A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

"Second brother, what are your plans?" Gui'er cleverly avoided Sha Yanxiao's request.

"Well, I think Father might be trying to test us. However, he has to escape death soon, and he's still a long way from recovery. It's an indisputable fact. If the news leaks out, it will have an impact on the stability of Jiangcheng and Fengcheng."

"In the past few days, the Liang, Song, and Duanmu families have been trying to find out what's going on in our mansion through various channels. These people actually have bad intentions. Judging from the stability of Jiangcheng and Fengcheng, we can only guard against it and prevent the news from leaking out. Just now, those concubines tried to slip out. I have already informed the guards at the gate of the Marshal's Mansion that no concubine is allowed to go out during this period. The patrols in the courtyard will also be increased, and using secret passages will not work."

Gui'er was stunned for a moment. Did this mean she couldn't go out either? She was just about to tell Song Xichen about the Marshal's illness.

She had no choice but to say, "Don't worry, brother. I won't tell you. It's just that father's illness won't be cured in a short time. I really don't know what to do. I can't just stay here forever."

Sha Yanxiao patted her head and said, "Don't worry. Even if you don't have to go to school, I still have to go to work. I guess I'll be back in a few days."

In the next two days, everyone still went to visit the Marshal every day.

The concubines in each room had different thoughts. Some had long planned to return to their parents' home, while others wanted to go out for social activities. After all, when the Marshal was alive, their actions were more or less restricted. Now that the Marshal has fallen, they thought they could be free without anyone watching them. However, Sha Yanxiao had sent people to guard various places in the Marshal's Mansion, strictly forbidding them to go out, and their hopes were dashed again.

At first, the concubines did not say anything due to the Young Marshal's authority. The Eldest Master and his wife also agreed with Sha Yanxiao's approach considering the sensitivity of the Marshal's illness.

But within two days, the concubines could no longer contain themselves and began to complain.

The fifth concubine was the first to complain to the lady: "Madam, tell me, the second young master is really going too far. We don't even have the freedom to go out in this mansion. My brother from my mother's family is getting married, it's such a big event, I want to go back and join in the fun, but he's not allowed. This second young master is too unreasonable."

The Sixth Concubine also followed suit: "That's right, Madam. We are not prisoners, trapped in this mansion every day. It's not our fault that the Marshal is sick, so why can't we go out? My sisters have asked me out many times, but I can't keep them. It's so embarrassing."

The Third Wife also fanned the flames: "Madam, it's really inappropriate for the Second Young Master to do this. We are all from the Marshal's Mansion, and we won't spread the news of the Marshal's illness. It really makes us feel uncomfortable that he is so wary of us."

The concubines chattered back and forth like a flock of sparrows, whispering in Madam's ears every day. At first, Madam could still insist on supporting the Second Young Master's approach, but her status as Madam pressured them to endure it.

But she couldn't stand the concubines' constant disturbances. She was already exhausted by the Marshal's illness, and now she couldn't bear it any more.

Finally, the Madam sighed helplessly and agreed to let the concubines go out. Upon hearing this, the concubines were immediately delighted and immediately packed up their things, returning to their parents' homes or visiting relatives and friends. But as soon as they left, the news that the Marshal had had a stroke spread like wildfire.

The people in the city gradually became uneasy. After hearing the news, officials from the Liang family, Song family, Duanmu family and Jiangcheng government from all walks of life came to visit, under the banner of visiting the Marshal, but in fact they had their own ulterior motives.

The wife was at a loss and had to agree to let everyone come to visit. People from all walks of life came to the Marshal's bedroom, and on the surface they all looked concerned and said words of comfort, but their eyes were secretly observing the severity of the Marshal's illness.

Mr. Liang held the Marshal's hand hypocritically and said, "Marshal, you must get better soon. Jiangcheng can't do without you." At the same time, he glanced at the Marshal's expression with the corner of his eye, trying to judge the authenticity of his illness from the Marshal's reaction.

Mr. Song had a heavy face as he stood by the bed, shaking his head slightly. Mrs. Song came with Mr. Song. Her eyes were red and she hesitated to speak. She wanted to say something, but when she looked at the people around her, she didn't say anything. She just held Mrs. Song's hand and said, "Madam, we are also very sad that the Marshal is like this. We hope that he can get better soon. Jiangcheng and Fengcheng are still counting on him."

The lady should have known about the affair between the Marshal and Mrs. Song, but under the current circumstances, such considerate words actually made the lady very moved.

The Duanmu family also arrived, including Duanmu Heng's brother, Duanmu Lei, who had already arrived in Jiangcheng. They didn't mention their engagement with Gui'er or the mine, probably because they knew it wasn't the right time to bring it up. The family expressed deep concern, but Duanmu Lei, despite never having met the Marshal, wore a heavy expression, as if a close friend were ill. Elder Duanmu, looking anxious, inquired about the Marshal's condition, his eyes flickering around the room, as if searching for clues.

The officials of the Jiangcheng government also put on a respectful attitude, but there was a hint of scrutiny in their eyes, as if they were assessing the impact of the Marshal's illness on the situation in Jiangcheng.

In the end, there were too many people coming, and the lady and the eldest son were overwhelmed to deal with them. Some small landlords and wealthy people who could not get a number had to decline the visits. When Sha Yanxiao found out, he simply spread the word that the Marshal needed to rest now, and everyone could come to visit him in the next two days, but from today on, no visits would be allowed. It was his tough measures that finally made the Marshal's Mansion calm again.

Thanks to the hustle and bustle in the Marshal's Mansion, Gui'er finally got the chance to go out. She hurried to Liu's Pharmacy and asked Manager Liu to ask Song Xichen to come and meet her.

Song Xichen looked exhausted. Upon seeing Gui'er, he said helplessly, "Now that the Marshal is ill, various factions are ready to make a move. The public security in Jiangcheng and Fengcheng has deteriorated significantly. Serious public security incidents such as arson, murder, and looting have gradually increased. I'm busy running around every day, putting out fires everywhere, but this is ultimately only treating the symptoms, not the root cause. It's really frustrating."

Gui'er originally wanted to report to him about the recent situation in the Marshal's Mansion, but now that so many people came to visit, Song Xichen already knew about it.

Song Xichen's description was more serious. Hearing this, she became even more worried, but she still told him that the Marshal was faking a serious illness.

Song Xichen listened with a heavy heart and said, "Jiangcheng and Fengcheng are the territories that the Marshal fought so hard to conquer. Is he old and out of his mind? He is actually messing with his own jurisdiction like this just for internal strife."