Chapter 810 She is the person I protect

Cheng Wanwan stood among the crowd, her face calm and serene.

She spoke calmly, "Madam Luo is no longer a member of the He family, yet she still cares so much about the He family's affairs. One can only say that Madam Luo is truly a philanthropist. After He Ling's death, it was one thing for Madam Luo to take He Ling's son back to the Luo family to raise him, but now she actually wants to fight for this child's right to inherit the He family's lineage. Everyone in the capital knows that the current head of the He family is He Xiao, and the only one who can inherit the He family's lineage is He Xiao's son. So, you want this child to call He Xiao 'Father'?"

As soon as she said this, everyone present turned to look at Luo Qi.

After the He family's downfall, Luo Qi was divorced, thus saving her life. She was merely the stepmother of He Ling's son, yet she took on the role of his biological mother, bringing this son of a disgraced official back to the Luo family to raise him... At the time, many people in the capital praised her for her virtuous conduct as a woman.

But the people of the capital city have not forgotten that many, many years ago, Luo Qi, the eldest daughter of the Luo family, was clearly He Xiao's fiancée.

Later, something happened, and after many twists and turns, the fiancée of the second son of the He family married the eldest son of the He family, He Ling, as his second wife.

Now that He Ling is dead, Madam Luo is raising the He family's bloodline and often goes in and out of the He residence. Could it be that she has fallen for the person from the very beginning again?

If Luo Qi and He Xiao hadn't had that past relationship, and if He Xiao and He Ling had an extremely harmonious relationship, then He Xiao marrying his elder sister-in-law to take care of his brother's only remaining bloodline wouldn't seem unacceptable... But unfortunately, Luo Qi abandoned He Xiao to marry He Ling, and then became entangled with him after He Ling's death. This kind of behavior is truly despicable...

"No, no..." Luo Qi quickly explained, "I didn't think that..."

Cheng Wanwan looked at her and said, "So many capable people in the capital don't know the identity of today's bride, but this seven or eight-year-old child speaks so eloquently. Who else could it be but you who told him?"

She didn't want to push Luo Qi into a corner, but Luo Qi's ambition was too obvious, and she was on good terms with Madam He. If this continued, Cheng Fang's situation would be precarious.

"Or perhaps, these words were taught to Young Master He by Madam He?" She turned to look at Madam He. "One is the son of her stepson, and the other is the wife of her biological son, whom she married through proper channels. Madam He surely knows who is closer and who is more distant."

Madam He's face was pale.

She used to be unaware of who was closer to whom, treating her stepson well while neglecting her own child, which led to the breakdown of her relationship with Xiao'er.

He Ling's son was always treated as her own grandson. It was only through the personal pleading of her second uncle, Xiao'er, that the son of a traitor was spared... But this child actually said such things on Xiao'er's wedding day, which was truly heartbreaking.

Also, was it really unintentional that Luo Qi revealed Xiao'er's wife's identity?

She so desperately wanted to marry Xiao'er, but now that her dream has been shattered, she's probably deliberately causing trouble to upset him...

Madam He's gaze toward Luo Qi held a hint of complexity.

"He Xiao's wife is surnamed Cheng, and she is my niece. She was indeed my maid once," Cheng Wanwan said without any hesitation. "But she is not the daughter of a fallen noble family that Madam Luo said. She is a peasant girl, just like me, who came to me because she had nowhere else to go. Whether she is a peasant girl or a maid, she is my niece whom I, Zhao Chengshi, have taken in. She takes my surname, so she is someone I will protect!"

His tone was calm, yet firm and resolute, carrying an air of unquestionable authority.

"Well said." Old Madam Shen walked over from a distance and said, "Fang Yatou was once a peasant girl, and General He was once a rural warrior. They are simply a match made in heaven."

“Who says otherwise?” Madam Ruan said with a smile. “Besides, what’s wrong with being a peasant girl or a maid? Anyone can rise above others like Madam Sui, as long as they have the ability.”

Mrs. Lin, Mrs. Zhang, and others gathered around and expressed their opinions.

The ladies of the He family looked somewhat embarrassed and dared not say anything more.

Madam He slowly loosened her grip on the handkerchief. She really hadn't expected that after everyone learned her daughter-in-law's identity, instead of mocking and ridiculing her, they would help her out of the predicament... Of course, it wasn't because of her, but because of Madam Sui.

It turns out that Mrs. Sui has such a great influence in the ladies' circle.

She let out a sigh of relief and said slowly, "I only have one son, Xiao'er. The wife that Xiao'er chose is like a daughter to me. I will definitely protect her as if she were my own daughter."

Upon hearing this, Luo Qi's shoulders suddenly relaxed, and the light in her eyes slowly dimmed.

She was able to enter and leave the He family because of the bloodline left by He Ling and her former relationship with Madam He... But because of what she said today, because she indulged Jun'er's nonsense, her reputation was ruined, and her relationship with Madam He was also ruined. If she wanted to come to the He family again in the future, it would be harder than climbing to heaven...

Just as Luo Qi was feeling lost and distraught, the sound of gongs and drums rang out at the gate of the He family's residence.

Zhao Sanniu immediately perked up: "Master and his wife are back! Let's go, let's go see what's going on!"

The soldiers from the military camp immediately ran towards the gate. Outside, gongs and drums were deafening, and the servants of the He family were setting off firecrackers in all directions, creating a lively and exciting atmosphere.

At the gate, He Xiao dismounted, walked to the bridal sedan chair, kicked it, and led the bride out amidst laughter.

He and Cheng Fang held hands, their hands clasped in bright red floral silk, and walked side by side into the courtyard.

In the crowd, Luo Qi's eyes suddenly reddened.

Years ago, she had fantasized about this scene, imagining herself and He Xiao getting married... But later, she took a wrong step, and then she made a series of mistakes.

Looking back now, she still doesn't understand why she was moved by He Ling's sweet words, why she was willing to be He Ling's second wife rather than betray He Xiao...

If she hadn't stolen He Xiao's keepsake, He Ling wouldn't have been able to so easily frame He Xiao for treason, and He Xiao wouldn't have ended up in Dahe Village, let alone met this peasant girl named Cheng Fang...

Her thoughts kept drifting back, she thought about many, many things, and stood there blankly, blocking the door.

Countless people were watching her.

She was completely unaware.

He Xiao led Cheng Fang to her, his face beaming with the joy of a groom. But the joy faded a little when he saw Luo Qi.

His face was completely indifferent: "Madam Luo, please make way."

"Oh dear, Madam Luo is blocking the way," the matchmaker said, waving her handkerchief. "The bride and groom are about to perform their wedding ceremony; they shouldn't be late for the auspicious time..."

Luo Qi suddenly woke up and quickly moved to the side.

Her eyes stung with tears, and she couldn't stay any longer, so she took her child's hand and left early.

No one present noticed where she went; they were all focused on the bride and groom's wedding ceremony, followed by their escort to the bridal chamber, and then the wedding banquet began...