A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Gui'er now has a much easier time moving around the mansion. Besides saving face with the first wife, he also occasionally has to build relationships with the fourth wife. He rarely visits other people and doesn't want to bother with them.

Dingxiang also said to her happily, "Since the family split up, we've become more financially secure. The Second Young Master was generous and increased everyone's share a bit. Now the servants in our courtyard are treated the best in the entire mansion. And coincidentally, the farm where my parents and brother live has also been allocated to the Second Young Master. Now I can hold my head high among the servants in the mansion. I no longer have to worry about the faces of people in other courtyards. My sisters are always envious of me."

However, the various families soon came to their senses and came to visit Sha Yanxiao, complaining to him that the madam was being too strict with her, and that the monthly allowance was always deducted and was not enough to spend.

The one complaining the loudest was the Third Concubine. With tears and snot, she said to Sha Yanxiao, "Second Young Master, you must talk to Madam. How are we going to survive? Our previous allowances were not enough to spend, and now she's shoving her own eldest grandson into my courtyard and deducting my share. Tell me, is this even fair? I want to give this grandson back to her, but I feel sorry for the child. But now it's like I'm raising him for her, and she's deducting my money. I really can't live like this. Your sister Sanmei is married to that adjutant, and her monthly income is limited. I have to supplement it. I don't know what to do. Why don't you go talk to Mother? You're a very capable son, she'll probably listen."

Sha Yanxiao wouldn't fall for that. He smiled and said, "Speaking of capable sons, isn't Big Brother more capable than me? Besides, hasn't Mother handed all the financial power to Big Brother now? Whether it's the Marshal's Mansion or Jiangcheng's finances, they're all in Big Brother's hands. If you want me to talk to Mother, it would be more effective for you to talk to Big Brother directly. After all, you are Big Brother's elder."

Even Sha Lili came to complain to Guier, "This is really weird! My mom said she bet on the wrong horse. She should have bet on my second brother. Now look what happened. The lady turned against me just because she got the power."

Gui'er just smiled and said nothing. She was still a little bothered by the fact that the Fourth Concubine had someone reveal that Zhao Yingwu and the Eighth Concubine had an affair, which led to trouble for Zhao Zongguan and his son. The Fourth Concubine was indeed a cruel person. She was good to her own children, but not necessarily to others. She would sell them out and abandon them at any time if they were no longer useful to her. It was better for her to keep a distance from them.

Her greatest pleasure now is to stroll leisurely around her yard after work, take a newspaper and find a quiet place to sit and read. Now in the Marshal's Mansion, apart from the wife of the first wife and the eldest son, there is Sha Yanxiao. Ordinary servants and even concubines dare not offend the people in Sha Yanxiao's yard. Guier feels that she has never felt so comfortable since she entered the Marshal's Mansion.

After work that day, Guier took a book and walked to a pavilion not far from her yard and sat down. She was reading "How the Steel Was Tempered" today. This book is definitely a progressive book in this era. She didn't want to be discovered by her family, so she ran out and found a quiet place, thinking that she could read it well without hiding.

At this time, the sun had begun to set, and a breeze blew, and the sound of rustling leaves could be heard in my ears.

Gui'er was reading intently when a corner of the book was lifted up by the evening breeze. She reached out to press it, and just as her fingertips touched the page, she heard dragging footsteps behind her.

Looking back, I saw that it was the Marshal who was standing outside the pavilion alone with a cane. The afterglow of the setting sun fell on his bald head, reflecting a sense of loneliness, and his eyes were a little cloudy.

"Father? Why are you here alone?" Gui'er was startled and quickly closed the book and stood up. A trace of unease crossed her heart, but she remained respectful on the surface. "It's getting cold. You should wear more clothes and have someone with you."

The Marshal said nothing, simply staring at her intently. He tapped his cane twice on the ground and slowly moved into the pavilion. He smelled strongly of medicine, mixed with a hint of alcohol, and his tongue twitched as he spoke, "Guier... what book are you reading? Let me see it."

"It's just a casual book, just for fun." Gui'er took a half step back and quietly hid the book behind her.

"Idle books?" The Marshal suddenly smiled, and that smile made her scalp tingle. "I think you, girl, are much more interesting than books..." As he said that, he suddenly stretched out his hand and grabbed Gui'er's wrist. Gui'er didn't expect that even though he was terminally ill, his strength was still as strong as an iron clamp.

"Father! Let go!" Gui'er was shocked and angry. She struggled hard, but his hands seemed to be welded shut. "You're doing this... aren't you afraid that my second brother will find out?"

"Him?" The Marshal snorted, his eyes becoming more cloudy. "He has grown powerful now, but I am still his father! Everything in this mansion belongs to me, including you..." As he spoke, his other hand actually touched Guier's face.

Gui'er was so frightened that she was shaking all over. Just as she was about to scream for help, she heard a sharp shout from outside the pavilion: "Father! What are you doing!"

Sha Yanxiao had returned at some point and was standing at the entrance to the pavilion, his face livid and his eyes cold as ice. He rushed over, grabbed the Marshal's arm, and yanked him back. The Marshal stumbled backwards, his head slamming hard against the pavilion pillar. With a dull thud, he collapsed, his crutch tumbling to the ground.

"Brother!" Gui'er was still in shock, with red marks on her wrists. She looked at the fallen Marshal, her voice trembling, "Is he... is he okay?"

Sha Yanxiao was panting heavily, the veins on his forehead throbbing violently. He squatted down to feel the Marshal's breath, then touched the back of his head. His fingertips felt sticky and warm - it was blood. His face was so gloomy that it looked like water could drip out. After a moment, he stood up and protected Gui'er behind him: "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

He raised his voice and called to the patrolling guards in the distance: "The Marshal accidentally fell in the pavilion and hit the back of his head. Hurry and take him to the doctor!"

The guards didn't dare ask any more questions and hurriedly and carefully lifted the Marshal up and carried him to the main courtyard. Sha Yanxiao watched them walk away before turning around. His eyes fell on Gui'er's red wrist, and his eyes darkened. "He didn't hurt you anywhere else, did he?"

Gui'er shook her head, her eyes reddened as the fear she'd felt earlier surged back, her voice tearing up as she said, "I'm fine... I was just scared."

"Don't come to such a remote place alone next time." Sha Yanxiao's voice slowed down a bit, and he reached out to straighten her torn clothes. "Just pretend this never happened. Just tell everyone that dad accidentally fell. Got it?"