A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

On the day of departure, the three Miss Zhangs followed Sha Yanxiao in an orderly manner. Miss Ji was very unhappy and wanted to ride in the same car with Sha Yanxiao. Seeing this, Guier knew what was going on and ran to ask Sha Lili to ride in the same car with them.

Sha Lili said, "It doesn't matter. Just come and do it. But aren't the three daughters of the Zhang family said to have good upbringing? Why are they clinging to the second brother before they even get married?"

Gui'er giggled, not knowing what to say. She could only say that once a woman falls in love, she becomes a different person. She was already beginning to worry about how she would get along with these four girls, none of whom were easy to deal with, when she returned to the Marshal's Mansion.

As they were chatting, Sha Yanxiao came over to pull Guier and said, "Little one, we're about to leave, don't run around."

Gui'er quickly said, "Your car is too crowded, Lily and I can just ride in one."

Sha Yanwen said jokingly, "Second brother, Sister Gui'er is also thinking about you. You are like a hot commodity now, and everyone wants to be with you."

Sha Yanxiao smiled and ignored him. He pulled Gui'er in and said to her, "You and I will ride in the same car. I'll arrange a separate car for the three Miss Zhangs."

Gui'er went back with him. When she got in the car, she found Ji Yiru sitting in the car. Seeing Gui'er, she said with a fake smile: "Sister Gui'er, you really like to stick to your brother."

Sha Yanxiao said to Ji Yiru, "Yiru, please take care of her for me along the way. I'll sit in the passenger seat."

Ji Yiru immediately smiled and said, "Okay."

Miss Ji was quite considerate of Gui'er along the way, asking her if she was thirsty and if she wanted to eat. Gui'er was a little confused by her change of heart, but Sha Yanxiao was quite happy.

The train ride was also smooth. The three Miss Zhangs wanted to come and sit in the same carriage with Sha Yanxiao, but before Sha Yanxiao could say anything, Miss Ji drove them out on the grounds that one carriage could not accommodate so many people. Sha Yanxiao still asked his adjutant to arrange a separate luxury carriage for them.

After getting off the train, they were escorted by military vehicles. Unlike last time, this time, when they passed through all the checkpoints in Fengcheng, the soldiers stood at attention and saluted, some of them shouting, "Welcome back, Marshal!"

The Marshal was so delighted that he kept saying, "Okay, okay, okay," and kept sticking his head and hands out of the window to wave at the soldiers. Sha Yanxiao was so scared that he quickly stopped the car and asked the adjutant to tell the Marshal not to do that to prevent him from being shot.

Ji Yiru watched the scenery quickly fly by the car window and said to Sha Yanxiao excitedly, "Young Marshal, is this our territory?"

Sha Yanxiao nodded and said, "This is Fengcheng. It used to be the territory of Marshal Zhang, the father of the three Miss Zhangs, so we should be polite to him."

Ji Yiru looked unconvinced and said, "I understand."

Soon the convoy arrived at the place where the shepherd boy had been executed. Gui'er looked around, but could no longer see any sheep, only a small mound of earth. Gui'er felt a pang of sadness and turned to look at Sha Yanxiao, who was chatting and laughing with Ji Yiru.

The journey was smooth this time, and they arrived at Jiangcheng in less than half a day. Guier looked at the familiar scenery. Although it was not her real hometown, she actually felt a sense of familiarity. She found it very strange. After thinking about it carefully, she felt that it must be because of Taohua and Song Xichen.

Ji Yiru looked at the fairly prosperous Jiangcheng and sighed, "This area is really nice, it has a bit of the style of Little Shanghai."

Sha Yanxiao smiled and said, "Of course. After all, this is the result of decades of hard work by my father."

Ji Yiru smiled and said, "Then it will be ours from now on."

Sha Yanxiao was stunned for a moment, then said with a smile: "I dare not say that. Of course I will listen to my father when he is around." But Gui'er saw a hint of displeasure flash in his eyes.

When they arrived at the Marshal's Mansion, they saw from afar the Third Concubine and a group of female relatives and servants who stayed behind standing neatly at the door to welcome their return.

The third concubine stood in the main seat, next to her was the pregnant third concubine whom Sha Yanxiao brought back from Marshal Zhang's house. The fourth concubine stood beside them with a look of dissatisfaction on her face. Gui'er looked for Taohua for a long time but couldn't find her. She glanced at the group of servants and found that Taohua was actually standing behind the steward, standing with the maids.

The convoy stopped and everyone got out one after another. As soon as Sha Lili and Sha Yanwen got out of the car, they ran to the fourth concubine and said, "Mother, are you okay? My two uncles asked me to say hello to you and brought you many gifts."

The Third Concubine led the others in greeting the Marshal. The Marshal nodded and walked up to the Fourth Concubine, saying, "I haven't seen you for a while. You've lost a lot of weight. I need to ask the kitchen to make you some tonic. I bought you some jewelry from Shanghai and will have the steward bring it to you later."

The fourth concubine said charmingly, "Thank you, Marshal, for your concern. My two brothers also told me on the phone that the two children often bother their uncle, and the Marshal often visits them. They are very close. I am very happy to hear that. This is how family members should be."

The Marshal nodded and said, "Of course. I'll come visit you later."

The fourth concubine said in surprise, "That's great. I've already asked the kitchen to make some soup to help the Marshal relieve his fatigue."

Judging from the situation, the fourth concubine should have regained favor because of her brother.

Gui'er secretly glanced at the Eighth Concubine, only to see that she had no expression on her face, and even a hint of annoyance.

Looking at the first lady and the fifth and sixth concubines, they all seemed to have expressions of being accustomed to it. Perhaps they have become accustomed to the fourth concubine's competition for favor.

When everyone was having dinner together that night, the Marshal introduced Miss Ji and the three Miss Zhangs to everyone. These four women came from prominent families, so everyone treated them with courtesy, especially Miss Ji.

As for where they would stay, Miss Ji and the three Miss Zhangs all wanted to stay in Sha Yanxiao's yard.

Gui'er knew that the three Miss Zhangs were fine, but Ji Yiru would definitely not tolerate her, so she divided the small items given to the servants in the courtyard. Then she rode her bicycle to the courtyard of the third concubine, carrying the things she bought for the third concubine and Taohua.

As the saying goes, one should never hit a gift-giver. Gui Er prepared gifts for everyone in the Third Concubine's courtyard, from the master to the servants, including a complete set of imported baby clothes for the Third Concubine's unborn child. So naturally, she was very popular.

But after Gui'er had distributed all the gifts to everyone else, she still hadn't seen any peach blossoms. Gui'er asked, "Why haven't I seen any peach blossoms?"

The Third Concubine seemed to remember something when she heard this and said to her attendants, "Why don't you go and call Miss Taohua over?"

At this time, Taohua came in hurriedly from outside, with dirty hands and an apron on her body. It was obvious that she had gone to work.

The third concubine said with a hint of embarrassment: "Gui'er, look, your third sister came back pregnant, and suddenly there are not enough people in the courtyard. Fortunately, Taohua has a deep affection for her sisters and is willing to help with these things."

Guier smiled and said, "Of course. We are all sisters, so it's only natural for us to help each other. Third sister, if you need anything in the future, please let me know. If I can lend a hand, I will definitely do my best to help you. It will also be considered as fulfilling our sisterhood."

As he spoke, he took out the gift he had prepared for Taohua, and then, as if he suddenly remembered something, he said loudly, "Oh, I forgot to bring the gift that Brother Yanxiao bought for you. He said that since he brought you into the mansion, he should treat you the same way he treats me, so he bought you a gift too. Why don't you come with me to get it?"