Reborn in Each Other’s Bodies: A Mother and Daughter’s Deadly Revenge - Chapter 7

Upon hearing their mother’s “punishment,” Sheng Mingjian and his two brothers obediently stood up and walked out. Compared to being branded as unfilial sons—which would ruin their future prospects—kneeling in the ancestral hall was nothing!

Besides, their mother had always doted on them. Once they knelt for a while and her anger subsided, she would surely have someone release them.

“Sixth Daughter, go copy the Litany of Sins once. No sleeping until you finish!”

The Litany of Sins wasn’t long; copying it would take at most half an hour. The punishment was actually quite light. The three Sheng brothers and Sheng Yong secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

But Sheng Mingzhu truly adored Nanny Tao and couldn’t help asking timidly, “Mother, may I bring Nanny back with me?”

“No. She can no longer stay by your side!” Sheng Minmin flatly refused.

Sheng Mingzhu’s face instantly turned deathly pale. She didn’t dare cry but could only plead, “Mother, Father, I beg you, spare Nanny! Nanny has always been the kindest to me. I can’t live without her. Please, just let her return to Haitang Courtyard…”

“Little Sister—!”

Sheng Mingjian, who had taken a few steps away, immediately turned back to cover Sheng Mingzhu’s mouth—but it was already too late. From above, he heard his mother’s furious voice:

“Husband, did you hear that?

“Our Sixth Daughter says that wretched servant Tao is the one who treats her best—that she can’t live without a lowly maid!

“After all these years of me pouring my heart and soul into loving her, spending tens of thousands of taels on her every month—am I worth less than a servant? Does she think her mother is already dead?!”

Sheng Minmin felt utterly exhilarated inside, but on the surface, she pretended to be on the verge of collapse from rage, pounding her chest and wailing.

Sheng Yong’s face darkened like the bottom of a pot.

What father wouldn’t feel disgusted upon learning that the daughter he cherished most was so attached to a servant?

For a moment, the entire courtyard fell into terrified silence. In the end, the three brothers steeled themselves, knelt again, and begged for mercy.

“Father, Mother, Little Sister is still young and doesn’t understand. That wretched maid must have poisoned her mind and led her astray…”

When forced to choose between a servant and Sheng Mingzhu, the three brothers had no qualms about pinning all the blame on Nanny Tao.

Realizing her mistake, Sheng Mingzhu’s eyes filled with terror. She didn’t dare utter another word in Nanny Tao’s defense.

Finally, Sheng Minmin delivered the verdict: Nanny Tao was demoted to a lowly servant and sent to the laundry house.

Sheng Minmin couldn’t wait to see the look on Nanny Tao’s face when she woke up and discovered her status had been turned upside down.

As Concubine Hong followed Sheng Yong back to his courtyard, she glanced back at the “matriarch,” her eyes filled with doubt and confusion.

Huang Yaning had always adored her children like her own life. Why would she suddenly punish them so severely when no major incident had occurred?

Moreover, earlier, when she had deliberately flaunted her “affection” with Sheng Yong in front of Huang Yaning, the woman hadn’t shown the slightest trace of anger.

What was wrong with her today?

Had her eyes finally opened? Had she realized that Sheng Yong was just a gold-digging scum and stopped caring about him?

Unfortunately, she couldn’t just walk up and ask.

With a belly full of questions, Concubine Hong could only follow Sheng Yong back to her own courtyard.

…

Huang Yaning saw the scene of her death again.

She had died in the second month after being granted the title of Second-Rank Noble Lady—at the height of her glory.

That day, her “beloved daughter” Sheng Mingzhu had invited her to a temple to pray for blessings. On their way back, a black-clad assailant attacked them.

Huang Yaning took a knife wound while shielding Sheng Mingzhu.

By the time they returned to the Prince of Qi’s mansion, the imperial physician examined her and declared the wound poisoned. There was only one antidote in the mansion.

Sheng Yong and her three sons claimed Sheng Mingzhu was also injured and insisted the antidote be given to her first.

“There’s more antidote in the palace,” they said. “We’ll go immediately and beg for it. We will save you.”

At the time, Huang Yaning felt both panicked and puzzled.

She had shielded Sheng Mingzhu completely—how could the girl be injured?

Before she could think further, her husband and sons had already left.

A short while later, Sheng Mingzhu glided gracefully into the room and dismissed all the servants.

Once the door closed behind them, Huang Yaning saw a smirk—one dripping with mockery and glee—spread across Sheng Mingzhu’s face.

“My dearest mother,” she sneered.

“You really are stupid. I’ve never met a woman as idiotic as you in my entire life—”

Sheng Mingzhu’s face was both familiar and eerily alien.

Huang Yaning froze.

“Huang Yaning, I must thank you.

“Thank you for hiring renowned tutors to educate me since childhood.

“And thank you for raising three fine sons for me—three loyal dogs—”

Dressed in lavish robes, Sheng Mingzhu laughed wildly.

Her deranged expression filled Huang Yaning with dread, as if her “daughter” had been possessed by something evil.

“You—you’re not Zhuer. Who are you—?”

Struggling against the poison ravaging her organs, Huang Yaning barely managed to speak before a foul-tasting blood seeped from her lips.

“Oh my, you’re bleeding—”

Suddenly, Sheng Mingzhu dropped her smirk and approached with feigned concern, dabbing the blood from Huang Yaning’s mouth with a handkerchief.

Just as Huang Yaning began to see a trace of familiarity in her, Sheng Mingzhu abruptly tossed the handkerchief aside—and slapped her twice across the face!

Stunned, Huang Yaning stared into Sheng Mingzhu’s eyes and saw hatred.

This was the daughter she had treasured for 18 years. Even six years ago, when she learned Sheng Mingzhu wasn’t her biological child—and that the girl’s birth mother had switched her with Huang Yaning’s real daughter—she had continued to dote on Sheng Mingzhu, loving her far more than her own flesh and blood, Minmin.

Everything Sheng Mingzhu had now was because of her. She had never wronged Sheng Mingzhu!

So why did Sheng Mingzhu hate her? What right did she have?!

“Look at that dumb expression. What, you’re surprised I hit you? I’ve wanted to do this for years!”

Sheng Mingzhu pulled out another handkerchief, wiping her hands as if they’d touched something filthy, her eyes burning with venom.

“You hypocritical, pretentious, disgusting woman! You pretended to adore me, but all along, you planned to leave your dowry to your real daughter, didn’t you?”

“You—!” Huang Yaning tried to explain, but blood choked her words. Now, she felt it trickling from her nose as well.

It was true—she had once considered leaving most of her dowry to Minmin. She’d accidentally learned that Sheng Yong had a vast sum of money stashed away, and he would never shortchange Sheng Mingzhu.

So, she thought it fair to give Minmin the larger share.

Minmin had a terrible reputation, no talents, and no favor from her father or brothers. Though Huang Yaning herself often found her Daughter an embarrassment, she had given birth to her.

No matter what, she had to ensure Minmin wouldn’t suffer too much in the future. A hefty dowry would at least secure her some stability.

But in the end, because Minmin was married off to a servant, Sheng Yong refused to provide a dowry. Nearly all of Huang Yaning’s possessions fell into Sheng Mingzhu’s hands.

And now Sheng Mingzhu hated her for this?

Was she here to mock and beat her while she lay poisoned?

But—why now? Why reveal her true colors at this moment?

A deep, creeping terror finally dawned on Huang Yaning.