CHAPTER 320: CHAPTER 316: I AM THE MARQUIS MANSION DOWAGER 5

She thought, if elder sister-in-law found out, she’d surely flay her.

Anning glared at Mrs. Yang: "No one is allowed to talk about this once we’re outside, not even your own parents, understand?"

Mrs. Yang hurriedly nodded.

Anning knew Mrs. Yang would definitely not tell anyone else.

Actually, Mrs. Yang had long severed ties with the Yang Family; she was the legitimate eldest daughter, and her mother had died soon after giving birth to her. Later, her father remarried, and her stepmother treated Mrs. Yang cruelly. Life at her maternal home was harsh, only after coming to the Tang Family did she enjoy some good days.

Moreover, Mrs. Yang and Tang Baoguo had a pretty good relationship, and she had her own children, surely she wouldn’t side with her maternal family.

This was precisely why Anning felt reassured bringing Mrs. Yang along.

"But..."

Tang Baoguo hesitated, "Mother, hiding this from elder brother, this... doesn’t seem right."

The silly lad.

Anning shook her head with a wry smile and sighed, "Sit down, sit down and listen to me."

Tang Baoguo pulled Mrs. Yang to sit down on a heap of gold.

Mrs. Yang was initially excited, but then calmed down.

Initially, she found the heaps of gold too glaring, but now sitting atop the gold, it just seemed ordinary.

Anning sat down on a heap of silver.

She sat cross-legged: "Second son, do you know how our family went from being mere farmers in a village to Marquis in the Jing Dynasty?"

Tang Baoguo shook his head, clueless.

Good, he doesn’t know, Anning could now feed him some fairy tales.

"Today, mother will tell you the truth. Your grandfather, he’s not just the worldly martial artist selling his skills as your father described, your grandfather is actually a descendent of the previous dynasty’s National Master’s family."

With that statement, Tang Baoguo turned even paler, his face turning ghostly.

He knew, the reason Anning mentioned these matters was certainly because something big was about to happen.

"You know what being a National Master of the previous dynasty implies, right?"

Anning asked Tang Baoguo, and he nodded.

Anning smiled slightly: "Actually, he wasn’t entirely wiped out, only your grandfather escaped with his life and then ran to a village to buy land, hoping to live anonymously, he even changed his surname. By my generation, your grandfather had taught me all the family secrets passed down through generations. I’m not good at other things, but observing astrological signs and Feng Shui, I excel. Otherwise, why did your father and I choose to assist Grand Ancestor during the Seven Kings’ Rebellion? It was because I saw that Grand Ancestor had the aura of a true dragon."

Tang Baoguo and Mrs. Yang stared at Anning, dumbfounded.

They had never imagined that their own mother had such abilities.

The couple was almost stupefied by Anning’s words.

"Every following campaign, I had to observe and employ methods to save your father’s life, otherwise, your father and I couldn’t have lived till now. It’s a shame, after all, destiny is hard to defy; your father still passed away early."

Anning’s emotions dwindled as she spoke, bowing her head to wipe her tears.

Mrs. Yang hurriedly consoled Anning with sweet words.

After self-pitying for a while, Anning continued: "Recently, I actually faced a life-threatening crisis, but once I survived, my vision on Feng Shui and heavenly signs became even clearer. I discovered our family’s Feng Shui was altered, if this continues, it definitely forebodes a crisis where our lineage will be cut off, and the entire family faces a grave fate."

"Ah!"

Tang Baoguo and Mrs. Yang listened with their hearts pounding in fear.

"I have also observed your elder brother and sister-in-law’s faces; both don’t bode well. Your sister-in-law is mean-spirited, greedy, and unreliable, plus, she’s destined to die without a burial place. Furthermore, your elder brother shows a sign of a short life."

Anning looked particularly sorrowful as she spoke.

Tang Baoguo also started tearing up, "Mother, isn’t there really no way?"

Anning waved her hand: "If there was a way, I would have tried already, even at the expense of my own life to save them, but I’m afraid... if I intervene, it might bring even heftier calamity to our family. After much contemplation, the only solution I could think of was to split the family and hand these things over to you."

Anning stood up and deeply bowed to Mrs. Yang.

Mrs. Yang was so frightened that she quickly kneeled, "Mother, you, you’re overstating it."

Anning helped Mrs. Yang up: "I know your character, indeed you have some minor faults, but you’re a hundred times better than your sister-in-law. Your heart is with our family, and you wholeheartedly cherish the second son. Today, I entrust you with a matter."

"Mother’s orders, your daughter-in-law dare not disobey."

Anning smiled looking at Mrs. Yang, "I want you and the second son to take these things and sincerely, earnestly look after Duke Zhongyi Mansion. From now on, your children and grandchildren can only engage in civil pursuits, not martial. Even if they learn martial arts, it should only be for strengthening the body, never to enter the battlefield or become military generals."

Mrs. Yang looked at Tang Baoguo, then nodded firmly in agreement: "Alright."

"There’s more." Anning continued, "You and the second son, including your descendants, no matter what the future holds, must never get involved in royal disputes, only remain loyal to the emperor, and certainly avoid close interactions with the princes. Remember, avoid conflicts, be cautious."

Tang Baoguo quickly replied, "Mother, even if you didn’t instruct, your son would not meddle in royal affairs."

Anning smiled and patted Tang Baoguo’s shoulder, "I am entrusting you with these things because I know your character. I’m thinking, if something happens to your elder brother’s side in the future, you can preserve these items, ensuring our family’s legacy continues, and secretly look out for your elder brother’s descendants."

After giving her instructions, Anning started pointing to the treasures, "These are treasures I secretly unearthed belonging to the former royal family."

She then led Tang Baoguo and his wife further inside, where they saw even more rare treasures.

Items like heaps of pearls and boxes of Liu Li were nothing here, Luminous Pearls were placed by boxes.

Then, Anning opened another door, where even more treasures were stored than outside.

Even though Tang Baoguo and Mrs. Yang considered themselves well-acquainted with fine objects, the sight accelerated their heartbeats, nearly leaving them breathless.