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

Xie Huiyi's eyes flashed with tears, and she murmured, "Reputation? Don't I have my own feelings? Doesn't she know how lonely I am and how much I want to return to the main courtyard?"

Ying Xiang patted Xie Huiyi's hand to comfort her: "Miss, please don't be like this. Madam is doing this for your own good. She has always cared about you secretly, but you just don't know it."

Another petal fell from Xie Huiyi's hand.

"But I would rather she express her care clearly than hide it."

Ying Xiang stared at Xie Huiyi and said firmly, "Miss, don't worry, the lady will definitely see your sincerity and she will understand your intentions."

In the darkness of night, the two talked in low voices under the corridor, the moonlight illuminating their figures, making them look particularly quiet.

Ying Xiang gently reminded: "Miss, it's late at night, you should go back and rest. There are still many things to do tomorrow."

Xie Huiyi shook her head gently: "No, I don't want to go back now, I want to be quiet here."

When Yingxiang heard this, a trace of worry flashed in her eyes, and she said, "Miss, you must take good care of yourself, otherwise the lady will be worried."

Xie Huiyi looked at her and nodded, "I know, Yingxiang, don't worry, I will take good care of myself."

The master and servant sat under the corridor until the night deepened and the moonlight faded. Xie Huiyi's heart was full of contradictions and struggles, while Yingxiang silently guarded her.

……

The next morning, the sun shone through the window lattice into Xie Huiyi's boudoir, which was peaceful and beautiful. The maid Yingxiang walked in quietly and placed a letter on the bedside of Xie Huiyi.

"Miss, this is a letter written to you by Master Yan. Please take a look." Ying Xiang said in a low voice, with a hint of worry in her eyes.

Xie Huiyi slowly opened her eyes and frowned when she saw the words on the envelope. She took the letter and opened it. It said Yan Tinghan apologized to her for the Yipinju Poetry Club, asked her when she would become Jiang Minyun's disciple, and finally asked her to go boating together.

However, after reading the letter, Xie Huiyi was not interested. She put the letter aside and said to Yingxiang, "Yingxiang, what kind of person do you think Mr. Yan is?"

Ying Xiang was slightly stunned, then answered carefully: "Miss, Mr. Yan is talented and elegant, but he seems to be a little too concerned about you, young lady."

Xie Huiyi smiled lightly, with a hint of helplessness in her eyes: "Excessive concern? Maybe. But I always feel that he doesn't really care about me, but has other intentions."

Ying Xiang looked at Xie Huiyi worriedly: "Miss, why do you think of Master Yan like this? Maybe he really cares about you."

Xie Huiyi shook her head: "Yingxiang, you don't understand. Yan Tinghan apologized to me, asked me about my apprenticeship, and asked me to go boating. It seemed that he cared about me, but he actually had ulterior motives."

Ying Xiang was silent for a moment, then said: "Miss, how do you plan to deal with it?"

Xie Huiyi pondered for a while, then slowly said: "I will go to the lake as he promised. But I will remain vigilant and will not let him succeed easily."

Ying Xiang looked at Xie Huiyi worriedly: "Miss, can you really handle it?"

Xie Huiyi smiled gently: "Don't worry, Yingxiang. I am not a flower in a greenhouse. I grew up in this Ningguo Mansion. I know how to protect myself."

In Fuyun Garden, the morning light shone through the window lattice and slanted onto the vermilion floor. Gu Zhiyi slowly opened her sleepy eyes and rubbed her temples, looking a little tired. Wu Jingying also looked like she hadn't gotten enough sleep, her hair was a little messy, and her face was pale.

Xie Huiyi walked briskly into Fuyun Garden carrying a tray. When she saw the appearance of Gu Zhiyi and Wu Jingying, she couldn't help but frowned.

Xie Huiyi: "Mother, sister-in-law, why do you look so tired? What happened last night?"

Gu Zhiyi glanced at Xie Huiyi and said in a cold tone, "What else could have happened? It's because you cried all night last night and left both of us without any rest."

Xie Huiyi was stunned, a guilty look on her face. She quickly put down the tray in her hand, walked to Gu Zhiyi, and gently held her hand.

Xie Huiyi: "Mother, I'm sorry. I did cry all night last night, but I really couldn't help myself. I... I didn't expect it to affect you."

Wu Jingying also came over, patted Xie Huiyi's shoulder gently, and comforted her: "Sister, you don't have to blame yourself. We are all a family, and we should care about each other. But you have to be careful in the future and don't let yourself be too sad. Your health is important."

Xie Huiyi nodded, with a hint of gratitude in her eyes. She knew that although Wu Jingying blamed her, she cared about her in her heart.

Madam Yang walked into the side hall, her steps steady and powerful. She bowed slightly, saluted to Gu Zhiyi who was sitting in the first seat, and announced softly, "Madam, the second young lady is here."

Gu Zhiyi raised her head, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, then she regained her composure and nodded slightly: "Let her in."

Following Madam Yang's instructions, Xie Huixuan walked into the side hall. She was dressed in a lavender dress, well-dressed and elegant, with a hint of pride between her eyebrows. She glanced at Gu Zhiyi and asked in a questioning tone: "Mother, why did you arrange for Huiyi to study with Master Jiang?"

Gu Zhiyi smiled slightly. She had expected Xie Huixuan to come for this matter. "You should know Huiyi's personality. She is suitable to study with Master Jiang. Moreover, Master Jiang also said that she is suitable for cultivation."

Xie Huixuan frowned and said unhappily, "Then why can't I learn from Master Jiang? I think my aptitude is not inferior to Huiyi's, why can she do it but I can't?"

Xie Huixuan frowned slightly, and said with dissatisfaction: "Mother, Huiyi is the eldest daughter, and she should learn from Master Jiang first. Don't I have the qualifications?"

Gu Zhiyi gently put down the book in her hand and glanced at Xie Huixuan: "Do you really want to study with Master Jiang?"

Xie Huixuan nodded without hesitation: "Of course. Master Jiang is a great Confucian scholar. Studying with her will not only improve my reputation, but also help me choose a marriage in the future."

Gu Zhiyi's eyes flashed with inquiry: "Are you really interested in literature?"

Xie Huixuan was slightly stunned, then smiled and said, "Of course I'm interested. Mother, you may not know that I have finished reading the Book of Songs recently."

Gu Zhiyi smiled slightly, but a hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes: "If that's the case, do you know Master Jiang's personality?"

Xie Huixuan shook her head in confusion: "Mother, what is Master Jiang's personality like?"

Gu Zhiyi said calmly, "Master Jiang is indifferent to fame and fortune, and is devoted to learning. Her criteria for accepting disciples is not status, but whether one truly loves learning. If you are only doing this to improve your reputation and for marriage options, I'm afraid Master Jiang will not agree to let you study with her."