A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

After returning to Sha Yanxiao's courtyard, Gui'er still couldn't calm down for a long time. She couldn't understand how someone could be so bold as to do such a thing when the scene of the eighth concubine's lover being murdered was still vivid in her mind. She had finally been able to spend two days in peace, but it seemed that there was going to be trouble again.

After that, Gui'er deliberately avoided paying attention to the Ninth Concubine. Although she and Taohua recognized the Ninth Concubine as Qiuju at a glance, since she entered the mansion, both parties tacitly treated her as a stranger and only said hello when they met.

But Dingxiang soon caught on to some gossip and quietly ran over to Guier and said, "Miss, there's been rumors lately that the newly favored Ninth Concubine seems to be having an affair with a servant. That servant is also one of Grandpa's bodyguards, and he's quite skilled."

Gui Er knew that Ding Xiang was Madam's spy, so she pretended to be surprised and said, "There's such a thing, does Madam know about it?"

"Madam doesn't care. She is devoted to worshipping Buddha. As long as she is not threatened, she will not take action."

"So what does it mean to threaten the lady?"

"Just give birth to a son for the Marshal."

"What you said is very contradictory. Didn't the Marshal marry so many wives just to have more sons?"

Ding Xiang smiled awkwardly and said, "That's true. Well, all the women in this compound belong to the Marshal. Who lives well and who doesn't is up to the Marshal to decide."

Gui'er remembered that Dingxiang had once thought about marrying off with her and becoming her concubine. She wondered if she was hinting at this, so she smiled and said, "Dingxiang, you're not young anymore. I've said before that if you find someone you like, I can ask my second brother to talk to you. Are you ready to choose now?"

Ding Xiang smiled and said, "As a maid, I really don't have the ability to find a good home. Alas, I can only hope that my master will have mercy on me and give me a few days of good life in the future."

This clearly meant that Gui'er wanted to arrange a match for her, and Gui'er was in a dilemma. Dingxiang probably wouldn't look down on ordinary servants. Sha Yanxiao did have some capable assistants, and he could also arrange a match for her. However, Dingxiang was the lady's person after all, and if she was betrothed to someone around Sha Yanxiao, wouldn't that be like planting a thorn in Sha Yanxiao's side?

Sure enough, when Sha Yanxiao heard Gui'er talk about this, he waved his hand and said, "That won't do. Why is this girl so restless? If she continues like this, just replace her."

Gui Er quickly said, "She is a servant born in the family. She must obey Madam's orders. Otherwise, she will suffer a lot. Now it won't harm us. There is no need to do this so blatantly."

Song Xichen, upon hearing about this, smiled and said, "What's wrong with a girl of marriageable age wanting a good marriage? It's just that her social class has already determined her position, making it difficult for her to move up. Furthermore, she comes from a family with such strict social status, making it even more difficult. There's nothing wrong with her pursuing a better life; it's this abominable social system that's at fault."

These words touched Gui'er's heart. She felt that although Dingxiang was the lady's person, she had never done anything to let her down. She was afraid that she would be in a very difficult position being caught in the middle. If she were not a slave, she might have escaped from this predicament long ago.

Gui'er asked Song Xichen, "So how should I deal with this matter now?"

Song Xichen pondered for a moment and said, "Just tell her honestly that you won't be taking a concubine in your future marriage. Let her find one quickly, or let her family arrange it. Don't waste her youth. She's actually just hoping to marry one of those wealthy young masters with you. For an ordinary servant, it's a way to elevate her social status."

Gui Er smiled and said, "Brother Xichen is indeed very insightful. After hearing what you said, I now know what to do."

Song Xichen patted her head and said, "Gui'er, do you know what makes you special compared to other girls? It's because you treat everyone equally. In fact, everyone should be created equal in this world, but it's just that this society divides people into different classes. When we break the evil feudal and capitalist systems, everyone will be equal. Good people will be rewarded, and bad people will be punished. No one will suffer or receive privileges based on their social class. Don't you think it's wonderful?"

Gui'er nodded desperately. Only when she discussed these issues with Song Xichen did she feel like a modern person.

By this time it was almost time, Dali came to pick her up, and Guier had to leave with reluctance.

When getting in the car and leaving the alley where Zhenxiufang was, Guier suddenly saw a familiar figure in the rearview mirror quickly walking into the alley where Zhenxiufang was located.

"Xu Wenjie!!" A figure flashed through Gui'er's mind. It looked very much like him. Gui quickly turned around and tried to look through the rear window, but he was gone. She was extremely confused. How could Xu Wenjie appear here? Was she seeing things?

When they returned to the General's residence that night, Gui'er took advantage of Dingxiang pouring her some milk and said to her, "Sister Dingxiang, you've been taking care of me for quite some time now. You're not young anymore, so it's time to think about the future. I was young and didn't understand many things in the past, but now that I've grown up, my mind has opened up a little."

"I don't think I'll ever marry someone very rich. My background is there. Since I'm from an ordinary family, I can only live an ordinary life with monogamy. But I think before I leave the Marshal's Mansion, I have to settle Sister Dingxiang well, so as not to let you down for taking care of me. If you have someone you like, don't be shy, tell me, and I'll ask my brother to do his best to arrange it for you."

Ding Xiang was stunned for a moment, then said with tears in her eyes and a complicated expression, "Yes, thank you, Miss."

Seeing her expression, Gui'er thought that she must have understood, and she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The next day, when Gui'er returned to the Marshal's residence after school, she saw a group of people gathered in the main courtyard. She didn't know what they were doing. Since today was the day she was having dinner with the Marshal, she got off the car and walked over.

She had just taken two steps forward when Sha Lili ran over and said to her, "Don't go up there. It's full of blood and it's disgusting."

Gui'er felt something was wrong and asked, "What's wrong?"

"The Ninth Concubine and her adulterer were caught and dragged directly into the main courtyard and beaten in public."

Gui'er was shocked and thought to herself, "Has he been discovered so soon?"

At this time, the crowd moved up a little. Gui'er looked through the gaps in the crowd and saw two people lying on the ground, their bodies covered with wounds. The man was left with only a white vest, which was oozing with blood. He was lying headfirst, and no one knew whether he was dead or alive. The woman was the ninth concubine. Her hair was messy like a mad woman, and all she had left was a bellyband. There was not a single piece of good meat on her exposed back. The scars were black and blue, and some were red and bloody, covered with blood and mud. She was conscious, but she buried her head deeply in her chest, protecting her face with her arms. It was estimated that she also had wounds on her face.

Among the crowd of onlookers, the men's attention was mainly focused on the ninth concubine, and there was gossip and obscene in their eyes.