Marrying for someone else and being a widow? Stepmothers open classes to raise children

"Huiyi, it's a bit strange if you say that." Gu Zhiyi frowned.

Seeing her mother frown, Xie Huiyi couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. She bit her lower lip and tried to explain, "Mother, I'm not being unreasonable. It's really...it's really a matter of great importance. I have to be careful."

Gu Zhiyi sighed softly, with a hint of helplessness in her eyes: "I know you mean well, but this matter involves so many things that we can't act rashly. Tell me, what's wrong?"

Xie Huiyi hesitated for a moment, and finally made up her mind to tell him all her doubts: "Mother, have you noticed that the expenses in the mansion have increased recently, and the money has been flowing frequently? I suspect that someone is secretly manipulating it."

Gu Zhiyi's face suddenly became solemn when she heard this. She pondered for a moment and said slowly, "This matter is of great importance. If it is true as you said, then our Ningguo Mansion may be in danger of overthrow. However, this matter still requires evidence. You should investigate first and be sure to act with caution."

Xie Huiyi nodded and was about to leave when Gu Zhiyi called her back, "Huiyi, you are limited in what you can do alone. You can ask your second sister Huixuan for help. She is smart and may be able to lend you a hand."

Xie Huiyi's eyes flashed with gratitude, and she smiled and said, "Don't worry, mother. I will handle it properly."

After saying that, Xie Huiyi walked out of the room. Gu Zhiyi looked at her back and couldn't help feeling worried.

Xie Huixuan, upon learning of her sister's doubts, also became nervous. She discussed with her sister and decided to start from the accounting office to look for clues.

The two men searched through the accounting office for several days and finally found some clues.

It turned out that in recent months, the flow of silver in the accounting office had indeed been somewhat abnormal, and a large amount of silver had flowed to a business called "Qingsong".

Xie Huixuan's eyes flashed with doubt: "Sister, I have never heard of this Qingsong Company. What is its origin?"

Xie Huiyi pondered and said, "I have also heard that this Qingsong Company is not an ordinary business, but... a branch of a mysterious organization in the martial arts world. They act strangely and are hard to figure out."

The two sisters looked at each other and realized the seriousness of the situation. They decided to go to Qingsong Trading Company in person to find out the truth.

As night fell, the Ningguo Mansion was quiet. Xie Huiyi and Xie Huixuan quietly left the mansion and headed straight for Qingsong Commercial Company.

Qingsong Store is located in the suburbs of the city. There is no bustling scene in front of the store, but it seems a bit deserted. The two sisters walked into the store and saw a middle-aged man sitting behind the counter with a cunning look in his eyes.

Xie Huixuan deliberately asked: "I heard that Qingsong Company is doing a booming business, so we wanted to come and take a look."

The middle-aged man smiled slightly and said, "You two girls have misunderstood. Our Qingsong Company is nothing special. We just sell some ordinary goods."

Xie Huiyi sneered, "Then why did you withdraw so much silver from the Ningguo Mansion?"

The middle-aged man's face changed, but he immediately regained his composure: "This is our business secret, why are you two girls so curious?"

Xie Huixuan's eyes widened: "Do you dare to say that you didn't collude with the traitor in Ningguo Mansion?"

The middle-aged man laughed loudly: "You two girls are really a joke. Our Qingsong Company has always been upright. How could we do such a thing?"

Seeing this, the two sisters knew that they could not get more information from the man, so they left. When they returned to the mansion, they told their mother Gu Zhiyi about the incident.

After hearing this, Gu Zhiyi was silent for a moment and said, "This matter involves a lot of people, we can't act rashly. I will go to the palace tomorrow and report this matter to the emperor, asking him to issue an order to investigate."

Xie Huiyi and Xie Huixuan felt relieved when they heard this.

……

The next morning, the sun shone through the palace's red gate, onto the bluestone slabs, creating a golden glow. Gu Zhiyi, wearing a lavender dress, walked lightly into the palace. Along the way, the palace maids and eunuchs saluted her one after another, but she just nodded slightly, looking relaxed.

Arriving at the imperial study, Gu Zhiyi knocked gently on the door. The emperor's gentle voice came from inside the door: "Come in."

Gu Zhiyi pushed the door open and walked in, only to see the emperor sitting at the desk, reviewing memorials. He looked up and saw Gu Zhiyi, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and he quickly put down the pen in his hand and stood up to greet her.

"Madam Gu, you've come at the right time. I was just about to discuss something with you." The emperor said with a smile, the wrinkles on his face looking even more kind in his smile.

Gu Zhiyi bowed slightly and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. May your Majesty be blessed with good health."

The emperor personally helped her up and said, "Madam Gu, you are too polite. What can I do for you?"

Gu Zhiyi reported the events of last night in detail, speaking neither servilely nor arrogantly, and in a clear and logical manner. After hearing this, the emperor's expression gradually became serious.

"This matter is of great importance and needs to be investigated." The emperor said in a deep voice, "Madam Gu, do you have any suggestions?"

Gu Zhiyi pondered for a moment and said, "I think this matter involves many people inside and outside the palace. If we want to investigate it thoroughly, the ministers in the palace and I must participate together. At the same time, in order to prevent someone from secretly obstructing, we need to send someone to monitor it secretly."

The emperor nodded in agreement and said, "As you say, I will issue an order immediately. Madam Gu, who do you think can take on this important task?"

Gu Zhiyi smiled slightly and said, "I think that Zhao Yunhai, the son of Zhenyuan Marquis, is thoughtful and decisive, and can take on this important task. As for the ministers in the palace, I think that Lu, the Minister of the Central Secretariat, is a good choice."

The emperor's eyes flashed with approval, and he said, "Okay, I will order Prince Zhao and Lord Lu to jointly take charge of this matter. Madam Gu, you have worked hard."

Gu Zhiyi bowed and said, "I don't deserve this. It is my honor to share the emperor's worries."

"Madam Gu, what do you think is the key to this case?" asked the emperor.

Gu Zhiyi thought for a moment and said, "I think the key is to find the person behind the scenes. If we can find this person, all clues will come to light."

The emperor nodded and said, "That's right. I will order someone to investigate secretly and make sure to find out the truth. Madam Gu, do you have any other suggestions?"

Gu Zhiyi smiled slightly and said, "I have another immature suggestion, but I don't know whether I should say it or not."

The emperor encouraged, "Madam Gu, please feel free to speak."

Gu Zhiyi said, "I think this matter involves palace secrets. If it is leaked, it may cause unnecessary turmoil. Therefore, I suggest that except for a few of us, no one else should be involved, including the eunuchs and maids in the palace."

The emperor pondered for a moment and said, "Madam Gu is absolutely right. I will issue an order to strictly prohibit anyone from leaking the contents of the investigation. By the way, Madam Gu, what do you think is the most important thing to pay attention to during the investigation?"

Gu Zhiyi said: "I think the most important thing to pay attention to is the collection of evidence. Only when the evidence is solid can the criminals be brought to justice. In addition, we must prevent someone from deliberately destroying evidence and interfering with the investigation."

The emperor clapped his hands and exclaimed: "Okay, I'll do as you say. Madam Gu, you are truly my loyal minister."

Gu Zhiyi said modestly: "I am not worthy of this position. I am just doing my duty. If Your Majesty has nothing else to do, I will take my leave."