Reborn in Each Other’s Bodies: A Mother and Daughter’s Deadly Revenge - Chapter 74

“Letting Taoniang leave the estate isn’t impossible—”

Sheng Mingjian and his sister brightened at these words—until Sheng Minmin continued.

“As long as the four of you siblings promise never to visit Taoniang in the future, nor send her any aid, I’ll agree to let her go. How does that sound?”

Though reluctant, Sheng Mingzhu knew this was her mother’s bottom line. She had no choice but to nod.

Once the siblings gave their word, Mingzhu nearly rushed out to deliver the “good news” to Taoniang—only to freeze when Sheng Minmin spoke again.

“Qingchi, take two matrons and give Taoniang twenty heavy strikes with the rod. Then throw her out—”

Mingzhu’s delicate face drained of color. Her first instinct was to beg for mercy, but Sheng Minmin’s icy glare silenced her instantly.

“Sixth Daughter, when she was caught embezzling last time, I only spared her from the authorities for your sake—

“And then, she deliberately harmed you. If I let such a vicious servant leave unscathed, what’s to stop others from following her example? How could I maintain authority as the mistress of this household?”

The argument was airtight. Neither sibling could refute it.

Soon, Taoniang was forced onto a bench again. Two burly matrons took turns swinging thick rods onto her back and buttocks.

This beating was nothing like the last.

Previously, the matrons from Peony Courtyard—fearing Mingzhu’s retaliation—had faked their swings, making loud noises while inflicting only superficial wounds. That was why Taoniang had recovered so quickly with some good medicine.

But now? Every servant in Peony Courtyard was loyal to Sheng Minmin. After last night’s near-disaster, they were furious at Taoniang’s suspected treachery. Each strike landed with brutal force.

“Aah— Aah— AAAAAH—!”

Taoniang’s agonized, despairing shrieks echoed like a vengeful ghost’s wail…

Half the household shuddered at the sound.

Meanwhile, Sheng Minmin thrilled with satisfaction, goosebumps rising on her skin.

By the fifteenth strike, Taoniang passed out. Mingzhu, pale as paper, also fainted into her brother’s arms and was carried back to Haitang Courtyard.

Sheng Minmin eyed Taoniang’s near-lifeless body and smirked. “Wake her up. Finish the last five.”

Taoniang was revived—only to endure five more excruciating blows. Her back and buttocks were now a mangled, bloody mess…

The vivid crimson soothed Sheng Minmin’s fury from the previous night.

Not wanting to kill Taoniang too soon (and knowing the woman still had hidden funds), Sheng Minmin ordered her dumped at the doorstep of a nearby clinic—

Then, she rewarded Peony Courtyard’s servants with bonuses and reopened the courtyard’s private kitchen, treating them to a lavish feast.

Meanwhile, since last night’s argument with Sheng Yong, Sheng Minmin had declared she would no longer manage household affairs.

Petitioners seeking the madam’s guidance were turned away, forced to consult Sheng Yong instead.

When Sheng Yong learned “Huang Yaning” had truly abandoned her duties, he smashed two teacups in rage.

Already displeased with her after last night, he refused to humble himself and coax her back.

After assessing his five concubines—

• Fu, a former maid with no sophistication;

• Shui, illiterate;

• Hong and Bai, former courtesans clueless about management;

• Only Ruan, literate and numerate, could theoretically handle things.

But when summoned, Ruan claimed illness and declined.

Furious, Sheng Yong assigned his own attendants to manage the estate, convinced he didn’t need “Huang Yaning.”

He’d soon regret that decision.

Because Sheng Minmin wasn’t idle.

She visited employment agencies daily, urgently seeking martial-trained maidservants—“Money is no object.”

Such maids were rare. The agents, sensing desperation, grew curious: Did “Madam Huang” have enemies?

One dim-witted young maid in her entourage—bribed with pastries—spilled everything.

The agents, always hungry for noble-family drama, verified the tale:

• Sheng servants confirmed it.

• A contact at the Jingzhao Prefecture confirmed a nighttime investigation by Officer Jiang.

The story spread like wildfire:

Madam Huang, who’d sacrificed everything for her family, was betrayed—

Her husband cared more about reputation than her safety.

Her children pleaded for a treacherous wet nurse’s mercy.

Soon, all of the capital knew:

• Sheng Mingzhu was “foolishly loyal to a wicked servant, breaking her own mother’s heart.”

• Sheng Yong went from “fortunate husband” to “selfish scoundrel who neglected his wife.”

Preoccupied with tracking the black-clad man and official duties, Sheng Yong learned of the rumors too late to stop them.

But that’s another story.

…..

Days passed. Taoniang had lain in the clinic’s back room for over ten days.

Never had her life felt so bleak.

The third daughter in her family—with two older sisters and a treasured younger brother—she’d learned early: “To survive, please the brother, not the parents.”