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

In the back hall of the Xie Mansion, Gu Zhiyi sat on a rosewood chair, gently playing with an exquisite jade pendant in her hand. The eldest daughter Xie Huiyi stood aside, nervously waiting for the people who went to investigate the manor to come back. After such a delay, the people who went to investigate the manor had brought back new information.

A servant hurried into the back hall, knelt on one knee, and reported with heavy breathing: "Madam, Miss, the situation on the farm has changed. The housekeeper Lao Li suddenly disappeared, and the food in the farm has also decreased a lot."

Gu Zhiyi's face darkened, her brows furrowed, she turned to Xie Huiyi and said, "Huiyi, go and comfort the servants first, don't let them panic. I'll send someone to find out the truth of the matter."

Xie Huiyi nodded gently and was about to leave when she suddenly turned back and added, "Mother, you must be careful. This matter may not be simple."

Gu Zhiyi smiled slightly, with a hint of approval in her eyes: "Don't worry, I know what to do."

After Xie Huiyi left, Gu Zhiyi pondered for a moment and ordered all the servants in the mansion to gather in the front hall. She stood in the middle of the hall, looking around at everyone with a sharp gaze, and said in a serious tone: "Butler Lao Li suddenly disappeared, and the food on the farm is also running low. This matter involves a lot of seriousness. If you have any clues, do not hide them."

The servants all bowed their heads and remained silent. Gu Zhiyi raised her voice: "This matter concerns the safety of the mansion. If you know about it and don't report it, you will be the sinner of the mansion!"

At this time, a young servant stepped forward tremblingly and said, "Madam, when I was on patrol last night, I saw the housekeeper Lao Li talking to a man in black, and then the two of them left the manor together."

Gu Zhiyi's eyes narrowed and she asked, "Did you see the man in black clearly?"

The servant shook his head. "The man in black was wearing a mask, so I couldn't see his appearance clearly. However, he had a strange fragrance that made people drowsy."

Gu Zhiyi nodded thoughtfully and ordered someone to record the incident. She turned to Xie Huiyi, only to see her comfort the servants and return to the hall with a worried look on her face.

"Huiyi, what do you think about this?" Gu Zhiyi asked.

Xie Huiyi pondered for a moment and said, "Mother, in my opinion, this man in black is most likely a gangster. The sudden disappearance of housekeeper Lao Li and the reduction of food in the farm all indicate that someone is secretly manipulating this."

Gu Zhiyi nodded, a trace of worry flashing in her eyes: "Yes, if this man in black is really from the underworld, then his purpose must be complicated. Huiyi, do you know which forces in the underworld have grievances with our Xie Mansion?"

Xie Huiyi thought for a moment and said, "Mother, there are many forces in the martial arts world that have grievances with our Xie Mansion, but the most likely one should be the Nangong family. They have always coveted our Xie Mansion's assets. The disappearance of housekeeper Lao Li and the reduction of food are most likely their doing."

Gu Zhiyi sighed and said, "Nangong family, it is indeed them. Huiyi, do you know who is the current head of Nangong family?"

Xie Huiyi replied: "Mother, the head of the Nangong family is Nangong Wudi. He is ambitious and vicious. We should not underestimate him."

Gu Zhiyi's eyes flashed with determination, and she said, "In this case, we must find out the truth as soon as possible to prevent the Gong family from continuing to take action. Huiyi, you will take people to the manor to investigate tomorrow and make sure to find clues about the man in black."

Xie Huiyi nodded gently, with a hint of determination in her eyes: “Mother, I will do my best.”

In the next few days, Xie Huiyi led the servants to investigate around the village. She observed carefully and did not miss any details. With her efforts, she finally found clues about the man in black.

It turns out that the man in black is Nangong Wudi from the Nangong family. In order to destroy the Xie Mansion's property, he deliberately sent people to sneak into the manor and steal food in an attempt to cause chaos within the Xie Mansion.

Upon hearing the news, Gu Zhiyi was furious and decided to personally teach the Nangong family a lesson. She discussed with Xie Huiyi and decided to hold a grand birthday banquet at Xie's house in a month and invite all the major forces in the martial arts world to attend.

On the day of the birthday banquet, Xie's house was decorated with lanterns and filled with guests. Gu Zhiyi and Xie Huiyi personally welcomed the guests, but secretly arranged everything.

When Nangong Wudi and his men broke into Xie's house, Gu Zhiyi and Xie Huiyi had already laid a dragnet. In a fierce battle, Nangong Wudi was defeated by the Xie's men and was captured.

Gu Zhiyi looked at Nangong Wudi and sneered, "Nangong family, since you dare to go against our Xie Mansion, don't blame us for being rude!"

Xie Huiyi also said: "Mother, we must teach the Nangong family a lesson and let them know that our Xie Mansion is not easy to mess with."

Gu Zhiyi nodded slightly, with a hint of determination in her eyes: "Yes, let the people in the martial arts world know that the dignity of the Xie Mansion cannot be violated."

It only took a short while for the people who went to the village to investigate to bring back new information.

Gu Zhiyi sat on an exquisite nanmu chair, gently waving a folding fan in her hand, her eyebrows slightly raised, appearing both calm and majestic.

"Tell me, what new discoveries have you made?" Gu Zhiyi's voice was steady and firm, and her eyes were as sharp as torches, staring directly at the servant who had just returned.

The servant knelt down hurriedly, his forehead touching the ground, and said in a trembling voice: "Madam, we found unusual traces on the farm. Someone dug a tunnel in the backyard, and it seems that they wanted to sneak into the mansion."

Gu Zhiyi's eyes turned cold when she heard that, while Xie Huiyi frowned. She stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the sky in the distance, as if thinking about something.

"Mother, how should we deal with this tunnel issue?" Xie Huiyi turned her head, worry revealed in her eyes.

Gu Zhiyi pondered for a moment and sighed softly: "This matter is of great importance. We must act immediately. Huiyi, send someone to invite Lord Zhao from the Dali Temple immediately. We need his help."

Xie Huiyi left in response, while Gu Zhiyi continued to ask the servant: "Besides the tunnel, have you found anything else?"

The servant shook his head and said, "Madam, apart from the tunnel, no other abnormalities were found. But I think this matter must be related to someone in the mansion."

Gu Zhiyi's eyes flashed with a sharpness, and she sneered: "In this case, let's follow the clues. Huiyi, when you come back, immediately arrange for the servants to carefully check everyone in the manor."

Xie Huiyi returned quickly, with a hint of determination in her eyes: "Mother, I have already told the servants to do it. I have also sent someone to invite Lord Zhao."

Gu Zhiyi nodded, she stood up, walked to the window, looked at the lush trees outside, but her heart was surging.

"Mother, who do you think is behind this?" Xie Huiyi stood behind Gu Zhiyi, her voice filled with doubt.

Gu Zhiyi was silent for a while, then turned to look at Xie Huiyi, her eyes revealing a hint of complexity: "Huiyi, this matter is very complicated, we can't easily draw conclusions. But, one thing is certain, the person behind this must have an ulterior motive."

Xie Huiyi nodded, a look of determination flashed in her eyes: "Mother, no matter what, we must get to the bottom of this."