A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Gui Er saw that she was always engaging in heated arguments with the other women in the other rooms, and she had never expected that she could have such a sad side. She consoled her, "Seventh Concubine is in her prime, and she's loved by our father. Having a child is only a matter of time. There's no need to be overly anxious. Sometimes when you're in a good mood, things will fall into place naturally."

The Seventh Concubine was delighted to hear this and said, "I heard you're also studying medicine. Why don't you take my pulse and see if there's anything wrong with my health? I've asked the doctor in the mansion to see me and he's prescribed tonics, but it's been ineffective."

Guier thought it would be okay to just take a look, and it would be another opportunity for clinical practice, so she agreed.

She looked at the Seventh Concubine's face, tongue, and pulse, and found that both her pulse and complexion were normal, so she said truthfully: "There is nothing wrong with the Seventh Concubine's health."

After hearing this, the Seventh Concubine asked in surprise, "Really? Why did the doctor in the mansion say that the previous fetus was aborted because I was too weak?"

Gui Er asked, "Did Seventh Aunt take any medicine to recuperate after that?"

The Seventh Concubine nodded and said, "It's both medicine and food. I ate a lot."

Gui Er smiled and said, "It's very likely that it has already been made up. Now all that's missing is the right time. Seventh Aunt, just relax and wait for the opportunity."

The Seventh Concubine was very happy to hear this: "Then I will accept your good words."

When the train arrived in Fengcheng, a military vehicle came to pick them up. Sha Yanxiao also came. He went to talk to the Marshal for a few words. The Marshal nodded, and Sha Yanxiao came over and said to Guier, "I'll go back to Jiangcheng with you."

Gui'er was of course very happy to hear this, and said, "Everything is fine here, right?"

Sha Yanxiao smiled and nodded, and the two of them took the same car back to Jiangcheng. Guier talked to Sha Yanxiao incessantly about what happened after he left.

When mentioning that his third aunt had taken the opportunity to spend other people's money to buy her own things, Sha Yanxiao chuckled and said, "Now that Marshal Zhang has passed away and all his subordinates have surrendered, I just don't know what my father will do with Marshal Zhang's son."

Gui Er was surprised and asked, "Are we really going to get rid of Marshal Zhang's son? He's also my father's grandson."

Sha Yanxiao sneered and said, "Father doesn't even value his daughter Sanmei, so how could he value the son she gave birth to?"

Gui'er thought for a moment and said, "Actually, second brother, you also said that now that the war is imminent, it's time for everyone to unite and fight against the foreign enemy. If Father can't even tolerate his own grandson now, what will outsiders think? Besides, this child has just learned to walk and poses no threat to anyone. If you are really worried about his future, then arrange for him to study in another place. He won't be in contact with Marshal Zhang's old friends in Jiangcheng, so there will naturally be no problem."

After listening to this, Sha Yanxiao pondered for a moment, nodded and said, "You have a point."

After returning to Jiangcheng, they began to prepare for Marshal Zhang's funeral. Guier thought that the coffin would be transported back to Fengcheng, but it was actually in Jiangcheng. Even the cemetery was chosen in Jiangcheng, saying that it was to make it convenient for his only son to worship him in the future.

The funeral was held in a grand manner, but no one from the Marshal's Mansion was there to help, and the entire process was entrusted to the steward of the Marshal's Mansion.

However, Sha Yanxiao did take Gui'er to the memorial service two or three times, observing all the proper etiquette. Once, he even brought Sanmei's son along, but the child was shy. As soon as Sha Yanxiao took him from his wet nurse into the mourning hall, he started crying. Sha Yanxiao quickly carried him to the front of the hall, bowed three times, and wanted him to see Marshal Zhang's remains. But the child was so frightened at the first sight that he struggled and cried so hard that he had to return him to the wet nurse.

Some of Marshal Zhang's old friends shook their heads and sighed when they saw this. Gui'er heard them whisper, "I'm afraid Marshal Zhang's son is a worthless person. In this case, it would be better if the young marshal took over."

Gui'er had some suspicion that Sha Yanxiao had deliberately taken the child to see Marshal Zhang's remains, just to make Marshal Zhang's old friends give up. A child who didn't understand anything at all was made to see the appearance of a person who had been dead for several days. Not to mention the child, even Gui'er herself would be scared. However, Gui'er knew that Sha Yanxiao did this for the stability of Fengcheng. In the current situation, they probably wouldn't take action against the child.

On the day of the funeral, all the talented people in the Marshal's Mansion attended together.

The streets and alleys of Jiangcheng were packed with citizens who had come to see him off, as well as the funeral procession of Marshal Zhang's former troops. At the front, a solemn military band, dressed in black uniforms, played a low, melancholy tune. Behind them, a guard of honor, mounted soldiers, stood at attention, their lances pointed, their steps measured and heavy. Gui'er recognized several of them as Sha Yanxiao's closest associates, perhaps hoping to impress others with his memory.

Marshal Zhang's coffin was carried by eight strong men. In front of the coffin was a huge photo of him. Behind the coffin were servants wearing white mourning clothes, playing the roles of Marshal Zhang's relatives. The only ones who were truly related to Marshal Zhang were probably Sanmei sitting in the sedan chair at the back and the child in her arms.

Gui'er was quite puzzled at first. When they went to Fengcheng to establish Sanbeau as their wife, there were obviously many uncles, brothers and other relatives of Marshal Zhang, so why didn't any of them show up?

Sha Yanxiao smiled and said, "A man who knows the current situation is a hero. They are trying to avoid suspicion."

However, those who were dressed in mourning clothes and played the role of relatives were quite understanding and cried very sincerely.

Some local and Fengcheng gentry also wore plain clothes, holding incense and candles and followed the funeral procession. The funeral procession stretched for several miles. Although Marshal Zhang was defeated several years ago and was no longer in power, he was still a local hero after all, and some people still admired him. Sha Yanxiao and Marshal Sha held such a decent funeral for him, which also won their favor.

At this time, Guier saw Miss Zhang Si and her two concubines in the crowd on the roadside. Miss Zhang Si's eyes were red, but the two concubines did not look sad. They just supported Miss Zhang Si with one of them, and leaned forward and tiptoed to look at the funeral procession.

At this time, Sha Yanxiao also saw them. He glanced at them without any expression on his face, then turned his head and continued riding forward. Gui'er was sitting in the sedan chair. She shook her head at Miss Zhang Si, meaning that she should not make it known, and not let others recognize her, otherwise it would be troublesome.

The two aunts hurried to persuade her, and then the three of them turned and left.

Gui'er followed the funeral procession out of the city. Sha Yanxiao asked the people carrying the sedan chair to return to where they were, and he himself escorted the coffin to the funeral ground for burial.

Gui'er had just turned around and walked not far when she heard a series of gunshots coming from the distant mountains. After a pause, another series of gunshots was heard. This went on for nine times in a row. It should be a salute to Marshal Zhang.