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

"Master! How can you say that about Zhiping? She is also your daughter..." Yao couldn't help choking up.

Gu Zhongyu looked at Yao's tear-stained eyes, and an indescribable guilt welled up in his heart. He slowly walked to Yao, patted her shoulder gently, and his tone became much softer.

"Madam, I understand your concerns, but you also know that as the master of the Gu Mansion, I have to consider the reputation and interests of my family." Gu Zhongyu's voice was low and heavy, revealing his inner struggle.

Yao raised her head, her eyes gleaming with determination. "Master, I know the importance of family, but Zhiping is also our daughter. Isn't her happiness what we should care about most?"

Gu Zhongyu was silent for a moment, his eyes became deep. He looked at Yao, his mouth corners slightly raised, trying to dispel his wife's worries. "Madam, I understand your concerns, but I promise you that I will find a good marriage for Zhiping and let her live a happy life."

Yao looked at Gu Zhongyu with a hint of doubt in her eyes. "Master, can you really find a suitable marriage? Zhiping is already in her twenties, and such a long time has passed, and you still haven't found the right person."

Gu Zhongyu frowned slightly, and a bitter smile flashed across his face. "Madam, you don't understand the world. Marriage nowadays is not just a matter between two people, but also a combination of the interests of two families. I must find a powerful family to guarantee Zhiping's happiness."

Yao sighed. She understood Gu Zhongyu's difficulties, but she was still worried. "Master, I know you are doing this for Zhiping's sake, but her happiness is the most important to us. We can't let her become a victim of marriage."

Gu Zhongyu gently stroked Yao's hair, his eyes full of tenderness. "Madam, I swear to you that I will find a marriage for Zhiping that is in the best interests of the family and can make her happy."

Just then, Gu Zhiping walked in. She looked at the expressions on her parents' faces, and her heart tightened. She walked to Yao's side, gently held her hand, her eyes full of determination.

"Mother, father, I know you are worried about me, but I believe father will find a good marriage for me."

One night, Gu Zhongyu returned home with a serious look on his face. Seeing him, Yao couldn't help but feel worried.

"Master, what's wrong? Haven't you found a suitable marriage?" Yao asked with concern.

Gu Zhongyu nodded, a trace of helplessness flashed across his face. "Madam, I found a marriage, but..." He hesitated, his eyes revealing a contradictory emotion.

Yao looked at Gu Zhongyu and couldn't help but feel nervous. "Master, what kind of marriage is this? Why are you so hesitant?"

Gu Zhongyu took a deep breath, his eyes became firm. "Madam, I found a young official named Li Yunchu. His family is very powerful. Marrying into our family will be of great help to the development of the Gu Mansion. But..." He paused again, his eyes flashing with an indescribable emotion.

Yao looked at Gu Zhongyu and felt a little nervous. "Master, do you have any concerns?"

Gu Zhongyu was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: "Madam, what I am worried about is that although Li Yunchu is young and promising, he has a somewhat arrogant personality. I am afraid that Zhiping will be wronged after marrying him."

After hearing what Gu Zhongyu said, Yao couldn't help but feel relieved.

"Master, I believe Zhiping can handle these things. As long as she is happy, we will be relieved."

"Madam, you are right. As long as Zhiping is happy, we can rest assured." Gu Zhongyu's voice was full of tenderness. He decided to arrange this marriage for his daughter, hoping that she could find true happiness.

……

Gu Zhiyi slowly walked into the main room, and the maids hurriedly opened the curtain for her. She saw that the old lady was already sitting at the head of the table, with a trace of barely perceptible sadness in her kind eyes. The table was filled with exquisite dishes, but the death knell of the Ningguo Mansion seemed to have made these delicacies lose their flavor.

The old lady nodded slightly, motioning Gu Zhiyi to sit down. Gu Zhiyi sat down as she was told, and placed her hands gently on the table. She looked at the old lady, with concern and sadness in her eyes.

"Madam, you have worked hard." Gu Zhiyi said softly.

A trace of relief flashed in the old lady's eyes. She patted Gu Zhiyi's hand and said slowly: "Zhiyi, you are a good child. Since you married into the Ningguo Mansion, you have always been filial to me. I also know that you feel bad. After all, you and Ningguo have always had a deep relationship."

Gu Zhiyi's eyes were slightly red. She lowered her head and said softly, "Old Madam, I know you must be very sad. Duke Ningguo... He has always been the pillar of our Duke Ningguo Mansion. Now that he has passed away suddenly, we all have to mourn."

The old lady sighed softly, picked up the chopsticks, picked up a mouthful of food and put it into her mouth, chewing slowly, as if she was savoring the ups and downs of life. She looked at Gu Zhiyi, and a hint of complexity flashed in her eyes.

"Zhi Yi, I know what you want to ask. You must have a lot of questions in your mind. Don't worry about the affairs after the death of Duke Ningguo and the affairs in the mansion. I will arrange them." The old lady said in a firm tone.

Gu Zhiyi raised her head, her eyes sparkling with gratitude. "Old Madam, don't worry, I will do my best to help you take care of the affairs of the mansion. It's just... Duke Ningguo left so suddenly, I'm worried that other people in the mansion will be shaken."

The old lady smiled slightly, she put down her chopsticks, and her expression became serious: "Zhiyi, you are right. The Ningguo Mansion is not a small family, and all of us must take responsibility. I will immediately gather the housekeepers and servants in the mansion, announce the Ningguo Duke's last wish, and let them know that the foundation of the Ningguo Mansion will not be shaken by the death of one person."

Gu Zhiyi's eyes flashed with determination, and she nodded and said, "Madam, I understand. I will work with you to protect the Ningguo Mansion."

After the meal, the old lady arranged for the servants to clean up the table, and she and Gu Zhiyi returned to the old lady's residence. They sat by the window, looking at the night outside, each with their own feelings.

"Zhi Yi, do you know? The year I married your father-in-law, he had just inherited the title of Duke of Ningguo. At that time, the situation in the mansion was not good. There were powerful enemies surrounding it outside and thieves causing chaos inside. However, my husband and I worked together and finally brought the Duke of Ningguo's Mansion to a new peak." The old lady recalled.

As Gu Zhiyi listened, she couldn't help but feel full of respect for the old lady.

What the old lady said was to tell her that the glory of Ningguo Mansion was not accidental, but was the result of the hard work and dedication of generations.

"Old lady, I will remember your teachings. I will try my best to be a good daughter-in-law of the Ningguo Mansion and protect this family with you." Gu Zhiyi said sincerely.

The old lady patted Gu Zhiyi's hand gently, with a gleam of relief in her eyes: "Good boy, I believe you."