The whole family died tragically? The eldest daughter is the most powerful in the capital after her

The old lady kept her lips tightly shut, still refusing to speak.

"You...you are forcing me to do this," the old lady choked in a low voice, deep pain in her voice, "I can't watch Eighth House die, he is my own flesh and blood!"

Veins bulged on Marquis Yongliang's forehead and he felt extremely painful in his heart, but at this moment anger had replaced pleading.

He stood up slowly, his expression hardened: "Mother, since you insist on doing this, don't blame your son for being unfilial! Even if you refuse to tell me, I must be responsible for the Qi family. The Qi family cannot be buried with the Eighth House's mistakes!"

After saying this, Marquis Yongliang turned around and looked at the two maids standing behind the old lady who had served her for many years - Madam Sun and Madam Rong.

These two maids are the old lady's confidants and have always been loyal to her.

Marquis Yongliang knew that it was very likely that they knew what the old lady was unwilling to say.

"Someone, drag Mother Sun and Mother Rong out and beat them with fifty sticks! Until they speak!" Marquis Yongliang ordered in a cold voice.

There was silence in the hall. The old lady looked up suddenly, with disbelief and fear in her eyes, and said in a sharp voice: "You dare!"

Yongliang Hou gritted his teeth, his heart aching, but his tone was still cold: "Mother, since you are unwilling to tell me, then I can only ask them. No matter what, today I want to know the truth about my connection with the Eighth House."

Following Marquis Yongliang's order, several servants rushed forward and forcibly dragged Mother Sun and Mother Rong out.

Although the two maids are old, they are absolutely loyal to the old lady and would rather be punished than betray her.

The old lady panicked and slumped on the couch, her eyes full of fear and pain. She struggled hard to stop it, but found that she was powerless.

Her voice was trembling and pleading: "Don't hit them! You can't do this! They don't know anything!"

Marquis Yongliang had a blank expression on his face, his heart felt as if it was being cut by a knife, but he did not waver.

Only through these two maids can the truth be forced out.

He gritted his teeth and said, "Mother, if they really didn't know, they wouldn't have suffered this. But if they knew but didn't tell anyone, the lives of all the people in the Qi family would be in danger because of them."

Outside the hall, the sound of beatings rang out continuously, and each blow shook the air in the entire mansion.

Mother Sun and Mother Rong looked pale, but they did not give in at all.

"Tell us what you know and you will be spared physical pain!" the officer in charge of the punishment said coldly, trying to get them to talk.

However, the two maids still kept their lips tightly shut and refused to say a word.

In the end, both of them were beaten unconscious.

The old lady was so angry that she spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed on the couch.

She covered her chest, her face was as pale as paper, her eyes were dull, and her whole body was shaking slightly.

"Mother!" Upon seeing this, Yongliang Hou immediately stepped forward to support the old lady, his voice filled with anxiety and worry, "Quick, call a doctor!"

The servants in the marquis's mansion hurried to call for the doctor, and the atmosphere in the house seemed frozen.

The marquis's wife stood aside with a frown on her face. Looking at Marquis Yongliang's anxious look, her heart was also filled with helplessness and pain.

She stepped forward and gently advised, "Master, please don't be too anxious. The old lady is just angry for a moment. Let's wait until the doctor comes."

Marquis Yongliang did not respond, but supported the old lady and let her lean steadily on the cushion. However, the pain and anger in his heart mixed into endless torment at this moment.

No matter what, he could not forgive his mother for sacrificing the fate of the entire family for the obsession of the Eighth House.

Soon, the doctor rushed over and took the old lady's pulse and treated her.

"The old lady's qi and blood are attacking her heart, and her blood and qi are stagnant. If she continues to be so excited, I'm afraid her health will deteriorate further. She needs to rest and recuperate, and don't be stimulated again."

After hearing this, Yongliang Hou felt relieved, but his face was still heavy.

He nodded and said, "Thank you, doctor."

After the doctor left, Yongliang Hou let out a long sigh, his heart full of confusion.

He stood up, and after a moment of silence, he turned to the Marquis and whispered, "Mother refused to confess. Maybe there are correspondence records with Old Eight. If these evidences fall into the hands of others, the Qi family will be finished. We must find them."

The Marquis’ wife understood the urgency of the situation and whispered, “Master, I will accompany you.”

Marquis Yongliang nodded, then turned around and told the maid and servants to guard the door, while he and the marquis's wife walked into the old lady's inner room.

Yongliang Hou stood in front of the bookshelf and began to look through the books carefully.

The Marquis's wife also whispered to the maidservant beside her: "Search carefully, especially under the bed and in the secret compartments behind the bookcase. Don't miss any."

The maids immediately began to search, and every corner of the room was carefully checked, but nothing was found.

Yongliang Hou stood in the middle of the room with a gloomy look and a furrowed brow.

"Mother wouldn't leave evidence so easily."

Madam Hou said softly, with a calm analytical tone, "Although mother feels sorry for the Eighth House, she also knows that these things are fatal. I guess she has already burned the letters, so there will be no trace left."

Yongliang Hou was silent for a moment, then said in a cold voice: "No matter what, if the letter cannot be found, we cannot let mother interfere in this matter again."

"Master, you have to be ruthless."

Madam Hou advised softly, "After all, mother is old, and she has deep obsessions in her heart. Since you have decided to protect the Qi family, you can only put mother's affairs aside. Just serve her well and don't let her interfere in the affairs of the mansion again."

Yongliang Hou closed his eyes, feeling a sharp pain in his heart, but he had no choice.

"Pass the order down, all the maids and maids in the old lady's yard will be replaced."

Yongliang Hou's voice was cold and emotionless. "You will personally arrange for your trusted aides to come in and serve. From now on, you will be in charge of all the affairs of my mother's courtyard. She is not allowed to have any contact with the outside world."

The Marquis's wife nodded and said, "Don't worry, Master. I will arrange everything properly."

Qi Zeshen returned to his mansion with a serious look on his face.

Yongliang Hou had been waiting for a long time. When he saw Qi Zeshen coming in, he immediately stood up to greet him, his eyes full of anxiety: "What did the emperor say? What exactly does your majesty mean?"

Qi Zeshen nodded slightly and said in a deep voice: “Father, the emperor has made it clear that the affairs of the Eighth House must be handled by the Qi family themselves.

The court has already given the Qi family one chance, and there can be no more room for them. The emperor wants us to completely eradicate the Eighth House, and to do so without mercy."

Upon hearing this, Yongliang Hou clenched his fists tightly and his expression instantly became cold.

After a moment, he smiled coldly, his voice low and resolute: "Your Majesty really has made arrangements in advance. It seems that he has long known that the Eighth House will definitely become a disaster."

"Father, the emperor's intention is very clear. We can no longer hesitate. The Eighth House has become a cancer in the Qi family and must be eradicated."