A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Since Gui'er moved into Sha Yanyao's courtyard, she saw the lady more often. She went to greet her every morning and evening. The lady was always in a good mood, and everyone around her praised Gui'er for her politeness and thoughtfulness.

Only Gui'er knew that every time they met, the lady would ask what Sha Yanyao and Gui'er had done and what lessons they had learned. On the surface, it seemed that she was extremely concerned about Gui'er's studies, but in fact, Gui'er felt that it was more like surveillance, as if she was afraid that Gui'er would cause trouble for Sha Yanyao. Gui'er always felt that the lady's maids would appear around her from time to time. Sometimes when she ran into them and asked them what was the matter, they could always find reasonable reasons, but they were all irrelevant things.

Gui'er felt that the eldest lady didn't like her living here after all, and she just hoped that Sha Yanxiao would come back soon so that she could move back. Although Ji Yiru was difficult to deal with, there was nothing to be afraid of as long as Sha Yanxiao was there.

That day, Gui'er went to the Fourth Concubine's courtyard to play with Shasha. The two were playing Go. Sha Lili said in surprise, "How come your Go skills have improved so quickly after not playing for a while?"

Guier smiled and said, "I'm staying with my older brother now. I have to play three games of chess with him every day before I can go to bed."

Sha Lili smiled and said, "No wonder." After hesitating for a moment, she said, "Next year, when I'm 16, I'll go to Shanghai to study."

Gui'er quickly asked, "Really? Have you found a school yet?"

Sha Lili nodded and said, "My mother has asked my uncle to find someone. Maybe I will go there, finish my studies there, and then find someone to marry and never come back."

Gui'er was surprised and said with a smile: "Well, this is your mother's home, how could you not come back?"

Sally glanced at her with a smile, then turned around and looked around before saying, "I know you're not a bad person. Let me be honest with you. Mother has fallen out of favor. Even if it weren't for the Eighth Concubine incident, she would have fallen out of favor because she's getting older. My grandfather married her to father because she was born to a concubine, and at that time, my grandfather's family was not very powerful and could not find anyone better. Over the years, my father has doted on my mother and given benefits to my uncle, but this time, our family took over Fengcheng, but we didn't get any benefits at all. Mother said it's almost time."

Guier always felt that there was a lot of deep meaning in what she said, so she asked, "Almost, what does that mean then?"

Sha Lili smiled somewhat sadly and said, "It's almost time to leave."

Gui'er didn't know what to say for a moment, so she smiled and said, "I also want to go to Shanghai to study in the future. Maybe I can come and visit you then."

Sha Lili said happily, "Okay, my mother likes you very much anyway."

Gui'er suddenly thought of Sha Yanwen. He seemed like a playboy with no achievements, so she asked, "What about your brother? Would your mother be willing to keep him?"

Sha Lili said: "Of course he will return to Shanghai, and then his mother will find him another suitable marriage."

Gui Er was a little confused and asked, "What marriage?"

Suddenly, as if realizing she had said something wrong, Fan Lili said with a smile, "Play chess, play chess."

Guier knew that the Fourth Concubine disliked Miss Zhang Si. Was she going to divorce her? Now that Miss Zhang Si had left, she had nowhere to go. Moreover, she was a very traditional daughter of a wealthy family and was afraid that she would not be able to survive outside.

Thinking of this, Gui Er felt a little uneasy. Having lost the chess game, she said goodbye and wanted to go back. When she was about to reach the door, she suddenly remembered that she hadn't seen Miss Zhang Si for a long time, so she said, "Why don't I see Third Sister-in-law?"

Sha Lili hesitated to speak, and the fourth concubine smiled and said, "Don't mention it. She secretly ran away to see her handsome father. Her father is suffering from tuberculosis. Now she is also infected and is locked up in the house."

Gui'er was shocked when she heard this, because she knew that the Marshal was not infected with tuberculosis, that was just the statement to the outside world. If Miss Zhang Si was also infected, wouldn't that mean that he was also poisoned?

Gui'er wanted to go see Miss Zhang Si, since they had some friendship after all. But then she thought that she was powerless now. If she angered the Fourth Concubine, it would be no joke. It would be better to wait for Sha Yanxiao to come back.

When Gui'er returned to Sha Yanyao's yard, she saw a car driving into the yard from outside. She thought it was the lady or Sha Yanyao coming back from outside. When she was about to go forward to say hello, she found that the person getting out of the car was Sha Yanyao's ex-fiancée, Miss Lu.

After Miss Lu got out of the car, she lowered her head and walked quickly into the house. Under the guidance of the housekeeper, she went directly to Sha Yanyao's bedroom.

After a long time, he came out of Sha Yanyao's room and left without stopping. Gui'er seemed to know some shocking secret and felt that like father, like son.

But Sha Yanyao treated him as usual, tutoring him in homework and teaching him music, chess, calligraphy and painting. However, Guier always felt that this was a place of trouble and was looking forward to Sha Yanxiao's return even more.

That day, Gui Er went to play with Sha Lili again. The servants in the house said, "The fourth concubine has taken the young lady to visit a friend."

Gui'er walked around empty-handed and felt bored, so she wanted to go back. Suddenly, the servant leaned over and whispered in Gui'er's ear, "Miss Gui'er, Miss Zhang Si wants to talk to you. Please come this way."

Gui'er was startled and hesitated for a moment, but still followed her. The servant took Gui'er to a remote corner of the Fourth Concubine's courtyard. There was a small door behind the wall. After passing through the small door, they could walk into a courtyard surrounded by walls on all sides without a single tree. The area was not large and could be walked through in a few steps. There was a small bungalow with blue bricks and gray tiles in the courtyard.

The servant opened the door and invited Guier into the room. Guier walked in cautiously and found only a simple square table, a long bench, and a bed made of several bed boards and benches.

Miss Jiang Si was sitting on the bed. When she saw Gui'er coming, she quickly stood up, walked over, and fell to her knees, crying, "Miss Gui'er, I'm dying. Please save me."

Gui'er was startled and wanted to help her up, but she was afraid that she was sick, so she hesitated.

Miss Zhang Si seemed to see Gui Er's doubts. She quickly stood up, turned around in front of Gui Er, and said, "Miss Gui Er, please rest assured. I am not sick. That was all the Fourth Concubine's claim."

Guier noticed that she seemed thinner than when they got married, but otherwise she looked fine, and she certainly didn't look sick. So she hurriedly asked, "What's going on?"

Miss Zhang Si asked Gui Er to sit down and cried, "The Fourth Concubine had originally wanted to find a helpful wife for her son, but she didn't expect the Marshal to marry me off instead, so she is extremely dissatisfied."

"Now that your Third Miss has given birth to an heir for my father and has been made his legal wife, there's no need for me to be a hostage anymore. The Fourth Concubine wants to get rid of me. Ever since she found out my father already had a son, I haven't had enough to eat. Later, she even spiked the tea I drink with drugs. If this continues, I'll be dead."

Gui'er was very surprised. After calming down for a moment, she asked, "How did you find out about this?"

Miss Zhang Si said, "The servant who brought you in was originally the one who served the three of us sisters in the Second Young Master's room. Seeing my two sisters' tragic deaths, she felt very sympathetic and reminded me. I was already imprisoned and had no way to contact the outside world. Fortunately, my two sisters' mother gave me most of their savings when I left last time. I used this money to secretly bribe the cook to help tip off the servant. She couldn't contact my father, so she had to find you. I know we are not related, but you are my only hope of survival now. Please talk to the Second Young Master and give me a way out. I promise not to hinder the Third Young Master."

Gui'er hesitated for a moment, but she couldn't bear it anymore. Finally, she nodded and said, "Okay, I'll tell my second brother when he comes back, but you have to hold on until then."

Upon hearing this, Miss Zhang Si was filled with gratitude. She held Gui Er's hand and cried, "Please tell the Second Young Master as soon as he returns. I have to pay for every meal I eat now, and I don't know if the money I have will last until then. Miss, you have done me such a great favor. If you ever need me in the future, I will repay you with my life."