Tang Baoguo and Mrs. Yang were practically trembling from weakness as they walked out of the underground storage room.
They still felt as if they were dreaming.
Mrs. Yang was even pulling on Tang Baoguo: "Husband, pinch , let see if it hurts."
Could Tang Baoguo really pinch Mrs. Yang?
He pinched himself instead.
Mrs. Yang cried: "It really doesn’t hurt; we must be dreaming."
Anning couldn’t help but find it quite amusing.
Tang Baoguo said irritably: "I pinched myself; of course you don’t feel pain, but I certainly do."
Anning went over and pinched Mrs. Yang: "Does it hurt?"
"It hurts a lot."
Mrs. Yang cried again, this ti from the pain.
"Now you know it hurts; this isn’t a dream, right?" Anning asked again.
"No, no, it hurts for real."
Mrs. Yang wept tears of joy.
She really wasn’t fit to go out at the mont, so Anning waited for Mrs. Yang to calm down before quietly leaving with her and Tang Baoguo.
On the way back, both Tang Baoguo and Mrs. Yang assured Anning: "Mother, don’t worry, we will definitely treat Uncle Zhuzi well."
They truly ant it.
Not only because Zhuzi had saved Tang Fang’s life, but also because he had been guarding the treasure trove for many years with utmost loyalty, not coveting a single item despite the vast wealth, proving his excellent character. Such a loyal servant must be provided with a comfortable retirent no matter what.
"As long as you are aware," Anning simply replied.
Zhuzi has had a hard life, living without children of his own. "All I want is to ensure he has a good end, and not let his years of loyalty go to waste," Anning pondered.
Throughout the way back, Anning instructed them on many things before returning to Duke Zhongyong’s Mansion.
Now that her two sons had separated households, by convention, Anning should follow her eldest son, naturally residing in Duke Zhongyong’s Mansion.
Anning returned to Duke Zhongyong’s Mansion just in ti to et Tang Dingguo and Mrs. Song coming to pay their respects.
Anning didn’t even et the couple, but had Ruyue tell them she was tired and sent them back.
The next morning, Tang Dingguo’s eldest son, Tang Bai, rushed to find Anning.
Mrs. Song had bear Tang Bai shortly before conceiving his younger brother, Tang Zong, and had him brought up by Anning since infancy, growing close to Anning and not as much to Mrs. Song.
Of course, this was the story told to outsiders; in truth, Tang Bai was not born of Mrs. Song.
Only Anning, Mrs. Song, Tang Dingguo, and a few personal servants attending to Anning knew of this matter. But those servants had long since grown old and feeble, and Anning had allowed them to return ho for a comfortable retirent, aning that the servants currently in the Marquis Mansion were unaware of Tang Bai’s story.
Tang Bai hurried over, his eyes reddening upon seeing Anning.
"Grandmother."
He held back his emotions and perford a respectful greeting.
Anning pulled Tang Bai closer: "What’s the matter? Who could be bullying my darling grandson?"
Upon asking, Tang Bai felt even more aggrieved and began hugging Anning while crying.
Anning coaxed him gently for a long ti before Tang Bai finally stopped sobbing: "Grandmother, why doesn’t Madam like ?"
Anning’s face turned serious imdiately: "Did she scold you again?"
Tang Bai nodded: "Today, my younger brother and I had a disagreent about sothing, and Madam... scolded harshly and even punished to kneel outside for an hour. Grandmother, why do I... I have to stay with Madam? I want to be with you."
Anning’s face darkened like the bottom of a pot.
Rembering the physiognomy she had read for Mrs. Song a few days earlier and closely observing Tang Bai, she declared: "Very well, if she looks down on you, you don’t need to provoke her and make her angry. From now on, stay with your grandmother. I would like to see who dares to bully my precious eldest grandson."
Tang Bai’s face lit up with smiles at the prospect of not having to face Mrs. Song anymore.
Anning, however, coaxed Tang Bai: "Though you’ll be following grandma, you must be obedient. If you’re not, be careful or grandma might send you back."
"I will definitely be obedient."
Tang Bai patted his chest, promising: "Whatever grandma asks to do, I will do."
Anning laughed: "You little monkey, always trying to sweet-talk . I’m afraid that in just a few days you’ll start saying ’I can’t do this’ and ’I can’t do that’ again."
"Definitely not."
Tang Bai was especially close to Anning, and even as a big boy, he still acted like a child to her: "Grandma loves the most. I’ll listen to grandma."
Anning patted Tang Bai’s head: "Alright, I know you’re a good boy. Grandma will continue to cherish you in the future."
While Anning was joking with Tang Bai, her heart had turned much colder.
Just a mont ago, she had wanted to tell Tang Bai about his true origins, fearing that if she wasn’t careful in the future, Mrs. Song might sche against him.
But when it ca to actually saying it in front of Tang Bai, she found herself unable to speak the words.
And thinking about how her own health was deteriorating by the day, beyond the help of cultivation, Anning knew that her original self must have been a very important person, whose existence alive might affect sothing significant.
Perhaps her anomaly had too great an impact on the Tang Family, and that thing... the thing planning behind the scenes didn’t want her to live.
Anning wanted to take advantage of her still decent health to set all her affairs in order and to inform Tang Bai of his origins.
Yet, in the end, she had been unable to speak.
Heh.
With a cold chuckle in her heart, she refused to believe it. No matter how fated her death was supposed to be, she was determined to fight for survival, to protect those she wanted to protect, even if it ant defying fate itself.
Anning sent Tang Bai off to play and then returned to the inner chamber to sit on the bed and ditate with crossed legs.
Earlier, when she tried to reveal Tang Bai’s true identity, a surge of hot blood had risen in her throat, which she had endured to avoid vomiting blood.
After ditating for a while, Anning spat out a mouthful of black blood.
Just then, Ruyu ca in and was terrified to see this.
"Old Madam, what is this...?"
Anning lifted her head: "Do not panic."
Ruyu tremulously ca over to clean up for Anning: "Old Madam, perhaps we should ask an Imperial Physician to take a look."
Anning waved her hand: "No use. The Imperial Physician can do nothing. Heaven won’t let live..."
Ruyu didn’t understand, but she always felt extrely anxious.
Anning rested for the night and then called for Tang Dingguo and Tang Baoguo.
As soon as Tang Dingguo entered, he was full of concern: "Mother, how are you feeling? Shall I call for an Imperial Physician to see you?"
Anning knew that Ruyu must have secretly told Tang Dingguo about her health.
She scolded with a smile: "That girl Ruyu is getting bolder and bolder."
Tang Baoguo did not know the state Anning was in, and now looked at Tang Dingguo: "Big brother, what’s wrong with mother?"
Tang Dingguo’s expression was full of sorrow: "Mother vomited blood again yesterday."
Hearing this, Tang Baoguo also beca worried about Anning: "Mother, we should really call for an Imperial Physician."
Anning waved her hand and made the brothers sit down: "It’s no use. I thought that once I survived the death disaster, I would be fine. But the thing that is scheming against our family won’t let go. If I don’t die, it will not stop its maneuvers."
"Mother?"
Tang Dingguo was shocked: "What do you an, mother?"
It was Tang Baoguo who softly asked Anning: "What exactly is scheming against our family?"
Tang Dingguo looked at Tang Baoguo: "Second brother, what is going on?"
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