Chapter 625: Marrying Ruan Ruan is My Honor
Chapter 625: Marrying Ruan Ruan is My Honor
Hou Yunjiao lifted a cup of tea from the table and offered it to Qin Ruan.
"This tea is very light. Ruan Ruan, give it a try?"
His fingers were long and fair, and the way he held the teacup was elegant and pleasing to the eye.
Qin Ruan's gaze moved away from Hou Yunjiao's attractive hand as she accepted the delicate teacup he handed her.
She brought the teacup to her lips and took a sip.
The taste of the clear tea was refreshing and pleasant, leaving a lingering aftertaste.
Ninth Uncle noticed how considerate Hou Yunjiao was towards Qin Ruan, and his cheeks twitched twice.
Hou Yunjiao was the legitimate son of the Hou family and the next successor to the Hou family's power.
Yet, he was being so cautious and attentive towards a woman who didn't even have a prestigious background.
What made this woman so special?
In the past, the women who could enter the Hou family were all from prominent families.
Qin Ruan's background was truly unworthy, making it difficult for her to fit into high society.
Ninth Uncle picked up the dragon-headed cane beside him.
"Bang! Bang!"
He knocked the cane against the ground twice.
Hou Yunjiao and Qin Ruan turned their heads in response.
Ninth Uncle, with his wise eyes, stared at Hou Yunjiao and spoke solemnly, "Yunjiao, according to the rules, we old folks shouldn't meddle in the affairs of the Hou family's punishment hall."
"But if an outsider takes control of the punishment hall, we'll have to make a move. We can't just stand by and watch the Hou family be invaded by outsiders."
"Throughout history, the punishment hall has always been in the hands of the Hou family's rulers. It's an ancient rule passed down from generation to generation, never broken. We can't afford to make mistakes at this point. Don't you agree?"
Hou Yunjiao accepted the teacup Qin Ruan handed him and placed it casually on the table.
He raised his eyelids and looked calmly at the elderly man sitting across from him.
"Ninth Uncle, the one who can rule the Hou family can only be the legitimate heir, as you know."
Ninth Uncle nodded.
Hou Yunjiao smiled lightly and reached out to touch Qin Ruan's belly. "Ruan Ruan is carrying my child. Whether it's a boy or a girl, they will be the legitimate heir of the Hou family and the next successor."
"The management of the punishment hall by the mother of the next successor is perfectly justified. It's the best arrangement. Even if I'm not here anymore, with the punishment hall in their hands, I can rest assured that they won't be bullied."
Qin Ruan's hand, which was resting on top of Hou Yunjiao, tightened in response to his words.
A trace of displeasure emanated from her, and her whole body exuded an irritable aura.
Ninth Uncle gripped the dragon-headed cane tightly, and his cheeks trembled a few times due to his anger.
He let out a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and said in a milder tone, "Yunjiao, don't try to appeal to my emotions. I won't fall for it."
"Rules are rules, and today, I'm not speaking for myself, but for us, the old folks who have witnessed four generations of Hou family leaders. Outsiders cannot meddle in the punishment hall. That's the bottom line."
Ninth Uncle made his position clear.
Even at his age, he was not afraid of the younger generation's emotions.
He simply couldn't bear to see an outsider meddling in the affairs of the Hou family's punishment hall.
The Hou family's main wives could enter the core of the Hou family, but the punishment hall was different. It was a trump card held by the rulers of the Hou family.
It had extraordinary significance and represented the authority of the Hou family.
Hou Yunjiao lifted the teacup and took a sip, moistening his throat.
His posture was calm and noble, and his peach blossom eyes were filled with an inscrutable chill.
Hou Yunjiao didn't even raise his eyelids as he nonchalantly said, "Ninth Uncle, rules are made by the living for the living."
Ninth Uncle squeezed the dragon-headed cane, and his fingers pointed at its head as he snorted.
"Rules are more important than anything else. We old folks are still alive, and as long as we're alive, we'll never let an outsider meddle in the punishment hall."
Hou Yunjiao's lips curled up into a faint smile, and his expression remained refined and elegant.
He raised his eyes, and the calm in his eyes receded, replaced by a deep, chilling gaze.
"Why argue for a moment? Even if you stop it now, what about the next ten years?"
He had only ten years left in his life.
Even if the elders of the Hou family now prevented Qin Ruan from taking over the punishment hall, they wouldn't be able to prevent it in the future when the child grew up.
Ninth Uncle understood the implied meaning behind his words. "Yunjiao, I don't have many years left. Even if I'm gone, there will be others."
"The elders of the Hou family have their own positions, and they will never agree to let an outsider meddle in the punishment hall. No one will support her!"
With his last sentence, Ninth Uncle pointed his finger at Qin Ruan, and sharp light flashed in his eyes.
Qin Ruan's hand, which was resting on top of Hou Yunjiao, tightened in response to the gesture.
She stared at Ninth Uncle, her icy gaze sending shivers down one's spine.
Qin Ruan lightly opened her lips, "You can speak without pointing at me. I hate being bossed around."
If she had a good impression of Ninth Uncle before, it had disappeared now.
He was now pressuring Lord Huo, and that annoyed her.
Ninth Uncle said sternly, "Is this how you talk to your elders?"
"Elder?" Qin Ruan sneered, "You're really putting on airs. What kind of elder are you to me?"
"Bang! Bang!"
Ninth Uncle pounded the dragon-headed cane on the ground.
"Outrageous! You're too arrogant, too mouthy. You lack the grace and magnanimity of a woman from a prestigious family. You come from commoner origins, and now that you're in the Huo family, you don't know how to behave..."
"Ninth Uncle!"
Huo Yunjiao interrupted, putting an end to Old Ninth Huo's hurtful words.
He spoke with displeasure, "Ruan Ruan is my wife, and she doesn't need your guidance."
Ninth Uncle tightly gripped the dragon-headed cane, and his cheeks trembled a few times due to anger.
He let out a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and spoke in a milder tone, "Yunjiao, the woman you want to marry should at least come from a scholarly family, even if she's not from one of the four major families."
Ninth Uncle pointed at Qin Ruan. "But what is her background? Having such a woman by your side will only disgrace the Hou family. She's not worthy of you."
His tone was gentler, but every word he said pierced the heart.
Both his words and his demeanor were filled with disdain.
The smile on Huo Yunjiao's face faded, and he embraced Qin Ruan in his arms. "You're wrong. Ruan Ruan is young, beautiful, and intelligent. She's carrying the fourth generation's legitimate heir of the Hou family in her belly. It's my honor to marry her."
"Ruan Ruan doesn't need anyone to boss her around. She is my wife, and as long as the Hou family stands, everyone will have to consider her feelings for the rest of their lives."
The words from Ninth Uncle had a hidden threat.
Behind his exquisite and handsome appearance, there was a trace of anger.
Ninth Uncle opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to say something, but Hou Yunjiao continued, "Regarding the affairs of the punishment hall, you elders don't need to worry. I won't hold it against you for what you did yesterday, but there can't be a next time."
He was referring to the incident with A158.
Ninth Uncle was behind that incident, sending A158 to Qin Ruan.
The purpose was to make Qin Ruan back down.
Hou Yunjiao had the Hou family's cruelty in his blood, and his overbearing nature was beyond doubt.
His warning to Ninth Uncle clearly showed his anger.
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