Reborn in Each Other’s Bodies: A Mother and Daughter’s Deadly Revenge - Chapter 3

Later, Huang Yaning entered the Sheng family with a lavish dowry, enabling them to move into this extravagant mansion and live a life of luxury, surrounded by servants and clad in fine silks.

Huang Yaning even used her dowry to pave the way for Sheng Yong’s career. Over ten years, she elevated him from a lowly eighth-rank official to the position of a fifth-rank garrison commander.

Yet Sheng Mingbo had the audacity to claim, “It’s not like we can’t afford it!”—as if Sheng Yong’s salary alone could sustain Sheng Mingzhu and the entire Sheng household!

Now that Sheng Minmin had taken over Huang Yaning’s body, Huang Yaning’s wealth was hers. How could she let her enemies squander her money on a life of extravagance?

With a faint smile, she said, “It’s not about the money—I’m worried about Sixth Sister.”

“Worried about Mingzhu?” Sheng Mingbo’s eyes widened in confusion.

“Look at your sister. At six years old, she’s noticeably shorter than other children her age. I once heard a physician say that overly refined food hinders growth. If she continues eating like this, in the future…”

This wasn’t a lie—in her past life, Sheng Minmin had indeed heard this from a doctor.

The Sheng brothers immediately looked both shocked and conflicted, while Sheng Mingzhu’s face had already paled.

In her previous life, Sheng Mingzhu had been short, a fact that haunted her. She forbade her maids from being tall to avoid drawing attention to her own stature. This worked—until she found herself in a crowd.

At flower-viewing banquets or spring outings, while other young ladies and their maids stood tall and graceful, Sheng Mingzhu looked like a dwarf who had stumbled into a gathering of fairies.

The girls who disliked her secretly mocked her as “the midget.” Enraged, Sheng Mingzhu later resorted to padding her shoes to appear taller.

As the brothers tried to console the now-tearful Sheng Mingzhu, Sheng Yong hesitated. He didn’t want her growth stunted, yet he pitied her distress. Seizing the moment, Sheng Minmin added fuel to the fire.

“Husband, last month, the household spent 4,000 taels on food alone.”

The amount made Sheng Yong’s eyes flash with shock and displeasure. His brow furrowed as he turned to Sheng Minmin, demanding an explanation.

Calmly meeting his gaze, she replied, “I was just as surprised. So I checked the accounts—and the figure was accurate.”

*“You know the household’s food expenses are strictly allotted: 100 taels for all servants, 60 taels per concubine—300 taels for five. The two concubine-born sons, Second and Fourth, get 100 taels each. The three legitimate sons, Eldest, Third, and Fifth, receive 200 taels each. My share is 600 taels, as is yours. Altogether, that’s 2,400 taels.”*

Sheng Yong’s expression darkened. “Did someone exceed their allowance?”

Sheng Minmin shook her head. “No—the overspending came from…” Her gaze shifted to Sheng Mingzhu, and the others followed suit.

“Mother…” The little girl stiffened, her voice trembling.

“Originally, Sixth Sister’s allowance was 200 taels, like her brothers. But last month, I pitied her frail health and let her dine separately in her courtyard. Yet in just one month, her kitchen expenses in Haitang Pavilion reached 1,600 taels.”

The late Huang Yaning had disliked the concubines and their sons, exempting them from morning greetings after the old madam’s death. They only gathered for ceremonial meals on holidays. Normally, legitimate children ate with their mother, while the concubines and their offspring dined separately. Sheng Yong floated between households, his meals delivered wherever he stayed.

Last month, as winter approached, Huang Yaning had allowed Sheng Mingzhu to eat in her own courtyard. Haitang Pavilion had its own kitchen, making it convenient. Apart from the first and fifteenth of the month, Sheng Mingzhu now mostly dined there—yet her kitchen had burned through 1,600 taels in a single month!

The original Huang Yaning might have overlooked this extravagance, but Sheng Minmin was no doting mother. She was a vengeful spirit, here to expose Sheng Mingzhu’s excesses—and contrast them with the rest of the household.

The brothers might remain blind to their sister’s indulgence, but what about Sheng Yong? A father whose own meals cost less than his daughter’s?

And the concubines? Their monthly allowance was a mere 60 taels, while Sheng Mingzhu spent 53 taels a day. Two of those concubines were Sheng Yong’s favorites—wouldn’t they seethe with resentment?

From today onward, every servant would know: Sheng Mingzhu’s monthly food budget exceeded the entire staff’s yearly expenses. Would they still see her as an angel?

(Of course, the servants’ 100-tael budget was only possible because grains, produce, and eggs came directly from Huang Yaning’s—now her—estates. Only occasional meats and delicacies required spending. But why would she defend Sheng Mingzhu?)

Subtly observing the room, Sheng Minmin noted the servants’ shifting expressions.

Sheng Yong’s eyes darkened. He doted on his daughter—but he was still the head of the household. His meals cost 600 taels, yet his six-year-old daughter spent *1,600*? Even accounting for embezzlement, it proved how lavishly she ate!

Now, even the duck tongue soup and shark fin stew on the table seemed offensive.

“Do as the madam suggests,” he said coldly.

Sheng Minmin nodded. At this stage, Sheng Mingzhu was still just a child—not one of the capital’s famed “Twin Beauties,” nor the object of Prince Qi’s admiration. Of course Sheng Yong would agree.

After quietly instructing her maid Qingying, Sheng Minmin said no more. She didn’t bother comforting the weeping Sheng Mingzhu.

Cutting off Sheng Mingzhu’s luxurious meals was just the first step.

Now that she’d awakened in this unfamiliar body, Sheng Minmin knew her priority was to assess her assets, establish her power, and adapt to this life.

Once she secured her footing, she would make these heartless, selfish wretches regret ever crossing her.

The table fell silent. Sheng Yong lost his appetite and soon set down his chopsticks. The others barely touched their food—except for Sheng Minmin, who ate with relish.