Chapter 408 The Old Couple Questioned

Zong Zhao looked at her deeply and replied, "Okay."

In the courtyard.

Cuizhi followed them and was stopped at the door: "The old lady has ordered that no one is allowed to approach the yard."

Cuizhi was confused.

What happened? What a big fight.

Xu Wan understood. She turned to Cuizhi and said, "You two wait outside first."

"yes."

Xu Wan took Zong Zhao's arm and went in. They saw the old couple, one standing and one sitting. Each of their faces looked uglier than the other, and the atmosphere in the room was very depressing.

Xu Wan let go of Zong Zhao's hand, walked up to the old lady and whispered, "Mother-in-law, you don't look well. I'll take you to have some food and rest first."

The old lady waved her hand and said, "No need. I'm not hungry or tired. I'll just listen here."

Xu Wan's heart skipped a beat.

I had a feeling I was going to be interrogated badly.

The old marquis was a hot-tempered and straightforward man. He asked Zong Zhao directly, "Zhao Yumin, Ma Congzhang, and Zong Qiyun, are their deaths related to you?"

The General Zhenxi standing in front of him was their best son and their only surviving son. The old marquis didn't want to suspect him, but these three murders were too bizarre.

He found out today when he went to Zong Qiyun's house that the deaths of the other two people had been reported to the Dali Temple, but the final result of the Dali Temple's investigation was that they died of illness.

The three people died mysteriously, but the Dali Temple easily covered it up. There are only a few people in the capital who have such extraordinary ability.

Zong Zhao denied it expressionlessly: "No."

The old marquis and the old lady had never doubted what he said, but this straightforward denial made it impossible for them to believe it.

The old marquis said in a stern voice: "No? If there is no relationship, Zong Qiyun has not had any contact with us for many years. Why did he suddenly come to our house yesterday and ask to see you? And why did he die on the street after leaving our house without even entering his own house?"

The atmosphere in the house was tense and eerily quiet.

Zong Zhao replied calmly, "The reason he told us yesterday was that he was afraid that we would be deceived by those two and feel sad for nothing. As for why he died on the street, the Dali Temple said he died of illness, so I have no idea."

The old marquis was so angry that he turned around and said, "Okay, okay, you don't know. Then tell me, what did you mean by asking him yesterday? Why did you suddenly bring up Zong Yan? What exactly happened to you in the army?"

Zong Zhao's eyelashes flickered slightly, and he said softly: "It's just a small trouble, we can handle it."

The old marquis was extremely anxious, but his son's calm reply made him feel like ants were crawling on his heart. He was not a good talker and could not win the argument with his son.

Finally, the old lady spoke up. She stood up with red eyes and asked in a trembling voice, "Zhao'er, tell me, is Zong Yan's death... related to them?"

Everyone said that Zong Yan died fighting for his country and was a hero in the hearts of the court and the people, but that was also her child, the flesh and blood she had spent many years conceiving and ten months carrying...

She just wanted an answer, the truth.

Zong Zhao clenched his fingers and said calmly, "No."

"You're lying." The old lady finally shed tears. She walked in front of Zong Zhao, looked at her tall son, and repeated, "Zhao'er, I know your emotional changes best. You're lying... It's related, right? Zong Yan didn't die in battle normally. He was killed by them, right? It was your uncles."

Zong Zhao felt very upset. He really wanted to say yes, but he couldn't. His parents were old and could not stand such a blow.

He said in a trembling voice: "No, mother, please stop talking nonsense, uncles..."

"Pa——" a slap hit him on the face.

Zong Zhao's face was tilted by the blow and he swallowed back the words he hadn't said.

He thought: This is good, I don't have to make up those lies.

This was the first time that Zong Zhao had been beaten since he was a child. He had been sensible since he was young and did his best in everything. His parents had never worried about him and he was a good son praised by everyone in the capital.

But at this moment, the old lady couldn't help it. She knew her son was lying. Even though he knew they were eager to know the truth, he still chose to lie.

Xu Wan was also startled by this change. She quickly stepped forward and stood in front of Zong Zhao and advised: "Mother-in-law, please calm down. Zong Zhao did nothing wrong. Don't treat him like this..."

The old lady was still emotional and could not listen to the advice. She continued to shout at Zong Zhao: "Speak, tell us the truth. We are your parents. Don't we have the right to know the truth?"

Zong Zhao felt bitter in his heart. He said with difficulty: "This is the truth. Zong Yan died fighting for the country. It has nothing to do with the uncles. You are overthinking it."

"Okay, okay, if you don't want to tell me, just follow me." The old marquis couldn't bear it any longer, and dragged Zong Zhao out roughly.

"Father-in-law!" Xu Wan was eager to catch up.

The old lady held Xu Wan back and prevented her from interfering.

Although the old lady was old, her hands were quite strong. Xu Wan did not dare to struggle any harder, fearing that she would hurt her. She could only anxiously say, "Mother-in-law, the Dali Temple said that he died of natural causes. Why did you two treat Zong Zhao like this? If you continue to make a fuss like this, everyone in the mansion will be alarmed."

The old lady looked at her beloved daughter-in-law and said with red eyes: "Because I am not only Zong Zhao's mother, but also Zong Yan's mother." She let go of Xu Wan's hand and quickly chased after her.

Xu Wan also hurriedly followed and asked Cui Liu who was guarding outside, "Have the old marquis and his family left the house?"

Cui Liu replied, "No, it went towards the backyard."

"Backyard?" Xu Wan thought about the many people who were talking and ordered her, "Go and tell all the servants to go downstairs and rest. They are not allowed to talk about what happened today. Anyone who can't control his mouth will be sold by Mother Zhao."

"Yes." Cui Liu hurried to do the work.

Xu Wan also quickly followed.

Ancestral hall of the clan.

The old marquis dragged Zong Zhao over and pushed him in. Zong Zhao looked up and saw rows of tablets. The most obvious one was the one he had seen and wiped countless times...

"Zong Yan..." His voice was a little hoarse.

The old lady and Xu Wan arrived soon.

They watched helplessly as the old marquis took up Zong Yan's tablet and stood naked in front of Zong Zhao, asking in the most ruthless voice: "Come, in front of your brother, repeat what you just said."

The old lady covered her mouth, but couldn't hide her sobs.

Xu Wan was also shocked. The old marquis understood Zong Zhao too well. He knew that Zong Yan was their soft spot, as well as Zong Zhao's soft spot. It would hurt the most if it hit there.

Zong Zhao was startled and couldn't help but take a step back.

He wanted to escape from here.

But the old marquis held him tightly and forced Zong Zhao to look at Zong Yan's tablet. With red eyes, he questioned: "Say it again to this tablet: your brother Zong Yan died fighting for the country, he died to protect the country, say that he died innocently, cleanly, and that his death had nothing to do with your three uncles!"