A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Sha Yanxiao looked into Guier's eyes, trying to catch something in her gaze?

Gui'er looked at him with a confused smile.

After a long while, Sha Yanxiao gave a wry smile and said, "Okay, it's getting late, you should go back to your room and get some rest."

The next day, everyone in the Marshal's Mansion was shocked by two pieces of bombshell news. All the rooms were saying that the Marshal was going to marry Gui'er to Duanmu Heng. At the critical moment, Sha Yanxiao suddenly said that he wanted to marry Gui'er himself. In the end, neither side could reach an agreement, and the Marshal left in anger.

Gui'er, however, was unaware of this, for she had gone to the Zhenxiu Workshop early in the morning. She told Shopkeepers Zhang and Liu everything that had happened yesterday. They were both shocked. Shopkeeper Zhang said, "Sha Yanxiao said this to stop the Marshal from marrying you to Duanmu, right?"

Guier nodded and said, "I think so. He didn't say anything afterwards, and he was fine when he woke up this morning, just like usual."

Shopkeeper Liu asked with concern, "Are you really planning to cooperate with the Marshal to deceive the Duanmu family?"

Gui Er frowned and said, "I really want to prevent the outflow of our national treasure, but if I have to marry a traitor to help the Marshal, I definitely won't do it. I said that yesterday only because the situation was tense and I was really worried that they would accidentally start a fight, so I said that for the time being."

Shopkeeper Liu smiled and said, "Silly boy, they are biological father and son. Even if their bones are broken, the tendons are still connected. Do you really need an outsider like you to get involved?"

Gui Er sighed and said, "But the atmosphere was so tense at the time. I was really afraid the Marshal would shoot."

Shopkeeper Liu said, "What if the fake becomes real? You can't really marry that traitor, can you?"

Gui'er smiled and said, "How is that possible? I've thought about it. If that happens, I'll run away. The last time I went to my brother's place, he said he was buying some land in a remote part of his hometown. I want to find a chance to go there and ask them how the land purchase is going. I can hide away then, but if I do that, Taohua will have to move too, and my two brothers will have to move too. You guys will also be questioned here, which will cause you trouble, right?"

Shopkeeper Zhang said, "Why are you worrying about that, kid? We've seen all sorts of storms."

Shopkeeper Liu also said, "Yes, we've only become somewhat stable in the past two years. Before I met you, I was actually a traveling doctor, and Shopkeeper Zhang was an embroiderer. Later, she met Director Song and, under his leadership, joined the revolutionary ranks. He funded our embroidery workshop and pharmacy. He serves as a contact point. At worst, we can just start our old business again."

Gui'er was deeply moved. She said to Shopkeeper Zhang, "I'm a little worried that I'm being monitored by the Duanmu family, so it's hard for me to go to my brother's place. Shopkeeper Zhang is free now, so could you please go and ask them how the land they mentioned they were going? I've agreed with them that it can also be used as a refuge for us in times of war."

Shopkeeper Zhang listened, nodded and said, "Don't worry, I'll go later when there are fewer customers."

Gui'er guessed correctly. Duanmu Heng came over just as she finished explaining the matter. He greeted Shopkeepers Zhang and Liu in a very familiar manner.

Gui'er smiled and said to him, "Mr. Duanmu, it's rare for you to come here, but I'm an apprentice here, and I also want to help with the work. Please do as you please." As she said that, she helped to pick and pound the herbs.

Shopkeepers Zhang and Liu were both quite busy. They chatted with him for a few words before going back to their own business. Sometimes he would walk behind Gui'er to watch her work, and sometimes he would try to strike up a conversation with people who came to the pharmacy, but since everyone came to the pharmacy to get medicine, he would be wary of a stranger approaching him, so he didn't succeed in striking up a conversation. After a long while, he finally said with a smile, "Miss Gui'er is really hardworking. You go ahead and do your work. I'll come back later."

Gui'er didn't dare to get too angry because she knew she could still use him to get the antiques back. She smiled and said, "Okay. Bye."

When they returned to the Marshal's Mansion in the evening, Taohua rushed over to find Gui'er as soon as she entered the courtyard. Sha Yanxiao was also there, and he enthusiastically asked the servants to bring out some snacks. Taohua, on the other hand, shrank back and didn't dare to say anything.

Gui'er took her to her room. As soon as she entered, Taohua closed the door. Then she listened behind the door for a while before saying to Gui'er, "Guier, is that true?"

Gui'er was confused: "What's going on?"

Taohua was so anxious that she was about to cry. She said, "I heard that my second brother and the Duanmu family are competing to marry you. My second brother and the Marshal almost fell out."

Guier frowned and asked, "How did you know that?"

Taohua covered her mouth in horror and said, "So this is true? Guier, what should we do?" As she spoke, she began to cry.

Gui'er quickly said to her, "Don't be afraid, it's nothing serious. Father originally wanted to marry me to Duanmu, but I refused, so my brother said this just to help me."

Taohua felt a little more at ease after hearing this. She breathed a sigh of relief and said, "We two are adopted daughters, not biological children. Ever since I knew that the Seventh Concubine was also the Marshal's adopted daughter, I have been worried. He has raised us for so many years, how could he let us go without asking for anything? I'm really worried that something will happen. No matter what happens, it will be our fault if we tell others about it." As she spoke, she began to cry again.

Gui'er had no choice but to tell her the truth: "Taohua, don't worry. Last time, my brother told me that he wanted to buy some land in the remote mountains of our hometown. I have agreed and given him the money. If anything happens here, we can run away together and go back to our hometown with my brother."

Taohua was stunned for a moment, then said expectantly, "Is this true? Then when are we leaving?"

Gui'er sighed and said, "Why do you seem so excited? Actually, we haven't farmed in so many years. I don't know if we can adapt by then. Besides, my brother works as a carpenter in the city, so his income will definitely be higher than going back to farming. It's just a last resort. I still hope to handle this matter well."

Taohua felt a little disappointed after hearing this: "But if we don't run away, when can I leave? I don't think father will let me go."

Gui'er said, "Don't worry. The war will start in less than two years. Even if father refuses to let you go during these two years, when chaos breaks out, no one will be able to take care of each other. Wouldn't it be difficult to leave?"