A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Hearing about Erfeng, Sha Lili said to Guier, "By the way, speaking of Erfeng, it is said that she is pregnant."

Gui Er was very surprised. She said, "If that's the case, does that mean she and the young master from the Liang family in the countryside are living quite well?"

Sha Lili curled her lips and said, "Who knows? But the Liang family comes to visit every few days, talking about Erfeng's recent situation, making it seem like Sister Erfeng is living a fairy-like life in their house. In fact, they just want to get benefits from my father."

Sha Lili chatted with Guier for a while before leaving.

After that, Gui'er rushed to the Third Concubine's room to see Taohua. Sha Yanxiao said to her with a smile, "Look at you, every time you come back, you're like a busy person, running around non-stop, meeting this and that, and never leaving any time to accompany me."

Guier smiled sheepishly and said, "Second brother, I will come back every day to chat with you. We have plenty of time."

Sha Yanxiao could only smile and said nothing more.

Gui'er also took some cookies and malted milk that Sha Yanxiao bought for her and went to the third concubine's courtyard.

The Third Concubine and the Three Beauties were very welcoming to Gui'er. They smiled and said, "You've come to see Taohua again. Taohua is in the house. She's grown a little taller this year. I've already made two sets of clothes for her in the past two months."

Guier quickly smiled and said, "Everyone can see how much the Third Concubine cares about Taohua. Taohua also often tells me that she is very grateful to you." This made the Third Concubine smile happily.

When I walked into the room, Taohua was busy embroidering. When she saw Guier coming, she stood up from the bed with a smile.

Gui'er looked at it carefully and said with a smile, "The Third Aunt told me that you have grown a lot taller and that she bought you a lot of clothes. I don't think you have grown much taller."

Taohua smiled and said, "How can you say that? But she has been very kind to me recently. She gave me some old clothes that Sanmei sister didn't wear anymore. I was wondering about it, but then, the third concubine finally let me know that she has taken a fancy to an adjutant of the Marshal and plans to marry Sanmei sister to him. I guess she is looking for people in the mansion to help persuade him."

Gui Er suddenly realized and sighed, "What's going on in the mansion lately? Why does it seem like you're all busy looking for partners and starting families?"

Taohua sighed and said, "It's because everyone is older, and father always talks about the situation at every dinner party. He believes that the Japanese will definitely attack us. I only care about Jiangcheng and Fengcheng. Although it sounds impressive, it seems that father said we can't withstand the powerful Japanese military. I think everyone wants to leave the Marshal's Mansion and distance themselves from it."

Gui'er was stunned for a moment. This was the first time Taohua had expressed her opinion. She quickly asked, "If the Japanese attacked, we could all unite against the enemy and fight together. Why are we distancing ourselves from the matter?"

Taohua shook her head and said, "The Third Concubine told us privately that we only have two options. One is to resist to the end, but the Marshal has already said that we can't win. When the city falls, we will all be killed like the concubines and princesses of Emperor Chongzhen."

When Gui'er heard this, she couldn't help laughing.

Taohua said seriously: "Gui'er, don't laugh. I think what the Third Concubine said makes sense. Even if the Marshal doesn't kill us, the invading Japanese will not let us go."

She paused and whispered to Gui'er, "The third concubine also told me and Sister Sanmei privately that the Marshal might surrender, just like the Manchukuo is doing now. They also surrendered in the past. But on that ground, the Japanese killed and raped women and children at will. That was a life worse than death. So the third concubine asked people everywhere for a suitable candidate. He said that he didn't have any connections. He finally found out that the wife of an adjutant under the Marshal had died, leaving behind a daughter. Their home was in a remote rural area near Jiangcheng. Although it was a bit remote, many of the surrounding hills belonged to their family, so they didn't have to worry about food and clothing. The third concubine said that those powerful figures in troubled times had to take their children and grandchildren to hide in the old deep mountains and forests to survive. So he was optimistic about that adjutant, and even asked Sister Sanmei to meet the adjutant privately."

Gui'er was particularly surprised. She didn't expect that the third concubine was so proactive. She wanted to refute her theory, but she didn't know how. However, Shanmei married an old man in his seventies like Marshal Zhang in her first marriage. Now that Marshal Zhang has passed away, it is normal for her to marry someone else.

Taohua suddenly said, "Gui'er, tell me, if Sister Sanmei can marry the adjutant with her children, then it shouldn't be a big deal for me to marry Brother Dafu, right?"

Gui Er asked, "Has the Third Concubine told the Marshal yet? Has the Marshal agreed?"

Taohua said: "The third concubine once took me and sister Sanmei, found an opportunity, and took Master Zhang in her arms, and went to see him under the pretext that Master Zhang had gone to pay his respects to the Marshal. The Marshal said that he knew sister Sanmei was very pitiful, but if sister Sanmei married that adjutant, her son would become the adjutant's son, and others would use this to accuse the Marshal of occupying Fengcheng. The Marshal said that sister Sanmei could have private dealings with the adjutant, but could not get married. The third concubine would definitely not be happy about this. In this case, sister Sanmei would not be able to leave the Marshal's house at all, so now the third concubine is lobbying others everywhere to plead for her. Now that you and big brother are back, she will definitely set her sights on you."

Gui Er asked, "Third Concubine didn't ask Second Brother for help. That's really unexpected."

"Yes, my second brother told father that Fengcheng is basically under our control now, and there is no need for the sisters to make unnecessary sacrifices, but father didn't listen."

"And..." Taohua paused: "The Third Concubine also said that the Marshal likes me more and asked me to talk to him about this matter more often. Maybe he will agree."

Gui'er frowned. Isn't this about to give away the peach blossoms? She said, "Do you agree?"

Taohua shook her head and said, "How is that possible? I'm not that stupid. I said I didn't dare go alone and that Sister Sanmei had to accompany me."

Gui Er breathed a sigh of relief, nodded, and said, "Yes, that's how it should be. Although you have lived with the Third Concubine's family for so many years, she has never treated you as one of her own. She only wants to take advantage of your monthly allowance."

Taohua nodded and said, "Don't worry, I know it very well in my heart."