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

Gu Zhiyi glanced at Xie Yunce, who was gritting his teeth but still refusing to admit defeat, and suggested, "How about making him kneel in front of the family hall for a night, not allowed to sleep, and reflect on his mistakes facing the wall?"

The old lady was a little hesitant when she heard this: "Ce'er is still young. If I don't let him sleep, wouldn't it be too harsh..."

Gu Zhiyi smiled and said, "Madam, since ancient times, loving mothers often spoil their children. Making him kneel for a night can both make him reflect on his mistakes and not be too harsh to affect his physical and mental health. Of course, I am just making a suggestion. Whether to kneel or not is entirely up to you, Madam."

"No, grandma!" Xie Yunce was shocked when he heard that. He looked at the old lady pitifully and shook his head like a rattle.

The old lady stared at Xie Yunce, carefully considering what Gu Zhiyi said, then sighed softly and said with determination: "Zhiyi, I'll do as you said, and let Ce'er kneel down for a night and reflect on his mistakes facing the wall!"

What the daughter-in-law said is absolutely right. Henan's heroic spirit has passed away. If the grandchildren do not discipline him strictly, I am afraid that the Ningguo Mansion will not be able to continue its glory in the future and will become decadent.

Thinking of this, the old lady couldn't let herself be soft-hearted as usual.

If Ce'er really wants to hate someone, then he should hate her as his grandmother!

Xie Yunce was taken to the family hall by the guards and made to kneel down as punishment. The old lady sighed for a long time, with endless worry in her eyes.

Alas, when will the grandchildren of this Duke's Mansion become more sensible and stop making such mischief?

Perhaps, Gu Zhiyi can help her share her worries and solve her problems?

The old lady thought so, looked at Gu Zhiyi, her eyes lit up, and asked tentatively: "Zhiyi, I have something troubling me, I want to hear your opinion."

Gu Zhiyi smiled, helped the old lady sit down, and asked softly, "Old lady, is it about the second young master and the others?"

The old lady nodded solemnly, with a hint of sadness in her eyes: "These children have been spoiled by me and the old Duke. Without anyone to discipline them, if this continues, I am afraid it will lead to the decline of the Duke's Mansion. Today I finally realized the seriousness of the problem, but I don't know what to do."

Gu Zhiyi pondered for a moment, then slowly said: "Old Madam, do you think your grandchildren are really undisciplined?"

The old lady shook her head and said, "I have thought about disciplining them, but every time I see them acting like spoiled brats and smiling pitifully, my heart softens again."

Gu Zhiyi gently held the old lady's hand and said firmly: "Old lady, everyone loves their children, not to mention that you are relatives of different generations. But over-indulgence will only harm them. We should set up rules to let them know what is right and what is wrong."

A trace of determination flashed in the old lady's eyes: "Zhiyi, you are right, I must take action. But I am not sure how to do it."

Gu Zhiyi smiled slightly, with a glimmer of wisdom in her eyes: "Mother, we can start from the following aspects. First, set up family rules and clarify the reward and punishment system so that they know what the bottom line is. Then, strengthen education and invite masters to teach them poetry, books and etiquette to cultivate their moral character. Finally, we must lead by example and set a good example."

After hearing this, the old lady's eyes lit up with approval: "Zhiyi, it turns out you are the one with the best ideas."

As soon as she finished speaking, she took out two bronze-lustered housekeeper cards from her bosom and handed them to Gu Zhiyi solemnly, saying, "Zhiyi, from now on, this huge Duke's Mansion will be run by you!"

Gu Zhiyi bowed slightly, took the cards from the butler with both hands, and looked solemn.

She knew very well that this was not just a winning card, but a heavy responsibility for the fate of her family.

"Madam, although Zhiyi is a woman, I am honored to take on this important task. I will do my best to live up to your expectations."

The old lady nodded gently. She looked at Gu Zhiyi with her eyes full of expectation: "Zhiyi, I know you are a talented woman, but the burden of this Duke's Mansion is not light. Are you sure?"

Gu Zhiyi hesitated for a moment, then answered firmly: "Old Madam, although Zhiyi does not dare to be arrogant, she is confident that she is capable of taking on this important task. I think the most urgent task is to train the most suitable successor so that the Duke's Mansion can continue its past glory."

The old lady was filled with helplessness and sighed softly, "I had hoped that Changsun Lingfu could inherit the title, but he was obsessed with pleasure and debauchery, which made me deeply worried. If you can guide him onto the right path, that would be great; if you can't change him, then you can only cultivate the others."

What a heavy responsibility this is!

Gu Zhiyi felt the old lady's deep expectations and trust, so she stood at attention and bowed respectfully, saying in a firm tone: "I will work hard and live up to your trust!"

After Gu Zhiyi left, the old lady sat alone, secretly sighing in her heart: Gu Zhiyi is indeed her good daughter-in-law. She has extraordinary talents and firm beliefs. The fate of the family is in her hands, and it will surely be rejuvenated!

……

At dawn the next day, the old lady and the old duke left the Ningguo Mansion together in a car, saying that they were going to travel to Jiangnan for ten days or half a month. They only left their trusted confidant, Nanny Yang, to assist Gu Zhiyi in managing the affairs of the mansion.

Without a backbone, an uproar broke out in the Duke's Mansion, as if the entire mansion was in turmoil, foreshadowing that an earth-shaking change was about to take place.

After breakfast, Gu Zhiyi was busy checking accounts on an abacus in the study. The sound of the beads echoed in the quiet study.

Just as she was concentrating, the voice of Nanny Yang came from outside the door.

"Madam, the eldest girl has been confined to her room for making a mistake, and now she is threatening to hang herself in her room!" Madam Yang's expression was quite anxious.

Gu Zhiyi raised her head, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes. She put down the abacus and frowned slightly: "Madam Yang, are you serious?"

Nanny Yang walked into the study, with a worried look on her face. She nodded and said, "It is absolutely true. I just met the young lady's maid Shuyu in the corridor and heard what she said. Madam, we have to go and take a look at this matter."

The eldest girl that Nanny Yang mentioned is Xie Huiyi, born to Aunt Zhao, a typical love-brained girl.

Gu Zhiyi pondered for a moment, a hint of curiosity flashing in her eyes: "Since she made a mistake, it is only natural that she is confined. But why did she suddenly want to hang herself?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Yang sighed slightly, and the wrinkles on her face seemed to deepen. She slowly said, "Half a month ago, the eldest lady went boating with Master Yan. The weather was perfect that day, and the lake was calm. The eldest lady was in a good mood, so she invited a few musicians to entertain her. Unexpectedly, one of the musicians had an argument with Master Yan, and the eldest lady got into a fight with the musician in a fit of rage."

Gu Zhiyi frowned slightly. She knew that the girl was spoiled and willful, but she didn't expect that she would cause such a big trouble.

"The musician was just smiling and didn't want to compete with the young lady, but she kept pushing it. At that time, the old Duke passed by and was very angry. He thought the young lady was behaving ridiculously and was not worthy of her status, so he ordered her to be confined to her room for 20 days and not allowed to step out of the door at all."