Reborn in Each Other’s Bodies: A Mother and Daughter’s Deadly Revenge - Chapter 134

Lin Zhijing saw Sheng Mingzhu to the door, drank a cup of tea, and then returned to his own home. Now, only “family” remained in the Sheng residence.

“Father, your daughter has been unable to serve at her parents’ side for many years. I have been unfilial…”

Once the outsider was gone, Sheng Mingzhu looked at Sheng Yong with eyes full of reverence and affection, sinking gracefully into a deep bow.

She kowtowed three times solemnly. When she raised her head again, her delicate face was already streaked with glistening tears.

After years apart, Sheng Mingzhu now possessed a budding young maiden’s charm.

She was dressed in simple, plain clothes today, her hair adorned with only two pearl accessories—extremely understated.

Her petite figure made one unconsciously feel she must have had a very difficult time these past few years.

Combined with those tear-streaked cheeks, it was easy to feel pity and affection for her.

The looks in the eyes of some servants towards Sheng Mingzhu had already softened considerably.

If even the servants were affected, the three brothers who had doted on Sheng Mingzhu since childhood were even more so.

The expressions on their faces showed extreme heartache as they hurriedly crowded forward to help the girl up from the floor, even pushing Sheng Mingzhu’s maids, Xiazhi and Jixue, aside in their haste…

The actions of the three brothers made the fury in Huang Yaning’s heart begin to boil.

By now, Huang Yaning had recovered from the shock of seeing Sheng Mingzhu walking freely!

From the main gate to the inner courtyard, she had observed carefully—Sheng Mingzhu truly could walk now!

But, that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing!
If she could ruin Sheng Mingzhu once, she could ruin her a second, and a third time!
However many times Sheng Mingzhu climbed back up, she would destroy her each and every time.
In this life, Huang Yaning was determined to ensure Sheng Mingzhu would never, ever be able to turn things around.

“Heh—” Huang Yaning let out a cold laugh, shattering the atmosphere in the room.

Once everyone’s attention was focused on her, she curled her lips in a mocking smile and looked at Sheng Yong.

“Father, someone’s words sound sweeter than a song, you mustn’t be deceived!

“For us younger generation it’s one thing, but you are the head of the Sheng household!

“If someone truly respected you, how could they let you wait eagerly at the gate for so long without first sending word that Master Dale had gone to the Third Princess’s estate?”

When Sheng Yong heard his youngest daughter’s scornful laugh, he couldn’t help but frown.

Nowadays, Sixth Daughter was no longer the same; she had apprenticed under an immensely powerful master.

Master Dale was not only a highly accomplished monk but also someone who could understand human affairs through celestial phenomena and was highly skilled in feng shui.

Countless powerful and wealthy families in the capital sought to curry favor with the Master, hoping for a single word of guidance…

And that Lin Zhijing, it was said his medical methods were highly unconventional, curing many complex and stubborn illnesses. Sixth Daughter’s leg had also been healed by him.

Who knew how many critically ill people in the capital sought Lin Zhijing for treatment.

With two such golden connections by her side, Sixth Daughter was not someone to be offended.

So, Sheng Yong had initially intended to verbally chastise his youngest daughter, telling her not to be so harsh towards Sixth Daughter right from the start, filling the house with such a heavy, confrontational atmosphere.

But after hearing his youngest daughter’s words, the reprimand died in Sheng Yong’s throat.

His youngest daughter’s words might be sharp, but her heart ached for her father!

Every word struck a chord within him. After all, he was an official. Waiting at the gate to receive Master Dale was somewhat understandable.

But waiting for his own daughter and a junior? That was truly humiliating! He just hadn’t shown it earlier.

“Father, it was my fault—

“The Third Princess sent someone personally to greet us outside the city, saying there was an urgent matter requiring his help. Master had no choice but to go there first…

“Your daughter intended to send someone to inform you first, but then I met First Brother and Fifth Brother… I was so excited… that I forgot…

“Because of my oversight, I caused Father, Second Brother, Fourth Brother, Seventh Sister, and Cousin Xian to wait for me at the gate. Mingzhu apologizes to everyone here…”

Sheng Mingzhu’s voice was soft, her expression full of remorse…

“Father, it has nothing to do with Mingzhu.

“I, as the eldest brother, should have been the one to send word to you. It was my lack of consideration. Please don’t blame Mingzhu…”

Sheng Mingjian hurriedly took the blame upon himself and shot a warning glance at Huang Yaning.

Sheng Mingbo didn’t interject. Ever since receiving that lashing from Huang Yaning five years ago, he hadn’t openly confronted her again. Those whippings had a significant impact on Sheng Mingbo.

“This is all a minor matter—”

Sheng Yong, who never wanted to offend Sheng Mingzhu anyway, waved his hand dismissively.

The rest of the Sheng family quickly and deferentially expressed that it was no problem at all.

Huang Yaning watched coldly from the sidelines. It seemed Sheng Mingzhu had “improved” greatly during her years at White Horse Temple.

In her previous life, Sheng Mingzhu followed the path of an ethereal beauty, a refined lady of good family, a talented gentlewoman.

In this life, with Sheng Mingzhu’s identity as a peasant girl exposed, she had changed her approach.

She now carried a hint of that delicate, vulnerable “little white flower” aura reminiscent of Aunt Bai.

The difference was, Aunt Bai presented herself as if she would fade and perish at the slightest storm, constantly craving others’ protection.

That demeanor had indeed made Sheng Yong develop a very strong desire to protect Aunt Bai, carefully sheltering her all these years.

Sheng Mingzhu, however, seemed more like a small white lotus facing the wind and rain—still fragile yet brave and resilient, as if she didn’t want to rely on anyone’s strength, striving to live “self-reliantly”—

But this, ironically, made it even easier to stir men’s pity and protective instincts.

Huang Yaning felt the current Sheng Mingzhu was countless levels more shrewd than in her previous life. It seemed she would have her work cut out for her in the days to come.

Just then, Sheng Minmin arrived with several of the aunts.

Aunt Fu, Aunt Shui, Aunt Ruan, Aunt Hong, and Aunt Bai.

It wasn’t a festival or holiday, so the Madam appearing simultaneously with all five aunts made for quite a spectacle.

After everyone exchanged greetings, Sheng Mingzhu, standing in the center of the room, bowed deeply once more. This time, the three Sheng brothers didn’t dare rush forward to pull her up.

“Mother, your daughter has been unfilial, leaving home for five years before returning…”

She only managed these few words before breaking down into choked sobs.

An uninformed observer might truly think Sheng Mingzhu was the biological daughter of this family, and that she had missed the family’s mother dearly these past five years…

Sheng Minmin studied the girl on the floor intently.

In her previous life, she returned to the Sheng residence at age 12. In this life, Sheng Mingzhu also returned at age 12.

In her previous life, when she first returned, she was skin and bones, dressed in rags,自卑怯弱 (Note: Original Chinese included here, meaning “inferiority complex and timid”), hanging her head, not even daring to meet anyone’s eyes.

Back then, Sheng Mingzhu’s skin was like congealed cream, she wore silks and satins, adorned with countless exquisite gold, silver, and jade accessories.

Simply standing there, she radiated an innate confidence and pride, truly like a shining pearl.

In this life, she [Sheng Minmin] was the one in the high position, while Sheng Mingzhu knelt on the ground, dressed plainly.

It seemed their positions were reversed, although the current Sheng Mingzhu’s life was still quite comfortable, and the suffering she had experienced was far less than a ten-thousandth of what Sheng Minmin had endured in her previous life.

But this also proved that Sheng Mingzhu was no chosen daughter of fate. So what if her leg was healed now?

She would make Sheng Mingzhu return to hell once again!

To be honest, Sheng Minmin and Huang Yaning were thinking along the same lines.

Sheng Mingzhu’s healed leg didn’t fill them with fear or frustration. On the contrary, it seemed to make them even more determined to fight.