A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Gui'er didn't even need to ask Dingxiang to inquire. Sha Yanxiao had already arranged for the steward to go to the front to inquire about the situation. The steward came back and said, "It's a complete mess up up front. Director Shen and Madam Shen rushed to the hospital in a panic. The Marshal and his wife also went with them. The eldest son hasn't returned from the hospital yet."

Sha Yanxiao sighed and said to Gui'er, "The situation is unclear right now. I think you should stay at home for the next two days to avoid any accidents."

Gui'er could only nod obediently and said worriedly, "If Director Shen really blames our family, what will be the consequences?"

Sha Yanxiao patted her head and comforted her, "That depends on what he plans to do. But after all, we are the masters of this territory, and he is the guest. He dare not say anything in our territory. We are afraid that he will make trouble for us after he leaves. I will go and check the situation first. You stay home."

After Sha Yanxiao left, Gui'er felt uneasy, so she went to the Fourth Concubine's courtyard. When Sha Lili saw her, she smiled and said, "I was just about to look for you. Come play chess."

As he said that, he pulled Gui'er to his room. The two of them set up the chessboard and asked the maid to bring tea, fruit and snacks.

After playing one or two games, Gui'er and Sally looked around in tacit understanding, and only breathed a sigh of relief when they confirmed that no one was eavesdropping or curiously paying attention to them.

Sha Lili said, "What do you think about what happened yesterday?"

Gui'er sighed and spoke frankly, "I'm really confused. It's such a big thing. I don't know how to end it."

Sha Lili frowned and said, "This big brother is also like that. He does things without considering the consequences. He will make our whole family bear the consequences of his evil deeds."

Gui Er asked as soon as she heard this: "Do you think it was my brother who pushed Miss Shen down?"

Sha Lili said, "Besides him, who else?"

Although Gui'er thought so in her heart, she was a little reluctant to believe that Sha Yanyao was that kind of person: "But big brother said she fell down accidentally."

Sha Lili curled her lips and said, "If it were me, I would say the same thing. How could a good person suddenly fall down? I think it's only a matter of time before his parents get suspicious."

Gui'er didn't expect Sha Lili to say that. "Aren't you being too pessimistic? We don't have any evidence, so how could their parents have any?"

Sha Lili sighed and said, "You've had too little contact with powerful people. They don't need proof; as long as they suspect you, you're the one. At worst, I can just go back to Shanghai with my mother and brother. You and your second brother should find a way out as soon as possible. Our house may look glamorous, but in reality, it's just like the Grand View Garden in Dream of the Red Chamber, with long tents set up for thousands of miles, and a banquet that never ends."

Gui'er was completely stunned.

Seeing her like this, Sha Lili laughed and said, "Haha, I'm just kidding, don't take it seriously."

Gui'er didn't mind. She smiled and said, "Father is in his prime, and my second brother is his successor, smart and capable. Our family is at its peak, so how could he have such thoughts?"

Sha Lili looked at Gui'er, smiled bitterly, and shook her head. "Ever since I was born, my mother has been the most favored woman in the Marshal's Mansion. Even so, she didn't dare to treat the Mansion as her own home, and always reminded us to be cautious. Especially since you are the adopted daughter. Second brother treats us well, and I'm not afraid to tell you the truth. Mother said that in three to five years at most, we will all go our separate ways."

Gui'er was stunned. She felt that what Sha Lili said today contained too much information.

Just when both of them were silent, a maid came and said dinner was ready and told them to go out and eat.

Sha Lili asked Guier to stay for dinner, but Guier declined.

When they returned to Sha Yanxiao's courtyard, he was already there. Gui'er hurried to greet him and said, "Brother, you're back? Did you go to the hospital? How is Miss Shen doing now?"

Sha Yanxiao nodded, and while ordering the servants to serve dinner, he pulled Gui'er into the dining room and sat down. He said, "I've checked. Miss Shen has a serious eye injury. The outlook is not optimistic."

Gui'er asked cautiously, "Did Director Shen blame us?"

Sha Yanxiao smiled, patted Gui'er's head and said, "He hasn't shown it yet. Big brother is still in the hospital with Miss Shen. Speaking of which, shouldn't you start school in a couple of days?"

Gui Er suddenly remembered what had happened and slapped her forehead and said, "Oh, right, I almost forgot. I have to go to school to pay tuition tomorrow."

Sha Yanxiao looked at Gui'er lovingly and said, "I understand. I'll go to school with you tomorrow and help you pay for it."

Guier nodded happily.

Before going to bed that night, Dingxiang told Guier that she heard from the maid in the lady's courtyard that although Miss Shen was disfigured now, the eldest young master was still deeply in love with her and even proposed to get engaged to Miss Shen.

After hearing this, Gui'er's first reaction was to tell Sha Yanxiao, but then she remembered what Sha Lili said during the day and suddenly didn't want to care anymore. She felt that what Sha Lili said made sense. Although she didn't know why he said that, in this shaky era, all peace and wealth would probably be short-lived. If that was the case, why bother taking it so seriously?

The next day, Sha Yanxiao brought Gui'er to the school to pay tuition. After being quiet for a summer, the huge campus became lively. Many well-dressed parents came with their children, and some came with their housekeepers or other relatives. The school gate was full of cars and rickshaws. Small vendors saw business opportunities and carried their own fruits and pushed snack stalls in a long row in front of the school gate, adding to the traffic congestion. It was really lively and bustling.

Sha Yanxiao pulled Gui'er out of the car and saw the principal and several teachers standing at the school gate to greet them with smiles. Gui'er suddenly didn't want to go forward because other students and parents were looking at them sideways. Fortunately, Sha Yanxiao walked very fast and strode inside. Gui'er almost ran because of his pull.

The other students had their respective teachers pay the fees, but Sha Yanxiao's was handled by the principal himself. The principal even gave Gui'er some exercise books and books, saying, "Guier, you are both excellent in character and academics. This is a reward for you, along with some books I personally selected for you."

Gui'er glanced at the other students and seemed to have none, so she hesitated, unsure whether she should take it. Sha Yanxiao took it for her and said with a smile, "Thank you very much. It's really thoughtful of the principal to still think of our Gui'er even when he's so busy."

The principal heard this and smiled happily like a Maitreya Buddha: "No, no, this is what a teacher should do."