Reborn in Each Other’s Bodies: A Mother and Daughter’s Deadly Revenge - Chapter 89

Sheng Minmin walked toward Sheng Mingzhu, who was leaning limply against Qingtian, looking as though she didn’t have an ounce of energy left.

“You’ve really had a rough time this time, child, and you’ve worn out your Qingtian sister too…”

As she spoke, she reached out a hand and pulled Sheng Mingzhu over to lean against her instead.

“Do you need to rest a little longer? Or shall we go up for some tea and snacks…”

Sheng Minmin’s voice was uncharacteristically gentle, her expression full of patience. To anyone watching, she was the very picture of a loving “good mother.”

“Mother, let’s go up… We shouldn’t keep Cousin waiting…”

“You can rest more if you need to…”

“I’ve rested enough.”

Sheng Mingzhu smiled sweetly, even though her body was exhausted, her legs feeling too heavy to lift.

But with her mother personally supporting her—while ignoring Huang Xianjing—Sheng Mingzhu was utterly smug. She shot a faintly mocking glance at Huang Xianjing’s retreating back before the group resumed their climb.

Sheng Minmin swallowed nervously, her peripheral attention fixed on Sheng Mingzhu beside her.

Right now, Sheng Mingzhu was leaning on her, with several maidservants following behind. Qingtian, likely drained from exhaustion, was lagging far in the rear.

Counting the steps silently, Sheng Minmin waited until they were just a dozen or so steps from the entrance. Then, seizing the perfect moment, she let out a sudden “Oh no!” as her foot twisted, sending her stumbling sideways.

The maidservants behind her rushed forward to steady her…

No one quite saw what happened next, but once the madam had regained her balance, they watched in horror as the Sixth Young Miss slipped and tumbled backward down the stairs…

“Ah—!”

Amidst the shocked gasps of the onlookers, the Sixth Young Miss shrieked as she rolled down step after step—nearly seventy or eighty in total—before finally lying motionless at the bottom.

“My daughter—!”

Then, the servants saw the madam sprinting down the stairs in panic. In her haste, she missed the last step entirely and accidentally fell right on top of the unconscious Sixth Young Miss.

“Ah—!”

The Sixth Young Miss, jolted back to consciousness by the fresh wave of pain, let out an ear-splitting scream…

The servants had only two words in their minds:

We’re doomed.

They were doomed!

…..

“It hurts—my leg hurts so much—my face too—”

“Mother, I can’t have scars! I won’t be a crippled young miss—”

“Where’s the imperial physician? Call the imperial physician to treat me—”

“I want Father, I want Eldest Brother, Third Brother, Fifth Brother…”

“Am I going to die—ah—it hurts so much—”

“Get away! I don’t want you treating me! Mother, go get the imperial physician now—!”

Sheng Mingzhu lay on the bed, drenched in cold sweat from the pain, howling and thrashing.

One moment she demanded her father and brothers, the next she insisted on an imperial physician, all while hurling abuse at the female doctor examining her injuries…

Beside her, Sheng Minmin continuously dabbed at her tears with a handkerchief, offering humble apologies to the physician.

“Doctor, please forgive her—she’s just a child and doesn’t know any better…”

“How serious are my daughter’s injuries—?”

Physician Xu pressed her lips together before answering.

“The cuts on her face and body will heal without scarring if she avoids sunlight and follows dietary precautions.”

“As for her leg, the bone is fractured and needs to be set. As long as she doesn’t suffer further injury, she won’t be left with a limp…”

Sheng Mingzhu, delirious with pain, didn’t fully process the words—only catching the mention of “limp.”

For a second, she froze. Then, her delicate face twisted with fury.

“Shut up! Quack! Useless fool!”

“How could I ever be a cripple? Impossible! I order you to fix my leg, or I’ll have my father execute your whole family—”

“I’ll have you chopped into pieces—!”

Earlier that day, Physician Xu had been enjoying a leisurely tea with the Grand Princess in the backyard.

Then, a temple attendant came rushing in—a young noblewoman had taken a bad fall, injuring her face, body, and leg. They needed a skilled physician, preferably a woman.

The temple’s priests had come to plead for help.

Since it involved a noble family’s daughter, the Grand Princess couldn’t just ignore it.

Hearing the injured girl was only seven or eight years old, she’d even felt a twinge of sympathy and agreed to send Physician Xu over.

At first, Physician Xu had brushed off the girl’s rudeness, chalking it up to spoiled upbringing and pain-induced hysteria.

But now, the insults were escalating—insults even the Grand Princess had never dared to hurl at her!

With a dark expression, Physician Xu stopped her examination and turned to leave.

Perfect. Sheng Minmin was thrilled.

She’d rehearsed the staircase scene countless times in her head—all to ensure Sheng Mingzhu got hurt.

A ruined face and a crippled leg would’ve been ideal, but she knew the Grand Princess always kept Physician Xu, a highly skilled doctor, by her side.

Physician Xu could heal Sheng Mingzhu. But given Sheng Mingzhu’s arrogant, condescending nature, she was bound to offend the physician.

And once the Grand Princess learned of Sheng Mingzhu’s true character, her impression would sour completely.

When Prince Qi later sought to marry Sheng Mingzhu, the Grand Princess wouldn’t just refuse to help—she might even sabotage the match…

Sheng Minmin’s entire purpose in coming to Chunshan Temple was to make the Grand Princess despise Sheng Mingzhu—while also making the girl suffer.

“Doctor, my daughter is ignorant—please don’t take it to heart! Let me apologize on her behalf…”

Sobbing, Sheng Minmin even pretended to kneel. Physician Xu quickly pulled her up.

“Doctor, she’s our only daughter. Her father and brothers have spoiled her rotten, and she’s grown up… like this…”

“She’s never endured hardship before. After today’s accident, I’d gladly take her place in suffering… Please, don’t blame her…”

“Please, treat my daughter. If you’re willing, we’ll reward you handsomely…”

Sheng Minmin played the role of a desperate, pleading mother to perfection.

Reluctantly, Physician Xu returned to the bedside.

“I don’t want you—I want the imperial physician—!”

Sheng Mingzhu was in agony, furious, and terrified.

She didn’t trust this random physician—what kind of skilled doctor would be stuck in the mountains?

If this woman messed up and left her crippled, her entire future would be ruined! She needed an imperial physician!

She could endure the pain!

She was destined to marry into nobility—she couldn’t become a cripple!

Her screams grew more hysterical, her demeanor almost deranged.

“My child, I’ve already sent word home. But it’s dark now, and the city gates are closed…”

“At the earliest, your father and brothers won’t get the news until morning. A physician wouldn’t arrive until tomorrow afternoon—”

“Let this doctor treat you for now. Mother believes she can heal your leg—”

Kneeling by the bed, Sheng Minmin wiped her tears while coaxing gently.

“No—! I won’t let her treat me! She’ll turn me into a cripple! Can’t you understand, Mother?!”

Sheng Mingzhu flailed her arms as if to shoo Physician Xu away.

A glint flashed in Sheng Minmin’s eyes. Still murmuring soothing words, she leaned closer.

“My child, your leg can’t wait that long. Please, listen to Mother—”

SMACK!

A crisp slap rang through the room.

The Sixth Young Miss had just struck the madam across the face…

Dead silence followed.