A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Afterwards, Sha Yanxiao and Ji Yiru seemed calm, but in fact their relationship had reached a freezing point.

In order to avoid trouble, Gui'er tried to minimize the time she spent in Sha Yanxiao's courtyard.

After finishing his homework in Sha Yanyao's courtyard that day, he ran to the fourth concubine's courtyard to play with Sha Lili before going back.

Just as she walked out of the courtyard and came to a remote and deserted place, she was suddenly blocked by someone. Gui'er was startled and looked carefully. It was the servant who informed her about Miss Zhang Si's situation last time.

The servant anxiously said to Gui'er, "Miss Gui'er, have you told the Young Marshal about Miss Zhang Si's situation? I'm afraid Miss Zhang Si's matter won't last long. The Fourth Concubine has become suspicious because there has been no change in her behavior for so long."

Gui'er said to her, "I've already told Brother Yanxiao, but he's really not free these two days. How about this, I'll go back and ask him again."

The servant said, "Please explain this to the young commander. If this continues, I will suffer as well."

Guier nodded and said, "I'll tell him, don't worry."

After returning to Sha Yanxiao's yard, Gui'er observed him first. Ji Yiru was not there. Sha Yanxiao was sitting alone in the hall. He was neither reading a newspaper nor a book. He seemed a little lonely sitting there.

Gui'er sat down next to him. Sha Yanxiao touched her head and said with a bit of sadness, "Lulu passed away."

Gui'er was surprised. She didn't expect it to happen so quickly. She felt that Sha Yanxiao was still very sad, or at least quite sentimental, so she said, "Brother, I am deeply sorry for your loss."

Sha Yanxiao gave a wry smile and said, "I wouldn't say I'm sad, but I do feel a sense of emotion. I've known her since I was a child. Qingfeng Village had several leaders, and her mother was always trying to maneuver between them. The eldest leader at the time was my adoptive father, and she loved to play with me. My adoptive father looked down on them and told me to leave her alone. Later, her mother took her away to get married."

"I didn't expect we'd meet again after we grew up. When we met again, she was flirting with those young men, trying to find a good wife. When she saw me, she told me she'd liked me since she was a child. I thought he was just attracted by my family background. I tried to find her a rich man, but he refused and insisted on being with me. I disagreed, but somehow she ended up with me and even lost her life. Before she died, she said she loved me and asked me to save her. I can no longer tell whether she was telling the truth or not."

Gui'er didn't know what to say. In his impression, Lulu was a stupid and bad woman. She was not at the right level but insisted on challenging Ji Yiru, and ended up costing Qingqing her life.

But seeing Sha Yanxiao so sad, Gui'er comforted him, saying, "Brother Yanxiao, don't be too sad. It's Sister Lulu herself who is not blessed."

Sha Yanxiao smiled and nodded. Seeing that he seemed to have let it go a little, Guier quickly brought up the matter of Miss Zhang Si.

Sha Yanxiao thought about it for a moment, then said, "I'll go find the fourth concubine right away."

Gui Er quickly warned, "When Brother Yan Xiao talks to the Fourth Concubine, don't mention that it was a servant who tipped off the family, or I'm afraid it might harm that servant."

Sha Yanxiao nodded and agreed.

Gui'er watched him go out to the Fourth Concubine's courtyard, then turned and went upstairs to rest. As soon as she entered the room, Dingxiang followed her in, saying with a worried look on her face, "Miss, this is terrible! Wu Mingqiang has been locked up by the young lady."

Gui Er guessed it might be because of Wu Mingqiang saving her last time, so she asked with concern, "How is he now?"

Dingxiang said, "I heard about it from the servants the young lady brought over. The young lady said he was a traitor, beat him up, and locked him up in the small courtyard where the young lady used to live. He's been starving all day."

Gui'er couldn't help but be very surprised. The last time Ji Yiru and Sha Yanxiao had a quarrel, Ji Yiru threw things around and Gui'er was almost scratched by the flying ceramic fragments. Wu Mingqiang picked her up and dodged for a while. She didn't expect to be punished so severely by Ji Yiru.

Gui'er asked Dingxiang, "Can we send him some food now?"

Ding Xiang shook her head and said, "I don't dare. I'm afraid if they find out, they'll beat me up too."

Gui'er thought so too, and asked, "Was the beating severe?"

Ding Xiang said, "I don't know either. I heard that a few people took sticks and hit me without any reason."

Gui'er frowned. If that was the case, the injury would definitely be serious. She would feel bad if Wu Mingqiang killed someone in order to help her.

She thought for a moment and said to Dingxiang, "Does the kitchen have any pastries? Bring some over so you can eat them."

Ding Xiang said, "It just so happens that the kitchen has made some dumplings for tomorrow's breakfast. I'll bring them over to you."

Gui'er said, "You don't need to take too much, just one basket will do, and then wrap it in oil paper."

After getting the dumplings, Guier took one out, put it in her mouth, and walked towards the small courtyard while pretending to stroll around.

As soon as she reached the gate of the small courtyard, one of Ji Yiru's servants came out and blocked Gui'er's way, saying, "Miss Gui'er, you can't enter this courtyard for the time being."

Guier asked, "What's wrong?"

The servant hesitated for a moment and said, "Young Madam is using it."

Gui'er pretended to be puzzled and said, "What does my sister-in-law use this yard for? Our yard is big enough. What is she going to use it for? Why put it here?"

The servant said, "Anyway, you can't come in now."

Gui'er acted like a young lady from the Marshal's Mansion and said, "That's ridiculous! In the Marshal's Mansion, the requisitioning of each courtyard requires the consent of my father's housekeeper. I haven't heard of this courtyard being requisitioned. Could it be that you servants are secretly causing trouble?"

Perhaps hearing their voices, another servant came out. Gui'er thought to herself, "Ji Yiru is really taking precautions very seriously. She actually sent so many people to guard this place."

The servant who came out later was a little older. He smiled and said to Gui'er, "Miss Gui'er, it's us, your sister-in-law, who asked us to stay here. If you feel there is anything wrong, you can go to your sister-in-law. We are only following orders. You are the master, so please don't make things difficult for us servants."

Gui'er saw that the two servants were tall and strong, wearing black silk gowns and small hats. They looked more like Shanghai hooligans than servants. From their tone, it was clear that they would not let Gui'er in no matter what. So she said, "Well, I'll go ask my brother and sister-in-law right away. This is the Marshal's Mansion. Don't do anything ridiculous here, otherwise my sister-in-law can't protect you."

The two servants looked at each other and said with a smile, "What are you talking about, young lady? We servants must follow the rules and regulations. We are just doing what our master wants us to do."