s health was better when he studied at the academy before. Besides, he has a talent for learning; it shouldn’t be wasted.”

Since Sheng Yong had said so much, Sheng Minmin couldn’t stop Sheng Mingyi from going to the academy.

“But what about Fifth Son? The path of a military officer is too dangerous!
“Besides, Fifth Son is already rough-natured, reckless, and easily offends people.
“If he learns martial arts, he’ll only become more reckless. What if he provokes someone and causes serious trouble…”

Sheng Yong looked deeply at Sheng Minmin. “Madam, you must know that Fifth Son’s temperament is more suited to the martial path than the scholarly one.
“If you want him to be a good-for-nothing, then let him continue with studies. If you want him to make something of himself, don’t stop him from learning martial arts—”

Sheng Minmin’s heart tightened, her throat feeling constricted.

She wanted to say more, but she sensed something indescribably strange in Sheng Yong’s gaze.

Feeling uneasy, and afraid he might see through her, Sheng Minmin could only reluctantly agree and return to Peony Court.