A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Things turned out just as Gui'er had expected. During a dinner party, Sha Yanxiao mentioned that the two daughters of the fifth and sixth concubines had grown up and needed to prepare dowries to find a husband.

The wife immediately became alert and said to Sha Yanxiao, "All the family property that should be given to you has been distributed to you. You don't have to worry about the rest."

When Gui Er saw that the lady had misunderstood, she quickly explained, "Mother, you misunderstood. It was the Fifth and Sixth Concubines who said they wanted to find husbands for my sisters and prepare some dowries, not to divide the family property."

The Fifth Concubine beside her didn't even bother to pretend and said directly, "Actually, it's okay to divide it. Our courtyard is too expensive. Madam, you see..."

The lady glanced at her and sneered, "Aren't you just worried that your daughter won't be able to get married in the future? That's easy. I'll find her a partner, someone wealthy, and I'll pay for the dowry."

The Fifth Concubine had not expected the Madam to say that, and she quickly waved her hand and said, "That's not what I meant."

"Don't worry, I won't harm her. Mrs. Song from the Song family, the richest family in Jiangcheng, wants to marry our daughter. I've already said that we have many daughters, and she can choose any one she likes. Since you are so anxious, I will introduce your daughter to her first." The lady said slowly.

"Hey, Song, the Song family, the richest Song family? Well, these conditions are too good, right? My daughter, oh, thank you so much, Madam." The fifth concubine was overjoyed.

Gui'er was stunned. She immediately thought that Mrs. Song must have gone to see the Marshal and was afraid that she would have no one to rely on in the future, so she wanted to marry her children to the Marshal.

Sha Yanyao frowned and said to his wife, "Mother, Sixth Sister is too far behind in age, isn't she? Besides, doesn't Mrs. Song prefer Fifth Sister Gui'er?"

Gui'er was startled again. She was thinking about whether to speak up for Song Xichen because she knew that Song Xichen was in love with a female patrol officer who was one of her subordinates. Unexpectedly, the topic turned around and came back to her.

"Ridiculous! Is there no age difference between that Song guy and Gui'er? It's obvious that the Song family wants to marry me because their father has passed away and they want to continue to have a relationship with us. There's no way I'll let Gui'er marry him." Sha Yanxiao said coldly.

Seeing Sha Yanxiao's genuine anger, the wife quickly said, "I knew Gui'er wouldn't be happy since you raised her all by yourself. That's why I was thinking of marrying her off to the fifth son. The Song family is wealthy, so they'll ask for a betrothal gift. I can give her a percentage of that gift as a dowry."

The Fifth Concubine became anxious upon hearing this and said, "Madam, did I hear you wrong? If you calculate it this way, doesn't that mean you won't give me a dowry? You're even cutting back on the betrothal gift. How can that be justified? If that's the case, won't my daughter be ridiculed if she marries him?"

The lady glanced at her and said, "Why are you so short-sighted? Your daughter married into the Song family and had children, so she naturally has status. Why would you care whether she has a dowry or not? Besides, the Song family is not short of money. Look at their second son's wedding, it was so lavish. Don't you want to be the mother-in-law of such a wealthy and prominent family?"

The Fifth Concubine was about to say something, but was interrupted by the Madam, who said, "They might not even like your daughter. Let me talk to Madam Song first."

After finishing his meal, Sha Yanxiao took Gui'er back to his own yard.

Sitting back in the courtyard, he was still indignant and said, "Guier, you're right. The Fifth Concubine is openly asking for a dowry for our daughter, but in reality, she wants a share of the family fortune. I spoke up for her because she's my father's woman, but these two are ultimately ungrateful and not worth helping! And they've even implicated you."

Sha Yanxiao slammed his teacup down on the table, causing some tea to spill. "If I hadn't stopped you, would I have really let you get involved in that mess? It's fine if she's just greedy and vain, but she actually dared to plot against you. Does she think I'm dead?"

His chest heaved slightly, and he was clearly furious. "In the past, I felt sorry for these orphans and widows, and even thought of sharing some of my belongings with them. Now, it seems like they're all ungrateful wolves. From now on, I won't bother with anything about their affairs. Their lives and deaths have nothing to do with me!"

Gui'er listened silently, her mind aching with doubt. Song Xichen didn't know about this yet. If Madam had truly agreed with Mrs. Song, wouldn't that ruin his relationship with the female patrol officer? But if she were to bring this up, it would seem too deliberate. Sha Yanxiao had also said that she wasn't allowed to meet Song Xichen again. If he knew I'd gone to see him, it would probably cause even more trouble.

She hesitated for a long time, but still couldn't make up her mind. She just wanted to wait and see.

Unexpectedly, two days later, Dingxiang rushed in and said in a low voice, "Miss, there are rumors outside that Madam wants to kick the fifth and sixth concubines out of the house!"

Gui'er was stunned: "Why are you suddenly kicking people out?"

"Madam found out that the Fifth Concubine secretly arranged a marriage for her daughter a few days ago, and even arranged for the matchmaker to meet outside." Dingxiang curled her lips. "Madam said that the Marshal's mourning period hasn't ended yet, but they're in a hurry to arrange a marriage for their daughter. This is 'unfilial' and brings disgrace to the Marshal's Mansion. She has already ordered people to pack up their belongings and tell them to move out within three days."

Gui'er's heart sank when she heard this. This wasn't about the mourning period at all; it was clearly because the Fifth Concubine had contradicted the Madam and was no longer useful, so she was being kicked out for no other reason. She figured the two of them would soon come to Sha Yanxiao's rescue.

Sure enough, in less than half a day, the two of them panicked and dragged their two daughters to their yard, crying and begging to see Sha Yanxiao.

Gui'er said to them, "Brother hasn't come back yet, you should go back first."

The Fifth Concubine cried, "Guier, please judge for yourself. What's wrong with me finding a husband for my daughter? Your father is gone now, and the Madam is like this. I can only find one for her myself. Besides, I'm just asking for information, not marrying my daughter off. How can she just ask us to move out? We don't have the money to buy a house outside, and my family won't tolerate me anymore."

Before she could finish, the Sixth Concubine interrupted and said, "I'm the one who's wronged. You're talking nonsense and implicating me. Madam said we were in cahoots and were working together to steal her property. I really have no place to complain. My family is still waiting for me to take the money back, but now I can't get it back. I'm going to be kicked out of the house too. How can this be justified? If this gets out, won't others laugh at the Marshal's Mansion?"

Gui'er could only patiently say to them: "Fifth Aunt, Sixth Aunt, it's useless for you to tell me this now. My brother hasn't come back yet. You go back first. When my brother comes back, I will tell him."