northernbook Chapter 862: Calm Response
Chapter 862: Calm Response
Guier held her breath and tiptoed down the stairs. She looked back to make sure she had not been discovered, then walked out of the house, pretending that everything was normal, and left the main courtyard.
After leaving the main courtyard, she still didn't dare to speed up and walked at her usual pace. Because the Marshal had passed away, many servants from each courtyard had been sent to help or deliver things, so there were still quite a lot of servants on the road.
She didn't breathe a sigh of relief until she returned to her own courtyard. Dingxiang came forward and said, "Miss, your mourning clothes are ready. Do you want to change into them now?"
Gui Er said to her, "Call Wu Mingqiang over first. I have something to say to him."
Seeing her serious expression, Dingxiang did not dare to delay and hurried to call Wu Mingqiang over.
Gui'er said to the other servants, "Now that father has passed away, I'm afraid many outsiders will come to our house. You must be careful at the door and don't let in anyone who is related to our courtyard. Everyone should go back to their own business."
After the servants had dispersed, she said to Wu Mingqiang, "Just now I heard the eldest young mistress persuading the eldest young master to take action against the second young master and seize the position of commander-in-chief."
Wu Mingqiang sneered upon hearing this and said, "Fortunately, the young master had already guessed it, so he sent us here. Miss, don't worry, we will do our best to get you out. Even if it costs our lives, the brothers will fight their way out and get you out. Then we will lead the troops to fight back."
Gui'er shook her head and said, "No, that would cause chaos in Jiangcheng, and outsiders would have the opportunity to take advantage. So, there are two things to do. First, who among your men is the best in martial arts? Send a few people out to inform my brother and ask him to bring soldiers to the Marshal's Mansion to set up defenses and replace the guards inside. Say that they are on guard against those who have bad intentions because of the Marshal's death. Second, take your men out to block the people that my eldest brother brought back from Nanjing outside. No matter what reason you use, they can't be allowed into the mansion. But it's best to find a reason that can make them feel guilty. Didn't you say that some of them are addicted to gambling and some are lustful? See if you can use these two reasons to trap them. Anyway, they can't get close to the Marshal's Mansion until my second brother has sent people to control it."
Wu Mingqiang's eyes lit up and he said, "Good plan." But then he turned worried and said, "But if I take everyone away, what will you do if they harm the young lady? How will I explain to the young master? The young master asked us to come in to protect the young lady."
Gui'er pondered for a moment. She felt that although the Madam and Sha Yanyao didn't care about her, they wouldn't kill her. After all, she didn't stand in their way. So she said, "They won't use me as a target. I've never stood in their way."
"What if the two sides confront each other when the young master brings his troops here? What if they take you as a hostage? Everyone in the mansion knows that you are the second young master's closest person. I'm afraid they can only threaten him by using you."
Gui'er thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll go to the most dangerous place, to Madam. If they take me hostage, I'll take Madam as well. Do you have a gun? Give it to me."
Wu Mingqiang hesitated for a moment, then took out a pistol from his waist and handed it to her, asking worriedly, "Miss, do you know how to use it? You used to use small pistols."
Gui'er touched the Mauser pistol, which was two or three times larger than her own pocket pistol, and said, "A small pistol would be very inconvenient to carry in a gunfight. Don't worry, I'll be wearing loose mourning clothes, so I can hide this gun. You go down and make arrangements quickly. By the way, those leaving the mansion will be divided into two groups. One group will go out through the main gate, and the other group will go out through a secret passage near the small courtyard next to us. Did you know?"
Wu Mingqiang understood and nodded, saying, "I understand. I will divide the personnel into two groups, ladies. You must be careful. I will leave Ah Cheng here with you. Miss, you must take care of yourself. I'm leaving now." He walked to the gate, looked back worriedly, and then turned and left.
Gui'er quickly returned to her room and changed into mourning clothes. In addition to the white cheongsam, she also wore linen on the outside, which was quite bulky. There was also a white cloth belt in the middle, which was just enough for her to insert the gun at the waist between the cheongsam and the linen.
After changing her clothes, she returned downstairs. Ding Xiang approached her anxiously and said, "Wu Mingqiang just left with his men again. Didn't the young master ask him to look after the courtyard?"
Gui'er smiled and said, "What's so good about this courtyard of ours? The security at the Marshal's Mansion is so strict, is there any chance a thief could get in? If you're worried, call the housekeeper over and I'll give him some instructions."
Soon the housekeeper came over, and Gui'er said to him, "I thought my brother must be having a hard time out there, so I asked Wu Mingqiang to take some people out to help. The servants we have now should be enough. Tell everyone to cheer up, and mainly arrange for a few people to keep watch. The funeral will be held in the mansion these days, and there will probably be many outsiders. Don't let strangers into our courtyard."
The housekeeper quickly said, "Don't worry, Miss. I have already arranged for someone to be on duty at night."
Gui'er nodded and asked Dingxiang, "What's going on in the other courtyards?"
Ding Xiang said, "They all changed into mourning clothes one after another and went back to the main courtyard."
Guier nodded and said, "Okay then, I should go over too."
Ah Cheng stepped forward and said, "Brother Qiang told me to stay with the young lady."
Gui'er said nothing, nodded, and let him follow her. On the way, they met the Seventh Concubine. She was wearing mourning clothes, her eyes were red, and she was walking alone, looking lonely and dazed. Gui'er asked with concern, "Seventh Concubine, are you okay?"
The Seventh Concubine turned around, and Gui'er couldn't help but be stunned. She was wrapped in a moon-white cheongsam, her slender figure like a pear blossom after rain. Her eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and her eyes were filled with an unbreakable mist. Her every move was filled with restrained sadness, like porcelain that would shatter at the slightest touch. Yet, in her loneliness, she possessed a breathtaking tranquil beauty. She had often seen the Seventh Concubine dressed in flamboyant attire, but she had never expected such a simple and quiet appearance to highlight her stunning beauty. No wonder she was still so fat despite having been in the mansion for many years without any children.
She said sadly, "Guier, I'm thinking, now that the Marshal is gone, I'm afraid there's no place for me in this mansion."
Gui'er hurriedly comforted her, saying, "Don't think too much. After all, we are the number one family in Jiangcheng. We would never do such an indecent thing." As she spoke, she took her arm and walked into the main courtyard.
The first month of the year was much more lively at this time. The third, fourth, fifth, and sixth concubines had all arrived, and brought people from their own courtyards with them. The servants and maids gathered in the courtyard and cried bitterly.