A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Gui'er frowned and said, "Will he agree to this? Didn't he say before very cautiously that he wanted to hand it over in front of you and Big Brother?"

Sha Yanxiao smiled: "We have obtained her daughter's token." Then he took out a jade pendant with a magpie and a blue word carved on it.

Sha Yanxiao hung it around Guier's neck.

"This way, he'll understand that I've saved his wife and daughter. Of course, if he doesn't cooperate, he'll also know the consequences."

After finishing all this, the group arrived at the main room. Sha Yanxiao said to Ah Cheng and the underworld figure, Boss Jia, "You two wait here. I'll tell my mother and I'll be right out."

When he walked into the main courtyard, his wife and Sha Yanyao were sitting neatly in the living room, as if they were waiting for him to come.

"Mother is well." Sha Yanxiao and Gui'er greeted the lady.

The lady nodded slightly and said, "Your father is becoming increasingly confused. I originally wanted to try my best to save him, but a person's fate is largely predetermined. He's in this state now. I'm afraid he'll have to stay home for the rest of his life. It's best to quickly deal with this matter with Manager Zhao. Your eldest brother might have to stay here for a long time. We need to be friendly and supportive. How about this? You go and persuade him again, and this time, your eldest brother should come along too. Old Zhao has been with us for many years and isn't someone who doesn't understand things."

Sha Yanxiao wasn't surprised at all. He smiled obediently and said, "That's great. Manager Zhao is still worried. Mother and Big Brother are blaming him. If Big Brother is willing to step forward, that would be the best. Shall we go now?"

So a few people came out. Sha Yanyao didn't say a word the whole time. It was obvious that he and his wife had already discussed it.

Arriving at the dungeon, Manager Zhao saw them and quickly stood up, bowed, and said, "Hello, young masters and young lady."

Gui'er said, "Let me check on Mr. Zhao's injuries first. I've brought some painkillers and anti-inflammatory medicine with me this time."

Manager Zhao smiled and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Miss." Only one day had passed, and the red and swollen areas on his face had turned into bruises. His face was covered in blue and red, and he did look a little disheveled.

Gui'er took out some medicine and gave it to him to take. She also applied ointment to the injured parts of her face and hands. Manager Zhao smiled gratefully and said, "Thank you very much, Miss. You are truly kind-hearted."

Suddenly, his smile froze when he saw his daughter's jade pendant being worn by Gui'er.

After a few seconds, he regained his composure and said with a smile, "I was ungrateful before, but I've come to my senses. I can hand over the account book to you two young masters, but I hope you will allow me to return home and retire in consideration of my many years of service to the Marshal's Mansion."

Sha Yanyao smiled and said, "Steward Zhao has been with my family for many years and has made great contributions. If you leave like this, wouldn't it seem like we're just throwing him away? Don't worry, you'll still be the chief steward of the mansion. But you have to know who's the master. Father is completely confused now, and from now on, the most important master in the mansion will be Mother."

Manager Zhao was stunned for a moment, then quickly nodded and said, "Yes, yes, thank you very much, young master. Let's put aside the past and I will tell you where the account book is." Then he glanced at Sha Yanxiao.

Sha Yanxiao blinked.

Manager Zhao lowered his head as if to think for a moment before saying, "The account book isn't with me. It's always been kept by the Marshal himself. There's a movable brick at the head of his bed in his bedroom. If you pull it out, there's a secret compartment. It's inside."

Sha Yanyao's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he said excitedly, "Okay, I'll get it right away."

Manager Zhao said quickly, "Can I go now? Where is our handsome man's body buried? I want to give him a proper burial."

Sha Yanyao was stunned for a moment, then turned around, smiled, patted Manager Zhao on the shoulder, and said, "Old Zhao, what's the rush? Even if we get the account books, we'll still need your help to sort them out. You can continue to stay in the Marshal's Mansion in the future. As for your son's body, alas, it's all because of the reckless treatment by his subordinates, and his own body can't withstand the torture, so it may have come and gone... This is all God's will, don't be too sad. I'll have someone move his grave and perform a ritual to help him pass away. It will definitely be done in a grand manner. Now you must come with me to get the account books and check them."

"This..." Manager Zhao glanced at Sha Yanxiao.

"Butler Zhao's clothes are dirty. I just asked the servants to bring them here. You should change into them before going out. After all, it won't look good for a butler to go out like this." Sha Yanxiao said.

After hearing this, Sha Yanyao smiled and said to Sha Yanxiao, "Second brother is really thoughtful."

So they went out first, leaving the servant pretending to be Boss Jia brought by Sha Yanxiao and Manager Zhao to change clothes there.

But after about ten minutes, Manager Zhao and the servant came out.

Manager Zhao smiled and said to Sha Yanyao and Sha Yanxiao, "I washed my face with clean water inside. I don't look too messy, do I?"

At this time, Manager Zhao had washed his face clean, but the bruises were still there, but there was no bloodstain, and his hair was also tidied up.

Sha Yanxiao smiled and said, "Manager Zhao is a truly respectable man. This is all the fault of the servants. They were too harsh. Please don't take it to heart."

Sha Yanyao echoed beside him: "Yes, yes."

Sha Yanxiao turned around and said to Dali and another servant, "We are going to check the accounts in the main house. You can go back first."

The two said, "Yes," and then turned and left.

Sha Yanxiao, Sha Yanyao and Guier came to the main room.

Today, none of the concubines were at home, only some servants were wandering around the yard or hall on the first floor.

"Why is there no one here?" Guier asked curiously.

Sha Yanyao snorted coldly, "Those women saw my father's previous deviant behavior and knew he was confused and useless, so they didn't want to stay here anymore."

Because of what happened before, Gui'er didn't want to see the Marshal, so she hesitated and didn't want to go in.

Sha Yanxiao noticed it and said, "Why don't you stay here?"

Sha Yanyao turned around, patted her shoulder and said, "Guier, don't be afraid. I'm here. Father is confused. Don't bother with him."

Gui'er thought about it and realized that even if the Marshal wanted to do something wrong, Sha Yanxiao and Sha Yanyao would stop him. She was just afraid that the truth would be revealed. She didn't know whether Sha Yanxiao had put the account book back. She looked at Sha Yanxiao worriedly.

Sha Yanxiao smiled at her gently and said, "It's okay, we are here."

Sha Yanyao asked the servants, "Where is father?"

"He said he was tired after dinner and went to bed."

The group came to the bedroom on the second floor and saw that the Marshal was not sleeping in bed, but lying on the sofa in a bathrobe.