Reborn in Each Other’s Bodies: A Mother and Daughter’s Deadly Revenge - Chapter 87

“Madame, I didn’t see the master’s people delivering anything to the Qinglian Pavilion.”

“Don’t overthink it. If even we haven’t received anything, that disgusting old white lotus has even less to hope for!”

Liyu tried to console Hong Yiniang as she combed her hair. In the mirror, Hong Yiniang remained stunningly beautiful, though her expression was clearly unhappy.

Liyu sighed inwardly. In previous years, by this time, the master would have already sent over a cartload of gifts—expensive fabrics, rouge, jewelry, nourishing tonics for beauty and health, and even pastries for Hong Yiniang to reward the servants with…

Normally, whenever the master stayed at Hong Yiniang’s courtyard, he would bestow gifts every few visits…

But lately, he had almost stopped staying over entirely. Now, with the New Year approaching, he hadn’t even sent any presents as a gesture.

Unable to sit still, Hong Yiniang had sent Liyu to investigate whether the master had sent anything to Bai Yiniang.

As the only maid in Yifeng Tower whose deed of sale was held by Hong Yiniang, Liyu was her most trusted confidante.

She knew that if the master stopped visiting frequently, Hong Yiniang’s life would become difficult.

And if Hong Yiniang’s life became difficult, her life would be even worse!

For now, the master’s absence wasn’t a big deal, but if this continued for another half a year or more, Hong Yiniang’s privileged position would be hard to maintain.

Liyu felt stifled too, but she didn’t dare let her frustration show, afraid of irritating Hong Yiniang further.

“Him—”

Hong Yiniang scoffed, picking up an exquisite rose-patterned hollow gold hairpin from her jewelry box. She examined it casually before tossing it aside.

“How could he spare any thought for me now?”

Ever since the madam had forbidden Sheng Yong from freely withdrawing money, his visits to the inner courtyard had become fewer and fewer.

On the rare occasions he did come, he would only stay for a meal before hurrying off…

Recently, Hong Yiniang had noticed the changes in the household and had done a lot of thinking.

The only reason she had ever won Sheng Yong’s favor was her face and figure. The day she lost her youth, he would forget about her completely.

She couldn’t even rely on having a child—she had fallen into icy water as a child and was later forced to take an extremely cold-inducing medicine by the brothel madam, leaving her infertile for life…

So, Hong Yiniang had long known that her old age would be miserable.

Perhaps the anxiety over that bleak future had driven her to simply stop thinking about it—to live in the moment, indulging herself day by day, pretending she was untroubled.

But Sheng Yong’s recent “disappearance” forced her to face reality.

The reality was that she wasn’t as carefree as she had pretended to be. She had to plan for the future.

And so, Hong Yiniang turned her thoughts to the madame.

Some time ago, a maid had been dragged into Sheng Yong’s room and tortured all night. The next day, the servants who cleaned up whispered that the girl didn’t have a single patch of unbroken skin and was barely alive.

The old madame wouldn’t have cared about the maid’s fate—she might even have accused the girl of trying to seduce Sheng Yong.

But the current madame had called a physician to treat the maid’s injuries. Once she recovered, the madame had asked for her wishes and later gave her a sum of money to leave the household.

The madame had also allowed the two illegitimate sons to begin their studies. In gratitude, Ruan Yiniang had made a pair of exquisite shoes for her, while Shui Yiniang had crafted a pair of dried-flower-stuffed pillows…

After receiving these gifts, the madame had reciprocated with fine fur fabrics, tea leaves, and pastries.

Hong Yiniang realized that the madame had truly changed.

The old madame had been wealthy but foolish, constantly doing things that earned her no appreciation.

Neither Sheng Yong nor her children had ever genuinely cared for her.

But the current madame was even wealthier and far more clear-headed—no longer bending over backward to please Sheng Yong or indulge her children…

Hong Yiniang found herself admiring the new madame and even began considering aligning herself with her.

The madame was richer than Sheng Yong, didn’t require her to sleep with her, and held her deed of sale…

Why hadn’t she realized this sooner?!

Being the madame’s person was far better than being Sheng Yong’s!

The only question now was how to become the madame’s ally.

Lost in thought, Hong Yiniang let Liyu dress her before heading to the main hall, where she encountered Bai Yiniang on the way.

Inside, she saw Fu Yiniang, Shui Yiniang, Ruan Yiniang, the two young masters, and the cousin already present.

Shortly after, the master and madame arrived with their children.

Sheng Minmin had been in an exceptionally good mood lately!

At home, Sheng Mingzhu was being tormented by Nanny Tong—she couldn’t eat well, sleep well, and often cried herself to sleep…

Yet no one dared speak up for her!

Minmin even occasionally sent Nanny Tong gifts, praising her teaching methods.

She claimed that once Sheng Mingzhu reappeared in public after the New Year, everyone would see her remarkable transformation—proof of Nanny Tong’s skill in refining young ladies!

Nanny Tong remained expressionless, but inwardly, she must have been thrilled, because her training of Sheng Mingzhu became even stricter, with no mercy whatsoever.

As for Sheng Mingyi, he stayed shut indoors, lying in bed and taking tonics. The more he consumed, the worse his complexion and energy became.

At this rate, he might not even have the strength to return to his studies next year…

Then there was Sheng Mingbo, who had come to her asking to learn martial arts.

She had berated him harshly, and he had left looking utterly dejected…

Sheng Mingjian appeared unaffected on the surface, but Minmin knew he had sent people to investigate Sheng Mingshu and Sheng Mingshu’s studies—he must be feeling the pressure!

Now, even Sheng Mingjian seemed distracted.

As for Sheng Yong, dark circles hung under his eyes. His recent reputation decline had clearly taken a toll.

He had been so busy lately that he hadn’t even had time to dote on his favorite concubines, Hong Yiniang and Bai Yiniang…

Minmin swept her gaze over the faces of her enemies—some haggard, some dejected, some sickly, some lifeless—and felt immense satisfaction!

Outside the household, her other enemies weren’t faring any better.

In Taohua Village, Tao Niang had been robbed of her savings, and the scars on her back would remain large and ugly.

Two nights ago, Huang Yaning had been kidnapped. Minmin had instructed Uncle Zhao and Aunt Zhao to make a scene that night, pretending to discover that their maid had gone missing…

Then, they had stormed into the Feng residence, placing the blame squarely on the Feng family—accusing them of secretly abducting “Feng Liuya” and selling her off.

With the Fengs and the Zhao family standing together, the villagers would naturally believe the Zhaos.

Thus, the Feng family’s reputation would plummet to new depths.

As for Huang Yaning, Minmin had asked Xiong San to find her a particularly disgusting family to marry her off to as a child bride.

Every hardship Minmin had endured in the Zhang family in her past life, Huang Yaning would now experience in this one.

This was her New Year’s “gift” to Huang Yaning!

Everything was going perfectly, so Sheng Minmin was practically glowing with joy.

She even drank several cups of fruit wine. The mistress’s high spirits meant the servants were happy too—after all, it signaled generous year-end rewards.

Sure enough, as soon as midnight passed and the firecrackers were set off, the madame announced an extra month’s wages for everyone.

She even had a dozen baskets of loose copper coins brought into the courtyard, ordering her maids to scatter them like rain.

The sound of coins clattering was like a downpour of wealth, and everyone scrambled to pick them up, grinning from ear to ear—what a lively scene!

But as the saying goes: Extreme joy begets sorrow.

Sheng Minmin never expected that trouble would find her so soon.