Reborn in Each Other’s Bodies: A Mother and Daughter’s Deadly Revenge - Chapter 29

“Master Xue, the Master and Madam request your presence.” Xiangxiang personally came to summon her.

Xue Ningzhi arrived at the main hall of Haitang Courtyard, where Sheng Minmin and Sheng Yong sat in the central chairs.

Below them, a soft recliner had been placed, and Sheng Mingzhu lay upon it.

A young maid knelt on the floor, applying an ice-cold compress to Sheng Mingzhu’s swollen ankle, while another held a basin of ice with several spare cloths chilling atop it, ready for replacement.

Surrounding Sheng Mingzhu were the three legitimate young masters of the Sheng family, each wearing expressions of deep concern.

Earlier, when Aunt Hong and Aunt Bai nearly came to blows, Sheng Yong had dismissed all the concubines and illegitimate children.

Now, aside from the legitimate family members, no one else remained in the room.

“Master Xue, please take a seat.”

Sheng Minmin’s voice was calm and unhurried.

Xue Ningzhi, detecting no anger in her tone, breathed a small sigh of relief. After greeting them properly, she took a seat.

Qingtian, along with Sheng Mingzhu’s other senior maid, Yun Jin, entered with two young maids in tow. All four were deathly pale, and with a thud, they dropped to their knees. The maids and elderly servants from the outer courtyard also knelt in unison.

With Sheng Mingzhu injured, every servant in Haitang Courtyard would be held accountable—none would escape punishment.

“Guards! Drag them out and give each twenty lashes! They must have neglected their duties, causing my little sister to fall!”

Without waiting for any investigation, Sheng Mingbo—hot-tempered as firecrackers—had already erupted.

“Fifth Young Master, spare us—!”

“Master, have mercy—!”

The servants kowtowed desperately, begging for mercy. Some of the more timid ones trembled like leaves in the wind.

To Sheng Minmin, this scene was all too familiar. In her past life, whenever Sheng Mingzhu encountered the slightest mishap and shed a few tears, Sheng Mingbo would immediately jump to demand punishment.

The eldest, Sheng Mingjian, appeared steady and composed, but in truth, he was far more ruthless—his methods ten times crueler than Sheng Mingbo’s impulsive brutality.

The second brother seemed like a mild-mannered “peacemaker,” but in reality, he, too, always sided with Sheng Mingzhu.

Anyone who crossed these three brothers would suffer dearly.

If the target happened to be someone Sheng Mingzhu still found useful, she would “plead for mercy.”

In the end, the brothers would make a loud show of force but deliver little consequence, and the spared party would feel indebted to Sheng Mingzhu’s “kindness.”

The brothers played the villains, while Sheng Mingzhu emerged as the beautiful, benevolent “fairy.”

But if the target was someone Sheng Mingzhu wanted gone, they would be skinned alive.

In her past life, Sheng Minmin had narrowly escaped death at the hands of these brothers more times than she could count…

Yet today, without even a proper interrogation, Sheng Mingbo was ready to punish the servants—and Sheng Mingzhu hadn’t spoken a single word in their defense.

It seemed Sheng Mingzhu was truly furious this time, abandoning even the pretense of her “kind fairy” act.

If Tao Niang were here, she would never have allowed Sheng Mingzhu to act so foolishly.

Tsk, tsk. Since Sheng Mingzhu had missed her chance to reinforce her “fairy” persona, Sheng Minmin would gladly take it for herself!

Smack!

Sheng Minmin slammed her palm on the rosewood table, her voice sharp with anger.

“Sheng Mingbo, have you lost your senses? Without even determining the truth, you’re here shouting about punishment? Do you care nothing for the Sheng family’s reputation? Or your father’s standing as an official?”

Caught off guard by his “mother’s” reaction, Sheng Mingbo froze, then jutted his chin out indignantly.

“Mother, you’ve changed! You don’t care about Little Sister—or any of us—anymore!”

Sheng Minmin’s face darkened. “Guards! Drag him out before he spouts more nonsense and embarrasses us all!”

The newly purchased, burly maids—finally put to good use—promptly “escorted” Sheng Mingbo out.

When Madam had bought them, she’d made it clear: intelligence and beauty didn’t matter, nor did age. The only things that mattered were obedience and loyalty.

So they remembered—stay loyal, stay obedient.

As long as they did, Madam would ensure they ate well.

Sheng Yong had been about to intervene, but upon reflection, Sheng Minmin’s words made sense. The Sheng family couldn’t afford a reputation for arbitrarily abusing servants.

Once the hotheaded Sheng Mingbo was removed, Sheng Minmin spoke again, her tone measured. “Qingtian, did you notice anything unusual?”

Qingtian finally raised her head, her forehead red and swollen from kowtowing, her eyes filled with terror.

She had always known Sheng Mingzhu’s status in the family, so she had served her meticulously, never making a single mistake—until today’s disaster…

Her voice trembled as she answered, “Madam, Yun Jin and I… found nothing unusual.

“Two maids scrub the floor every morning and evening with boiling water, then dry it thoroughly to ensure no moisture, stains, or grease remain…

“Master Xue also inspects the room before each lesson. There was truly nothing amiss…”

Despite her fear, Qingtian—once a first-rank maid under the household’s mistress—spoke with clarity.

The two floor-scrubbing maids burst into tears, swearing they had never slacked in their duties.

Xue Ningzhi also stood and solemnly added,

“That is correct. Honored by your trust in teaching the Sixth Young Lady, I inspect the floor and surroundings before every lesson. Today was no exception—I found nothing out of place…”

This made Qingtian exhale quietly in relief. It seemed the Sixth Young Lady had simply slipped on her own…

She was certain no one in Haitang Courtyard would dare harm Sheng Mingzhu.

They weren’t fools—if Sheng Mingzhu thrived, so did they. If anything happened to her, the first to suffer would be her attendants.

Like just now, when the Fifth Young Master had nearly had them all dragged out for flogging. That was why they served the Sixth Young Lady with such devotion.

But the Sixth Young Lady was truly heartless! She had slipped on her own, yet made such a fuss, not even speaking a word in their defense.

If not for Madam’s fairness and mercy, blood would have already been spilled in Haitang Courtyard.

Resentment toward Sheng Mingzhu quietly sprouted in Qingtian’s heart—and in the hearts of many other servants.

Sheng Mingzhu, meanwhile, was furious. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go!

She had only said her fall seemed suspicious—it was Fifth Brother who insisted someone had harmed her, and Mother who wanted to find the “culprit.”

Why did everyone look at her as if she were the one causing trouble? Some even seemed… displeased with her?

It had never been like this before…

Indeed, it hadn’t. In the past, when Sheng Mingbo demanded punishment, the Madam might have agreed.

So the servants would only blame Sheng Mingbo and the Madam.

But now, with Sheng Mingbo removed and the “Madam” pleading for leniency, who could the servants resent?

Only Sheng Mingzhu remained.

Seeing the servants’ gazes toward Sheng Mingzhu, Sheng Minmin felt a flicker of satisfaction. She sipped her tea, hiding a faint smile.

The “kind-hearted fairy” Sheng Mingzhu, so callous toward her loyal servants, would soon face the consequences.

“Father, Eldest Brother, Third Brother… It wasn’t me… I didn’t…”

Sheng Mingzhu on the recliner burst into tears again.

“Mingzhu, of course Father believes you. Don’t cry.”

“Little Sister, we all believe you.”

Watching the Sheng family’s reactions, Sheng Minmin sneered inwardly.

As expected. The moment Sheng Mingzhu cried and spoke vaguely, they all rushed to her side without question.