Chapter 596:I feel like you're digging a pit for me to jump into
Chapter 596:I feel like you're digging a pit for me to jump into
When Hou Chuan called the medical team, he immediately received the news that his third brother had fainted.
At the same time, he also received the dreadful news from the Su family that Su Jingshu's child had passed away.
The collision of these two events made him emotionally unstable and somewhat indiscreet in front of Qin Ruan.
Qin Ruan lazily leaned on the sofa with a faint smile at the corners of her mouth.
Her voice devoid of emotions replied, "Third Young Master is still unconscious. I'm considering whether to send him to Xiangxi Manor. They say it's suitable for his recuperation."
Hou Yirong nodded, "Indeed, Third Brother would find it easier at Xiangxi Manor."
Qin Ruan furrowed her brows, her gaze falling on her bulging belly.
After a while, she looked towards Hou Qiang, Hou Chuan, and Lin Hao not far away.
"Have the servants pack my things, and we'll head to Xiangxi Manor when Third Young Master wakes up."
The three men, each with their unique characteristics and restrained aura, hadn't spoken yet when Hou Yirong expressed surprise, "Does that mean you want to go along too?"
Qin Ruan raised her eyebrows slightly, a playful smile on her lips, "Is that not allowed?"
Hou Yirong pursed his lips and said, "Third Brother prefers peace and quiet."
Qin Ruan, in a languid manner, replied, "I'm quite quiet, not noisy."
Hou Yirong continued, "When Third Brother is sick, he is weak and doesn't want others to see."
Qin Ruan lifted her eyebrows slightly, "It's okay, I'm blind."
"Cough cough..."
Hou Yirong was stunned by Qin Ruan's self-deprecating humor.
He saw that she was determined to go to Xiangxi Manor.
After thinking for a moment, he earnestly said, "It's good to have you by Third Brother's side. You see, he likes quietness, but deep down, he also wishes to have someone to accompany him and talk to him."
Qin Ruan understood and nodded gently, "I see, he's an introvert."
"Cough cough..."
This time, it wasn't Hou Yirong speaking, but Hou Qiang and Hou Chuan, who were not far from Qin Ruan.
They had been by their master's side for many years, and it was the first time they heard someone describe the Third Young Master like that.
Qin Ruan turned her gaze towards them, narrowing her eyes, "Are you two catching a cold? If you're sick, stay at home and don't infect Third Young Master."
Hou Chuan hurriedly replied, "Madam, we're not sick, just got choked by saliva."
Qin Ruan touched the edge of the sofa, running her fingers back and forth.
She stared at the two men, her smile growing deeper, her voice low with a hint of sarcasm, "You're all grown-ups and still getting choked? Can you take care of Third Young Master like this?"
Hou Qiang and Hou Chuan lowered their heads, listening to her reprimand, not daring to speak again.
They knew Qin Ruan was in a bad mood, and she was venting her frustration on them.
In the end, it was because Hou Yunjiao had concealed his illness from her.
Qin Ruan lightly furrowed her brows, seemingly dissatisfied with their silence, "I think you two should stay behind at home instead of following us to Xiangxi Manor."
Compared to Hou Qiang's composure, Hou Chuan seemed a bit anxious, "Madam, we can handle it."
Qin Ruan smiled playfully, deliberately making things difficult for him, "I don't see how capable you are."
Hou Chuan stared into her deep black eyes, momentarily unsure how to respond.
Hou Yirong spoke up to break the tension, "Sister, stop making it hard for them. In the Hou family, as long as it's something Third Brother orders, they won't disobey. Even if the Old Master comes, they won't say a word."
Qin Ruan looked surprised, wearing an innocent expression, "Why do you think I'm making it hard for them? I'm clearly just showing concern."
She gazed at them innocently, and anyone unaware would think that it was Hou Yirong who was causing her trouble.
Hou Yirong couldn't help but recall that Third Brother used to tell him that Qin Ruan wasn't mature enough and needed more care. Now, he couldn't refute that.
Hou Yirong reached out and tapped Qin Ruan, smiling helplessly, "You're just like a child."
Qin Ruan remained calm, not refuting or admitting.
She was intentionally making things difficult for Hou Chuan and Hou Qiang, just venting her emotions harmlessly.
She couldn't blame Hou Yunjiao, that Hou Chuan and Hou Qiang were by his side.
So, she could only take it out on them a little.
Hou Yirong suddenly asked Qin Ruan, "Sister, do you want Hou Chuan and Hou Qiang to listen to your orders in the future, never hiding anything from you?"
Of course, Qin Ruan hoped that Hou Chuan and Hou Qiang would never hide anything from her when it came to matters concerning Hou Yunjiao.
She looked puzzled, "What do you mean, Brother Yirong?"
Hou Yirong touched his slightly longer, untrimmed hair and stared at Qin Ruan with a smile, his voice carrying a hint of temptation, "Take over the Punishment Hall of the Hou family."
Third Brother had always wanted Qin Ruan to take over the Punishment Hall and lay a foundation for herself in the Hou family. Hou Yirong knew about this.
"The Punishment Hall?"
Qin Ruan had heard about this place many times.
She didn't know what the Punishment Hall represented to the Hou family, but she could sense that it held significant importance.
Hou Yirong's slender eyes revealed a warm and gentle light as he continued to entice Qin Ruan, "If you take over the Punishment Hall, all the dark guards in the Hou family will be loyal to you. Hou Qiang, Hou Chuan, and Hou Zhi will also obey your commands, and they won't dare to deceive you about anything."
Qin Ruan looked at him, thinking something was off, "Brother Yirong, why do I feel like you're digging a pit for me to jump into?"
"That's where you're wrong. Remove that feeling and be confident."
Hou Yirong smiled teasingly, putting his thoughts out in the open, "Currently, the Punishment Hall is under Third Brother's control, with Hou Chuan managing it. He needs to consult Third Brother for all major and minor matters."
"The people who go to the Punishment Hall have committed wrongdoings and need severe warnings. Even if they don't die, they'll be punished severely. If you can take over the Punishment Hall,
you can help alleviate Third Brother's burden. You've seen it, Third Brother's body can't recover without proper rest for a few months."
Qin Ruan pondered, her face showing contemplation, "I can't do it."
The Hou family's Punishment Hall was related to all members of the Hou family, even the core connections between the main and branch lines.
Once she got involved, she would be entering the heart of the Huo family.
As she was, taking over the Punishment Hall would be illegitimate and wouldn't gain everyone's approval.
Qin Ruan considered all aspects but overlooked one thing—Third Lord's determination to pass the Punishment Hall to her.
Hou Yirong's smile faded slightly, "Sister, you can think it over. Being the mistress of the Huo family is not an easy role. Even if you don't consider yourself, you need to think about the child in your belly. You should know that with Third Brother's delicate health, there are still many noble ladies in the capital eyeing him, or more accurately, the position of the Hou family's mistress. Do you understand what I mean?"
Qin Ruan nodded, her expression calm as she replied, "With Third Young Master by my side, I believe he can protect me and the child."
She exuded confidence, leaving Hou Yirong somewhat at a loss.
He frowned and said in a deep voice, "But what if he's no longer here? The elders of the Hou family and other branch members may not recognize your identity, and what will you do then?"
Saying this, Hou Yirong also felt uncomfortable in his heart.
But he had to make Qin Ruan understand one thing.
Although the Hou family's main branch was harmonious, those elders and branch members might not necessarily recognize Qin Ruan's identity.
Hou Yirong had put in a lot of effort, but his words still stung Qin Ruan.
Qin Ruan's eyes flashed with a fierce light, and she stared at Huo Yirong expressionlessly.
"Second Brother, as long as I'm here, Third Young Master will always be by my side, with our child!"
Her voice was low and resolute, carrying a hint of anger.
Qin Ruan didn't like anyone bringing up the topic of Hou Yunjiao life or death.
Seeing Qin Ruan getting angry, Hou Yirong raised both hands, "I was just making a comparison. Since you've married Third Brother, you have to become a part of this family."
He looked down at Qin Ruan's belly, "In another three or four months, the child will be born. Whether it's a boy or a girl, as long as it's from the Hou family's main branch, they will have to bear the weight of the Hou family. You need to consider that."
Qin Ruan's eyelashes drooped slightly as she felt the child tumbling in her belly.
They were very active, never calm inside her belly.
She could imagine how lively they would be once they were born.
Qin Ruan spoke softly, "Second Brother, I need to discuss this with Third Young Master."
Hou Yirong's lips slightly curled up, "Sure, Third Brother also hopes you can share his burdens, and he will definitely agree to it."
Qin Ruan didn't respond, her small and exquisite face serious.
Suddenly, she raised her head, her gaze scanning back and forth between Hou Yirong, Hou Qiang, and H2uo Chuan.
"This time, Third young master's illness came on fiercely. Can any of you tell me why?"
"Don't you know?" Hou Yirong's face showed a surprised expression.
Qin Ruan shook her head, "I knew about Third Young Master's illness half a month ago. He came back that night, so it shouldn't have been a big deal. But this time, what happened?"
Hou Yirong's sharp gaze shot towards Hou Qiang and Hou Chuan.
Both of them bowed their heads, looking guilty.
Qin Ruan narrowed her eyes, a cold light flashing in them, "Are you hiding something from me?"
How many more things were they keeping from her!
Hou Yirong was closest to Qin Ruan and felt the unrestrained anger emanating from her.
He didn't hide it either and straightforwardly exposed the others, "Half a month ago, Third Brother fell ill and hurriedly went to Xiangxi Manor. He returned that night after taking Ling Xu's medicine. The medicine had side effects, and his body hasn't fully recovered until now."
Qin Ruan gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with coldness, "So the side effect is that his body becomes weaker day by day?"
She remembered the night when Hou Yunjiao left. She had no appetite and didn't eat dinner. In a daze, she opened her eyes to find herself lying in Hou Yunjiao's arms. He was worried that she hadn't eaten, so he rushed back to the Hou family late at night and instructed the kitchen to prepare her favorite dishes.
The extent to which Hou Yunjiao cared for her made Qin Ruan's heart soften.
Why was he so foolish? Even if she skipped a meal, she wouldn't starve to death, why was he so concerned?
Hou Yirong noticed the tenderness on Qin Ruan's face and said, "After taking the medicine, Third Brother needs at least several months to recover. Qin Ruan, he cares a lot about you."
"I know," Qin Ruan's hand trembled as she touched her belly.
The level of concern Hou Yunjiao had for her and the child made her feel flustered and suffocated, unable to put it into words.
Did he know that she also cared deeply about his health?
Why did he have to do such things that harmed his own body just to put her mind at ease?
It was too unfair!
Qin Ruan relaxed her body, leaning against the back of the sofa, her eyes somewhat vacant.
She felt like she owed Hou Yunjiao more and more.
As Qin Ruan felt guilty, Hou Yirong brought the topic back to the Punishment Hall, "Sister, next month, I will publicly execute someone in the Punishment Hall. I hope that before that, you will have thought it through and agreed to take over the Punishment Hall. You should know that using the Hou family's main branch to deter others is the most effective way to silence them. Consider it as a welcome gift for your unborn nephew or niece."
Before Qin Ruan could respond, a weak voice came from the direction of the second floor.
"Hou Yirong, your welcome gift seems a bit shabby," said a voice from upstairs.
Everyone turned their faces to look in the direction of the voice.
Hou Yunjiao stood on the second floor, dressed in a sleeping gown, with an elegant demeanor. Despite his pale complexion, his aura was steady and powerful, exuding the presence of an unrivaled expert.
Hou Yirong shrugged, looking like a rascal, "Third Brother, you should know, I'm the poorest in this family."
Hou Yunjiao replied with a gentle expression, "Every day, you handle business worth tens of billions, even hundreds of billions. Who would believe you are poor?"
"That's so unfair! I'm just a worker, working exclusively for you, and not even getting paid," Hou Yirong retorted.
Hou Yirong stood up, hands in his pockets, and said, "As a worker, it's time for me to go to work. I won't be a third wheel here. Bye."
He addressed Qin Ruan, who was looking up at him, "Sister, see you later."
Qin Ruan stared at the man on the second floor without turning her head, her tone cold, "Goodbye."
"Tsk!" Hou Yirong clicked his tongue and left.
His departing figure appeared calm and free-spirited, unlike his anxious and struggling demeanor when he arrived.
On the second floor, Hou Yunjiao and Qin Ruan, who was downstairs, locked eyes in a silent exchange.
Neither of them spoke.
Finally, Third Lord broke the silence, "Old Qiang, come up, I have something to tell you."
"Yes, Third Young Master!" Hou Qiang promptly ascended the stairs with steady steps.
Hou Yunjiao turned his gaze away from Qin Ruan, his back facing her, and walked towards the spacious corridor.
After Hou Qiang went upstairs, he caught up with his master.
As Qin Ruan sat downstairs, she lowered her eyes, a faint smile appearing on her lips.
In the brief exchange with Third Young Master just now, she sensed his guilt.
Qin Ruan's fingertips moved slightly as she instructed Hou Chuan, "Tell the servants to pack my things. When Third Young Master is done with his business, we'll head to the Xiangxi Manor."
"Yes," Hou Chuan immediately summoned two servants to go upstairs.
The vast hall was left with only Qin Ruan and Lin Hao.
After a while, Qin Ruan suddenly spoke, "Brother Hao, do you know about Third Young Master taking medicine late at night half a month ago?"
Lin Hao shook his head, "I knew Third Young Master came back, but I didn't know about him taking medicine."
Qin Ruan nodded, and her solemn expression softened.
She got up and walked towards the door.
Lin Hao followed, maintaining a distance of three steps behind her.
Qin Ruan reached the door of the sunroom and said to Lin Hao, who was following behind, "You don't need to come in."
She pushed open the glass door and stepped inside.
In the late autumn, the precious flowers in the sunroom were not as bright and dazzling as in summer.
The blooming period for many varieties of flowers was short, and those beautiful blossoms would have to wait until the next year.
Qin Ruan walked to the resting table, her peaceful aura slightly suppressed, emanating a dominant and chilling presence.
She extended her hand and slowly opened it.
A black sphere, emitting a sinister aura, floated from her palm.
*** this chapter is so long that it took me for awhile to finish 😪
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