CHAPTER 315: CHAPTER 312: I AM THE MARQUIS MANSION DOWAGER (PART 1)

Anning regained consciousness again, and a hubbub filled her ears.

"Old Madam, Old Madam."

"Mother..."

"Grandmother..."

From these few cries, Anning knew that she had arrived in the body of an old lady who must have reached an advanced age, with grandchildren who were quite grown.

She tried to access the original body’s memories.

However, for some reason, there were very few memories, just scattered bits and pieces.

Nevertheless, from these fragmented memories, Anning was able to guess the general experiences of her predecessor.

The original owner of the body was named Sun Anning. She came from a humble background and, at a time of great chaos in the world, she followed her husband from the mountains to aid the new ruler in military campaigns, ultimately establishing the Dajing Dynasty.

The original personality possessed remarkable martial skills and had exerted significant effort in the war, contributing as much, if not more, as her husband Tang Fang.

When the world was initially pacified, the Grand Ancestor awarded titles to the meritorious. The original personality was also ennobled as a Lady Marquis for her illustrious military achievements.

The couple were both honored as Marquis. Although some people had reservations about this, most of the meritorious officials were comrades who had fought alongside Sun Anning, and many owed their lives to her, so the majority were quite willing for her to receive such honors.

One could say that since stabilizing the realm and establishing the Jing Dynasty, the original personality had lived fairly well.

She and Tang Fang were originally very loving, and even after Tang Fang became a Marquis, he never changed his heart and always maintained mutual respect and love with her. Moreover, there were no concubines in their household.

However, Tang Fang had sustained many covert injuries during his campaigns which undermined his health, and although he was granted rest and honor, the roots of his ailments were deep and he did not live many years in peace before he passed away.

Sun Anning and Tang Fang had loved each other all their lives, and she could not accept his sudden departure, becoming sick, and now terribly ill.

Actually, Sun Anning was resigned to death.

She wanted to leave this world together with Tang Fang.

It was because she had no will to continue living that Anning came.

The original personality did not wish to live, but Anning did. After straightening out her thoughts, Anning slowly opened her eyes.

The first thing she saw was the blue canopy of her bed embroidered with patterns of weeds, while hearing the calls of her children and grandchildren.

"Mother, mother, you are finally awake."

"Grandmother, your grandchild is scared..."

Anning tried to speak but found her throat parched and dry, presumably because the original body had not had even a sip of water for two days, leaving her completely weak and barely able to make a sound.

Anning struggled to raise her hand, signaling for a maid to bring her some water.

The kneeling children and grandchildren hadn’t yet reacted when the maids in the room bustled into action.

After sipping some warm water, Anning finally managed to emit a faint voice.

She moved her eyes around: "Eldest stays, the, the rest may leave."

Soon, everyone in the room had left, even the servants who attended to the original body departed in single file.

Anning stretched out her hand, signaling her eldest son, Tang Dingguo, to help her up.

Tang Dingguo was then a mix of tears and snot.

They had all been prepared for the original personality’s demise; even the Imperial Physician said that the Old Dowager probably wouldn’t live much longer.

But now the Old Dowager had awakened, and could even talk and move.

Tang Dingguo felt an even greater panic.

He feared this was a brief rally before the end.

However, Tang Dingguo was still filial.

He hurriedly kneeled and walked over to assist Anning to stand up, placing a few cushions behind her.

Anning leaned weakly against the cushions, gasping several times before saying, "I originally intended to accompany your father in death, but just as I was about to close my eyes, your father appeared in a vision and scolded me, saying that I must not neglect the entire household of grandchildren, and that he would wait for me at the Naihe Bridge, asking me to support you all a bit longer."

Upon hearing this, Tang Dingguo cried uncontrollably, "Mother, it’s all my unfilial conduct that worried father."

Anning waved her hand, "It’s just that my body is utterly exhausted, and I may not be able to handle affairs for a while. If you truly wish to show filial piety, let me rest quietly for a few months to recuperate. During this time, you can also dispense with the morning and evening formal visits. Once I have recovered, I’ll make arrangements with you."

Tang Dingguo nodded, "I will follow Mother’s orders."

Anning gestured for Tang Dingguo to leave.

After Tang Dingguo assisted Anning to lie down, he exited the room.

As soon as he came out, his younger brother Tang Baoguo hurried over, "Eldest brother, did Mother have any instructions?"

Tang Dingguo sighed, "Mother said Father appeared in her dream, telling her to live well and look after us brothers, and also mentioned she needs to take care of her health, asking us not to disturb her for the time being, and even the morning and evening visits are suspended."

Tang Baoguo nodded, "Mother does indeed need to take good care of her health. Since Mother instructed not to disturb her, we should just follow her wishes."

These two brothers were indeed obedient, taking Anning’s instructions as paramount, daring not to defy.

However, the expression on the face of Tang Dingguo’s wife, Mrs. Tang Song, was quite unnatural.

Although she had a smile on her face, constantly expressing gratitude that the Old Madam had finally awakened, her heart was cursing, wondering why this Old Devout Woman wouldn’t die and how she could have such a strong will to live.

Tang Baoguo’s wife, Mrs. Tang Yang, was genuinely pleased that her mother-in-law had regained consciousness.

Mainly because if Anning was present, the Tang brothers wouldn’t divide the household, allowing Mrs. Tang Yang to continue residing in Duke Zhongyong’s Mansion. But if Anning were gone, the brothers would inevitably split the family, and then Tang Baoguo and Mrs. Tang Yang would have to live elsewhere. As of now, Tang Baoguo was only a minor sixth-rank official in the Capital, which didn’t amount to much.

Being the wife of a minor sixth-rank official was naturally less prestigious than being the Second Mrs. in Duke Zhongyong’s Mansion.

Mrs. Tang Song and Mrs. Tang Yang harbored their own thoughts, their children standing by, none daring to speak. For a moment, the area outside Anning’s room was utterly quiet.

Anning waited for Tang Dingguo to leave before lying down and closing her eyes to rest.

Gradually, she fell asleep.

When she woke up again, it was already evening.

A maid dressed in a green long dress with a tender green vest carefully asked Anning, "Old Madam, would you like to have a meal? The kitchen has just sent some thick congee and prepared a few small dishes. Please have a little, Old Madam."

Anning nodded, letting the maid help her sit up and eat a bowl of porridge with her assistance, but after that, she couldn’t eat any more.

Mainly because her original body was too weak from exhaustion, and she dared not eat too much suddenly.

She waved her hand, instructing the maids to take the dishes away, and then said to the maid who fed her, "Ruyue, take everyone out, I want to lie down for a bit longer."

Ruyue quietly acknowledged, and soon led all the people out of the room.

Once there was no one in the room, Anning struggled to sit up; she meditated for a while, feeling a little better.

Afterward, Anning began to probe the Heavenly Dao of this place.

She discovered that the Heavenly Dao here was slightly stronger than the small worlds she had encountered before.

The Spiritual Energy here was more abundant than in previous worlds, and it seemed that this world also had the presence of immortal demons and spirits, though their mana was not very significant.

This was not really a high-level world, at most just slightly better than the lowest-level worlds.

Moreover, Anning realized that it seemed the Heavenly Dao here existed solely because of Anning’s descendants.

She was somewhat bewildered.

At this moment, An Xin suddenly burst out.

"Ningning, we’ve been schemed against."