The Incense Monopoly Order

Chapter 124 She left decisively

In the early winter of the capital, the cold wind was biting, seemingly able to penetrate Cheng Mian's thin coat and pierce his skin, causing his blood to freeze instantly and the chill to spread to his limbs.

His lips trembled uncontrollably as he tried his best to steady his voice and stared straight ahead: "The noble ladies of the capital are all charming and beautiful. In the past, I was narrow-minded, but now... now I realize that what I truly desire is not a woman like Third Sister."

Shang Mingshu turned around, her gaze cold and scrutinizing. Her lowered eyes fell on his tightly clenched arms, hidden in his wide sleeves. Because of the excessive force, his whole body was taut like a fully drawn bow, and even the thick winter clothes could not hide the slight trembling of his arms.

"Is Master Cheng telling me that you've fallen for someone else and are now in love with someone else?" Shang Mingshu remained remarkably calm, her voice still carrying the gentle softness of Jiangnan.

But each word pierced Cheng Mian's heart. He closed his eyes and squeezed out a single word between his teeth: "Yes."

Shang Mingshu curtsied to Cheng Mian and said formally, "Thank you for informing me, Third Master Cheng. Farewell."

She turned around decisively, her back straight, her face expressionless, and her steps measured.

There was no resentment, no condemnation, and not even any digging into the matter. It was as if they had traveled a thousand miles just for one answer, and whether that answer was good or bad didn't matter.

All she wants is someone who sees things through to the end...

Cheng Mian followed her retreating figure out of the corner of his eye. Only after she had gone far away did Cheng Mian turn around and gaze at her intently. As she walked away little by little, and her figure disappeared around the corner, he subconsciously wanted to chase after her, but the step he had taken slowly came back. A sharp pain shot through his chest, and he clutched his chest, suddenly feeling a metallic taste rise in his throat.

"Second Master, Third Master has vomited blood and fainted." Cheng She waited anxiously in the courtyard, and finally received this report from the servant.

Cheng She hurried toward Cheng Mian's courtyard and couldn't help but ask, "Where is Third Madam Shang?"

"Third Lady Shang has already left." The servant followed Cheng She's hurried steps. "I saw that Third Lady Shang showed no unusual expression."

Cheng She didn't respond. He knew what kind of person Shang Mingshu was; how could she easily show her emotions to others?

Cheng Mian was depressed and the cold wind made him feel dizzy. Doctor Pu followed Cheng She and stayed by Cheng Mian's bedside, not daring to relax for a moment.

"Second Master, Third Master's illness... is mainly a mental illness." Doctor Park sighed deeply.

Cheng She looked at Cheng Mian, who was lying on the bed, thin and in pain. He wondered if Cheng Mian was having a nightmare. His brows were furrowed, sweat was thick, and he was talking nonsense.

He took a deep breath and sat on the edge of the bed: "Third brother, if you don't survive this calamity, you will never be able to repay the debt you owe your third wife. If she knew that something had happened to you because of this, she would blame herself for the rest of her life..."

Cheng She couldn't continue his fabrication. The Shang Mingshu he knew would never be someone bound by personal feelings. Cheng Mian had said something to her, and her ability to leave calmly meant she had let go, but that didn't mean Shang Mingshu didn't care.

Even if Cheng Mian died today, knowing the cause and effect, she would not blame herself for it.

She had done nothing to wrong Cheng Mian, nor did she have any unwavering affection for him.

Cheng She, however, knew what Cheng Mian liked to hear; Shang Mingshu, in Cheng Mian's eyes, was clearly different from what he saw.

As expected, Cheng Mian reacted even more strongly. Physician Pu immediately took Cheng Mian's pulse and looked up at Cheng She, saying, "Second Master, you might as well say something more."

"Third brother, are you really going to let go of the person who tore you and her apart?" Cheng She couldn't continue with Shang Mingshu's story, so he changed his approach. "Is this what you want to see—your loved ones grieve while your enemies rejoice? Can your elder brother and sister-in-law bear to see you die young? If they knew the cause and effect, they would surely perish together with the person who harmed you..."

Cheng She was provoking his younger brother, while Shang Mingshu had already returned to the inn.

Xiangmingzhai had never ventured into the capital, and the merchants had never bought a house there. Shang Mingshu stayed at the best inn.

"Have Hemu prepare; we'll set off home the day after tomorrow," Shang Mingshu instructed He Sui, who was tidying up, as she returned.

They traveled light. While Shang Mingshu was away, He Sui personally went to buy clothes and the cosmetics, hairpins, and dresses that Shang Mingshu liked, thinking that Shang Mingshu would stay in the capital for a while. Unexpectedly, they only rested for one day before setting off back.

He Sui noticed Shang Mingshu's unusual behavior and dared not disobey. She first went to instruct her brother to prepare, and only after returning to the room did she say, "Wife, my brother said he found out about Master Cheng..."

Although Shang Mingshu went to ask Cheng Mian, she did not give up on verifying the information herself. With money paving the way, it was easy for He Mu to find out the details.

"No need," Shang Mingshu interrupted He Sui. "From now on, I have nothing to do with Master Cheng anymore."

"My wife!" He Sui exclaimed in surprise, her eyes filled with heartache.

She grew up with Shang Mingshu, who selected her from dozens of servants and nurtured her. She knows Shang Mingshu best.

The lady is reserved and cherishes herself. She loves herself before loving others and is very stingy with giving genuine affection to others, except for those with natural family ties like the master, mistress and her two elder sisters.

Over the years, Master Cheng has been the only person, not related to her, whom her wife has treated with such care and sincerity.

He Sui didn't know how much effort Shang Mingshu had put into Cheng Mian, but she knew that Shang Mingshu was willing to open her heart to Cheng Mian, which was rare for someone like Shang Mingshu who was so reluctant to give her feelings...

"My lady," He Sui knelt before Shang Mingshu, "please forgive my impudence this time. My lady is unhappy; would you please tell me?"

Shang Mingshu turned her head and personally helped He Sui up: "I know you're worried about me, I'm fine."

Is she sad?

Of course she did, but she had always protected herself very well. She had liked Cheng Mian before, and it was hard for Shang Mingshu to accept that someone she had liked had suddenly fallen for someone else.

Even though she could tell at a glance that Cheng Mian had something else going on.

This resentment is merely a matter of human pride. Cheng Mian has clearly made up his mind, so why should she keep arguing?

Should she delve deeper into the truth Cheng Mian was hiding? Should she seek revenge on the source of Cheng Mian's abandonment of her?
She has a stand as long as Cheng Mian is willing to speak out.

I'm afraid that if Cheng Mian finds out and tells her, she will definitely not let it go, given her personality. I'm also afraid of implicating her, so I keep quiet and say that it was my fault.

She wasn't appreciating Cheng Mian's good intentions; she was fulfilling his good intentions.

So be it.

She and Cheng Mian were perhaps never meant to be. Cheng Mian was too self-righteous in his concern for her, never believing in her abilities. Perhaps that was the nature of Cheng Mian's love for her.

Cheng Mian is a good person, but he and she are simply not meant to be...

After days of traveling, Shang Mingshu thought she would be unable to eat or sleep because of Cheng Mian's matter, but she was naturally indifferent and stayed up all night. She did not want to go out and waited for He Sui and her brother to make arrangements. Unexpectedly, she was greeted by an unexpected person.

"Third Miss, Second Master Cheng requests an audience."

The announcement from He Sui pulled Shang Mingshu back from her books.

She hesitated for a moment, but finally said, "Go and ask for a private room, and have the host prepare wine and dishes."

She couldn't possibly cut ties with the Cheng family forever, and Cheng Mian's actions weren't enough to make her resent them. She would still have to deal with them in the future.

She was indeed a born businesswoman.