A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Shopkeeper Liu glanced towards Zhen Embroidery Workshop, saw Gui'er, and immediately understood what was going on.

Shopkeeper Liu immediately arranged the store's affairs and instructed his attendant, "Keep an eye on the store. If anything comes up, wait until I get back." With that, he quickly walked into the inner room. He deftly removed the miniature camera from the wall where it had been hidden, then found an ordinary medicine bag and carefully wrapped the camera inside, creating a flawless disguise.

Everything was ready, and Shopkeeper Liu hurried out, heading straight for where Song Xichen was. Along the way, he carefully observed his surroundings, and only quickened his pace after confirming that no one was following him.

Gui'er stayed at the Zhenxiufang, helping Shopkeeper Liu with medicine and pounding, as usual, and occasionally helping Shopkeeper Zhang with embroidery. When no one else was around, she'd chat with him, keeping an eye on the surroundings, fearing Duanmu Heng would suddenly appear. She didn't leave until her usual time to go home, then she got in the carriage Ah Cheng had prepared for her return to the Marshal's residence.

After returning to the Marshal's Mansion, Gui'er went straight to the dining room to eat. While eating, she was very worried, thinking about the Duanmu family.

After finishing her meal, she suddenly remembered that she had left in a hurry and didn't know what had happened to the Duanmu family. So, she decided to go and play with Sha Lili and get some information.

Gui'er arrived at the Fourth Concubine's courtyard. As soon as she entered, she saw it filled with all sorts of wedding preparations. Stacked in a corner were several large boxes of red silk, vibrant in color, soft and smooth in texture, gleaming charmingly in the sunlight. They were used to make wedding attire for the bride and groom and decorate the sedan chair. Nearby were several exquisite camphorwood chests, carved with auspicious motifs like peonies and magpies, each filled with gold and silver jewelry. Opening one of these chests revealed a pair of golden bracelets emblazoned with auspicious dragons and phoenixes, exquisitely crafted, their figures so lifelike they seemed poised to soar into the air. There was also a gold necklace inlaid with rubies, each a dazzling, full-bodied red, shimmering with enchanting brilliance as the light refracted.

On the other side were several brand new quilts, embroidered with patterns of mandarin ducks playing in the water. The stitching was so fine that the ducks' feathers were clearly visible, symbolizing the couple's love for each other. There were also some pastry boxes wrapped in red paper, filled with various traditional wedding cakes, emitting a sweet fragrance.

It is obvious from the first glance that these are the dowries and gifts prepared by the Fourth Concubine for her children. Although the Fourth Concubine is shrewd and cunning, it must be said that she is really devoted to her children.

When Sha Lili saw Gui'er coming, she greeted her warmly and said with a smile, "Guier, you're finally here. I was just looking for you, but I never had the chance to thank you properly for the 20 gold bars you sent me. They've been a huge help to our family, and Mother can't stop talking about how kind you are."

Guier smiled and responded, "Lily, why are we still talking about this? We're all family. I'm happy for you, too. But I'm also upset right now."

Sha Lili smiled and said, "You don't know whether to accept Duanmu Heng, right?"

Gui'er nodded and said, "Yes, they seem to be a nice family on the surface, but it's as if they suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and it's a bit hard to figure out where they came from." At this point, she sighed and said casually, "I left in a hurry today. Did Duanmu Heng's family say anything after I left?"

Sha Lili pulled Gui'er to sit on a nearby stone bench and said, "After you left, they went to the Marshal's place and chatted for a long time in his study before leaving. My mother was also curious about the origins of this family, so she asked my uncle to find out. It seems that the Duanmu family has a wide network of contacts in Shanghai and knows many prominent figures, even quite a few Japanese. When my father heard the news, his attitude towards them changed immediately and he became more attentive."

Gui'er heard this and suddenly became worried. Her brows knitted tightly together as she murmured, "Isn't that terrible? There are rumors everywhere that the Japanese are going to attack. Anyone who has close ties with them is suspected of being a traitor. The Duanmu family knows the Japanese, yet they are our guests of honor. Isn't father afraid of being suspected?"

Seeing Gui'er's worried expression, Sha Lili also began to worry. "Yeah, I also think that father's change of attitude is too sudden. But mother told me not to worry about it, to focus on getting better, keep in touch with my fiancé, and just prepare to get married and leave this family. After my brother gets married, he might live in the general's mansion for a while, then find a job with the woman's family, and then come back for the New Year and other holidays like my eldest brother did. Mother might follow him."

Gui Er suddenly felt a little envious after hearing this and said, "Lily, it seems that the Fourth Concubine wants to take you away from this troubled place."

Sha Lili sighed, "It's you and I who are saying this. My mother was forced to marry my father as his fourth concubine because our family fell on hard times. You know my father's personality. He's moody and he always fights with the women in the courtyard. My mother was tired of fighting for so many years. Now she finally has a legitimate chance to leave this quagmire."

Gui'er was also deeply moved after hearing this and said, "It's hard for Fourth Concubine, but no matter where you go, you are all from the Marshal's Mansion. What if something happens to Father? When the nest is destroyed, all the eggs will be intact. I think now that the war is imminent, we should remind Father to be careful and not fall into other people's traps."

After hearing this, Sha Lili stared at Gui'er's face for a long time. After making sure that he was speaking from his heart, she smiled, shook her head and said, "Guier, you really don't understand father at all. Do you think father has become senile and confused recently? Do you think father has lost his mind from smoking that thing? In fact, he has always been like this. If he were a gentleman, he would not have become the commander-in-chief of Jiangcheng and Fengcheng. Even if he cooperates with the Japanese one day, it is only based on considerations that benefit himself. That's why I advised you to find a good partner and don't wait for father to force someone on you. Father can really do it. This time, Duanmu Heng looks righteous, but in fact, his family is very dangerous. Ever since my mother heard about their family from my uncle, she has repeatedly instructed my brother and me to keep our distance from them. Now, I can't help you. You're on your own."

After hearing this, Gui'er felt a vague sense of unease. She didn't know what to say for a moment, then forced a smile and said, "What else can I do? But I'm very grateful that you're willing to tell me so much. Thank you very much."