Chapter 262: Chapter 262
Time flew by, and several decades had passed when An Ning returned to the space once again.
The medicine prepared early in the space ultimately wasn't put to use.
It must be said that without troublesome matters, decades as Empress and then Grand Empress Dowager were quite pleasant.
Especially later, when living in the garden estate, it was even more carefree, with her close friends visiting to play every few days.
For this reason, Mu Yang had specifically begged the Grand Princess to acquire the estate near the Garden of Nurtured Harmony, later converting it into a villa, making it much more convenient for the two friends to visit each other.
Although both were already quite advanced in age by then, that didn't prevent them from enjoying themselves together.
Situ Jing's health was ultimately poor—perhaps due to childhood experiences or lingering attachments—but this man always knew what he wanted. Upon detecting physical decline, he decisively abdicated.
When his health improved somewhat, he took An Ning traveling everywhere. The misty rains of Jiangnan, sunsets beyond the frontier—thus fulfilling the promise made years before...
By that time, their Rui'er was nearly thirty, with several children of his own.
So the old lady had never let go of this worry all these years. Quite impressive indeed.
An Ning couldn't help but feel admiration.
Compared to her beautiful mother nearby—happy and carefree for decades, even in old age never forgetting to dress beautifully, often entering the palace to exchange beauty maintenance tips with her daughter, occasionally leading fashion trends together.
Such a lifestyle was simply incredible!
Similarly leisurely was her simple-minded younger brother.
With elder sister and brother-in-law above and a nephew with whom he shared good relations below, Little Brother Yang had lived very comfortably these years, maintaining good relations with the County Princess. The couple had four children—two sons and two daughters—quite blessed indeed. The only regret was that aside from the eldest showing some of the County Princess's intelligence, the latter three could not muster a single brain among them combined, to put it bluntly.
Finally, the already enthroned Situ Rui couldn't bear to watch, fearing these simple-minded cousins would have no prospects. He bestowed favors where due, arranged marriages where appropriate—with a powerful cousin supporting them, these carefree simpletons lived equally happy lives.
Moreover, with several lively and adorable granddaughters providing daily amusement, An Ning observed that her beautiful mother seemed quite pleased.
As for eldest brother and eldest sister—irrelevant people—An Ning never bothered with them, and Situ Rui, knowing his grandmother's attitude, naturally felt the same.
Whether it was her imagination or not, after leaving her body and arriving in the space, An Ning felt her mind had become much clearer.
Hmm... probably just imagination!
Seeing her in good spirits, the system nearby couldn't help expressing surprise:
"Speaking of which, host, you really held out! Playing the simpleton for an entire lifetime!"
"What of it?" An Ning showed no concern whatsoever: "Spending every day happily enjoying myself without worries—isn't that good?" And what did it mean, "playing"?
Actually, by emptying oneself, discovering the beauty around, thinking less and worrying less, such a role wasn't difficult.
If speaking of this lifetime, what An Ning cherished most and even admired was her beautiful mother—nothing else, just that clear mindset that seemed to see only sunlight and dew upon opening one's eyes, truly enviable.
But that was all. Skillfully opening the plot line in hand:
No matter how well acted, she was fundamentally different from Yu Shi and even the original owner.
In the same circumstances, she could never achieve these two's carefree state of mind.
An Ning understood clearly that her peace and freedom this life were mostly based on abilities accumulated through several lifetimes. Because she had the capability to protect herself, she could be the carefree, pure, and radiant Crown Princess, Empress, even Grand Empress Dowager...
Otherwise, not to mention other things, given any possibility, she wouldn't have wanted to try out the position of Crown Princess at all.
Thinking of this lifetime's beautiful mother, An Ning's hand paused momentarily while turning pages.
One could say she had poured all a mother's devotion into her.
No matter how transparent one's mindset, few could withstand such heart-wrenching pain.
Even An Ning hadn't expected that this lifetime's mother—happy until her eighties, living to old age while remaining beautiful to the end, enthusiastically discussing pretty jewelry with An Ning and admiring newly tributed black chrysanthemums even the day before her passing—had actually passed away fragrantly and jade-like the year after the original owner's death in that other life.
Father Yang hadn't been as leisurely and carefree as this life either, passing early, and as for Yang Er, her outcome naturally wasn't any better.
This didn't surprise An Ning.
After the original owner's death, the system's departure taking luck was one reason; secondly, as Father Yang had predicted earlier, whether the Second Prince won or lost, the Duke of Cheng'en's household was never a good place to be.
Yang Er and the Duke's household all believed the Second Prince lacked ability while they held kinship status and merit supporting his accession, potentially achieving dominance at court.
An Ning thought to herself, never underestimate someone raised in the imperial palace. The Second Prince might have lacked administrative skill, but as a prince, one who grew up neglected, he never lacked cunning schemes or innate ruthlessness.
Before accession, the Duke's household and even the Empress were allies; after accession, they became the greatest enemies, unforgivable political opponents.
But what delivered Yang Er's fatal blow wasn't others, but the original owner's good close friend, then Consort Zhao, Lady Mu of Muyang County.
As the saying goes, those in power never need evidence.
Upon inadvertently discovering that her good close friend's detection of irregularities and discovery of that poetry collection resulted from deliberate provocation, Yang Er had already landed on Mu Yang's death list.
Especially being unable to act against her own blood brother, Mu Yang's hatred could only focus on one person.
Moreover, as an intuitive type, Mu Yang had always vaguely felt this so-called "astonishingly talented" Second Sister Yang harbored ill intentions toward her little friend.
After confirming her enemy, this County Princess notorious for lacking scholarly accomplishment acted with decisive resolution. No amount of scheming could withstand a heaven-favored daughter's direct confrontation.
A simple summons—as the currently influential Young Master's Wife of the Duke of Cheng'en's household, Yang Er assumed the other wouldn't dare act openly, at most using poison, thus carefully avoiding touching anything in the hall from entry, thinking this would ensure temporary safety.
But Mu Yang defied expectations—no one anticipated she would be so brazen, directly drawing a guard's long sword and cleanly delivering a fatal blow before everyone.
The location was even within her own palace.
No extra schemes, no meticulous cunning—perhaps until death, Yang Er couldn't comprehend ending so abruptly.
As for Mu Yang herself, who committed such an act, the new emperor naturally protected her.
Publicly, it was announced that the Young Master's Wife unfortunately fell to rebel assassins.
One was a still-useful cousin, beloved daughter of the Grand Princess; the other was already a discarded piece, even an enemy irrelevant person. The new emperor's choice came as no surprise.
Moreover, during the succession struggle, the Second Prince had personally witnessed her "capabilities"—what purpose did keeping such a person serve? Elimination better suited his intentions.
An Ning couldn't help rubbing her chin.
Speaking of earlier, Yang Er's initial target had actually been this Second Prince, but he truly lacked any romantic inclination. Even during the succession struggle, he regarded her abilities with more wariness than appreciation or affection.
This outcome wasn't unexpected.
Certainly, was the original owner's second sister clever? Without doubt—sufficiently ruthless and resilient. But unfortunately, limited by perspective, lacking the broad vision to see through situations, many things couldn't be simply learned from books.
Otherwise, not to mention other things, given any possibility, she wouldn't have wanted to attempt the position of Crown Princess at all.
These two's outcomes were quite similar to this lifetime—Eldest Brother Yang always felt unrecognized talent, thus disregarding Father Yang's warnings to curry favor with Young Master's Wife Second Sister, not realizing this only made Father Yang suppress him more.
The Duke of Cheng'en's household was never a good place to be.
Eldest Sister Yang was the same—the more she contacted this Young Master's Wife sister, the more restrictions, cold treatment, and suppression Madam Cui imposed.
However, for certain reasons and given these two's dispositions, this couldn't be openly stated.
As for the original owner, An Ning couldn't help sighing—truly fortunate, with the best close friend and the mother who doted on her most.
In that lifetime without the system, it was basically a life ending of being cherished by all—cherished by parents in childhood, after marriage pampered her entire life, carefree and happy throughout—a genuine sweet romance novel female lead.
Even leaning toward koi fish orientation...
Thinking of that pure and radiant young girl, even An Ning felt regret.
Seeing the familiar five stars on the panel, the original owner's wishes this lifetime were equally simple: besides avoiding repeating past mistakes, she hoped her parents would live smoothly, her mother and younger brother happy forever without grieving for her, and her close friend also joyful and free, not forced into the palace without freedom...
Even An Ning hadn't expected that this lifetime's mother—happy until her eighties, living to old age while remaining beautiful to the end, enthusiastically discussing pretty jewelry with An Ning and admiring newly tributed black chrysanthemums even the day before her passing—had actually passed away fragrantly and prematurely the year after the original owner's death in that other life.
After a brief silence, An Ning finally skillfully pressed the familiar button...