The Devil's Tribulation

Chapter 855 Merchants’ Calculations

Nanzhou Pilgrimage City, Yingxian Villa.

Pan Chengfeng carefully slipped back into the room and hummed a little tune as soon as he entered the door: "I like you~~~ Those eyes are charming~~~ Your laughter is even more charming... Uncle Yun~!~!~~"

Pan Chengfeng was so scared that Ge ran away, thinking he was sneaky, but he was still discovered by Shangguan Yun~

Shangguan Yun chuckled and said, "You seem to be in a good mood. You came back so late. What were you doing?"

Pan Chengfeng thought for a moment and said with a smile, "Nothing, the room is too stuffy, so I'm just going to take a walk outside to relax~"

"Oh~~" Shangguan Yun said with a long tone, "Have you wandered five thousand miles south of the city?"

Pan Chengfeng's eyes widened in anger as he loudly demanded, "Uncle Yun, you actually peeked?!!"

Shangguan Yun coughed dryly and said calmly, "What nonsense! Am I that kind of person? How could I carelessly look at something I shouldn't look at?"

Pan Chengfeng didn't believe him, his face flushed and he said, "Why do you big guys love to peek?! Can you give me some privacy?"

Shangguan Yun's face darkened as he said, "Do you think this sect wants to meddle in your affairs? You're running out in the middle of the night. This is Nanzhou. How can this sect be at ease?"

"So you're worried about me~" Pan Chengfeng realized that he had misunderstood Guan Yun, and quickly apologized with a smile: "It was my disciple who misunderstood. It's so late, and I'm fine. You should go back and rest early~"

Pan Chengfeng felt a little embarrassed when he thought about being caught red-handed while sneaking out for a tryst, and wanted to send Shangguan Yun back quickly.

I thought Shangguan Yun would leave immediately, but seeing that he was still sitting there steadily, with no intention of leaving, Pan Chengfeng thought for a moment and asked hurriedly, "Uncle Yun, is there anything else?"

Shangguan Yun smiled slightly and gossiped, "When did you and Nangong Xing's daughter become together?"

Pan Chengfeng's mouth twitched. He thought Shangguan Yun was having some trouble. It turned out that he was just gossiping. He said with some displeasure: "Uncle Yun~ This is my disciple's privacy~"

Shangguan Yun slowly put away his smile and said seriously, "Do you think this sect likes to pry into your trivial matters?! Or do you think that your affairs with Nangong Wan are just your own business?!"

Hearing the hidden meaning, Pan Chengfeng understood and asked hurriedly, "Uncle Yun, you mean the Shang family?! The Shang family wants to rebel?!"

Shangguan Yun shook his head and said, "Shangjia isn't that bold. They're marrying into the Nangong family because they're planning to be a fence-sitter, hedging their bets. It's a really good plan!"

Shangguan Yun stood up and continued, "A great war will soon break out between the two Southeastern continents. Shangjia wants to remain unscathed in this war. How can our sect let him succeed?"

Pan Chengfeng continued, "There's also the Zijin Mansion. The Zijin Mansion wants to use the merchants to plant a nail in Dongzhou, so the two sides hit it off!

No wonder Wan'er said her marriage to Shang Jicheng was a done deal. It turns out there are so many connections involved."

Shangguan Yun sneered and said, "Nangong Xing and Shang Qianyong have been colluding for a long time. It was only a matter of time. But since the two demon-companion grasses appeared in Dongzhou, Zijin Mansion has accelerated its pace.

This sect really admires Nangong Xing for being willing to marry his daughter to Dongzhou~"

Pan Chengfeng chuckled, "Nangong Xing might lose both his daughter and his army. Nangong Wan is now 'mine'~"

He and Nangong Wan have been "frank with each other" tonight. Now that it's like that, doesn't that mean he is Pan Chengfeng's person?

Shangguan Yun chuckled and said, "Even if you kill Shang Jicheng, the Shang family will still let another Shang family descendant complete this marriage. It's better not to kill Shang Jicheng..."

Shangguan Yun stopped talking before he finished. He then gave Pan Chengfeng a meaningful look. Pan Chengfeng understood immediately and said with a turn of his eyes, "I understand, I understand~~ Haha, I will make him the second Yu Qian~"

The next day.

Pilgrimage City, Nangong Family Villa.

Nangong Xing and his son were busy for a long time before they arranged everything for all the big and small sects and families in Dongzhou. Today they can finally come back and rest.

Inside the courtyard, Luzhu hurried back to Nangong Wan's room and shouted, "Miss, Miss, the master and the eldest young master are back~"

Nangong Wan took a deep breath and said, "I'm going to see Daddy~"

In the living room, Nangong Xing was drinking tea and talking with Nangong Tian when Nangong Wan hurried in.

Seeing his daughter like this, Nangong Xing's face sank. He put down his teacup and snorted, "Look at you! You're about to get married, and you're still so impulsive. If others see you, they'll laugh at the rules of our Nangong family!"

Nangong Wan quickly put away her frivolous attitude and bowed politely, saying, "Daughter pays her respects to father~"

Seeing that Nangong Wan didn't talk back today and even saluted obediently, Nangong Xing put away his sullen face and nodded, "Okay, get up. You want to see Daddy right after he came back. What's the matter?"

Nangong Wan hesitated for a moment, then mustered up the courage to say, "My daughter will meet Shang Jicheng this afternoon..."

Hearing that this matter was brought up again, Nangong Xing was unhappy and interrupted, "Let's talk about this matter again. There's no need to continue. Let's go down."

Nangong Wan felt a wave of loss in her heart. She had completely given up hope and continued, "I know I can't change my father's decision, so I plan to wait patiently at home for Shang Jia to propose marriage."

Nangong Xing was stunned when he heard this, then he said happily: "Wan'er, have you finally figured it out?"

Whenever this matter was mentioned before, the father and daughter would quarrel, and Nangong Xing was so afraid to face his daughter directly. This was actually because he felt guilty.

He kept saying how great Shang Jicheng was, but no matter how great it was, his daughter didn't like him. What could he do? He had no choice but to force her to do it, using his father's status to pressure her.

To be honest, Nangong Xing was not feeling well either. He only had this one daughter, and he usually held her in the palm of his hand, but for the sake of the sect and his family, he could only bear the pain.

Seeing his daughter finally understand, he smiled kindly and said, "Okay, okay, I met Shang Jicheng a few days ago. He's a handsome man, gentle and refined, even more handsome than your brother."

Nangong Tian was unhappy when he heard this and said, "Father, you are exaggerating. Although he is good-looking, he is still a little behind me. You will know when you see him this afternoon."

Nangong Wan saw that the time was almost right and said, "Dad, I have a favor to ask of you. I hope you can agree to it."

Nangong Xing was now happy in his heart, and said with a smile: "Whatever it is, Wan'er, just tell me. As long as Daddy can do it, I will definitely agree to it~"

Nangong Wan thought for a moment and said softly, "My daughter knows that the merchant will come to propose marriage soon. I hope that father will delay for the time being, not accept the betrothal gift, and not announce the news to the public."

Nangong Xing frowned when he heard this, and asked in confusion, "Why is that?" Nangong Wan continued, "My daughter wants to wait until the competition is over before making it public."

Nangong Tian also asked, "Little sister, this is a matter of time. What difference does it make if we make the news public a few years later?"

Nangong Wan sighed and said, "I'm a girl. Shang Jicheng is going to participate in this competition. If something happens to him during the competition, will my sister's reputation be ruined?"

Hearing this, the three words "wangmen guai" appeared in the minds of both father and son at the same time.

Nangong Xing pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly and said, "Wan'er is right. If this is true, my reputation will be ruined in the future."

"Being a widow at home" is very unlucky for people of this era.

If Shang Jicheng died right after Nangong Wan got engaged to him, she would be labeled as a "jinx", "unlucky star", "husband-killer" and so on. Once a woman is labeled as such, it will be difficult for her to find a good family.

Nangong Tian also agreed: "Father, for my sister's sake, since the Shang family has come to propose marriage, you should put it off for now and reply to the Shang family after the results of the competition are out."

Anyway, it would only take three to five years, so the merchants would not have any objections. So Nangong Xing made the decision. Looking at Nangong Wan, he said apologetically, "Daddy was not thoughtful before. Daddy agrees to this matter~"

After receiving Nangong Xing's affirmative reply, Nangong Wan breathed a sigh of relief and smiled slightly, saying, "Dad and brother are busy all day, so some omissions are inevitable. I will go downstairs to prepare first."

Nangong Xing smiled kindly and said, "Yes, we need to prepare well. Daddy's daughter will definitely charm the merchant boy~"