Rebuilding Hua County

Madam Sang heard Cheng Shaoshang's words and shook her head in disagreement. Looking at Cheng Shaoshang's bewildered expression, she sighed and said, "His Majesty won't blame them, but the people of Hua County are right here in the city, watching every move. If they didn't have the resolve to give their lives as a family to face the enemy, how could they possibly serve as the officials responsible for an entire city?"

Seeing Cheng Shaoshang fall into thought, Wang Yue guessed she had remembered her own past. After a moment's consideration, he understood that she was thinking of the day her parents had left her behind to go to war.

Wang Yue could tell that Third Aunt Cheng was trying to defend Cheng Shi and Xiao Yuanyi. He didn't agree with the couple's actions either, and he was even more at a loss for words over the Cheng family.

The Cheng family's Old Madam had already been at odds with her daughter-in-law, Xiao Yuanyi. It was understandable that she disliked Xiao Yuanyi's daughter, but she had let Second Aunt Cheng treat Cheng Shaoshang that way for years. Forgiving her so easily was far too generous.

And Second Uncle Cheng was even more of a piece of work. Yes, he was disabled, but he was responsible for looking after his family. How could he watch his wife bully his niece for so many years? Wasn't that going too far?

As for Third Uncle Cheng... never mind. Let's say he was naïve and knew nothing of the world, and had been kept in the dark.

But Cheng Shaoshang had been neglected and deprived of food and clothing in her own home for over a decade. Had her parents never thought to make other arrangements for her?

It wasn't as if there was