The room was still in chaos when a maid hurried forward, holding up a bronze mirror with trembling hands.
"Madam… look your face… you look younger…"
Younger?
I snatched the mirror immediately.
"What nonsense are you"
My voice stopped.
The reflection staring back at me…
Wrinkles were still there but lighter.
My skin looked… better.
Healthier.
Can a scumbag become young and beautiful.
This is my cheating code.
Not like someone who had been half-dead.
"…Is this what being young after death feels like?" I muttered.
A slow smile crept onto my lips.
"Not bad."
Before I could admire myself longer, another maid rushed toward me in panic.
"Old Madam! You're finally awake!"
I turned sharply.
"Hey who are you?"
The maid froze.
"…Madam?"
"And who are you calling madam?"
I snapped.
"Are you blind or just stupid?"
The poor womman almost dropped to her knees.
"I-it's me… your personal maid… Chunmei…"
I frowned and looked her up and down.
"Why do you look so old? You look like my mother's age."
"…!"
Chunmei's face turned pale.
In shock, she slowly took the mirror from my hand and glanced at herself.
Meanwhile, my attention had already shifted.
My eyes swept across the room again.
"Eh…" I narrowed my eyes.
"Where did all these high-quality items come from?"
Chunmei blinked, confused.
"…Madam, isn't it your precious sons?"
"Precious sons?" I repeated.
I pointed at the group of men and women in the room, my finger slightly shaking.
"You mean… these people?"
Chunmei hesitated.
"…Madam… it seems you really lost your memory after the incident…"
"What?!" I snapped.
"Are you speaking nonsense now?"
"How could these be my sons?!"
My gaze landed on them again.
And suddenly.
A sharp pain pierced my head.
"…!"
Memories flooded in.
Names.
Identities.
Faces.
—
The man I slapped first.
Shen Mingyuan.
The eldest son.
Looks honest.
But spineless.
Easily controlled.
The one I slapped second.
Shen Jinghao.
The second son.
Greedy.
Calculating.
Only cares about his own profits.
—
The one standing at the back, avoiding eye contact.
Shen Zhaoyang.
The third son.
Useless.
Spoiled.
A walking disaster.
—
Then.
My gaze shifted.
To the women.
The one standing stiffly, face pale but eyes sharp.
Lin Yurou.
Eldest daughter-in-law.
The real wife of Lin Yurou..
Quiet.
Enduring.
But clearly suppressed.
__
The woman standing close to her.
Zhou Yuxin
Second daughter-in-law.
And beside her.
__
A woman clinging weakly to Shen Mingyuan's arm.
Tears hanging in her eyes.
Body trembling slightly.
Like she might faint any second.
Bai Lianhua.
The "green tea" mistress.
Pretending to be weak.
Blaming everything on the wife.
Acting innocent while destroying another woman's marriage.
"…Wow."
I exhaled slowly.
"This old woman really lived like trash."
Before I could say more.
Bai Lianhua suddenly cried out.
"Ah!"
She staggered back dramatically.
"How… how could Old Madam wake up so suddenly…?"
Her voice trembled.
Her body leaned weakly toward Shen Mingyuan.
"…Could it be…"
She covered her mouth, eyes wide with fear.
"…she's been possessed by a demon?"
The room went silent.
Then.
"Mother is possessed?!"
"Call someone!" "Get a Taoist priest!"
I stared at her.
Completely expressionless.
This kind of acting…
I've seen better in low-budget dramas.
Bai Lianhua suddenly stepped forward, tears falling.
"Please… don't blame me…" she cried softly. "I-I'm just worried about everyone…"
Then she turned, burying her face into Shen Mingyuan's chest.
"Brother Shen Mingyuan… I'm scared…"
Shen Mingyuan immediately held her.
"It's alright, don't be afraid."
My eye twitched.
Eh?
Oh.
So not only is he useless.
He's also cheating.
Right in front of everyone.
And this body did nothing?
I let out a dry laugh.
"…Amazing."
My gaze turned cold.
First thing after transmigration…
And I already want to beat people.
I tilted my head slightly, watching her like one would watch a clown perform.
"…Come here."
My voice was calm.
Too calm.
Bai Lianhua stiffened.
"…A-Aunt… what are you doing…?"
I smiled.
Softly.
Sweetly.
"Mmm. Come here."
Before she could react, I stepped forward and grabbed her wrist.
Tight.
She gasped.
"Ah!"
She tried to pull away immediately.
"Aunt, please what are you let go!"
I dragged her closer without effort.
Her weak act almost made me laugh.
"Don't worry," I said lightly, my smile widening. "I'm a very emotionally stable person."
For a split second.
Everyone relaxed.
Then.
SLAP!
The sound echoed louder than before.
Bai Lianhua screamed.
"Ahh!"
Her body stumbled backward, nearly falling to the ground.
She clutched her face, eyes wide in disbelief.
The entire room recoiled.
Servants stepped back.
The sons froze.
Even Shen Mingyuan didn't dare move.
Good.
I shook my hand lightly.
"…Tch. Not bad."
Then I turned casually.
"Oh, Chunmei."
"Yes yes, Madam!" Chunmei rushed forward, still in disbelief.
"Go to the bedside," I said, waving my hand lazily.
"Bring me that… treasure in a bowl."
"…Treasure?" she repeated, confused.
I glanced at her sharply.
"Do I need to repeat myself?"
"Ah no, no! I'll go now!"
She hurried off immediately.
I turned back, my gaze sweeping across the room.
Everyone was staring at me like I was some monster.
I smiled.
Bright.
Satisfied.
"…It's confirmed."
My fingers brushed lightly against my cheek.
"It really works."
They looked even more confused.
"What works…?" someone whispered.
I chuckled.
"Turns out…"
I glanced at Bai Lianhua, who was still clutching her face in shock.
"…getting rid of scumbags and scheming women…"
My smile deepened.
"…can make you look younger."
Silence.
No one dared to speak.
No one dared to breathe too loudly.
I slowly walked back to the bed and sat down, crossing one leg over the other like I owned the place.
Which.
Technically.
I did.
I leaned back slightly, completely relaxed now.
"This isn't some grand noble residence…"
I muttered, almost to myself.
My gaze turned sharp again.
"…it's practically my life-saving station."n