Reborn in Each Other’s Bodies: A Mother and Daughter’s Deadly Revenge - Chapter 15

“Young Miss, please don’t cry anymore. If Madam and the Young Masters see you like this, their hearts will ache terribly.”

Qingtian patiently coaxed the sniffling Sheng Mingzhu in a gentle voice.

Qingtian was sweet-faced and in the bloom of youth, originally a first-rank maid under Huang Yaning. Her father was a minor steward in the outer estate, her mother handled the procurement of flowers and plants for the Sheng household, her elder brother served the Master, and her sister-in-law managed pastries and tea in the main kitchen…

In the Sheng residence, her family was among the most respected of the servant class.

Yet even such “respected” servants couldn’t afford clothing made of ruyanluo silk.

A few days ago, Madam had uncovered stacks of silver notes, gold and silver jewelry, bird’s nests, shark fins, ginseng, and other expensive fabrics from Tao Niang’s room…

When tallied up, the loot was worth over ten thousand taels of silver!

The Sixth Young Miss claimed those were gifts she’d bestowed upon Tao Niang—but how could a servant accept rewards worth ten thousand taels from their master?

Pah—

What shameless trash!

A six-year-old knew nothing of such matters—those valuables must have been swindled from her by Tao Niang!

The incident had even alarmed the Master, who smashed another tea set in fury.

And because of Tao Niang’s embezzlement, Madam had begun a strict audit of the household accounts days ago, scrutinizing every corner of the estate and purging a large number of servants.

Even the head cook and Madam’s longtime personal maids were replaced.

No one knew what Madam’s next move would be. Despite Qingtian’s efforts to gather information, the servants were left in constant anxiety…

That wretched Tao Niang has truly brought disaster upon us all!

Qingtian cursed inwardly, though she also worried for her family.

But her mother had reassured her: Madam trusted Qingtian enough to assign her to the Sixth Young Miss, so their family wouldn’t be severely punished.

Besides, as the highest-ranking maid by Mingzhu’s side now, even if Madam uncovered something, she wouldn’t make things too difficult for them—not unless she wanted to appear inconsistent.

First punishing the Sixth Young Miss’s wet nurse and stewardess, then targeting her first-rank maid’s family? How would that look?

Comforted by this logic, Qingtian focused on securing her own future.

In this household, aside from Madam, the Sixth Young Miss held the highest status among women. If she could win Mingzhu’s favor, a life of luxury was guaranteed!

Of course, the prerequisite was that Tao Niang never rose again.

So when Sheng Mingzhu woke up crying and demanding to see Tao Niang, Qingtian naturally intervened.

Her eyes flickered cunningly as she suggested:

“Young Miss, Madam is still furious. If you visit Tao Mama now, you’ll only provoke her further.”

“Why not wait until your birthday? By then, Madam’s anger will have cooled, and she’ll surely grant your request for mercy.”

“Really?”

Qingtian nodded emphatically. “Madam dotes on you the most—she’ll agree.”

Mingzhu pouted, her eyes welling up again. “Mother doesn’t love me anymore… She won’t even visit me now that I can’t eat well…”

Her real reason for wanting to see Tao Niang was to seek advice.

In the past, following Tao Niang’s guidance had won her the family’s adoration—she got whatever she wanted.

But now, without her wet nurse, she barely ate or slept, lost and frustrated with no one to turn to.

“Young Miss, Madam changed your meals for your own good. You wouldn’t want to stunt your growth, would you?”

Qingtian smiled, dismissing Mingzhu’s complaints.

The idea that Madam mistreated the Young Miss was ludicrous!

Everyone knew Mingzhu’s monthly expenses for food, clothing, and luxuries surpassed even Madam and the three Young Masters combined. The entire household was aware of how dearly Madam cherished her!

Madam would sooner neglect herself than Mingzhu.

Though she’d replaced Mingzhu’s favorite dishes—bird’s nest, shark fin, duck tongue—with simpler fare for health reasons, the girl still enjoyed six main dishes per meal and two rounds of tea snacks daily.

That was more than enough!

Even the other masters and servants shared this sentiment.

After the recent banquet debacle, the servants learned that the entire staff’s monthly food budget was only 100 taels (though grains and vegetables came free from Madam’s estates).

Yet the Young Miss alone devoured 1,600 taels monthly.

Her wet nurse wore ruyanluo silk worth thousands and embezzled over ten thousand taels in treasures.

Who would believe Madam was stingy with her?

When the Haitang Courtyard servants heard Mingzhu complain about Madam’s lack of “love,” they comforted her outwardly but inwardly scoffed.

Some even secretly scorned her as a selfish, ungrateful wretch.

Mingzhu, sensing their attitudes, seethed.

She truly felt her mother had changed—yet everyone insisted it was for her benefit…

What benefit?

She only wanted the finest, most expensive foods. Now she was served the same mediocre dishes as everyone else, and it infuriated her. But no one understood her hidden meaning.

Forced to maintain her gentle, fragile image, she swallowed her rage.

If only Tao Niang were here…

Sighing, she resigned herself to Qingtian’s advice. She’d have to wait for her parents’ anger to fade before reclaiming her wet nurse.

What Mingzhu didn’t know was that Sheng Minmin had orchestrated this very scenario. By depriving her of extravagant meals, she ensured Mingzhu’s discomfort.

After finally coaxing Mingzhu into her tutor’s courtyard, Qingtian respectfully withdrew—only to immediately darken her expression and head for the laundry yard.

The laundry was located in the estate’s remotest corner, staffed by disgraced servants.

In the Sheng household, only the Master, Madam, the three legitimate Young Masters, the Sixth Young Miss, and two favored concubines had their clothes washed by personal maids.

The rest—unfavored concubines and illegitimate sons—sent their laundry here, along with bedding and garments from high-ranking servants.

Laundry work was grueling, especially in winter, with hands perpetually submerged in icy water.

And Tao Niang’s suffering was far worse.

After her corruption was exposed, Madam’s audit cut off all servants’ illicit income, making Tao Niang the target of collective hatred.

Rumors said some even bribed the laundry matron, Xu Mama, with wine and delicacies to “make Tao Niang’s life hell.”

Thus, after just three days of bedrest, Tao Niang was forced back to work, facing endless piles of filthy clothes from dawn till dusk.

Were it not for the Eldest Young Master’s secret deliveries of medicine and her own robust constitution, she’d have collapsed long ago.

Tao Niang clung to one belief: Her darling Mingzhu would rescue her soon.

Yet she couldn’t help but wonder…

Why hadn’t Mingzhu come to see her all these days?

Was Madam blocking her?