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

Xie Yunce's words echoed in the air of the main courtyard of the Ningguo Mansion. He lowered his head and pleaded, with a hint of despair in his eyes.

Gu Zhiyi sat on a rosewood chair, her face calm, but her eyes revealed determination and resoluteness. She gently stroked the teacup in her hand and slowly said, "Yunce, do you think your servants are really innocent? They knew you wanted to harm me, but chose to remain silent. This is their sin."

Xie Yunce's face turned pale instantly. He could not accept Gu Zhiyi's cruel accusation and defended himself anxiously, "Mother, I have never thought of harming you. Those servants were just following orders and they were not aware of it."

Gu Zhiyi sneered, raised her head, and looked at me with a sharp gaze: "Do you really think that you can hide your actions from me? You found some bad guys and tried to frame me. If I hadn't discovered it in time, your plan would have almost succeeded. You are trying to ruin my life!"

Xie Yunce's eyes widened, his face full of disbelief. He said in a trembling voice: "Mother, you misunderstood, I..."

Nanny Yang came in at this time, her face was serious and solemn. She looked at Xie Yunce and said firmly: "Master, Madam is right. I saw you talking with that group of villains in the garden that day. Your intentions are very obvious."

Xie Yunce's face turned even paler. He felt an unprecedented panic. He didn't expect that his conspiracy was actually witnessed by Yang Ma. He looked at Gu Zhiyi in panic, trying to find a glimmer of hope.

Gu Zhiyi looked at him coldly, without a trace of emotion in her tone: "Yunce, you are too clever for your own good. You thought you did it perfectly, but you didn't expect that your conspiracy would be exposed by your own servants. Your crime is already established. Do you think I will easily let go of those servants who helped the tyrant?"

Xie Yunce lowered his head helplessly. He finally understood his mistake and felt deep regret and self-blame. He slowly raised his head, tears in his eyes, and looked at Gu Zhiyi: "Mother, I was wrong. I am willing to accept any punishment. I only ask you to let those innocent servants go."

"Madam, they are just following my orders and don't know the inside story. Please have mercy and let them go." Xie Yunce's voice was trembling.

Gu Zhiyi looked at him coldly, her tone firm: "They may not know the inside story, but their actions constitute betrayal. Betraying the master is a crime that cannot be forgiven."

Xie Yunce wanted to explain, but Gu Zhiyi continued, "Don't you understand? If they are truly loyal, they should stop your evil deeds instead of blindly following you. Otherwise, they can harm me today and you in the future."

Gu Zhiyi brushed her sleeves lightly, a barely perceptible trace of fatigue flashing in her eyes: "Yunce, you know that a country has its own laws and a family has its own rules. If you can let them go with just a few words, then the rules and authority of the Duke's Mansion will no longer exist."

Xie Yunce raised his head eagerly, his eyes full of reluctance and guilt: "Mother, I was indeed wrong. But I can't watch them die because of me. I am willing to bear all the punishment, just ask you to let them go."

Gu Zhiyi's eyes narrowed, and her tone was cold: "Yunce, do you think your guilt and self-blame can make up for their mistakes? You know, their mistakes not only violated the family rules, but also violated the laws of the country."

Xie Yunce's shoulders trembled. He knew his mother was right, but he was still unwilling to give up: "Mother, I am willing to take all the blame. I only ask you to give them a chance."

At this moment, the footsteps of the guards were heard outside the door. They filed in, holding swords and looking solemn. Gu Zhiyi glanced at them coldly and said indifferently: "Execute the death penalty."

Xie Yunce's eyes widened, and he struggled in panic, trying to stop the guards. But with his weak body, how could he resist these well-trained guards?

"Mother, please stop!" Xie Yunce's voice was filled with despair. He grabbed Gu Zhiyi's skirt tightly, and tears fell to the ground.

Gu Zhiyi gently pushed his hand away and said calmly, "Yunce, this is the punishment they deserve. If you really want to make amends, then from now on, you must strictly abide by the family rules and never make such mistakes again."

Xie Yunce's heart was broken. He watched the servants being taken away by the guards, his eyes full of pain and regret. He knew that all this was his own fault. If he had strictly followed the rules and not provoked his mother, then these servants would not have died.

"Wait, wait!" Just as the guards were about to execute those servants, Xie Huiyi's voice of stopping them suddenly came from outside the door.

Everyone was stunned and looked towards the door, only to see Xie Huiyi running towards them, panting and running very quickly.

Gu Zhiyi frowned slightly and said unhappily, "Huiyi, why are you here? This is not the place for you to interfere."

Xie Huiyi walked up to Gu Zhiyi, bowed, and then said firmly: "Mother, I know I shouldn't interfere in the affairs of the Duke's Mansion, but these people are not guilty of death. They just made a mistake because of the impulse. If we kill them, won't it damage the reputation of our Ningguo Mansion?"

Gu Zhiyi hesitated for a moment, looked into Xie Huiyi's eyes, and felt her determination.

In fact, Xie Huiyi is a kind-hearted girl who always thinks of others. She sighed and said, "So what do you mean?"

Xie Huiyi looked at Xie Yunce who was standing there in a daze, and said with a smile: "Second brother, you have always wanted to enter Hongmeng Martial Arts College. I think, in exchange for your admission to Hongmeng Martial Arts College, what do you think about saving the lives of these servants?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Yunce widened his eyes and looked at Xie Huiyi in disbelief.

He knew that the possibility of him being admitted to Hongmeng Martial Arts Academy was almost zero, but his sister was willing to make such an offer for these people.

"Sister, you know very well that the possibility of me being admitted to Hongmeng Martial Arts Academy is very slim. If you do this, won't they laugh at you?" Xie Yunce pursed his lips and said worriedly.

Xie Huiyi patted Xie Yunce's shoulder gently and said softly: "Second brother, I know your concerns, but we have to believe in miracles. Moreover, if these servants die, their families will also be implicated. Can you bear to watch their families destroyed?"

Xie Yunce was silent. He looked at the servants and a hint of sympathy flashed in his eyes.

He knew he couldn't refuse his sister's request, so he had to bite the bullet and agree: "Madam, I am willing to accept the exchange, please forgive them."

Gu Zhiyi was originally determined to punish Xie Yunce and use this incident to warn the servants of the Duke's Mansion. However, Xie Huiyi suddenly appeared and proposed to exchange the lives of these people in exchange.

Gu Zhiyi looked around at the servants in the courtyard, thought carefully, and reluctantly agreed.