Chapter 539: Qin Ruan and the Child, Third Young Master Hou's Weakness
Chapter 539: Qin Ruan and the Child, Third Young Master Hou's Weakness
Hou Yunjiao, with his handsome and cold appearance tinged with exhaustion, had a hint of bloodthirsty fierceness in his eyes.
"Is grandfather here?" He spoke in a gentle tone.
The servant took his coat and lowered his head to report, "The old master knows that the Second Young Master and the Third Young Master have returned. He is waiting in the study."
Hou Yunjiao rolled up his sleeves and walked upstairs with a composed stride.
"Younger brother, wait for me!"
Hou Yirong tossed his coat to a servant and hurriedly caught up.
Before going upstairs, he also gave instructions to Hou Qiang and Hou Chuan, "You two go back and rest for now. If there's anything, we will inform you!"
"Yes, Second Young Master..."
Hou Qiang and Hou Chuan left with Hou Zhi, who lay pale-faced on the stretcher.
Upstairs.
Old Master Hou hadn't slept all night.
He sat on the wicker chair in the study, holding a cup of warm tea in his hand.
"Knock, knock..."
The study door was knocked from the outside.
The old master knew that his two grandsons had returned.
A touch of faint sadness flickered in his wise eyes.
What was destined had finally come.
"Knock, knock..."
The door was knocked again.
The old master turned his head. "Come in."
The door was slightly ajar, so it only needed a gentle push to open.
Hou Yunjiao and Hou Yirong, after hearing the old master's response, pushed open the door and walked in.
"Grandfather..."
The two of them walked in and stood in the center of the study, calling for someone.
Old Master Hou pointed to the sofa opposite, saying, "Sit down, have you eaten?"
Hou Yunjiao stood there with a dignified and elegant demeanor, not moving.
His slender almond-shaped eyes sparkled like stars, with a hint of warmth and a faint touch of detachment and chill.
At this moment, Hou Yunjiao looked like a refined and gentle young gentleman.
He didn't seem like an executioner about to raise his blade and wipe out a family.
"I've already eaten," Hou Yunjiao's unique deep voice resounded.
Even if he tried to suppress it, the intent to kill in his words couldn't be completely concealed.
The old master sighed softly, "Sit down and tell me what's going on. It's not urgent for the moment."
A gentle smile appeared at the corner of Hou Yunjiao's mouth, his affectionate eyes narrowed slightly, giving him a lazy and luxurious appearance.
He walked to the designated seat pointed out by the old master and sat down, displaying an elegant demeanor in every movement.
Seeing that his grandfather kept staring at his younger brother, Hou Yirong couldn't wait for the old master to shift his focus to the other side. He deliberately sat far away from his younger brother.
Old Master took a sip of the warm tea in his hand and asked in a hoarse voice, "Ah Jiao, have you changed your mind on this journey?"
The smile deepened slightly on Hou Yunjiao's lips, and his gaze became calm like water.
"Grandfather, I haven't."
His tone was firm and unquestionable.
The Nangong family must be eradicated.
Since the moment they planned to target Qin Ruan and the child and made their move against the Hou family, the capital city was no longer a place for this family to exist.
The old master lowered his gaze and sighed inwardly.
His grandson had a cold heart.
Now, with someone occupying his heart, his cold heart hadn't softened but instead became even more ruthless in his methods.
In the past, this child had a carefree nature and would turn a blind eye as long as the major families and aristocratic clans didn't engage in direct conflicts. Many matters were left to Yirong, and he sought peace of mind for himself.
In these past few months, Hou Yunjiao had frequent contact with people from various families, and the old master had noticed it all.
Hou Yunjiao was manipulating things behind the scenes, preparing to elevate the Lu family and send the Ling family members to the cabinet.
All of this was paving the way.
As for who he was paving the way for, the old master knew very well.
Qin Ruan was carrying two children in her womb.
Their mother, has now become Hou Yunjiao's weakness.
The Nangong family is inescapable this time because they were the first to target Qin Ruan and her unborn child.
After a long while, Old Master raised his gaze and looked directly into Hou Yunjiao's calm eyes.
"Ah Jiao, if the Nangong family is involved with the Wu clan, try not to make any moves unless absolutely necessary."
"If they see the situation clearly and retreat, then fine. But if they remain obstinate, Grandfather, I won't let them off."
Hou Yunjiao spoke slowly and deeply.
There was an indescribable peculiarity in his tone, clearly conveying a dangerous aura.
The old master pursed his lips and spoke with a slightly heavier tone, "Have you forgotten about the century-long agreement between the Hou family and the Wu clan?"
"Grandfather, why did the Hou family sign a century-long agreement with them?"
Hou Yunjiao stared directly at his grandfather with a solemn expression, his deep eyes seeming bottomless like a cold abyss.
Huo Old Master shook his head, his wise gaze firm.
He made no mention of the century-long agreement with the Wu clan nearly thirty years ago.
Hou Yunjiao furrowed his brows slightly, and he tapped his slender jade-like fingertips on his folded knees.
Suddenly, a barely visible curve appeared at the corner of his seductive lips. "Grandfather, even if you don't say it, I can probably guess."
The old master's eyes narrowed slightly, but he remained silent.
Hou Yunjiao continued, "The Hou family signed the century-long agreement with the Wu clan twenty-nine years ago. At that time, I hadn't been born yet. I should have been in my mother's womb, and I was born in the second year after the agreement was signed. Can I reasonably suspect that the Hou family signed the agreement with the Wu clan because of me?"
The old master's gaze trembled slightly, and his hand holding the teacup shook.
He took a deep breath and met his grandson's deep eyes. "Ah Jiao, stop asking."
Hou Yunjiao lowered his gaze and stared at the few drops of water that spilled from the teacup due to his grandfather's trembling hand.
The tea stained his grandfather's soft clothing fabric.
Hou Yunjiao's eyes dimmed slightly, and his voice softened. "Alright, I won't ask."
He didn't want to burden his grandfather. In recent years, the old man's health seemed strong, but he was getting older, and his body was no longer as robust as before.
"Ah Jiao, what would it take for you to spare the Wu clan?"
Hou Yunjiao lowered his gaze, concealing the dangerous gleam in his eyes. "If the Wu clan firmly allies with the Nangong family, I cannot spare them."
"I will personally speak to them about this issue and make them give up on the Nangong family."
Old Master's concession was indeed perplexing.
Hou Yunjiao raised his gaze, expressing his disagreement. "Grandfather, you taught me that indecision leads to chaos, and nurturing a tiger will invite disaster."
He couldn't understand why his grandfather, who was known for his iron-fisted methods, was so lenient towards the Wu clan.
Even if it was true that the Hou family signed the agreement with the Wu clan because of him.
Considering the actions of the Wu clan today, they had already crossed the Hou family's bottom line.
Old Master smiled amicably.
He spoke with a profound tone, "Ah Jiao, if we can spare the Wu clan, we should spare them. Now is not the time to resolve them."
Hou Yunjiao raised an eyebrow slightly. "So you mean we can deal with them later?"
"The time has not come."
The old master's answer was ambiguous.
It was impossible to guess his true intentions.
It didn't sound like he would be lenient with the Wu clan.
Suddenly, Old Master asked in a solemn voice, "Ah Jiao, among the four major families and the six noble families of the capital, if the Nangong family departs, which family will fill their position?"
"The Fu family in the south."
Hou Yunjiao's answer was decisive and without hesitation.
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