A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Gui'er thought of asking Wu Mingqiang for help, so now is the perfect opportunity to lay the foundation with Sha Yanxiao.

She said to Sha Yanxiao, "Brother, although you told me not to get involved in this matter, I was afraid that Zhao Yingwu would collude with the first wife to force me to marry him, so I asked Wu Mingqiang to investigate. He found some suspicious people among the people he had been interacting with recently."

As she spoke, she took out the information Wu Mingqiang had given her.

Sha Yanxiao's expression grew serious as he asked, "Why didn't you tell me about this?"

Gui'er said timidly, "I saw that you were so busy, and if something happened, I was afraid that it would implicate you, so I thought I would do it alone."

Sha Yanxiao sighed and said, "How can we be so clear-headed? Even if you say you acted on your own initiative, those people outside won't give up their suspicion of me."

Gui'er said, "I'm sorry, brother. I know I was wrong, but would you like to take a look at this information? It seems that my eldest brother has pulled his people in Nanjing here. I don't know what they are going to do."

Sha Yanxiao frowned, emptied the envelope, and flipped through the pages one by one. He sneered, "I was wondering how Big Brother could stay here for so long this time? It turns out he has a mission, and he's using his own hometown as a base for promotion and wealth."

Gui'er asked quickly, "Then what should we do?" She hoped that Sha Yanxiao could come forward and do something, so as to achieve the effect of curbing the Nanjing spies.

Sha Yanxiao shook his head: "They belong to the central government. What can we, a local warlord, dare to do?"

Gui Er frowned and said, "Didn't the people from the Military Commission cause a lot of trouble here last time?"

Sha Yanxiao said, "Although that's the case, he's from the central government after all, and this time it's Big Brother himself leading the team, so we can't offend him too much."

Gui'er asked doubtfully, "Brother, are we really not going to fight? If we don't have money, how will the army pay its soldiers? Haven't you always complained that Father took back the mine and left you strapped for cash?"

Sha Yanxiao chuckled and said, "I have my own small treasury. Besides, my brother will return to Nanjing sooner or later, and then the two mines will be under my jurisdiction again. I also have a hand on the local taxes. Even if my eldest brother gets the property, he won't give it all to others. It's just that the amount will be less. I think the concubines in the other rooms are the most anxious right now, not me."

The next day, Gui'er returned to the hospital to work as usual. Less than an hour after she started working, Ah Cheng suddenly came to find her.

Gui'er was very surprised and asked, "Brother Cheng, is there something wrong at home?"

Ah Cheng glanced around warily. Gui Er suddenly felt something was amiss and quickly pulled him aside to ask, "What's wrong? What happened?"

Ah Cheng said, "Miss, I'm afraid you need to go home. Something's happened to Zhao Yingwu. Someone in the Fourth Concubine's courtyard accused him of adultery with the Eighth Concubine. Madam arrested them both. It is said that they denied it during the interrogation, but for some reason they were still killed. Now, Chief Steward Zhao has also been arrested and is being interrogated in the dungeon."

Gui'er was startled, and she suddenly realized that the person who overheard the conversation between Manager Zhao and Zhao Yingwu at the rockery with her yesterday must be a servant in the Fourth Concubine's courtyard.

Although Zhao Yingwu had bad intentions, he did not cause any substantial harm to himself, and the eighth concubine did not deserve the death penalty. Madam usually does not care about these things. Unexpectedly, this time Madam suddenly changed her character and killed both of them so easily.

Gui'er forced herself to calm down and think. The motive of the fourth concubine asking her servants to report her was quite simple, just to get more money and win over the lady.

The lady's motive for killing Zhao Yingwu and the eighth concubine was probably not just that they committed adultery. There was no evidence at all. Even the Marshal would not kill people based on the testimony of two servants. The lady's actions were probably closely related to the fact that Manager Zhao was unwilling to hand over the account books and keys.

Gui'er thought for a moment and asked Ah Cheng, "After Zhao Yingwu died, did Housekeeper Zhao say anything?"

Ah Cheng shook his head and said, "I don't know either. Actually, it's Dingxiang's good friend in the eldest house. She's a maid and can't go out at will, so she told me and asked me to inform you quickly so that we can prepare for it sooner."

Gui'er thought for a moment and said, "Dingxiang did the right thing, but I can't do anything with my position in the Marshal's Mansion. Brother Cheng, how about this? Let's go to the military camp right now to inform Second Brother."

The two agreed, and Gui'er went to ask the head nurse for leave. The head nurse glanced at her and said, "You have too much to do. Every day someone comes to see you or you ask for leave. If you don't want to work anymore, just go home."

The hospital director happened to be passing by. He rushed in and said to the head nurse, "Can you please stop talking nonsense here? I need to take leave for a family matter. What's the matter? Let me go quickly. Um, Miss Sha, is there an emergency at home? Do you need me to drive you home?"

Gui'er was stunned for a moment and was about to refuse, but Acheng winked at her and asked her to agree.

Guier realized that the dean drove much faster, so she smiled and said, "I'm so sorry to bother you again."

The dean said hurriedly: "No trouble, no trouble, it's my honor, I'll go now."

The people around were stunned to see the usually serious dean looking so friendly.

Gui'er, the director, and Ah Cheng hurried out of the hospital and got into the car. Gui'er then said, "Then please drive the car to the military camp first. I need to call my brother. Also, I hope you won't spread the news about what happened today."

The dean said apprehensively, "Of course, of course. Don't worry, I'm very tight-lipped."

The car was really fast, and they arrived at the military camp very quickly. The dean wanted to take the opportunity to stay and flatter Sha Yanxiao.

Finally, Ah Cheng said, "Thank you for your help. Go back first. There is nothing for you to do here."

Gui'er quickly said, "I'm sorry, Dean, I'm afraid I can't thank you properly today. I'll tell my brother someday and have him thank you in person."

When the dean heard this, he said happily: "Oh, this is nothing. No need to be so polite." Then he went on and on about a lot of things.

Ah Cheng had already walked quickly to the gate and told the guard about the situation. The guard took one look at Gui'er and hurried inside to report.

Not long after, Sha Yanxiao walked out quickly, and Ah Cheng hurried forward and whispered something to him.

When Sha Yanxiao heard Acheng talk about the murder of Zhao Yingwu and the eighth concubine, his face suddenly changed. He turned around and called Dali to his side and said a few words. Then he got in the car and took Guier and Acheng to the Marshal's Mansion.