newbobooks Chapter 582 Cleansing Banquet
Chapter 582 Cleansing Banquet
Guier chatted with Taohua for a while and promised to arrange a meeting between her and Wu Dafu. Taohua was very happy.
After that, Guier came out of the peach blossom house and prepared to go back.
The third concubine hurriedly stopped Gui'er, took her hand, and said earnestly, "Guier, don't be in a hurry to leave. I have something to tell you. You know Sanmei's situation. She was widowed at a young age, and it's not easy to raise a child. Now I have finally met the right man, and that man is the adjutant of the Marshal. Isn't this a beautiful thing? But the Marshal doesn't agree to their marriage. What should we do? Can you help the third concubine talk to the Marshal and help these two star-crossed lovers get together?"
Gui Er looked at the Third Concubine. She felt quite sympathetic towards San Mei and thought it would be a good idea for her to remarry, but she was also wary of the Third Concubine's schemes. She smiled and said, "Third Concubine, I certainly understand San Mei's difficulties and sincerely hope she can find a good home. But since the Marshal has his concerns, this may not be that easy. However, if you bring this up with the Marshal again, I can put in a few good words, but whether it will work out depends on the Marshal's opinion."
After hearing this, a trace of disappointment flashed across the Third Aunt's face, but she still forced a smile and said, "Thank you, Gui'er. You are such a good child. It would be great if you could help."
Gui'er gave a perfunctory smile and left. Returning to Sha Yanxiao's courtyard, she saw him reading a newspaper. She walked over to him, sat down, and said, "Brother, I went to see the Third Concubine. She told me she found a partner for Sanmei." Then she told him everything about the Third Concubine asking her for help and about Sanmei.
After hearing this, Sha Yanxiao smiled helplessly: "I have already spoken on behalf of Sanmei before, but father has made up his mind and it will be difficult to change it for a while. The third concubine is unwilling to give up and has been looking for someone to stand up for her. Gui'er, don't be foolish and fall into the trap she dug. She seems to be thinking about Sanmei on the surface, but who knows what she is actually thinking about. Now there are people in Jiangcheng who are spreading rumors about what will happen if the Japanese attack. She may want to use the opportunity of Sanmei marrying out to leave the Marshal's Mansion."
Gui'er nodded and said, "Second brother, I understand. I didn't give in at the time, I just said I could help out a little. After all, Sister Sanmei is really pitiful, and any help is appreciated, but you can't let the Third Concubine lead you around by the nose."
Sha Yanxiao looked at Gui'er with relief: "I'm glad you think so. In our Marshal's Mansion, the relationships are complicated and people's hearts are hard to predict. The Third Concubine is not a simple character. If she comes to you again in the future, you have to be more careful."
Gui'er replied, "Yes, I'll remember that. But Sister Sanmei's story is really heartbreaking. The Marshal feels sorry for Sister Sanmei, but because of those concerns he doesn't agree to her remarriage. Isn't this trapping her?"
Sha Yanxiao sighed, "Father has his own considerations as the Grand Marshal. Some things can't be judged superficially. I'm afraid this matter needs to be considered in the long run. All we can do is to help the three beauties as much as possible without violating our principles."
As they were talking, a servant came to report that the Marshal had asked Sha Yanxiao to come over. Sha Yanxiao stood up, straightened his clothes, and said to Gui'er, "I'll go see the Marshal first. You rest well in the courtyard."
Gui'er nodded obediently, and Sha Yanxiao left with peace of mind.
The next day, the Marshal held a grand banquet for his eldest grandson at his residence. The interior and exterior of the residence were festooned with colorful lights, and large red lanterns hung high, illuminating the entire residence with a festive atmosphere. Traffic was flowing at the entrance, and guests from all walks of life streamed in. Men and women in gorgeous attire streamed into the residence in an endless stream.
Inside the mansion, the spacious courtyard was beautifully decorated. Colorful silks dangled from the eaves, fluttering gently in the breeze like the hem of a fairy's skirt. In the center of the courtyard stood exquisite round mahogany tables, laden with delicacies, the aroma filling the air and making one salivate.
A band played cheerful music on the side, and the sound of stringed instruments was endless, adding a rich and festive atmosphere to the banquet. Maids shuttled around, holding trays filled with fine wine, and smilingly poured wine for the guests.
The Marshal, dressed in military uniform, looked majestic and awe-inspiring. He stood in front of the main hall, smiling broadly and welcoming every guest. His wife and concubines were also meticulously dressed, wearing colorful cheongsams, showcasing their elegance and grace. Jin Bao was also wearing a very expensive cheongsam, holding her son, looking every bit the lady of the Marshal's mansion.
The entire Song family was also in attendance. Song Xichen looked handsome and elegant in a well-tailored suit.
Gui'er seized the opportunity and, while no one was paying attention, quietly walked up to Song Xichen and whispered, "Brother Xichen, I want to tell you something. When I was in Nanjing, I overheard some intelligence at the Tian family's house. Director Tian went to Shanghai on official business and wreaked havoc on our organization. Many comrades were arrested."
Song Xichen glanced around warily, his expression solemn as he spoke in a sad voice, "Gui'er, I know about this, too. We've lost many comrades this time, and the Shanghai underground organization has been essentially destroyed. The enemy's actions are extremely ruthless, and according to analysis from above, it's very likely that surrounding areas will also come under attack. Our superiors have issued instructions, telling us to stay hidden and take extra precautions. We can't expose any more comrades."
Gui'er's heart tightened, and she asked anxiously, "What should we do now? There are so many comrades in danger. Can we just stand by and watch?"
Song Xichen glanced around to make sure no one was eavesdropping before slowly speaking, "For now, we can only follow our superiors' instructions, conceal ourselves, and await further arrangements. Any rash action will only make the situation worse. We must trust the organization; they will definitely have a plan to deal with this."
Gui'er bit her lip and nodded helplessly, "I understand, but when I think of so many comrades... I feel really bad."
Song Xichen gently patted Gui'er's shoulder and said soothingly, "I understand how you feel, Gui'er. But what we need to do now is to conserve our strength and wait for the right opportunity to avenge our comrades and continue to fulfill our mission."
As they were talking, they suddenly heard the Marshal loudly announce in the main hall, "Dear friends and family, today we are hosting a banquet for my eldest grandson. Everyone must eat and drink well and have fun!" Everyone responded with toasts, and the atmosphere of the banquet reached a climax again. However, Gui'er and Song Xichen felt heavy in their hearts.