Chapter 172: Chapter 172

Fortunately, fortunately, the things are still here...

Uh... no, rather, it’s fortunate they’re not here...

Lying with eyes closed on the soft big bed, An Ning wiped the cold sweat from her brow and finally began to accept the memories of this “eldest young master” body.

Chu Zi’an, the legitimate eldest son of the Chu family, a great merchant family in Qizhou.

According to the original body’s memories, this was a historical era that never truly existed, and it was far from peaceful.

After the previous dynasty fell, warlords rose, and after a series of wars and expansions, the fertile lands of the Central Plains were quickly carved up. Nearly a hundred years had passed, and now five great powers—Wei, Yue, Zhou, Wu, and Liang—stood firmly, each ruling their own territory, while numerous smaller states around them were constantly being swallowed up...

Unfortunately, the original body was born into this chaotic era filled with war, displaced soldiers, refugees, droughts, widespread famine, and bandits lurking everywhere.

At the time of the original body’s birth, the mother, Madam Chu, was still fleeing for her life with a group of guards and servants. Even the delivery took place in a desolate, dilapidated temple. In those times, midwives were almost impossible to find, so the original body had to be delivered personally by a trusted matron maid.

This was perhaps one of the reasons this body was able to survive under such conditions.

Thus, little Zi’an tightly guarded his identity, drifting from place to place, until finally, when he was four years old, he truly returned to the Chu family mansion.

Reuniting safely with his family, logically, the body’s true identity should have been revealed at that moment.

But did you think reuniting with husband and family was a happy ending?

No, the truth was far more brutal. It turned out that survival after such calamity did not always bring hope...

Years passed, and the husband’s side already had a beloved woman by his side, with children in tow. Their son Chu Zixu was less than a year younger than the original body.

Before the original body returned, this son was the legitimate eldest son of the household, and their family of four was harmonious and happy.

However, what made Madam Yang feel threatened was the identity of the new “madam.”

The new madam, Lady Jiang, was originally just the daughter of a tavern owner, a widow whose husband had died early. Though somewhat beautiful, she was hardly stunning enough to captivate men entirely. What truly worried Madam Yang was the so-called debt of gratitude.

During the chaotic times of displacement, the original body’s father’s caravan was robbed by bandits and nearly lost their lives. It was Lady Jiang who risked her life and reputation to hide them in her small tavern.

A fallen young master, a beautiful woman, with both a life-saving debt and daily companionship—an innocent man and woman alone—what could be more likely to happen?

As for the original body’s mother and daughter, in such a terrifying war, everyone thought survival itself was unlikely.

If it weren’t for the firm opposition of the original body’s grandmother, Madam Chu, Lady Jiang’s status would have been more than just a concubine.

Opposite was a beautiful newcomer who had grown closer to the husband.

While the original body, after many upheavals, had lost her looks, and with years apart, the affection with the husband had faded; there was no more tacit understanding. If not for the servants downstairs, even her chastity would be hard to prove. Under such circumstances, the original body’s identity naturally became a secret between the mistress and her trusted maid, never spoken aloud.

Now, this body was already fifteen years old. Normally, a girl this age would be entering puberty, her body developing. But considering the “tonics” the original body had been forced to drink over the past two years...

An Ning’s gaze darkened. Taking advantage of the murmuring moments, her fingertips quietly touched the pulse beneath the covers...

Perhaps considering this body’s “special identity,” the house physician arrived quickly—an old acquaintance, Doctor Wang.

After a quick pulse check, Doctor Wang stroked his graying beard and remained silent for a moment before speaking:

“No problem, young master has just been overworked lately and caught a slight cold. With a few more doses of medicine, he’ll be almost fully recovered.” As he spoke, a flicker passed through Doctor Wang’s eyes, but he wrote the prescription as usual, gave a few instructions, and hurriedly left.

After the old doctor left, the small room grew quiet again. An Ning remained lying as if asleep.

Not long after, the first to arrive was Matron Xu, who attended Madam Chu. Madam Chu was elderly and had been through many hardships, so her health was poor.

Just a few days ago she caught a cold and was now bedridden!

Even so, upon learning that the “eldest grandson” was ill, she immediately sent her trusted matron here, along with a large batch of nourishing supplements.

After carefully inquiring about the eldest young master’s condition and learning there was no serious issue, she glanced at An Ning by the bedside, scrutinized her carefully, then finally breathed a sigh of relief and prepared to leave.

Before leaving, she reminded the maid Chunyu to take good care and summoned the servants from Lan Courtyard to give them a stern warning:

“You all know your eldest young master is good-natured. Having such a good master is your blessing. We servants must not be ungrateful!”

“The eldest young master has always worked hard and often neglects his health. You servants must try to stop him...”

“This is also a time when Madam Chu is unwell. Wait a few days until she’s better...”

Remembering Madam Chu’s strict ways, Chunlan and the other maids and servants hurriedly lowered their heads to apologize.

After Matron Xu left, the small courtyard bustled with people coming and going until midday, when Madam Chu finally arrived, albeit late.

Madam Chu was over forty years old this year, with an oval face and peach blossom eyes. She should have been a beautiful and graceful woman, but unfortunately, time had not been kind. Having long passed her prime, years of sorrow had painted frost on her face.

Even the gentle, watery expression she once had now bore a hint of sternness and harshness.

She looked at An Ning lying on the bed with complex feelings, accepted a handkerchief from a maid, and wiped the “son’s” forehead twice with trembling hands. Tears welled in her eyes as she murmured softly:

“Zi’an, don’t blame your mother...”

“Mother is doing this for you and your brother, for all of us...”

On the bed, An Ning still kept her eyes tightly shut, showing no signs of waking, but her hand resting by her side had lightly moved at some unknown moment.

After sitting for an unknown length of time, Madam Chu finally stood and left with her group of maids.

Before leaving, she instructed Qiushan:

“An’er is seriously ill these days; it’s best not to tire her. Once she’s better, the things the lord recently instructed can be sent directly to Tingzhu Pavilion...”

“Chen’er is grown now and should help share some burdens for his elder brother.”

Tingzhu Pavilion was the residence of this body’s younger brother, Chu Zichen, the legitimate second son of the Chu family. He was just ten years old this year, returning to the mansion for the first time. Madam Yang had personally gotten the head of the family drunk to ensure the birth of this second son.

Only after the visitors’ figures disappeared completely did An Ning barely manage to sit up.

“Oh, young master, you’ve finally woken!”

Before Chunyu and the others could cheer, An Ning was already sitting up, taking the prescription from Chunyu’s hand...

After seeing the listed herbs and dosages, An Ning leaned back on the bed and slowly exhaled stale breath.

As expected, her earlier guess was correct...

As she thought, the original body’s life was indeed extremely tragic...

Just a few days ago, the original body was carefully going through the family accounts year by year, dragging her tired body to fulfill her father’s entrusted tasks one by one, all to secure a place for her mother and the two elder sisters in the household lineage.

An ironic smile involuntarily curved An Ning’s lips.

“Wuwuwu, host, young miss, and host, you are just too pitiful!”

That was the biological mother! Thinking back to the reaction when the host saw the prescription just now...

In broad daylight, the system shuddered instinctively!

Even a tiger won’t eat its cubs, so the poor system couldn’t understand how such a ruthless mother could exist in this world.

Watching her own daughter suffer day after day was already unbearable, yet now she wanted to push her even further.

Inside the consciousness, the teacup dog was crying snot and tears, and finally asked the host resting with closed eyes on the couch:

“Host, what are you going to do now!”

This body was about to turn fifteen, the age for marriage, when such secrets could no longer be hidden.

Not to mention the Jiang family mother and son next door with predatory eyes, the biological mother Yang in the main residence quietly pushing for the host to give up her position, and the unreliable father...

What was the host supposed to do?

“Why not try harder, host, to snatch the scumbag father’s business?”

After all, with money comes power; then the entire Chu household would be in the host’s hands.

Wouldn’t that mean she could do whatever she wanted?

Forget it, the system’s brain is... well, quite good...

At least it doesn’t cause so much worry.

Looking at the pale face with naturally elegant brows of the girl in the mirror, An Ning couldn’t help but smirk. If this body truly was a young master, or if this secret was unknown and she was just usurping the position, a rightful heir, then it would be understandable.

Thinking of Madam Chu still holding the so-called “handle” on her, An Ning clicked her tongue softly.

Usurpation? To make a wedding gown for someone else?

She got up, took a history book from the nearby bookshelf, leaned on the couch, and leisurely began to read.

Thanks to the original body’s studious and diligent nature, the study was well-stocked—not only with account books but also various classics and historical texts, densely filling an entire bookshelf wall.

An Ning quickly found the book she wanted to read.

For the remaining days, unexpectedly to everyone in the Chu household, this usually competitive eldest young master, who never wasted a moment, actually began to rest seriously.

Every day, besides practicing calligraphy and reading, he occasionally took walks in the courtyard, euphemistically calling it “exercise.” Even the small kitchen in the courtyard had become busier recently.

Not only were the other household members surprised, but even the original body’s grandmother, Madam Chu, sent people multiple times to check on her grandson. Only after confirming he was indeed fine did she finally relax.

Leaning half-back on the yellow rosewood couch with a faint smile watching the embarrassed Li Erjia in front of her, An Ning understood the man’s intentions and didn’t refuse, casually pointing to the nearby Chunlan:

“These were originally assigned to me by Father. Since Mother wants them, just take them!”

“Young master, madam also feels you have been working too hard these days...”

Though the man’s tone was as usual, Matron Xu suddenly felt a chill behind her back and hurriedly bent down to explain.

She even cautiously glanced at An Ning.

As Madam Chu’s trusted aide who had personally delivered the original body, she naturally knew the identity of this body.

Over the years, she had not stopped complaining about the hardships of the past and how Madam Chu was forced into difficult choices.

Did the original body’s little girl understand her meaning?

Of course she did, but unfortunately, the original body was a kind-hearted girl who could empathize with her mother’s situation and understood her difficulties.

But now, An Ning had no interest at all.

Unable to get the response she wanted, the old matron shut her mouth, glanced at An Ning once more, then quietly left clutching the account books.

“Host... host, are you really going to let this person take everything?”

Watching the departing figure, the system said in disbelief.

You know, these were core family business matters only for the next generation’s head to handle. Did she just hand them over to those unworthy?

The Chu family’s great legacy!

Though the host’s scumbag father was a scoundrel, he had always valued the original body as the legitimate eldest son and seemed to truly be grooming him as the heir.

Even the second son, Chu Zixu, did not have this favor.

For such naive thoughts from the system, An Ning only chuckled faintly without comment:

“I’m willing to give the things, but whether they can hold on to them is not up to me!”

“Wait and see, there’ll be plenty of excitement later!”

Flipping through the records in her hand, a hint of amusement appeared in An Ning’s eyes.

With such a troublesome start, the host can still be happy.