Reborn in Each Other’s Bodies: A Mother and Daughter’s Deadly Revenge - Chapter 17

Another maid, Qingxin, was quite alluring and, due to her good looks, was rather restless.

Originally, Qingxin had wanted to become Sheng Yong’s concubine. But in her past life, Huang Yaning had guarded Sheng Yong like a hawk, leaving Qingxin no room to even hint at her desires.

Later, Qingxin set her sights on Sheng Mingjian and even succeeded in scheming against him.

However, after the incident, Sheng Mingjian was furious and humiliated. He ordered his servants to bind Qingxin and have their way with her, effectively ruining her chances of becoming a concubine.

The fact that Qingxin managed to scheme against Sheng Mingjian proved she was no simpleton.

Now, Qingxin was 15 years old, while Sheng Mingjian was only 10. If Qingxin put in some effort, she might even be able to take Sheng Mingjian’s “first time”…

As for whether Qingxin would live or die after her scheme succeeded—why would Sheng Minmin care?

These two maids had made her suffer plenty in her past life. The only reason she spared them now was that they still had some use. If they became useless, their deaths would mean nothing to her.

In a couple of days, after she finished auditing Huang Yaning’s dowry, she planned to replace Sheng Mingyi and Sheng Mingbo’s attendants with new ones—preferably those who seemed clever but were actually rotten to the core, willing to do anything to please their masters…

The best outcome would be to lure those two into indulging in every vice—drinking, gambling, and whoring.

Ah, right. The Sheng family also had two illegitimate sons: Sheng Mingli and Sheng Mingshu.

In her past life, Sheng Mingli had seemed somewhat sympathetic toward her. He never helped her, but he never harmed her either.

As for Sheng Mingshu—if not for him accidentally running into her outside and noticing her uncanny resemblance to Huang Yaning, her true identity would never have been exposed to the Sheng family.

Though Sheng Minmin wasn’t sure which fate was worse—being a child bride toiling away in the Zhang family or returning to the Sheng family as a young mistress—Sheng Mingshu’s intentions had been good.

He had done her a kindness.

So, in this life, she would support Sheng Mingshu. As an illegitimate son, she would help him climb above the legitimate heirs and infuriate Sheng Mingjian and the others!

As for Sheng Yong… what would be the best way to arrange his death?

A sudden death?

That would be too merciful.

No, a slow, bedridden illness—paralyzed and helpless—would be far more satisfying…

Just imagining the sweet revenge made Sheng Minmin’s lips curl into a smile.

Truly, having status and wealth was a wonderful thing. In her past life, she had risked her life but still failed to protect herself and her child.

Now, just a few words from her were enough to make countless people scramble to do her bidding.

The heavens placing her soul in this body was the greatest blessing she could have asked for!

At that thought, Sheng Minmin suddenly jolted upright.

She had forgotten something extremely, critically important—where was Huang Yaning?

Damn it!

These past few days, seeing her past-life enemies had consumed her entirely with thoughts of revenge.

Then, after using “Tao Niang’s embezzlement” as an excuse, she had been busy purging the household of servants who had tormented her and establishing her own power.

The Sheng household wasn’t overly large, but it still had over two hundred servants, all intricately connected. It had taken her immense effort to clean house thoroughly.

In all that chaos, she had completely forgotten about Huang Yaning—until now.

Was Huang Yaning still inside this body? But she hadn’t sensed another soul’s presence.

Or had Huang Yaning’s soul vanished?

If Huang Yaning was still in this body or had disappeared entirely, she had nothing to fear.

But if their souls had swapped bodies, that would be disastrous!

A gut feeling told Sheng Minmin that Huang Yaning might really be in her old body.

If that were the case… did Huang Yaning have memories of their past life?

If she did, she would surely realize that Sheng Minmin posed a threat to the Sheng family. Huang Yaning would do everything in her power to return and protect her husband and children.

And if she didn’t have those memories?

Even then, Huang Yaning—a noblewoman—would never accept life as a peasant girl. She would still try to return.

A cold sweat broke out on Sheng Minmin’s forehead, her head spinning.

No—

She had to prepare for every possibility. She needed to keep close tabs on that “Feng Liuyā” in Taohua Village and ensure she didn’t interfere!

“Qingying, prepare the carriage.”

…

The streets of the capital were bustling, filled with the clamor of vendors and the rich aroma of food—warm and comforting.

The rhythmic clip-clop of hooves on cobblestone echoed through the air.

In her past life, that sound had filled Sheng Minmin with dread.

Back then, whenever there was a flower-viewing party, a spring outing, or a lantern festival, Sheng Mingzhu would “invite” her to ride in the same carriage to “have fun.”

She never wanted to go.

By then, her reputation was in ruins.

When the Sheng family took her back, they introduced her as the “Seventh Miss,” claiming she and the “Sixth Miss” were twins—but that she had been frail and sent to the south for recovery.

Yet soon after, rumors spread that she hadn’t been recuperating in the south at all—but had been living as a peasant girl, even sold off as a child bride…

It took her years to realize those rumors had been spread by Tao Niang and Sheng Mingzhu.

Though the rumors were true, the Sheng family never defended her. They never explained that she was the real daughter, swapped at birth, while Sheng Mingzhu was the imposter.

The noble young ladies looked down on her for being “coarse” and “tainted,” some even assuming she was no longer pure.

So she hated going out, hated facing their scornful glares.

But Sheng Mingzhu always convinced the family to drag her along, spouting pretty words about “showing her sister the world” and “finding her a good match.”

If she refused, Sheng Mingzhu would shed a few tears, and the entire household would scold her.

Yet every time they went out, she was humiliated—while Sheng Mingzhu never once stood up for her.

How laughable.

Later, Sheng Mingzhu framed her for even worse crimes—pushing her “beloved sister” into a lake, stealing her things, even cursing her in secret…

Her reputation sank lower than gutter filth.

People looked at her with nothing but disgust, while praising Sheng Mingzhu for being “kind and forgiving,” always bringing her “ungrateful sister” along out of sheer generosity.

So she hated leaving the house.

Ironically, this was the first time she had ever stepped out of the Sheng estate willingly.

The carriage soon arrived at a jewelry shop—a newly opened one, already thriving.

Not wanting to waste time, Sheng Minmin immediately asked the staff to pick out a set of hair ornaments that would appeal to a young girl.

The shopkeeper discreetly sized her up before summoning a manager, who brought out a stunning pearl set.

The pearls were flawless, glossy and perfectly round—especially the necklace, with each pearl large and radiant.

The manager quoted 2,000 taels. Sheng Minmin bought it without hesitation.

Next, she visited a fabric shop that was part of Huang Yaning’s dowry (which now belonged to her). She selected some fine silks and furs before heading to a brokerage.