The Incense Monopoly Order

Chapter 135 A Beautiful Woman, I'll Be Your Matchmaker
With Song Moyin and Zhang Yushuang as witnesses, even if Fang Xuyun died shortly after being sent out of the inn, Shang Mingshu was merely going through the motions at the yamen.

When the Zhu family arrived, they only hastily took away Fang Xuyun's body. Leaving aside Fang Xuyun's public revelations about the Zhu family's mistreatment of her, the Zhu family was also somewhat inferior to the Shang family in terms of wealth. The Shang family had even brought ruin to Fang's family; how could they possibly stand up for someone who had disgraced their family?
Moreover, Shang Mingshu associated with the wife of the county magistrate and the wife of the Duke, and the Zhu family later offered generous gifts to apologize.

“With your skills, if you don’t want her to die, she won’t die.” Zhang Yushuang returned with Shang Mingshu, propping her chin up with her hand, her gaze slightly lazy, and a faint smile on her lips.

She wasn't exceptionally beautiful, but she possessed a natural allure. Normally, she was elegant and dignified, but only those who could make her lower her guard could see this side of her.

Zhang Yushuang knew that Shang Mingshu was skilled in martial arts. The two became friends because Shang Mingshu helped her out of a sense of justice. At that time, she was persecuted by her family and almost lost her life in the mountains. If it weren't for Shang Mingshu, she wouldn't be alive today.

"Why pity someone who is courting death?" Shang Mingshu tacitly agreed. She was perfectly capable of avoiding Fang Xuyun's scheme and simply watched as Fang Xuyun ran into the golden hairpin.

Zhang Yushuang lightly tapped her face with her fingertips. She wasn't some compassionate bodhisattva, but Shang Mingshu's frankness put her at ease: "You're going to the capital because of the young man you mentioned in your letter?"

She had previously written to Shang Mingshu, intending to arrange a good marriage for Shang Mingshu, but Shang Mingshu replied that she already had someone in mind, so she had no choice but to give up.

Xiangmingzhai did not have a branch in the capital. Shang Mingshu had no relatives or friends in the capital and braved the cold winter snow to go there. It could only be for the young man mentioned in the letter who was going to the capital to prepare for the imperial examination.

She left the capital, but she didn't miss the commotion there. Recently, a major event had occurred in the capital: the daughter of Censor Yan died suddenly after someone stopped the Grand Secretary Yan's sedan chair to file a complaint. After a little inquiry, the cause and effect became clear.

"Yes." Shang Mingshu lowered her eyes and drank her tea.

"Surname Cheng?" Zhang Yushuang immediately guessed who the young man Shang Mingshu hadn't mentioned to her was, and couldn't help but think further, "Lady Yan died suddenly..."

Shang Mingshu looked up, smiling at her, everything understood without words.

After understanding, Zhang Yushuang gave her a thumbs up and said with interest, "If your marriage is not going to happen, why don't I continue to act as your matchmaker?"

Shang Mingshu smiled helplessly.

Zhang Yushuang was extremely enthusiastic: "There is no better husband than him, and he is a perfect match for you."

"Such a fine young man, why don't you keep him for yourself?" Shang Mingshu retorted.

Zhang Yushuang sighed deeply: "We are too well-matched in terms of social status. His family is at the height of their power and influence. My mother sent someone to sound him out. Not only me, but all the ladies of high-ranking families in the capital want to marry him. His elders have said that they don't care about social status and want to find a suitable husband for their children."

Why do they want to marry their child to someone they like? Why don't they interact with other families? How can they find someone they like if they don't interact with them? Anyone with a brain knows they want to marry someone of lower status so that the person on the throne can have a better relationship with them.

The most important thing is to disregard social status.

Zhang Yushuang knew what Shang Mingshu wanted. Shang Mingshu had never hidden her relationship with her, and she also understood Shang Mingshu's personality.

“I am of equal social standing to you, and I fear I am not worthy of your status,” Shang Mingshu politely declined.

She wanted to marry into a higher social class. She felt that even Xu Tianxing's social standing was too far behind. Compared to someone from a distinguished family like Zhang Yushuang, wouldn't she be of a higher social standing than Xu Tianxing?

Judging from the praise in Zhang Yushuang's words, this young man must be a talented man, making her even more unworthy of him.

It's not that Shang Mingshu is belittling herself, but the disparity is too great. In the future, when her closest relatives come to visit, she won't be able to stand up straight.

"Don't be so quick to refuse." Zhang Yushuang really wanted to make this marriage happen. First, she felt that Shang Mingshu could make up for the family's shortcomings; second, she believed that the other party would be attracted to a woman like Shang Mingshu; and third, if the marriage went through, Shang Mingshu and she could have frequent contact, which would also be a way for the Zhang family to tie themselves to the Lu family. "The Lu family has an upright family tradition, Commander Lu is in charge of the Emperor's trusted Imperial Guards, and Lu Sanlang is a young and talented man..."

"Lu Sanlang?" Shang Mingshu asked in surprise, a handsome and masculine face appearing in her mind.

"You've seen her?" Zhang Yushuang guessed from Shang Mingshu's tone that she had just returned from the capital.

"We met only once." Shang Mingshu nodded. She had met not only Lu Sanlang but also Commander Lu. "I'm afraid it won't work out."

Shang Mingshu had some guesses about Cheng She's identity. If her guesses were true, Commander Lu would probably have already mistakenly thought that she and Cheng She were a couple. Now that Zhang Yushuang was acting as a matchmaker for her and Lu Sanlang, what would Commander Lu think of her?
It was too complicated; she didn't want to get involved, especially since the Lu family was of such high social standing.

"You've seen it, and you still refused?" Zhang Yushuang asked incredulously.

Lu Sanlang's appearance was outstanding among the younger generation in the capital, and his abilities were also unparalleled. No one in the entire capital could surpass him, yet Shang Mingshu actually refused!

“We are not a good match.” Shang Mingshu shook her head with a smile. “I have met Lu Sanlang, and he would never be interested in me.”

In the hearts of the Lu family father and son, she had already been given another identity.

Seeing that Shang Mingshu wasn't making excuses, the clever Zhang Yushuang guessed that there must be something Shang Mingshu didn't know and couldn't tell her. She could only click her tongue in regret and then asked, "Should your flower tea be set up under Xiangmingzhai, or should you start a new business?"

“Set up another business.” Shang Mingshu had already made up her mind. “The method of scenting tea is derived from someone else’s tea recipe. Although these flowers were developed by my second sister inspired by the tea recipe, I will not set up a business in Suzhou. If the profits become too huge in the future, it may cause trouble. I must not involve Xiangmingzhai.”

"Have you chosen a name yet?"

"The Incense Monopoly Order".

Zhang Yushuang went over it in her mind and nodded, "That's not bad. How about I take a stake in the shops in the capital?"

As the legitimate daughter of the Duke's family, the Duke of Changguo, though not a long-established noble, was not short of money. Shang Mingshu knew that she was using the shareholding as a legitimate way to protect and promote her.

"I couldn't ask for more." Shang Mingshu didn't refuse such a kind offer.

Zhang Yushuang stared at her for a moment with satisfaction: "Since you don't reject my kindness, why don't you say everything you need to say?"

Shang Mingshu did have other things to do, but Zhang Yushuang's heartfelt treatment of her made her suddenly change her mind, and she slowly shook her head: "No..."

"Tell me your thoughts. Whether I'm willing or not is my own business." Zhang Yushuang guessed that Shang Mingshu felt she was being a bit too demanding.

"I'd like to invite you to my home," Shang Mingshu said, no longer hesitant. "But the journey hasn't been very peaceful."

"Would you put me in danger?" Zhang Yushuang asked.

Shang Mingshu replied decisively: "No."

Zhang Yushuang laughed and moved her arms: "I'll travel with you through dangers. When we get to your house, you'll have to cook for me yourself. You'll have to do all three meals a day... Hmm, it's getting cold. I'll try your cook's cooking for breakfast."