Reborn in Each Other’s Bodies: A Mother and Daughter’s Deadly Revenge - Chapter 4

Seeing her birth mother act this way, Sheng Mingzhu couldn’t help but feel a surge of resentment.

But her father had already spoken. Even if her brothers sided with her, it wouldn’t change anything. Mingzhu had no choice but to accept it.

After the meal, servants brought tea for rinsing and basins for handwashing. Once everyone had freshened up, Sheng Yong left for the rear courtyard—likely to visit one of his concubines.

Sheng Mingjian and his brothers personally escorted Mingzhu back to her quarters. Once they had left the courtyard, Sheng Minmin headed straight for the flower hall.

There, a woman was already kneeling.

Minmin took her seat at the head of the room, her body trembling as she stared at the woman prostrated on the floor in false “submission.” Her grip on the armrest tightened, as if she could crush it with sheer hatred.

For a long moment, she was silent. Only when she bit her tongue hard enough to taste blood did she regain a sliver of composure.

“Look up,” she commanded coldly.

The woman slowly raised her head, revealing a face Minmin knew all too well.

She had the same delicate oval face as Mingzhu, the same plain features. Though not strikingly beautiful, her privileged position as Mingzhu’s wet nurse had granted her luxurious care, leaving her with an air of refined elegance.

At the sight of that face—the one she had “dreamed of” for years—a tidal wave of hatred surged through Minmin. She wanted nothing more than to lunge forward and tear the woman apart with her teeth.

No. She wanted to devour her alive.

This woman was Taoniang—Mingzhu’s wet nurse, one of the Sheng family’s most respected servants… and the woman Minmin had called “Mother” for twelve years in her past life.

Before being brought back to the Sheng estate, Minmin had believed herself to be the daughter of the Feng family. Feng the Second was her father, and Taoniang was her mother.

As a child, she couldn’t understand why her family disliked her.

When she grew older, she thought she had figured it out.

It was because her mother—the family’s main breadwinner—hated her. And so, the rest of the Feng family followed suit, treating her like dirt.

But why? Why did her mother dote on her three older sisters yet despise her alone?

Some villagers whispered that Taoniang had injured her body giving birth to Minmin and could no longer bear children. Others claimed Taoniang had desperately hoped for a son with her fourth pregnancy, only to be disappointed with yet another daughter.

There were even rumors that Taoniang had left Minmin behind just days after her birth to work as a wet nurse for a wealthy family, never forming a bond with the child.

Minmin never learned the truth. She could only try desperately to please her mother, to win over the Feng family.

But her efforts only made them torment her more cruelly.

It wasn’t until she was brought back to the Sheng household that she finally understood—Taoniang hated her because she wasn’t her real daughter.

Taoniang had stolen Minmin’s rightful life of luxury and given it to her own flesh and blood: Sheng Mingzhu. And for twelve years, she had abused Minmin in every way possible.

When she returned to the Sheng estate in her past life, she was only twelve years old—but she had already learned the meaning of hatred.

Yet she could do nothing.

Mingzhu was too beloved in the Sheng family, her reputation impeccable, even favored by Prince Qi.

All it took was a few golden tears from Mingzhu, and the family forgot about punishing Taoniang.

Later, Huang Yaning—out of guilt—tried to seek justice for Minmin. But Mingzhu burst into dramatic sobs, playing the victim so convincingly that even the harshest punishment was reduced to nothing.

“Minmin, we know you’ve suffered. But airing this scandal would harm us all. For the family’s sake, let’s just banish this ignorant peasant woman and move on. What do you say?”

What. Do. You. Say?

Minmin wanted to scream that it wasn’t enough.

She refused!

But she was desperate for their love. So, under Huang Yaning and Sheng Yong’s expectant gazes, she swallowed her bitterness and nodded.

She thought her sacrifice would earn their compassion.

She was wrong.

Looking back now, the Sheng family’s reasoning was laughable. “Harm us all”?

The only ones who prospered were them. The only one who suffered was her.

Yet, like a fool under a spell, she hadn’t seen it.

In her past life, Taoniang—banished from the estate—lived lavishly on Mingzhu’s money, even bribing servants to make Minmin’s life a living hell.

Later, Taoniang helped Mingzhu frame her, spreading rumors of an affair with Prince Qi’s steward.

The scandal forced Minmin to marry a servant—reducing her from a noble daughter to a servant’s wife, enduring humiliation and torment until her dying day.

And in the end… it was Taoniang who suggested the unspeakable fate of Minmin’s newborn child.

Mingzhu deserved death.

But Taoniang deserved worse.

In her past life, she had been weak, stupid, and cowardly.

Not this time.

This time, she would repay them tooth for tooth, blood for blood, life for life.

Even if many of their crimes had yet to happen, she would not show mercy.

The room was silent, so quiet that even breathing seemed loud—yet it felt like the calm before a storm.

Qingying, Minmin’s maid, had noticed her mistress acting strangely since morning.

First, she had coldly dismissed her longtime attendants, promoting Qingying—a mere second-tier maid—in their place.

Then, at dinner, her demeanor toward the master, the young masters, and Sixth Miss had been… odd. Almost like disgust. At times, Qingying had even caught flashes of hatred in her eyes.

And now, the way she looked at Mingzhu’s wet nurse could only be described as murderous.

Qingying’s heart pounded. She didn’t dare dwell on it.

Whatever the mistress does, she has her reasons. My duty is to obey.

Just as she steadied herself, Minmin’s icy voice rang out:

“Guards! Drag this insolent wretch out and give her twenty lashes!”

Taoniang had been kneeling for some time. Earlier, at Haitang Courtyard, she’d heard that the mistress was unhappy with Mingzhu’s delicate diet, blaming it for her slow growth.

Taoniang, ever cautious, had rushed over to kneel in submission, hoping to appease her. The mistress was strict but soft-hearted—easy to manipulate.

A little groveling, some pitiful tears, and surely the mistress would relent for Mingzhu’s sake.

But this? Twenty lashes?

Taoniang felt as if she’d been struck by lightning.