護花近衛 - 第3856章 卷卷熊報信 - 翰墨軒

This was no mere excuse. For a figure like Shangguan Tianxia, even the most trivial action would be subjected by interested parties to every manner of elaborate interpretation; were he to heed Nan Tianguan's words and rashly take Hong Zhong to task, it would all too easily be twisted into a sign of displeasure with the Hong Clan Chamber of Commerce.

Therefore, exactly as Shangguan Lan'er had said, unless Nan Tianguan could produce irrefutable evidence, Shangguan Tianxia would never step forward so lightly.

"Grandfather, you see? I was right again! The Threefold Pavilion is forbidden to meddle in the affairs of the market chambers—you cannot be the first to break the rules. Besides, Grandfather Hong has always been so kind to your granddaughter; it was he who gave me Little White. How could you let a few one-sided words put Grandfather Hong in such an awkward spot?" Shangguan Lan'er said, her face full of smug satisfaction.

"Yes, yes—little Lan'er sees it clearest of all," Shangguan Tianxia chuckled.

Watching the grandfather and granddaughter play off each other so smoothly—and noting especially that trace of unfathomable depth so deeply hidden in Shangguan Tianxia's eyes—Nan Tianguan finally understood with a start: this Pavilion Master had never, from first to last, had any real intention of stepping forward to intervene. He had been putting on a performance for Nan Tianguan's benefit all along!

Nan Tianguan even strongly suspected that Shangguan Tianxia must have secretly coached Shangguan Lan'er on those words right there in his presence. Otherwise, how could a naive young girl like Shangguan Lan'er, relying solely on herself, have delivered a rebuttal so watertight and so piercingly to the point?

What he did not know was that Shangguan Tianxia's acting was genuine, but he had never once coached Shangguan Lan'er to play along. To be honest, even Shangguan Tianxia himself had not expected Lan'er to step forward and say such things.

Amid his gratification, Shangguan Tianxia could not help but feel a pang of regret. At first glance his granddaughter might seem naive and sweet, but she had fine talent and quick comprehension, and her mind was remarkably nimble—by any measure a cultivation prodigy of the first order. What a pity she simply had no ambition, simply could not abide the tedium of cultivation. What was a man to do?

Now that Shangguan Tianxia had said his piece so plainly, Nan Tianguan knew that lingering here was futile—it might even earn him the Young Lady's disgust. He had no choice but to bow respectfully, kneeling and prostrating himself: "Then... this disciple takes his leave."

Shangguan Tianxia gave the faintest nod. Then he looked no more upon him, letting Nan Tianguan withdraw.

Watching Nan Tianguan's receding back, Shangguan Lan'er stuck out her tongue and said, "Grandfather, that man is truly wicked—scheming to goad you into moving against Grandfather Hong! What ill intentions!"

"Heh heh—he no doubt came off badly in some encounter with your Grandfather Hong, and so he thought to borrow my hand to give him a warning shot," Shangguan Tianxia said, shaking his head with a smile. Nan Tianguan was a man of some cunning and calculation, but to try playing mind games before a top-tier titan of Shangguan Tianxia's stature was far too callow.

"Hee hee, the man actually thought he could use you as a spear! Clever in his own conceit! If you ask me, you ought to teach him a lesson and let him remember it!" Shangguan Lan'er said, her face alight with gleeful malice.

Any other titan of slightly smaller caliber, solely on account of Nan Tianguan's petty scheming and to preserve his own dignity as a great man, would never have let him off easy. Shangguan Tianxia, however, paid it no mind whatsoever. At his level, he already possessed a grand vision all his own, and would never stir to anger over so trivial a thing.