The Incense Monopoly Order

Chapter 145 General Xu, I am honored by your kindness
The following day, Du Zhong awoke amidst Shang Wenshu's earnest anticipation and careful care. He struggled to go to the government office with Shang Wenshu's accompaniment and presented the evidence he had gathered, including the fact that the box of gold he had ordered to be given to Chi Wulang had also been tampered with. The irrefutable facts left Chi Wulang with no room to deny them.

Even so, Ike Goro still made numerous excuses and stubbornly denied that he had a close relationship with Shi Houqiong.

"Did he finally confess?" Zhang Yushuang was even more eager to know the answer than Shang Mingshu.

He Mu replied respectfully, "Your Highness, I confess."

"Why?" Zhang Yushuang and Shang Mingshu exchanged a glance, both curious about the reason why Chi Wulang changed his tune.

Having fought with Ike Goro, Shang Mingshu knew that this man had guts and that ordinary torture could not pry open his mouth.

"I only heard that he confessed after Master Cheng left." He Mu lowered his head in fear. Shang Mingshu had sent him to keep track of the situation, but his abilities were limited, and he could only find out so much.

Did Cheng She pry open Chi Wulang's mouth? And who pried open Chi Wulang's mouth? He had no idea.

"Second Master Cheng?" Zhang Yushuang keenly caught the title, and after a moment's thought, asked, "Is he the elder brother of your previous man?"

She wasn't sure if they shared the same surname or were actually related.

Shang Mingshu nodded slightly.

Zhang Yushuang's gaze suddenly turned scrutinizing. She looked past Shang Mingshu at Shang Zishu, silently questioning her with her eyes.

Although they had only known each other for a short time, they had a great understanding of each other. When their eyes met, Shang Zishu understood what Zhang Yushuang wanted to ask. She glanced at her sister and nodded slightly to Zhang Yushuang in affirmation.

Zhang Yushuang nodded in realization, gave a soft "oh," and gestured to her maid, "Go with Hemu and investigate."

She was extremely curious about the outcome. Zhang Yushuang was of noble status, and Madam He had even sent an invitation to the Shang family to invite her to their home. However, Zhang Yushuang was a famous courtesan and did not want to cause a commotion, so she declined.

Not wanting the Duke of Changguo's mansion to mistakenly believe that Madam He had been impolite, Madam Xiaoyu instead invited Madam He to the mansion as a guest, which would also allow the two of them to meet.

Zhang Yushuang inquired and, as long as it didn't involve government secrets or official business, was able to obtain more accurate and faster information than others.

“Ming Shu, what do you think of this Second Master Cheng…” After dismissing the servants, Zhang Yushuang began to tease Shang Ming Shu.

Shang Mingshu placed the chess piece in her hand, looked up and smiled slightly at Zhang Yushuang: "Just a casual acquaintance."

Her mind was entirely focused on the Shang family business, with a new shop about to open. Her affections for her children were, of course, secondary. When fate brought them together, she didn't resist; when fate hadn't brought them together, she didn't force it.

Zhang Yushuang pouted in displeasure. As she turned to write a letter home, she couldn't help but mention the matter to her closest brother. She really admired Shang Mingshu and asked her brother to keep an eye out for Shang Mingshu to see if she had any virtuous character, regardless of whether she came from an official family or was a newly appointed scholar. As long as she was exceptional and had a promising future, he should keep an eye out for her so that she could introduce her to Shang Mingshu.

Inevitably, when praising Shang Mingshu, the topic of Shang Mingshu rejecting Lu Yi would be mentioned.

The heir of the Duke of Changguo was close to his younger sister, despite their age difference. Zhang Shizi was also on good terms with Lu Yi. A few days after receiving the letter, he met Lu Yi at a banquet and couldn't help but mention the matter to Lu Yi in private.

That's a story for later. Before the two finished their game of chess, several people arrived at their door. Chen Che arrived first to visit Shang Zishu. Shang Zishu had just been helped away by a servant when Xu Tianxing arrived. Madam Xiaoyu sent someone to invite Shang Mingshu and Zhang Yushuang to see the guests. The moment Zhang Yushuang saw Xu Tianxing, she knew that this tall and handsome young man was interested in Shang Mingshu. Her eyebrows couldn't help but rise high, and her gaze subtly shifted between the two of them.

"Madam Shang, Tianxing would like to have a few words with Third Miss in private. Is that alright?" Xu Tianxing, being a soldier, didn't bother with pleasantries after exchanging greetings and went straight to the point.

Madam Yu looked at Shang Mingshu, and after Shang Mingshu nodded slightly, she smiled and said, "The plum blossoms in the plum garden are in full bloom. Mingshu, why don't you take Madam Zhang and General Xu to see them?"

She said she was taking the two of them to the Moon Gate, where she used the plum blossoms to entice them to stop and not move forward, thus giving the two of them the opportunity to continue.

"Third Sister, I will be returning to Shaoxing soon." The two hadn't gone far; Zhang Yushuang could see them standing in the plum grove. Xu Tianxing remained as straightforward as ever. "Before I leave, I'd like to ask Third Sister, what are your thoughts on what I said that day?"

"General Xu, I am honored by your kind words." Shang Mingshu bowed slightly. "This humble woman has no interest in romantic relationships at present."

Xu Tianxing was particularly tall, and Shang Mingshu was considered tall among the women, but he still had to bend down and lower his eyes to take in her face.

He was open and upright, and although he had been rejected by her three times, he felt only regret and remorse, yet he was also determined not to give up easily.

He knew all too well that he could only meet one woman in his life who was as dazzling as a pearl, who could make his heart flutter and whose beauty captivated him. If he missed her, he would regret it for the rest of his life.

“Third Miss is not in the mood for these things right now, so I will wait until Third Miss is in the mood…”

"General!"

"Third Lady," Xu Tianxing interrupted Shang Mingshu's attempt to persuade and refuse, "I am nearing thirty and still unmarried. I am determined to find a suitable partner. Marriage, for me, is a lifelong commitment and cannot be taken lightly. Before meeting you, Third Lady, there has never been a woman who inspired me to settle down. You are the first woman in my life I have ever wanted to join hands with, marry, and spend my life with."

I know Third Sister is honest, and I am willing to wait for her. Third Sister need not feel guilty; this is my choice to be true to my heart. No matter what the future holds, I am doing this for myself.

If we don't fight for him today, he will never be able to let go of this for the rest of his life.

Shang Mingshu knew that Xu Tianxing participated in the suppression of the Japanese pirates because he had heard about Cheng Mian's matter and made a special detour to Huizhou. In order not to expose his whereabouts, he disguised himself and sent someone to pretend to be returning to Shaoxing.

He took a huge risk and inadvertently made a great contribution. If Shi Houqiong had known that others were there, Shaoxing would have been locked in a bloody battle. Even if he had made proper arrangements and Shaoxing had escaped unscathed, he would have been accused of dereliction of duty by his political enemies if he had not been careful.

From a public perspective, Shang Mingshu does not approve of Xu Tianxing's actions.

Privately speaking, what woman in this world wouldn't be secretly delighted to be so favored and valued?
Shang Mingshu was an ordinary young woman; to claim she was completely unmoved would be too untrue. However, this ripple of favoritism barely touched her, leaving no deep mark, and she quickly regained her composure.

"General..."

"Third Madam, I still have official duties to attend to. I hope that when we meet again, Third Madam will change her mind." Xu Tianxing understood that Shang Mingshu was still rejecting him and did not want to hear the rejection again, so he simply took his leave first.

Shang Mingshu didn't have to say anything; Xu Tianxing understood, and that was enough. She still wanted to save face and politeness, so she smiled and saw him out.

"Tsk tsk tsk, so it turns out that not only Lu Sanlang, but even General Xu was ruthlessly rejected by you." Zhang Yushuang couldn't help but click her tongue in amazement. "Cheng Sanlang is quite lucky."