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

Gu Zhiyi stared at Xie Yunce, who was standing with his head down and silent, with an unquestionable sense of pressure in her eyes.

She opened her red lips slightly and said in a firm tone: "Yunce, if you fail to be admitted to Hongmeng Martial Arts College, you will bear the consequences yourself! These servants have escaped death for now, but if you fail to fulfill your promise, they will still have to die!"

Xie Yunce raised his head, frowned, and was about to refute, but was grabbed by his sleeve by Xie Huiyi who was standing beside him. Xie Huiyi gave him a meaningful look, signaling him not to be impulsive.

Xie Huiyi gently pulled Xie Yunce's sleeve and said to Gu Zhiyi with a smile, "Mother, why are you so aggressive? My second brother is young and energetic, and he will understand some things only after experiencing them personally. I believe he will be able to be admitted to Hongmeng Martial Arts College and will not let you down."

Gu Zhiyi glanced at Xie Huiyi, and a trace of relief flashed in her eyes. She knew that her daughter was very smart and could always stabilize the situation at critical moments. She nodded slightly and said, "Okay, since you said so, I will give him another chance. But if he can't pass the exam within a year, I will never tolerate it again."

Xie Yunce gnashed his teeth and thought to himself, "Isn't it just Hongmeng Martial Arts College? Humph, I must pass the exam, otherwise, I will not be a human being!"

He secretly vowed that when he was admitted to the martial arts academy, he would practice martial arts hard, subdue Gu Zhiyi, the vicious stepmother, and restore peace and harmony to the Duke's Mansion!

After a busy whole day, Gu Zhiyi felt physically and mentally exhausted and planned to go back to her room for a nap.

"lady!"

At this moment, Xie Huiyi suddenly caught up with her and blocked her way, her peach-like face flushed red.

Gu Zhiyi stopped and looked at Xie Huiyi's face. She frowned and her eyes flashed with anxiety. She smiled slightly and said gently, "Huiyi, what's the matter?"

Xie Huiyi bit her lower lip, hesitated for a moment, and then mustered up the courage to say, “Madam, I don’t want to move out of the main courtyard.”

Gu Zhiyi was slightly stunned. She didn't expect Xie Huiyi to make such a request at this time. She looked at Xie Huiyi with a hint of doubt in her eyes: "Why? Aren't you used to living with me?"

Xie Huiyi raised her head, with a firm light in her eyes: "Madam, I'm used to it! I can't bear to leave you."

Gu Zhiyi looked at Xie Huiyi, with mixed emotions in her heart. She was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: "Huiyi, I am also very happy that you are willing to stay in the main courtyard. But you have to understand that this decision is not something I can make easily."

Xie Huiyi's eyes flashed with worry, but she still said firmly: "Madam, I will do my best to reassure you. I will study harder and better assist you in managing the affairs of the mansion."

Gu Zhiyi looked at Xie Huiyi, and a warm current surged in her heart. She gently patted Xie Huiyi's shoulder and smiled, "Okay, since you insist so much, then I will do as you say. But you must promise me that you will work harder and not slack off at all."

Xie Huiyi showed a happy smile on her face, and quickly nodded and agreed: "Madam, I will definitely do it!"

Eldest sister, why don’t you move out of the main courtyard as soon as possible, instead of going to live with that vicious stepmother?

Xie Yunce had a bewildered look on his face, his doubtful eyes fixed on Xie Huiyi.

The moment she called Gu Zhiyi just now, he was already confused, and his subsequent words were even more confusing and incomprehensible.

Is there some hidden meaning behind the eldest sister's choice to live in the same room with the cruel stepmother? Is this a new strategy to subtly subvert the status of the mistress?

I don’t understand and can’t figure it out!

……

East Cross Courtyard.

Gu Zhiyi returned to the inner room. Luluo was already waiting there, holding a set of clean clothes in her hands. She said softly, "Madam, the bed has been made."

Gu Zhiyi nodded slightly and chuckled, "Luluo, you are always so thoughtful." After that, she sat down slowly, and Luluo knelt in front of her, carefully helped her take off her shoes, and put a soft cloak on her.

"Luoluo, what do you think of Xie Huiyi's performance today?" Gu Zhiyi asked softly, with a thoughtful look in her eyes.

Luoluo lowered her head slightly and replied softly, "Madam, the eldest girl...she seems a little reluctant to leave you, Madam."

Gu Zhiyi smiled gently, with a sharp look in her eyes: "Reluctant? She is not really reluctant to move out of the main courtyard, but she can't let go of the good life and opportunities for advancement. I treat her the same as the other children in the Duke's Mansion, but I will not love them before they truly love me."

Luluo was stunned for a moment. She looked at Gu Zhiyi with a hint of doubt in her eyes: "Madam, but... the eldest girl seems to really have feelings for you, but it's only been a short time, so the feelings are not deep yet."

Gu Zhiyi shook her head slightly, with a bitter smile on her lips: "Relationships are not something that can be formed overnight. Xie Huiyi still needs time to understand and accept me."

Luoluo was silent for a moment, then said softly: "Miss, you are always so rational and calm. But sometimes, people always need some emotion and impulse."

Gu Zhiyi smiled gently. She looked at Luluo with a hint of tenderness in her eyes: "Luluo, are you afraid that I will be too rational and hurt myself?"

Luoluo lowered her head slightly and did not answer, but her eyes were full of worry.

Gu Zhiyi sighed softly, she stood up, walked to the window, looked at the bright starry sky outside, and said softly: "I know that sometimes I am too rational and too calm. But this is my character, I can't change it. I also don't want to change it!"

"Madam, it's late, you should go to bed early." Luoluo stepped forward and said softly.

Gu Zhiyi lay down slowly under the care of Luluo. The candlelight gradually went out, and the bedroom fell into silence.

As the night deepened, moonlight filtered through the gaps between branches and leaves under the corridor of the main courtyard of the Ningguo Mansion, sprinkling mottled light onto the bluestone slabs.

Xie Huiyi's shadow swayed in the corridor with the night breeze. The petals in her hand fell one by one, and her heart was full of uneasiness.

A petal fell from Xie Huiyi's hand. She looked a little dazed and asked the maid beside her, "Yingxiang, do you think Madam really cares about me?"

Ying Xiang stood behind her, sighed softly, and said, "Miss, why do you torture yourself like this? Madam...she naturally cares about you."

Hearing this, Xie Huiyi's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise, and then turned into confusion: "But if she really cared about me, why did she force me to move out of the main courtyard before?"

Ying Xiang frowned, squatted down, and said, "Miss, don't you understand? The reason why the lady did this is because she is afraid that her favoritism will lead to criticism from other young masters and young ladies, affecting your reputation."