CHAPTER 322: CHAPTER 318: I AM THE MARQUIS MANSION DOWAGER 7

Anning gestured for Tang Baoguo and Tang Dingguo to make things clear.

Tang Baoguo then spoke about how the Feng Shui of Duke Zhongyong’s Mansion had been tampered with and also revealed Anning’s origins to Tang Dingguo.

Tang Dingguo was utterly dumbfounded for a good while.

"Mother, who is plotting against our family in secret?"

Anning shook her head: "I don’t know either, but, I suspect that the ones scheming against our family are not human."

She then pointed upwards: "Or perhaps, it’s from above."

Tang Dingguo, terrified, couldn’t even sit still: "Mother, are you referring to the heavens? What should we do? Are we just supposed to sit here and wait for death?"

Anning scoffed coldly: "Those who want to plot against me won’t find it so easy; I would give my all to drag them down from their high horses."

"Mother?"

Tang Dingguo was particularly worried.

Anning then softly instructed him: "It’s precisely because I noticed our family’s Feng Shui being manipulated that, after fixing it, I asked you brothers to divide the household. After all, once the division is made, I can see which aspects those things are targeting and, secondly, it might protect some of our family’s roots."

Tang Dingguo understood Anning’s thoughts well: "Mother, your son understands."

Anning suddenly coughed several times, her complexion turning ghastly pale.

Tang Dingguo and Tang Baoguo, terrified, hurriedly stepped forward to support her: "Mother, Mother, how are you feeling?"

Anning waved her hand, signaling the brothers to help her lie down.

After she was lying down, she said to Tang Dingguo: "Eldest, I’m afraid I can’t stay in the Capital much longer; I’m thinking of returning to our ancestral home."

"Mother?"

Tang Dingguo and Tang Baoguo didn’t understand why Anning wanted to return to the countryside.

Anning chuckled: "I’m going back to see if your maternal grandparents have left me anything that could possibly save my life. Also, I want to go back and live incognito. Maybe if those above see that I’m no longer living at Duke Zhongyong’s Mansion, they’ll loosen their grip."

Originally, Tang Dingguo wanted to persuade Anning to stay at his place, but hearing that it was for the sake of her survival, he didn’t dare: "Your son will prepare the carriage and personally escort you back to our ancestral home."

Anning smiled and interrupted him: "There’s no need. If you escort me personally, wouldn’t that make me an easy target? Don’t worry about this; I’ll make my own arrangements. I still have some old soldiers loyal to me; I’ll take them back with me. Also, after I leave, you must take good care of yourselves. If anything arises, you and your brother should consult each other. And about Bai’er... I was planning to take him back with me, but now I don’t even know what fate awaits me, so I won’t bring him along. But you must treat Bai’er kindly; never let your wife wrong that child."

Tang Dingguo always felt like Anning was giving her last instructions; he couldn’t help but cry: "Mother, your son has taken note of everything; I will surely discuss matters with my second brother, and I will definitely treat Bai’er well."

Only then did Anning reveal a reassuring smile.

She waved to Tang Dingguo: "You go out first, I have something to instruct your second brother."

Tang Dingguo rose, paid his respects, and withdrew.

Anning grabbed Tang Baoguo’s hand and whispered: "Second brother, there is something I can only entrust to you; I do not trust anyone else with it."

Tang Baoguo was startled: "What about big brother?"

Anning forced a bitter smile: "It’s because I don’t trust him that I’m telling you."

Tang Baoguo became even more panicked.

Anning struggled to suppress the fishy taste creeping up her throat: "Bai’er is not born of Mrs. Song, remember this at all costs; Bai’er’s mother... our family has wronged her."

"Mother."

Tang Baoguo exclaimed in shock; Anning spurted out a mouthful of blood.

It was truly not easy; she had exerted her utmost effort just to say those words.

But the suppression was too fierce; she couldn’t reveal who Tang Bai’s biological mother was, nor the circumstances of those past events. Telling Tang Baoguo that Tang Bai wasn’t born of Mrs. Song was already the most she could manage.

After that, Anning passed out.

Tang Baoguo was frightened, distressed, and immediately called out loudly for Tang Dingguo: "Big brother, big brother, come quickly!"

Tang Dingguo hadn’t gone far; hearing Tang Baoguo’s shout, he immediately rushed in.

After that, he saw blood all over the floor, and Anning, pale as parchment.

He was almost scared out of his wits: "Mother, Ruyue, Ruyu, hurry and call someone to fetch the Imperial Physician."

When Anning came to again, it was the time in evening for lighting lamps.

She looked around and found herself still in her room at Duke Zhongyong’s Mansion.

"Ruyue."

Anning called softly.

Ruyue came at the call, and seeing Anning’s eyes open, a smile finally appeared on her face: "Old Madam, you’re finally awake. I’ll call Old Master and Second Old Master now."

Anning waved her hand: "Don’t call them over, go... prepare the things I have saved over the years, and get your belongings in order as well, we’re returning to the countryside tomorrow."

"Old Madam..."

Ruyue wanted to ask why they were going to the countryside, but she feared upsetting Anning, so she did not ask. Instead, she obediently began to pack.

Anning’s illness made Mrs. Song extremely happy.

She had longed for it day and night, finally waiting for this old woman to be on her deathbed, and now with the second son’s family having separated, she truly felt delighted.

However, Mrs. Song felt frustrated that the second son’s family had split a wealth not much less than her own.

She cursed resentfully: "Such an old devout woman, wouldn’t part with a penny, don’t know who she’s guarding it against."

But she didn’t know, it was her that Anning was on guard against.

By dawn, Anning was eager to leave Duke Zhongyong’s Mansion.

She had delved deep into understanding the Heavenly Dao Laws and the secrets of fate. She had a premonition that only by leaving the Duke’s Mansion, leaving the Capital, would she have a chance of survival.

Tang Dingguo and Tang Baoguo did not dare to keep Anning, nor did they dare to send her off with great fanfare, but bid her a quiet farewell.

Anning instructed her two sons: "After I leave, conduct the funeral rites for me; tell outsiders that I’ve gone."

"Mother."

The brothers felt a piercing heartache and knelt down to kowtow to Anning.

"If you want me to survive, then do as I say."

Anning’s face was stern as she admonished them.

"Alright."

The brothers almost gritted their teeth as they agreed.

They didn’t know why, but they had a feeling that once Anning was gone, they would never see her again, and this was probably the last meeting between mother and sons.

Watching Anning board the carriage, the two brothers knelt on the ground, crying in deep sorrow.

Just as the front of Anning’s carriage left the Capital, the white banners of mourning were already hung at Duke Zhongyong’s Mansion.

Tang Dingguo and his brother instructed the servants to send messages to the noble families on good terms with the Tang Family and to the court officials with whom they had decent relations, simply stating that the Old Madam had passed away. The Old Master and the Second Old Master were arranging funeral affairs and could not come personally, asking for understanding.

Once Anning left the Capital, the Duke’s Mansion began the grand funeral preparations.

Tang Dingguo and his brother mourned in front of the altar, crying so genuinely in grief that visitors came with red-rimmed eyes.

Mrs. Song and Mrs. Yang also mourned in front of the altar.

Mrs. Yang was genuinely heartbroken, crying sincerely and deeply.

She was grateful to Anning.

No matter what, the mother-in-law Anning had treated her fairly well. Having lost her own mother at a young age and enduring a stepmother’s torment, she had no expectations of any kindness from her future mother-in-law.

Unexpectedly, after marrying into the Tang Family, although Anning didn’t treat her exceptionally well, she never tormented her, and when she was sick or in pain, Anning would show concern.

Most importantly, before leaving, Anning had decided to divide the family, allowing her to become a super first-class Marchioness. Just for that, she would be grateful to Anning for the rest of her life.