Shen Mingyue's imposing demeanor instantly deflated, and her first instinct was to flee immediately.
But her feet felt as heavy as lead, impossible to lift.
"Shen Mingtang, you've truly gone mad!" Shen Mingyue began babbling incoherently while staring at the dagger. "You wouldn't dare kill me! You wouldn't dare kill me in front of Prince Rui!"
Prince Rui… yes, there was still Prince Rui.
Shen Mingyue finally remembered there was someone else present. She turned her pleading gaze toward Prince Rui. "Your Highness, please help me! Control this madwoman!"
Xiao Beili glanced at her indifferently before returning his attention to Shen Mingtang.
This young woman shows promise.
She's catching on quickly.
"If you wish to kill her, I'll help you cover up the crime," Xiao Beili said with a hint of amusement in his tone.
As Shen Mingtang held the knife, memories of Shen Mingyue's cruel treatment in her previous life surfaced uncontrollably. She recalled having her tendons severed and being discarded in the freezing snow wearing only thin, tattered clothing. The despair of begging for mercy yet receiving none remained vividly etched in her heart.
She truly wanted to plunge the knife directly into Shen Mingyue's chest right now.
But that would be letting her off too easily.
Compared to a quick death, she preferred to make Shen Mingyue lose everything and experience true despair.
"Sister, I was wrong. I'll never insult you again…" Shen Mingyue forced a smile. "Sister, when we return, I'll publicly apologize to you."
Cold sweat soaked through her back—she genuinely felt Shen Mingtang might dare to kill her.
Shen Mingtang pressed the knife tip against her chest.
Shen Mingyue's face turned even paler. Her trembling hands wanted to stop the blade but hovered near the dagger, afraid to touch it.
"Weren't you afraid when you schemed against Mother?" Shen Mingtang's voice was eerily calm. "When it comes to cruelty, who could surpass you, dear elder sister?"
After much contemplation, she remembered how Qin Shi had been bedridden with serious illness after this incident in her previous life. Later, when her brother drunkenly fell into the moat and died, everyone claimed Qin Shi couldn't bear the grief of losing her son and passed away. But before Shen Mingtang died, Shen Mingyue had revealed—to torment her—that she had personally smothered Qin Shi with a pillow.
When it came to cruelty, who could surpass this illegitimate elder sister of hers?
Hearing this, Shen Mingyue instinctively wanted to refute.
Her eyes darted around nervously as she forced a smile. "It wasn't me! When did I ever scheme against Mother? I really had stomach pains and went to the outhouse."
Though she denied it, Shen Mingtang didn't miss the flash of panic and hatred on her face.
Shen Mingtang didn't press further.
She turned to Xiao Beili. "Your Highness, do you have any poison that causes unbearable suffering without being fatal?"
Xiao Beili raised an eyebrow.
He reached into his robe and produced a white porcelain bottle. "This poison is colorless and odorless. After consumption, it causes drowsiness, hallucinations, and eventually death through whole body swelling."
"However, the onset time is unpredictable—it might trigger today, or perhaps half a month later."
Xiao Beili tossed the bottle toward her.
Shen Mingtang casually discarded the dagger, then swiftly grabbed Shen Mingyue by the throat before she could react.
"I won't take it!" Shen Mingyue seized the opportunity to struggle.
But her strength was no match for Shen Mingtang's.
Over the years, Shen Mingtang had stayed by Zhou Yiniang's side, performing all kinds of rough labor. She was never a delicately raised young lady like Shen Mingyue.
Even though she was still injured, Shen Mingyue was powerless to resist her.
Shen Mingtang pinned her to the ground and poured the medicinal powder from the porcelain bottle precisely into her mouth.
Xiao Beili, standing nearby, handed over the tea from the table.
"Wash it down with water," he said helpfully.
Shen Mingtang felt a moment of speechlessness inwardly, but without hesitation, she took the tea and splashed it directly onto Shen Mingyue's face.
The medicinal powder dissolved quickly, leaving no trace behind.
Shen Mingtang released the person on the floor and rose unhurriedly, still holding the teacup. "Thank you for your assistance, Prince Rui."
Shen Mingyue lay stiffly on the ground, eyes wide open. If not for the rhythmic rise and fall of her chest, she might have looked like a corpse.
After a long moment, a tear rolled down from the corner of her eye.
Suddenly, she flipped over and scrambled up, jamming her fingers down her throat and repeatedly gagging.
Watching her, Shen Mingtang felt a surge of satisfaction—this was the first taste of vengeance she had savored since her rebirth.
Just as she was about to speak, the sound of Qin Shi coughing came from the inner room.
Shen Mingtang’s heart skipped a beat.
She had forgotten—Qin Shi was still asleep inside. If Qin Shi heard Shen Mingyue’s screams…
"Mother, Mother, save me!" Shen Mingyue also heard the noise from within. Struggling to her feet, she tried to rush into the inner room.
After taking two steps, she seemed to remember something and turned to glare at Shen Mingtang.
Her eyes were fierce. "Give me the antidote, or I’ll make sure Mother never lets you off."
Even though Shen Mingtang had recently won their mother’s favor, Shen Mingyue was the trueborn daughter, the legitimate heir of Shen Jia. No matter how harsh their mother might be, she would never allow Shen Mingtang to take her life.
Thinking of the poison Shen Mingtang had just forced into her mouth, Shen Mingyue’s tears flowed uncontrollably.
She was in the prime of her youth—she couldn’t die.
She would complain to her mother and her father, and make sure Father beat Shen Mingtang to death.
Shen Mingtang spread her hands. "I have no antidote."
She turned to Prince Rui. "Your Highness, please help me send my legitimate elder sister back home."
She had figured it out by now.
Prince Rui seemed to enjoy meddling in her affairs. Well, she wouldn’t stand on ceremony—if he was useful, she would use him. If he wanted to watch the drama, let him have his fill.
"Qingshan," Xiao Beili called toward the door.
Qingshan, who had been guarding the entrance, immediately stepped inside.
"Escort this Miss Shen back to Shen Jia," Xiao Beili instructed with a smile.
Qingshan acknowledged the order and moved toward Shen Mingyue.
Seeing this, Shen Mingyue retreated two steps, attempting to flee into the inner room. But Qingshan swiftly covered her mouth with something, and her body went limp as she lost consciousness.
Qingshan hoisted her over his shoulder and carried her away.
Shen Mingtang stepped into the inner room.
Xiao Beili remained where he was, unmoving.
Inside, Qin Shi was already sitting up, her eyes slightly red and her spirits visibly low.
"Mother," Shen Mingtang called softly, stopping by the bedside.
She had already resolved that if Qin Shi had overheard Shen Mingyue’s commotion outside, she would tell her about Shen Mingyue’s schemes.
This way, though Qin Shi would be heartbroken, she would also become wary.
"Did Mingyue drug me?" Qin Shi asked without looking up, her voice soft and tinged with sorrow.
She wasn’t foolish.
Mingyue had handed her a cup of tea, and soon after, she felt her head grow heavy, too drowsy to keep her eyes open.
Faintly, she heard Mingyue asking the Liu family servants where the guest rooms were. By the time she lay down in the guest room and closed her eyes, the last sound she heard was Mingyue complaining of stomach pain and being unable to walk, before sending her own maid away as well.
She sank into darkness.
It wasn't until she woke up just now that she heard Ming Tang's question: "How did you plot against Mother?"
Though her daughter denied it, the panic and tension in her voice… Her daughter, whom she had raised for over ten years, remained distant from her even now. She didn't want to accept it, but sometimes one must face cruel truths.
"She drugged me, and then what?" Qin Shi pressed when Shen Mingtang didn't respond immediately.
"I came looking for Mother and encountered Prince Rui, as well as… the drunken Yuchang Marquis Heir," Shen Mingtang said softly.
Qin Shi remained relatively calm upon hearing about Prince Rui, but when the Yuchang Marquis Heir was mentioned, she jerked her head up abruptly.
Her eyes wide, Qin Shi trembled all over. "How dare she! How could she dare!"
To be so audaciously unfilial as to scheme against her own mother using the most despicable means imaginable!