MHMWTTSBATUAS 367: The Pass Given by Third Young Master Hou to Ensure His Entry into the Cabinet
From afar, Ling Xiaoxuan saw Qin Ruan standing with the members of the Hou family.
Today, she came with her cousin. In the past, if she saw Qin Ruan, she would have approached her without hesitation regardless of the occasion.
But now, Qin Ruan status was different. Surrounded by the Hou family and the four major clans, Ling Xiaoxuan dismissed the idea of approaching her.
Once the status and position changed, even if she wanted to treat Qin Ruan as before, she had to be cautious about certain details.
Ling Xiaoxuan sat on a tall stool, holding a glass of red wine, casually surveying the wedding venue arranged by the Nangong family.
The decoration was luxurious, romantic, and filled with an atmosphere of love.
All of this seemed ironic to Ling Xiaoxuan.
Why did Nangong Chang marry Xiao Wenrou? Anyone with a bit of intelligence among the upper class could see it at a glance.
For so many years, the Nangong family had been trying to climb up. The Su and Xiao families had already shown respect towards the Nangong family as their leader.
Both the Su and Xiao families were pawns of the Nangong family, but in the end, the Xiao family had gained the upper hand by obtaining a marriage alliance with the Nangong family.
As for the Su family, which had just lost its alliance with the Hou family, the Nangong family regarded them as a discarded pawn.
Of course, the Su family, being a prestigious family, couldn't be completely discarded.
Ling Xiaoxuan had heard from her cousin last night that there was some unclear relationship between Nangong Chang and Su Jingshu. It seemed that the relationship between the two families would not be greatly affected by the alliance between the Nangong and Xiao families.
"Xiaoxuan!"
Qin Ruan and Hou Yunjiao walked over and saw her gazing at the distant heart-shaped decoration adorned with pink roses.
Ling Xiaoxuan turned around and saw Qin Ruan and Third Young Master Hou standing beside her. A bright smile appeared on her face.
When she met the cold and emotionless eyes of Third Young Master Hou, her smile became more restrained.
Ling Xiaoxuan put down her wine glass, stood up, and grabbed Qin Juan's hand excitedly. "I knew you would come."
Qin Ruan understood why she guessed that. Recently, almost everyone in the capital's upper class knew that Third Young Master Hou was married, and she, as the center of attention, would definitely make an appearance today.
Qin Ruan looked Ling Xiaoxuan up and down and noticed that her skin had become slightly darker. "Where have you been playing lately? Why has your skin become darker?"
"Tsk, can you not focus on my skin?" Ling Xiaoxuan pretended to be displeased.
She had an unmistakable smile in her eyes, and her tone was pleasant. "I went to the south with my cousin a few days ago and spent some time at the beach. I got quite tanned. My skin tends to darken quickly but takes a while to recover."
Qin Ruan couldn't help but see that she had a great time on her trip to the south and teased, "I can see that you enjoyed yourself."
Ling Xiaoxuan reached up and tousled her wine-red wavy hair, exuding a seductive air. She squinted her satisfied and flirtatious eyes and chuckled, "It was alright."
Ling Zeheng, who was talking to someone not far away, casually glanced over and noticed Third Young Master Hou and Qin Ruan standing beside Ling Xiaoxuan.
He exchanged a few words with the person he was talking to and hurriedly walked over.
"Third Young Master Hou."
Ling Zeheng greeted Hou Yunjiao, standing beside him.
Hou Yunjiao nodded slightly to him, his eyes assessing Ling Zeheng, who was tall, with distinct and profound facial features and a gentle and warm expression.
For some reason, a glimmer of contemplation flashed in his deep eyes. "What have you been busy with lately?"
Ling Zeheng showed a hint of surprise on his face but quickly regained his composure and smiled lightly. "Just busy with random things, living my life."
His position in the Ling family was special. His job title was neither high nor low. If he wanted to move forward, it would require an exceptional promotion from above.
He thought that Third Young Master Hou's question was merely casual.
A faint smile played at the corner of Hou Yunjiao lips as he lightly said, "You've been in your current position for quite some time. It's time to make a move."
His voice was casual, as if he was sighing casually.
Ling Zeheng's hand, holding the wine glass, tightened involuntarily. His pupils contracted, and the muscles on his cheeks tensed.
He tried hard to maintain his composure and whispered, "Yes, after being in contact with the same things for a long time, I have also thought about changing to a different position, seeing if I can handle unfamiliar official duties. Unfortunately, I always miss out on some easily reachable opportunities, and there is some regret in my heart."
Hou Yunjiao sized up Ling Zeheng, and a genuine smile appeared on his face. He enjoyed dealing with intelligent people.
Ling Zeheng was the most promising member of the Ling family to enter the center of power. At a young age, he was already highly regarded by those above him, but there was a roadblock in front of him.
The Nangong family's silence for a few years gave the Ling family a faint sense of surpassing the other six major families.
If the Nangong family wasn't truly disinterested in climbing up, they wouldn't hinder Ling Zeheng's advancement into the cabinet.
The reason he had the ability but hadn't been able to climb up was due to the Nangong family's interference.
The Nangong family would never allow the Ling family to surpass the other six prestigious families.
Hou Yunjiao voice contained a smile as he said to Ling Zeheng, "The cabinet should also introduce a fresh batch of blood. Your family will be involved in the process."
Ling Zeheng's voice was hoarse as he asked, "May I ask, Third Young Master Hou, how certain are you?"
"One hundred percent," Hou Yunjiao tone was steady, leaving no room for doubt.
This could be considered as giving Ling Zeheng a pass to smoothly enter the cabinet.
Ling Zeheng wasn't foolish; he knew that such a good opportunity wouldn't come without a price.
He lowered his gaze to the wine glass in his hand, gently swirling the liquid inside, and tentatively asked, "Next year's evaluation is approaching, and the capital seems to be restless lately. What are Third Young Master Hou thoughts on this?"
A sinister smile appeared at the corner of Hou Yunjiao mouth, and his deep and affectionate peach blossom eyes narrowed slightly. His aura was lazy yet luxurious. "You don't need to test me. Letting you enter the cabinet is to train you. Sooner or later, you will leave the Ling family. It's better to make some plans early. Once you enter the cabinet, your only duty will be to assist the new ruler. You won't be needed for anything else."
He spoke slowly and in a low voice.
Ling Zeheng licked his lips and raised his glass to Hou Yunjiao. "Thank you, Third Young Master Hou. I'm grateful."
Hou Yunjiao glass lightly tapped Ling Zeheng's glass in the air, his voice filled with a smile. "For the sake of my little girl."
The two of them shifted their gaze to Qin Ruan and Ling Xiaoxuan, who were engrossed in their lively conversation nearby.
They paid no attention to what Hou Yunjiao and Ling Zeheng were talking about.
Women's conversations never stray far from beauty, skincare, weight loss, shopping, and men.
However, Qin Ruan and Ling Xiaoxuan were discussing a woman.
"Qin Ruan, let me tell you, Li Manning has such amazing skin. If I didn't know she would be performing live today, I wouldn't have wanted to come."
Ling Xiaoxuan rubbed her newly done nails, her face filled with excited anticipation.
Qin Ruan recalled the artist named Li Manning, and all the information about her flooded into her mind. This woman was extremely famous and had been the queen of the entertainment industry for many years.
"She seems quite mysterious."
Ling Xiaoxuan squinted her eyes and nodded in agreement. "Yes, apart from filming dramas and holding concerts, she rarely participates in variety shows. And she works almost every day of the year, if not completely booked, it's close to it. According to statistics, she doesn't even have a month of rest in a year."
Qin Ruan sat on a high stool, resting her chin on her hand. "I've heard that she's very hardworking."
Hou Zhi approached, carrying a glass of freshly squeezed juice for Qin Ruan and whispered, "Madam, this is freshly squeezed juice. Please try it and see if it suits your taste."
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