Reborn: The Poisoned Schemes of a Noble Daughter

The fire is hot, as hot as a red-hot iron, and it slips into the cracks of the bones. Shen Mingwei felt that her legs were no longer her own, and the tattered clothes could not hold anything back. When the flames licked up, the flesh seemed to be torn off, and the pain was so intense that she wanted to scream, but there was only a whooshing sound in her throat, and the thick smoke had already blocked her throat. The chain on her wrist was so hard that it hurt her bones. She struggled hard, and the rust, mixed with the blood foam, fell down, but the chain wouldn't bugle. "Sister, does it hurt?" Outside came Shen Yuerou's voice, sweet and cloying, like poison smeared with honey. Shen Mingwei struggled to open her eyes, and in the firelight she saw the figure dressed in silk and brocade, with a head full of jewels, not like herself, living like a stray dog. "You say you used to act like a legitimate daughter, as if we were all supposed to carry your shoes." Shen Yuerou chuckled, and her footsteps drew closer. "Now? Look at you, like a charcoal head, even worse than a dog." Shen Mingwei stared fixedly at her, her lip biting to bleed, blood trickling down her chin and dripping onto the charred front of her dress. She wanted to ask Shen Yuerou where she had wronged her. When she first entered the house, she gave her favorite pieces of material and the pearls left by her mother to her, but what about this ingrateful person? She turned around and snatched her engagement, ruining her parents! "What are you looking at?" Shen Yuerou was shuddered by her gaze, her tone sharp, "Not convinced? It's no use being resentful! Your good fiance is right here, and he's watching you die." Shen Mingwei shifted her gaze to the man in the brocade robe beside Shen Yuerou, Zhao Heng, the man she had once held in her heart. He used to smile and offer her jasmine flowers, and whisper, "Mingwei, when I have achieved success and fame, I will surely marry you in a sedan chair of eight people." But now he just stood there, his eyes as cold as ice, as if the person before his eyes being burned was not the one he had promised for his life. "All right, don't let her suffer." Zhao Heng spoke, his voice undulating, "Let's end it early." Shen Yuerou laughed at once, her voice sweet again: "Your Highness is right, sister. I'll see you off right now. You must thank your Highness for your kindness." The fire grew stronger and stronger and licked Shen Mingwei's hair, and the burning sensation made her eyes go black. She closed her eyes and had only one thought in her mind - If there is a next life, Shen Mingwei will surely make these people pay for their debts with their blood! …… It hurts. It's not the kind of burning, heart-wrenching pain, but rather a dull pain as if something were knocking in the head. Shen Mingwei suddenly opened her eyes, gasping for breath, her chest heaving up and down. Shouldn't she be burned to death in the fire? She subconsciously touched her throat, her tentacles smooth skin, not the roughness of being burned by thick smoke, nor the blockage of being unable to speak. She moved her fingers and her legs, and they were all fine, not burned out. This is... What's going on? "Miss! Are you awake, miss? A crying voice rang out beside her, and Shen Mingwei turned her head and saw the tearful face of the painting screen, with red eyes and unwiped tear stains on the face. "Painting Screen?" Shen Mingwei's voice was a little hoarse, with a hint of uncertainty. How could the screen be here? Didn't the painting be beaten to death by the Liu family in the yard to protect her? "It's me, miss!" Seeing that she recognized him, the painter cried even harder and reached out to touch her but dared not. "You finally woke up. Just now you suddenly fainted and scared me to death!" Shen Mingwei looked around the familiar walking bed, with her favorite lavender silk curtains hanging on the dressing table beside the bed and her usual bronze mirror, and the incense burner in the corner was giving off a faint smoke. This was her boudoir in the Duke's house! She sat up abruptly, disregarding the dizziness in her head, and staggered to the mirror. The girl in the mirror had a somewhat pale complexion, but her eyebrows and eyes were delicate and her skin smooth. Where was the slightest trace of being burned? There were no scars from whipping, nor sunken cheeks from hunger. This is... Her at fifteen? "Outside... What's the sound outside?" Shen Mingwei's voice was still trembling a little. The screen followed quickly: "It was Aunt Liu who brought Miss Yue Rou into the house. The servants came to inform just now. Miss, have you forgotten? You said yesterday that you would take a good look at this new sister today." Did Aunt Liu bring Shen Yuerou into the house? Shen Mingwei's heart shrank sharply. She remembered that it was the day when Shen Yuerou, the venomous snake in the white lotus skin, stepped into the duke's mansion for the first time. It was from that day that her life began to slide step by step into the abyss. The scenes of her past life came flooding in like a tide: Shen Yuerou pretended to accidentally break her things, Liu Shi said in front of her father that she was mistreating her concubine sister, Zhao Heng pretended to comfort but had an affair with Shen Yuerou behind her back... In the end, her parents were beheaded, her family was ransacked, and she herself was thrown into the Department of Education and burned alive. Hatred, like a poisonous vine, instantly enveloped her heart, almost suffocating her. She clenched her fists tightly, her nails deeply embedded in her palm, and the pain kept her awake. Don't be impulsive. She's back now, back to the time when everything was still not too late. This time, she won't be the naive and foolish Shen Mingwei again. Shen Yuerou, Liu Shi, Zhao Heng... She will not let go of anyone who has harmed her and the Shen family! "Miss, what's wrong with you? The face looks terrifying." The screen looked at her worriedly. Shen Mingwei took a deep breath, slowly loosened her fist, and tried to calm her voice: "It's okay. Maybe just woken up and a little dizzy." She turned around and looked at the screen. This maidservant, who lost her life for her in the previous life, she must protect her in this life. "Painting screen," Shen Mingwei's eyes became resolute, "go and get my green gown, the one with silver embroidery." Huaping was stunned for a moment: "Miss, that is your best dress. It's only Miss Yurou coming in today. Isn't it too grand to wear this?" Shen Mingwei's lips curled into a cold smile: "Grand? Of course it should be grand." She went to the window and looked at the faint sounds of carriages and horses outside, a chill almost welling up in her eyes. Shen Yuerou, welcome to this hell. This time, I'll let you taste what it means to live worse than to die. Though still somewhat puzzled, the screen still went in response. When the brocade box was opened, the emerald green glowed in the morning light, and the silver thread embroidered lotus branches meandered along the hem, the stitches so fine as if the moonlight had been sewn in. Shen Mingwei stared at the pattern, her fingertips touching the cold silk thread - the dress had been borrowed by Shen Yuerou in the previous life, and when she returned, the cuffs were stained with indelible ink, Liu Shi simply said, "Children don't understand," and at that time foolishly comforted the tearful Shen Yuerou, "It doesn't matter." "Miss, shall I help you with your grooming?" Painting came in with a jewelry box in her hands, in which the beaded hairpins and rings jingled. Shen Mingwei shook her head and sat down in front of the mirror. The girl in the bronze mirror had distant eyebrows and eyes like autumn water, but in those eyes there was no longer the clear innocence of the past. She picked up a plain silver hairpin to hold her long hair, and even a little rouge, neither too much nor too little, just to make her face less pale. "That's all right." She said softly to herself in the mirror, as if saying goodbye to the past Shen Mingwei. Outside the courtyard came a sound of footsteps, mingled with greetings from the women. The screen lifted a corner of the curtain and looked back, saying, "Miss, Aunt Liu has come with Miss Yue Rou and is waiting in the outer hall." Shen Mingwei stood up and straightened her dress. The green robe fits perfectly, and when the hem hangs down, the lotus embroidered with silver thread seems to sway gently in the breeze. "Let's go." She lifted her foot out, not fast but steady as if she were stepping on rock. Sure enough, people were already seated in the outer hall. Liu, dressed in a pale ** and with a red gold dot on her head, immediately smiled and rose upon seeing her come in: "Mingwei is awake? I was so worried when I heard you fainted." Behind her stood a girl in a light blue cloth dress, slender, with her head down and her hands awkwardly twisting a handkerchief. It was Shen Yuerou. Hearing the commotion, she hurriedly raised her head, revealing a timid face, big eyes like frightened deer, but a barely perceptible glance flashed through the depths of her eyes. "I've met Aunt Liu." Shen Mingwei bowed properly, her voice neither high nor low, and no emotion could be discerned. Liu hurriedly helped her up: "Get up quickly, get up quickly, we are all family, no need to be polite." She pulled Shen Yuerou and pushed her forward. "This is Yuerou. From now on, you are sisters. You must get along well." Shen Yuerou immediately knelt down and bowed, her voice as soft as a mosquito fly: "Yuerou...... "See sister." Shen Mingwei looked at her and sneered in her heart. In her previous life, she was deceived by this weak and innocent look, thinking that she was really a gentle and obedient sister, always protecting and giving in, but ended up being a nuisance. "Sister, there's no need to be polite." Shen Mingwei turned away from her courtesy and said in a flat tone, "You've just arrived at the house. Are you used to it?" Shen Yuerou looked up at her timidly and then lowered her head quickly: "Thank you for your concern, all...... All is well." Liu tried to smooth things over: "Yue Rou is just thin-skinned. We'll be fine when we get to know each other well. Come, Yue Rou, bring your sister a cup of tea." The maidservant beside him quickly handed over a cup of tea. Shen Yuerou took it with both hands and carefully placed it in front of Shen Mingwei. As she approached, somehow she sprained her feet and gave her hand a sudden jolt -- The boiling water splashed out in an instant, and most of it splashed onto the hem of Shen Mingwei's skirt. "Oh dear!" Liu exclaimed, her face immediately darkened, "Yue Rou! How could you be so careless!" "With a plop," Shen Yuerou knelt down, tears streaming down like broken strings of beads: "I'm sorry, sister! I didn't mean it! I...... I'm too nervous......" She was shaking with tears and looked pitiful. All the maidservants and women around held their breath. Everyone knew that Shen Mingwei cherished this green robe the most, and this time being doused with hot tea, she was likely to fly into a rage. Shen Mingwei lowered her head to look at the dark water stain on the hem of her dress. The lotus embroidered with silver thread had been soaked dark. She remembered that in her previous life, it was this scene that made her tremble with anger and said a few words to Shen Yuerou, only to be seized by Liu Shi as an excuse to say that she was "spoiled by the legitimate daughter and could not tolerate the illegitimate sister", and to complain to her father, and to get her a good scolding. But now she just stood there quietly, with no expression on her face. Seeing her motionless, Liu was secretly pleased, but still scolded Shen Yuerou: "You child, clumsy! Why don't you kowtow to your sister and admit your mistake? Shen Yuerou cried even harder, her forehead almost touching the ground. Just then, Shen Mingwei suddenly bent down and reached out to help her up. Her movements were light and her tone softened a little: "Sister, get up quickly. The ground is cold." Shen Yuerou was stunned for a moment, seemingly not expecting this reaction from her, forgot to cry for a moment, and was just held up by her in a daze. Liu was also taken aback, with a flash of astonishment in her eyes. Shen Mingwei patted Shen Yuerou's hand as if she really didn't care: "It's just a dress. What's the big deal? Sister is new here and probably not familiar with the roads in the house. She must have stumbled on something just now. She turned her head and said to Hua Ping, "Hua Ping, go to my room and get that new water green dress and put it on Sister Yue Rou." She was stunned for a moment: "Miss, that one you made just the day before yesterday......" "It doesn't matter." Shen Mingwei interrupted her, "Sister has just arrived. She must have a decent dress. Wear your sister's clothes and consider it as your sister welcoming you." As soon as these words were spoken, not only Shen Yuerou and Liu Shi, but also the maidservants and women beside them opened their eyes wide in astonishment. Who doesn't know that although Shen Mingwei has a gentle nature, she attaches great importance to her own things, especially the newly made clothes, and never lends them to others easily. Shen Yuerou's face turned bluish and pale, she wanted to take it but didn't want to, and her hand froze in mid-air. She had intended to use the tea-throwing incident to make Shen Mingwei lose her composure in front of everyone, and it would have been best to displease Liu Shi, but Shen Mingwei managed to defuse it so easily and instead gave her a warning - wearing her elder sister's old clothes, wasn't this a clear reminder that she was a concubine's daughter living under someone else's roof? Liu also felt something was amiss and was about to say something when Shen Mingwei looked at her first, smiling appropriately: "Aunt Liu, do you think this arrangement is okay?" She smiled gently, but there was an unquestionable air in her eyes, an inherent dignity of the eldest daughter, which made Liu swallow the words that were on the verge of her mouth. "... Mingwei is thoughtful. Let's do as you say." Liu forced a smile, but in her heart she scolded Shen Yuerou a thousand times - what a useless thing, stealing chickens but losing rice! Shen Yuerou bit her lip, her nails deep into her palm, but still forced an expression of gratitude on her face: "Thanks...... Thank you, sister." "Sister, you're too kind." Shen Mingwei smiled slightly, her gaze sweeping over her pale face, and a chill flashed in her eyes. This is just the beginning. Shen Yuerou, Liu Shi, what you owe me, I will get back little by little, principal and interest. The drawing screen soon got the new dress. It was a water-green Hangzhou silk dress embroidered with delicate magnolia flowers, much better than the cloth dress Shen Yuerou was wearing. "Sister, go and change into it quickly. Don't get cold." Shen Mingwei motioned for the maidservant to take her down. Shen Yuerou, with her head down, followed the maidservant towards the backyard, looking pitiful and aggrieved. But only she knew that her hand, which was clutching the handkerchief, had twisted it beyond recognition. The smile on Shen Mingwei's face faded as she watched her figure disappear at the door. She looked down at the water stain on her skirt and said to Mrs. Liu, "Aunt Liu, I'll go back to my room to change my clothes first. Excuse me." What else could Liu say but nod: "Go, go, be careful not to catch a cold." Shen Mingwei turned and walked out, just as she reached the door, she heard Liu Shi's voice lowered behind her scolding: "Look at what you're doing!" She didn't stop her steps, but a sneer curled at the corner of her mouth. The show has just begun. Back in the courtyard, Hua Ping quickly brought clean clothes and, while helping her change out of the green robe, said angrily, "Miss, are you going to just leave it at that?" Shen Yuerou clearly did it on purpose! "Otherwise?" Shen Mingwei sat in front of the dressing table, allowing the painting screen to untangle her hair, "to have an outburst on the spot, to make Aunt Liu laugh, and to get a reputation for treating a concubine sister?" Huaping was taken aback: "but...... But she can't be so cheap!" "Take advantage of her?" Shen Mingwei picked up the plain silver hairpin and turned it in her hand. "Do you think wearing my old clothes is cheap for her?" The picture screen thought for a moment and then realized: "Miss means......" Shen Yuerou is the most competitive and jealous. Shen Mingwei looked at herself in the mirror, her eyes sharp. "It's more painful to have her wear my clothes and constantly remind her of her identity than to scold or hit her." It was only then that the screen realized and couldn't help clapping her hands: "Miss, you're right! Looking at her face just now, she must be furious!" Shen Mingwei smiled and said nothing more. She picked up the bronze mirror on the table and looked closely at the girl in it. The face still had a touch of childishness, but it already had a faint outline of the future. In her previous life, it was this face and that foolish kindness that led her step by step towards her downfall.