The Incense Monopoly Order

Chapter 146 Better to miss an opportunity than make a mistake

Xu Tianxing doesn't travel to the capital often, but he is still a sought-after son-in-law by prominent families in the capital. Many people have spoken to the Xu family about him, but Xu Tianxing became famous at a young age and has made great achievements. The entire Xu family relies on him, and no one dares to force him to get married.

He is also tough and domineering, and the elders in the clan who rely on their seniority never even see him. He is still unmarried, and many people spread rumors that he has injured his body while marching in the army and is unable to have sex.

Zhang Yushuang didn't believe it at all. Only now did she realize that if Shang Mingshu really wanted to marry into a higher social class, she wouldn't need to rely on her. Xu Tianxing was no less capable than Lu Yi.

The Xu family was never in a state of extreme wealth or extravagance.

"Why did you even refuse the Xu family?" Zhang Yushuang asked curiously.

She now knew the reason for the Lu family's actions. Xu Tianxing relied on his military merits and stayed out of the quagmire of the capital. No matter what, he would not be affected by the treacherous affairs of the court. With Xu Tianxing's abilities, as long as he was alive, the court would not be able to do without him.

The Japanese pirates were rampant, and the most difficult thing for the court to resist them was Xu Tianxing. The Japanese pirates were most afraid of him.

No matter how the political landscape changes, it cannot do without Xu Tianxing.

“General Xu is an only child in his family,” Shang Mingshu told Zhang Yushuang without hiding anything.

Xu Tianxing's parents died early, and he bears the responsibility of continuing the family line. Marrying him is not just about marrying him as a person, but also about shouldering the responsibility of continuing and prospering the Xu family bloodline.

"Huh?" Zhang Yushuang never expected this reason. She was a little puzzled. "Does that mean you don't need to have children after marrying someone else?"

"General Xu has feelings for me, and I admire him greatly." Shang Mingshu sighed softly. "General Xu has feelings for me, and naturally he hopes that we can reciprocate. If I were to marry General Xu, I would have to give him my true heart. But whether we have a son or a daughter is not something I can simply decide to do."

If Xu Tianxing is heartless towards her, she only wants him to help her break free from social class and become powerful. Xu Tianxing is attracted to her beauty and her ability to manage a household, so they can muddle through life. If she can give birth to a son for Xu Tianxing, it would be the icing on the cake. If she is unable to bear children, she can openly arrange for Xu Tianxing to take a concubine.

She had plenty of ways to keep the people in the inner quarters under her thumb, and she could also treat her illegitimate children as her own juniors, just like her mother and aunt.

Xu Tianxing's ambition is different.

She doesn't reciprocate sincerity with sincerity, and she doesn't respect Xu Tianxing's feelings. Even if Xu Tianxing weren't someone she admired, and he came to her for help, she could still exploit his sincerity to seek the greatest benefit from this marriage.

But Xu Tianxing was someone she genuinely respected from the bottom of her heart.

Xu Tianxing is different from Cheng Mian. Cheng Mian has two older brothers. Cheng Mian has feelings for her. If she marries him and cannot give birth to a son, she is confident that Cheng Mian will not mind and can accept that Cheng Mian will give up the continuation of his bloodline for her.

A man like Xu Tianxing is someone Shang Mingshu cannot achieve. The Xu family may not mention their wealth, but the deterrent power and prestige against the Japanese pirates must be shouldered by Xu Tianxing's descendants. This is not a family matter, but a matter of national importance.

As a Huizhou merchant, she suffered greatly from the threat of Japanese pirates. She prayed that the spirit of the Xu family would live on. However, she could only feel regret when the Xu family line ended. But if the Xu family line ended in her hands, she would feel like a sinner.

But she and Xu Tianxing were in love, and she was afraid she couldn't bring herself to take a concubine for him...

"Ming Shu, why are you thinking so far ahead?" Zhang Yushuang felt a pang of sympathy as she listened. She didn't think Shang Ming Shu was worrying too much. A woman's marriage is something that might only happen once in her life, especially for someone like Shang Ming Shu who wants to marry into a higher social class. If she makes the wrong choice, the consequences could be unimaginable. Shang Ming Shu should be more cautious.

“A man who does not plan for the future will have trouble in the present.” Shang Mingshu smiled gently. “I know I am not good at this. I am prone to worrying too much and missing many good opportunities, but I would rather miss them than make mistakes.”

She didn't want to take chances and gamble that everything would turn out well, like how she married Xu Tianxing and had two children in three years, both boys...

She thought of her mother's notes. Her mother was overjoyed to marry her father, who was also the only son in the family. They had been married for ten years, but her mother had not conceived. She had to arrange for her father to take a concubine. Later, she was born, but by then both of her concubines had become pregnant before her, and Shang Wenshu's mother was about to give birth.

Because her mother loved her father and couldn't bear to see him without an heir, she became depressed even when she became pregnant with her. Giving birth to her damaged her health, and she was unable to conceive again. She passed away less than two years later due to her heartache.

She did not want to follow in her mother's footsteps, and her mother certainly did not want to see her follow in her footsteps either.

Missing out is just losing, and it will bring regret.

Mistakes are irreversible and lead to despair.

“No wonder you gave Cheng San a chance…” Zhang Yushuang finally understood why Cheng Mian was the lucky one favored by Shang Mingshu; he was just too much in line with Shang Mingshu’s needs.

It only met Shang Mingshu's needs. As for Cheng Mian, Shang Mingshu was probably moved, but ultimately she did not fall in love. After getting to know Shang Mingshu better, Zhang Yushuang knew clearly that a clear-headed and rational woman like Shang Mingshu would find it difficult to give her heart to a man before marriage.

"Such a major event happened in your family, why didn't you think to inform me beforehand?" As the two walked forward, separated by a wall, they heard Chen Che questioning them with some annoyance.

"This is a matter for my business, why should I tell you?" Shang Zishu looked at Chen Che, whose fair and handsome face was flushed with anger, and was extremely puzzled. "Before it happened, no one knew if it would happen, let alone that it would be so thrilling. If I were to contact you rashly after it happened and reveal my family's plans, wouldn't all my efforts be in vain? Besides..."

Besides, even if I told you, what could you possibly do?
Shang Zishu swallowed those venomous words.

The third sister said that she sometimes has a sharp tongue; even though she doesn't mean to hurt anyone, her words can be quite hurtful.

She needs to change.

"Besides what?" Chen Che didn't need her to restrain herself; he could guess what she meant. "Besides, if you were to tell me, I'm not up to the task, am I?"

Shang Zishu frowned: "You are being completely unreasonable and making a fuss over nothing!"

"I'm unreasonable? I'm being nonsensical?" Chen Che's lips trembled with anger.

She suddenly stopped corresponding with him, and no one in the Shang family could explain why. He was extremely worried. He and his mother were at the most critical stage of their struggle against Chen Jin and his son. He disregarded the danger and traveled thousands of miles to get here, fearing that she might be injured if he was unaware of the situation, and that the Chen family's affairs were still unresolved. Chen Jin and his son still had some remaining influence outside, and he was determined to rush to her.

Knowing she was injured and hearing about the changes in the Shang family, he broke out in a cold sweat in the dead of winter. When he finally saw her, his worries and fears turned into lingering dread and sadness.

Shang Zishu didn't believe in his character or his abilities.