Reborn in Each Other’s Bodies: A Mother and Daughter’s Deadly Revenge - Chapter 148
“You’re right, sister. Just now… I was a bit slow to react…”
As she uttered these words, Sheng Mingzhu felt as though she had swallowed a knife.
Her tongue hurt, her throat hurt, her whole body ached…
She felt so wronged!
Her Master had long ago warned her against acting rashly.
Therefore, Sheng Mingzhu had only occasionally complained to her senior brother once or twice back at White Horse Temple, saying her parents seemed to have forgotten her…
After returning home, she had never said anything like that to anyone, let alone deliberately guided anyone…
Earlier, hearing the County Princess speak up for her and subtly criticize her mother for not sending her anything all these years, Sheng Mingzhu had even felt that heaven was helping her…
Only now did she realize how difficult that wretched girl was to deal with…
Now, thanks to that wretch’s words, it seemed as if she had been spreading some kind of rumor behind the scenes—
The feeling of having dirty water inexplicably splashed on her made Sheng Mingzhu truly want to cry…
Sheng Mingzhu decided that from now on, not only would she not act recklessly,
but she also wouldn’t get involved when others took up her cause, wouldn’t add fuel to the fire, and wouldn’t express any ambiguous attitudes…
Only this way could she “reap the benefits” without getting herself burned.
Li Bai Lou was packed with people inside and out, but at this moment, an eerie silence fell over the surroundings.
Sheng Minmin felt this act was decent enough, but it was also time for the curtain call. She smiled slightly and spoke.
“County Princess, it’s getting late. This humble wife should take them back now.”
Murong Yan also revealed a smile, though it didn’t seem as bright and sweet as usual, and nodded. “Please do as you wish, Madame Huang.”
After this brief exchange, Sheng Minmin led the group back to the residence.
The next day, Lin Zhijing sent someone to Sheng Mingzhu’s door with a gift—precisely that set of purple gemstone headwear.
The servants of Furong Courtyard seemed to have found someone to back them up, each becoming haughty and arrogant.
Alone in her room, Sheng Mingzhu’s mood remained low.
Her senior brother was handsome, capable, and treated her very well.
But his family background was ultimately lacking, and senior brother had no desire for power, only wanting to be a carefree wanderer of the martial world.
If she married him, he might not let her suffer financially, but Sheng Mingzhu couldn’t bear that kind of life, exposed to the elements and constantly drifting from place to place.
Marrying Prince Qi would be the best.
Over the years, Prince Qi had secretly sent things to White Horse Temple, and they had also communicated through letters.
Although not frequently, the meaning between Prince Qi’s lines clearly indicated romantic feelings for her…
On the day she returned to the capital, Prince Qi had waited at the city gate for a long time just to see her.
In that exchanged glance, Sheng Mingzhu saw affection in Prince Qi’s eyes. Her heart felt settled, and she was somewhat moved.
But after that brief meeting, Prince Qi was called back by people from his manor.
And so far, he hadn’t sent her any gifts or even a single word…
Had Prince Qi encountered some little enchantress and changed his heart?
Impossible!
Prince Qi had said she was the most special, the most unique…
Sheng Mingzhu felt as if two little people were arguing in her head.
One told her to believe in Prince Qi and her Master.
Prince Qi would definitely not make her a concubine, and her Master also said he would definitely help her reach a high position.
But the other little person told her not to harbor such delusions. With her current status, at best she could only be Prince Qi’s concubine…
Her Master wasn’t an immortal; how could he guarantee she would get her wish?
The more she thought about it, the more agitated Sheng Mingzhu became. No matter how many ice basins were in the room, she still felt miserable.
What Sheng Mingzhu didn’t know was that over the years, Sheng Minmin’s relationship with Princess Jing had become increasingly close.
Influenced by Sheng Minmin, Princess Jing felt that Sheng Mingzhu had a somewhat sinister air about her and had been keeping a close watch on Prince Qi, preventing him from having much contact with Sheng Mingzhu.
Prince Qi could only secretly send things to Sheng Mingzhu and occasionally slip out a letter. His relationship with her had progressed much more slowly than in their previous life.
Not only that, Princess Jing was also in the process of finding suitable young ladies for Prince Qi to consider.
Prince Qi was already sixteen this year, old enough to marry.
This, too, was largely thanks to Sheng Minmin. In their previous life, Princess Jing had fallen seriously ill this very year and passed away not long after.
Prince Qi used the three-year mourning period as a pretext to wait for Sheng Mingzhu…
In this life, Sheng Minmin had Qingdai help regulate Princess Jing and Mama Wang’s health. Now, Princess Jing was in excellent health and had plenty of energy to help select a wife for Prince Qi.
Prince Qi had been extremely busy lately trying to persuade Princess Jing not to rush his marriage, which was why he had no time for romance with Sheng Mingzhu.
While Sheng Mingzhu was in low spirits, Xia Zhi’s mood was excellent.
Although Sheng Mingzhu didn’t take her out on excursions anymore, she was still by Sheng Mingzhu’s side.
No matter who Sheng Mingzhu married in the future, she would accompany her as part of the dowry.
If Sheng Mingzhu became pregnant in the future, she would surely need someone to help secure her favor.
At that time, she would have a chance to rise…
Xia Zhi thought Prince Qi was handsome and noble.
Lin Zhijing was also good-looking, talented, and dashing…
Both were excellent candidates for a husband. Whichever one she ended up serving in the future, she would be… pleased…
In Concubine Ruan’s courtyard.
“Auntie, do you think we should tell Madame about this?”
At this moment, only Concubine Ruan and Sheng Mingshu were in the room.
Some time ago, Sheng Mingshu’s attendant, Huaishan, went out to buy pastries and happened to catch sight of the attendant serving his eldest brother, Gaoshan.
Huaishan secretly followed and discovered that Gaoshan had gone to the Western District to meet someone—someone he recognized.
It was one of his own classmates—Liang Mingcheng.
During their leisure time, some scholars at Yuelu Academy had made various rankings of the academy’s students.
Originally, Sheng Mingshu knew nothing about these and wasn’t interested.
But one day Huaishan told him he had made it onto the “Four Great Talents” list, while his second brother was on the “Four Great Beauties” list…
He heard there were also lists like “Four Great Bullies,” “Four Great Stragglers,” “Four Great Diligent Souls,” and so on. It was all quite absurd…
This Liang Mingcheng had deep-set features, a tall and straight build, and a very striking appearance. He was one of the “Four Great Beauties.”
Moreover, he had already passed the imperial examination at the county level last year.
However, Sheng Mingshu didn’t particularly like Liang Mingcheng.
Because they were recently preparing for the academy entrance exams, their teacher had shown them many essays written by scholars from the academy.
Among them were Liang Mingcheng’s essays. From his writing, one could see this person was eager for quick success, ambitious, and gave the feeling that he would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
Sheng Mingshu felt Liang Mingcheng was quite similar to his eldest brother.
His eldest brother’s attendant was in contact with Liang Mingcheng. Worried the two might be secretly plotting something, Sheng Mingshu had Huaishan inquire everywhere about Liang Mingcheng…
Unexpectedly, although Liang Mingcheng had studied at the academy for many years, apart from knowing his family was poor, he studied diligently, and he passed the county-level exam last year, they couldn’t find out anything else.
It was only after Huaishan spent several days lurking around Liang Mingcheng’s neighborhood that he overheard a few women gossiping and managed to learn a few things.
One woman said that Liang’s mother had previously been arranging a match for Liang Mingcheng, and the matchmaker had found him an extraordinary family.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
