A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Gui'er felt a little relieved when she heard Manager Liu say that Sha Yanxiao did not cause trouble for Song Xichen again.

She said to Shopkeeper Liu, "The Marshal has returned to the mansion now, and it seems he's still very upset. I'm afraid there's going to be a rift. With his vindictive nature, there'll be trouble in the future."

Shopkeeper Liu said, "So what are you going to do?"

Gui'er thought for a moment and said, "I can only try to be humble. I apologized to him yesterday, but he still won't let it go. Moreover, Sha Yanxiao arbitrarily postponed my engagement with Duanmu Heng, which made the Marshal very angry. Now their father-son relationship must be quite tense. I came here today not only to find an opportunity to explain the situation to you, but also to get some Chinese medicine to make a nourishing soup for the Marshal to see if I can please him."

After hearing this, Shopkeeper Liu said approvingly: "This is also a method. He has a head injury. Why not get some Gastrodia elata and stew it with pig brain, and add some ginger and wolfberry. The soup will taste good and is good for the body. I'll prepare it for you right away." Then he turned around and went to get the medicine.

Shopkeeper Zhang took Gui'er's hand and said, "Guier, let me tell you, after what happened this time, you should be more careful. If there's any sign of trouble, run away immediately, okay? Speaking of which, Duanmu Heng has been sneaking around outside these past few days, but he didn't come in, so Shopkeeper Liu and I pretended not to see him. I think you should be especially careful of him."

Gui'er sighed, nodded, and said, "I knew he wouldn't let this go."

At this time, Shopkeeper Liu came in with a packed medicine bag and whispered to Gui'er, "Duanmu Heng is here. Does he have spies in Xiuchuntang? Why did he come here just by smelling something? You hide here for a while. When Shopkeeper Zhang comes out, we'll deal with him. After he leaves, we'll let you go out."

After saying that, he led Manager Zhang out.

Gui'er stayed in the secret room bored. After about half an hour, Zhang, the shopkeeper, came in and said to her, "Guier, hurry, hurry, hurry! Duanmu Heng is gone. Now is the time to get out."

Gui'er thanked Shopkeepers Zhang and Liu, picked up the medicine bag and walked out quickly.

Who knew that when she passed by Xiuchun Hall, Duanmu Heng suddenly rushed out from inside. Gui'er was caught off guard and startled. Seeing that she could not escape, she had to greet him with a smile: "Mr. Duanmu, it turned out to be you. You scared me."

Duanmu Heng smiled and said, "Miss Gui'er, I haven't seen you for several days. I miss you so much. A few days ago, your brother sent someone to inform us that the engagement date has to be postponed. He said that the Marshal is ill. Are you going to get medicine for your father?"

Guier smiled and said, "I'm going to get some medicinal food for my father to make soup. Manager Liu taught me this. I have to go buy other ingredients, so I won't chat with you anymore." After saying that, she wanted to leave.

"The Marshal is feeling unwell. As a junior, I should go and ask after him. I'll go with you."

Gui'er was very reluctant, but she couldn't find any excuse to refuse, so she had to take him into the car and return to the Marshal's Mansion.

When they arrived at the Marshal's Mansion, Gui'er asked Acheng to drive the car directly to the main courtyard gate. She didn't dare to bring Duanmu Heng to Sha Yanxiao's courtyard.

Duanmu Heng came to the main courtyard, and Butler Zhao politely invited him to the study. Gui'er was curious about how the Marshal would receive him.

Soon, the Marshal came out of the bedroom with injuries, but with a warm smile on his face. He strode towards Duanmu Heng, opened his arms in a welcoming gesture: "Oh, Master Duanmu, it's so thoughtful of you to come visit me!"

Duanmu Heng hurried forward and bowed respectfully, "General, I heard you were ill, and I was so worried I came to visit you. How did you get so sick?"

The Marshal waved his hand nonchalantly: "Hey, I bumped into it accidentally. It's just a minor injury, no big deal. Don't worry about it, nephew." After that, the two sat down on the chairs in the study, and the Marshal ordered the servants to bring tea and snacks.

Gui'er didn't want to arouse the Marshal's suspicion, so she told him the truth: "I was thinking of going to the pharmacy to get some medicine to make a medicated meal for my father to nourish his body, but I didn't expect to run into Master Duanmu, and he insisted on coming with me to see you."

The Marshal smiled and said, "I see. My injury isn't serious, but I can't bear to see others like this. So the engagement has been postponed. Please tell Mr. Duanmu to be understanding."

Duanmu Heng smiled and said, "That's not true, Marshal. Of course, the most important thing is to heal your injury." Then he greeted the Marshal while observing his condition subtly, trying to find out the truth about his injury from his behavior and demeanor.

The Marshal was chatting and laughing, cleverly avoiding Duanmu Heng's subtle temptations, and did not mention the real reason for his injury.

After a conversation, Duanmu Heng saw that he could not get any more information from the Marshal, so he chatted about some unimportant topics. Then he stood up and said goodbye with satisfaction: "Marshal, you should take good care of your injuries. I will not disturb you any more and will come to visit you another day."

The Marshal smiled and stood up to see him off: "Okay, take care, and come often when you have time."

As soon as Duanmu Heng left, Gui'er didn't dare to stay alone in the main courtyard, and hurriedly said, "Father, I'll take these herbs to make soup and bring it to you later."

The Marshal nodded with a cold face, then turned and went into the bedroom.

Gui'er ran away as if she had been pardoned.

As soon as she returned to Sha Yanxiao's yard, Gui'er ordered the kitchen to use the herbs she brought to make a bowl of Gastrodia elata stewed with pig brain.

After rushing to prepare the Gastrodia elata and pig brain stew before lunch, Guier asked Dingxiang to put the soup in a lunch box and personally took her to the main room.

Gui'er explained her purpose, but the Marshal didn't show up. Butler Zhao said, "The Marshal feels a little tired and has gone to bed in his bedroom. Miss Gui'er, please give me the soup. When the Marshal wakes up, I will pour it for him myself."

Gui Er had no choice but to say, "Then I'll trouble you, Housekeeper Zhao."

After Gui'er left the main house, she felt a little heavy-hearted. She said to Dingxiang, "Dingxiang, you must have sisters in the main courtyard, right? Can you go and ask them to check on the Marshal? Did he drink the soup I sent him?"

Ding Xiang nodded: "Then you go back first, Miss. I will go talk to them."

After a while, Dingxiang quietly came to Gui'er, looking a little hesitant, and whispered to her, "Miss, I just heard that the Marshal didn't drink the soup, but had someone throw it away."

Gui'er's heart sank after hearing this, and a trace of sadness crossed her face. But she quickly calmed down, sighed softly, and said, "Never mind. It seems the Marshal still has a grudge against me. But it doesn't matter. I'll think of another way."

Dingxiang looked at Gui'er and said distressedly, "Miss, your relationship with the Marshal is just superficial. The one in this mansion who truly loves you is the Second Young Master. You just need to build a good relationship with him. The Marshal actually treats all the young ladies like this."

Gui'er sighed and said, "Of course I know that, but this time, because of me, my second brother rejected my father's honor in person, so I was thinking about how I could please him and repair their father-son relationship."