Reborn in Each Other’s Bodies: A Mother and Daughter’s Deadly Revenge - Chapter 83

“Madam, Xiong San has returned.”

“As per your instructions, we gave him a sum of money and arranged for a physician from Renxin Hall to tend to his mother’s health.”

“Xiong San is deeply grateful. He said that as long as you’re willing to support his mother, he’d go through fire and water for you…”

Just before the New Year, Sheng Minmin received this welcome news.

The night before, she had suffered another nightmare.

In her dream, she was falsely accused of adultery. Steward Qi, furious, dragged her back to the Sheng household and publicly divorced her in front of the entire family.

Without even questioning her, the Sheng family took Steward Qi’s word as truth. They looked at her with disgust, as if she were a disgrace, and decided to send her away to some remote estate.

A deep terror gripped Sheng Minmin’s heart—she knew that if she were cast out of the Sheng residence, she wouldn’t survive.

Desperate to live, she pleaded pitifully, begging Huang Yaning—if only for the sake of having given birth to her—to let her stay in the Sheng household. She was even willing to serve as a lowly maid…

At the peak of her despair, Huang Yaning’s expression seemed to soften slightly, giving Sheng Minmin a glimmer of hope.

But in the end, Huang Yaning still let her down.

Because at that moment, Sheng Mingzhu suddenly collapsed weakly into Huang Yaning’s arms, and Huang Yaning held her with frantic concern.

The scene looked so much like a loving mother and daughter…

Meanwhile, Sheng Minmin was gagged by a few maids and dragged away.

In the final moments before she was taken out of the room, Huang Yaning never once looked up at her.

If… if Huang Yaning had just glanced at her… maybe she wouldn’t have made this arrangement for her.

“Let’s go. I’ll meet him.”

After leaving the estate, she made her usual rounds at the employment agency but found nothing useful. She bought some tonics and sent them back to the residence first.

Then, accompanied by Qingying and Qingchi, she stopped at a teahouse to rest. She booked a private room, and soon, Xiong San arrived.

Qingying and Qingchi waited outside, leaving only Sheng Minmin and Xiong San inside.

To be honest, the Xiong San before her was nothing like the Xiong San from her past life.

The Xiong San she remembered had sharp eyes, favored dark-colored robes, wore polished leather boots, and carried an intimidating, cold aura.

The man before her now was scruffy, his padded coat patched in several places. Only his burly frame bore any resemblance to his past self.

“Thank you, Madam, for saving my mother. The physician said she has a chronic illness—she needs careful tending and must avoid hardship.”

“Since Madam is willing to provide for her, Xiong San is yours to command! I’m willing to sell myself into servitude to serve you!”

As soon as he entered, Xiong San knelt to declare his loyalty. His voice, deep and resonant, seemed to vibrate from his chest. Though not loud, it buzzed in Sheng Minmin’s ears.

“Rise. I don’t need you to sign a deed of servitude.”

Hearing this, Xiong San looked up in surprise.

Sheng Minmin stretched out her fair, jade-like hands toward the nearby charcoal brazier, smiling faintly.

“You don’t have to sign, but your mother does.”

Seeing Xiong San’s frown, she continued.

“Don’t worry—once your mother signs, she won’t have to serve as a maid. She can continue living with you. Her medical expenses will all be covered by me…”

Xiong San’s eyes brightened. “What does Madam need me to do?”

“I have several sons. The eldest is particularly shrewd and harbors resentment toward me, his mother. I want you to gain his trust.”

“If you can win his favor, he’ll likely sign a contract with you. When that happens, just remember whose person you truly are.”

Xiong San, who had worked under Sheng Mingjian in her past life, was naturally sharp.

The maid who had given him money last time hadn’t hidden her identity, so he already knew his benefactor was Madam Huang, the matriarch of the Sheng household.

He had also done some research on the Sheng family and heard rumors of recent turmoil.

He didn’t know what had happened, but this Madam Huang wanted him to secretly monitor her own son.

In the capital, it wasn’t uncommon for noblewomen to treat stepchildren or illegitimate children this way—but a birth mother acting against her own flesh and blood was rare.

Now, to ensure his absolute loyalty, Madam Huang wanted to hold his mother’s deed of servitude.

Xiong San pretended to consider for a moment, though he had already made up his mind.

His mother’s health was deteriorating by the day. No matter how hard he worked, he couldn’t afford her expensive treatments.

To put it bluntly—if it meant his mother could live comfortably, he’d even commit murder and arson.

And now, Madam wasn’t even asking him to do anything so extreme. She was willing to spend generously every month to support his mother while letting her stay with him. There couldn’t be a better deal.

Xiong San stood and clasped his fists. “Understood. Please advise me, Madam—how should I best earn the young master’s trust?”

“No need to force it. Just live as you always have—preferably looking as poor as possible. Let people know you’re drowning in medical debts. When the time comes, he’ll seek you out himself…”

Sheng Mingjian was a cautious man. He only truly trusted those he chose himself.

Right now, Sheng Mingjian was likely at the stage of building his own network. Sheng Minmin was waiting for the day he would approach Xiong San.

But first, she needed Xiong San to do one more thing for her.

After explaining the task, Xiong San’s expression froze for a moment…

…..

After just three days under Matron Tong’s tutelage, Sheng Mingzhu’s cheerful smile had vanished, replaced by gloom and dejection.

At first, when she learned that Matron Tong had been specially hired by her mother, she was overjoyed.

She thought her mother had finally returned to normal—that she was still her beloved youngest daughter.

Her mother even exempted her from Teacher Lin’s lessons, telling her to focus entirely on learning from Matron Tong every day.

Smug, Sheng Mingzhu decided to let Huang Xianjing study with Teacher Lin instead.

An orphan girl like her only deserves an ordinary tutor. Someone of my status should be taught by Matron Tong.

By the time of the Lantern Festival after New Year’s, she’d make a dazzling appearance, free from any fear of mockery.

But imagination was sweet; reality dealt her a harsh blow.

Matron Tong was too strict!

She nitpicked everything—Sheng Mingzhu couldn’t seem to do anything right. Her movements weren’t precise enough, her posture wasn’t graceful enough.

Every time Matron Tong scowled and scolded her, Sheng Mingzhu’s entire body tensed up…

These past few days had been pure misery. Today, she’d even been struck multiple times with a ruler for her poor etiquette…

Sheng Mingzhu had never been beaten before! How could she endure such humiliation?

At noon, while Matron Tong was resting, Sheng Mingzhu, her eyes red, went to find Sheng Mingjian.

She wanted her eldest brother to help her devise a plan—to make Matron Tong ease up on her.

Her eldest brother always had solutions. Last time, it was his idea for her to eat vegetarian meals and copy scriptures, which helped restore her reputation and regain her mother’s affection.

He had to help her this time too.