The Incense Monopoly Order

Chapter 152 The Heartlessness of the Imperial Family
"Young Master, please have some self-respect." Shang Mingshu grabbed Zhang Yushuang's arm with one hand and pressed down on Prince Yu's arm with the other.

Prince Yu discovered that he couldn't break free from the grip of a woman, and his face darkened: "Insolence!"

"Third Miss Shang, it's a misunderstanding!" Prince Zhang arrived a step behind Shang Mingshu and quickly smoothed things over, "Third Miss Shang, this is... Young Master Zhu, an old acquaintance of ours."

Shang Mingshu loosened her grip on Prince Yu, but did not loosen her grip on Zhang Yushuang.

Zhang Yushuang had no intention of hiding behind Shang Mingshu and letting Shang Mingshu stand up for her. She also couldn't let Shang Mingshu be implicated because of Prince Yu's identity. With Shang Mingshu's intelligence, she wouldn't be unable to guess Prince Yu's identity. In that urgent situation just now, Shang Mingshu, who always liked to weigh the pros and cons, stepped forward to stop Prince Yu for her. Zhang Yushuang was very moved.

“Young Master Zhu, I have said everything I needed to say. Please do not make things difficult for me any further.” Zhang Yushuang did not reveal the identity of Prince Yu. She reorganized her thoughts and spoke clearly.

“Yu Shuang, I have come here from the capital. Would you not like to speak with me alone for a few minutes?” Prince Yu’s gaze remained fixed on Zhang Yu Shuang.

"I have nothing to say to you." Zhang Yushuang's attitude was extremely resolute.

"Young Master." Lu Sanlang and the other two rushed over to pay their respects.

"Young master, are you here on official business, or are you traveling incognito?" Cheng She suddenly asked.

Prince Yu's gaze suddenly sharpened like a knife as it fell upon Cheng She.

Cheng She was pressuring him with words. He had official business to attend to, so he shouldn't be flirting with a woman here. He was traveling incognito, so he shouldn't reveal his identity.

"What would you do if I went on an incognito visit?" Prince Yu asked with a cold smile.

“Since you are traveling incognito, we dare not disturb your enjoyment, nor do we dare to reveal your identity.” Cheng She bowed respectfully. “We hope you will forgive our disrespect. Farewell.”

After Cheng She finished speaking, he led the way and left, while the others remained still.

Shang Mingshu squeezed Zhang Yushuang's hand. Zhang Yushuang was grateful to Cheng She for giving her a way out. She silently bowed to Prince Yu and followed him away.

Shang Mingshu naturally followed Zhang Yushuang. Although Shang Wenshu and the other three guessed that Prince Yu was of noble status, they could not guess who he was. The sisters were of one mind and followed Shang Mingshu.

In the blink of an eye, only Prince Yu and his guards remained on the riverbank, along with Lu Sanlang, Zhang Shizi, and Xu Tianxing. Xu Tianxing also clasped his hands in a salute, turned around, and left, but did not chase after Shang Mingshu and the others.

Shang Mingshu's actions just now were enough to anger the high and mighty prince. Cheng She's help diverted Yu Wang's anger. If Xu Tianxing chased after her at this time, it would only cause Yu Wang's anger to turn back to Shang Mingshu.

Zhang Yushuang lost interest in sightseeing, and they left the crowds to return home.

It was clear that Zhang Yushuang was preoccupied, so Shang Mingshu did not disturb her. She simply instructed the servants to take good care of her. When Shang Mingshu was about to go to bed, Zhang Yushuang, with her long hair loose and without makeup, came to find her: "Mingshu, I want to sleep with you."

Shang Mingshu considerately made room for He Sui and instructed her to add more blankets and pillows.

Zhang Yushuang lay beside Shang Mingshu, remaining in a supine position, staring blankly at the ceiling. Shang Mingshu didn't know how to comfort her, so she could only keep her company in silence. As drowsiness washed over Shang Mingshu, just when she thought Zhang Yushuang wouldn't speak, Zhang Yushuang's voice drifted over: "I met him three years ago. I mistook him for someone my family had found for me to be a matchmaker. That day, by a twist of fate..."

Zhang Yushuang's voice trailed off, as if she were lost in a long recollection. Shang Mingshu waited quietly without urging her. Zhang Yushuang did not elaborate on how things had turned out this way.

"Later... I fell for him, only to find out that he was Prince Yu, and that he already had a wife..."

She is the legitimate daughter of the Duke's mansion, how could she become a concubine? Not even a concubine of a prince!

She could only hide, but she was the one who expressed her feelings first. Prince Yu simply did not reveal his identity at the beginning, nor did he explain that she had mistaken him for someone else.

They got into a huge fight, which was quite ugly and even alarmed the palace.

“Last year… Princess Yu fell seriously ill, and the Imperial Hospital was at a loss. It seemed that Princess Yu would not recover…” Zhang Yushuang’s voice became nasal. “Princess Yu made a special trip to see me and asked if I was willing to wait a year or two… I refused.”

Shang Mingshu turned her head and saw glistening tears sliding down Zhang Yushuang's cheeks.

Unable to resist, she reached out and gently wiped away the tear stains from Zhang Yushuang's eyes. Zhang Yushuang seemed to be touched and immediately buried herself in Shang Mingshu's arms, sobbing.

"He sent the princess to find me, thinking that this would prove that he and the princess had no marital affection and that the princess was not his original intention in marrying her..."

How could he be so cruel to a woman who had shared his bed for years, such a gentle and beautiful woman? How desperate must she have been to sit before him with a respectable face and a sickly expression?

He pleaded with her to wait a little longer, saying that he would be able to free up the position in a year or two.

In that instant, Zhang Yushuang felt a chill run through her body. She hadn't done anything, yet she deeply realized how vicious she was.

Zhang Yushuang felt the coldness of the imperial family to the fullest extent. She didn't even dare to think about what would happen to her if she offended him one day.
Shang Mingshu sighed silently, gently stroking Zhang Yushuang's back to soothe her emotions.

"His Majesty has few children, only three princes. Only Prince Yu is capable of shouldering great responsibilities. I know he will be extremely noble in the future. Everyone in the manor knows this too. The clan head has led the pressure on my father, forbidding me from being married off. They are only waiting for the Princess Consort of Prince Yu... before marrying me into Prince Yu's manor..."

Prince Yu was clearly not the person she was looking for. Knowing that she had misunderstood, he did not explain but instead did things that made her misunderstand, causing her to become deeply entangled. After the incident, she ended this ill-fated relationship.

Now, apart from her father and brothers, everyone is hoping for her, forcing her to continue to fawn over Prince Yu and dream of becoming a member of the imperial family, ignoring her wishes.

Therefore, she could only hide in Fengyang Prefecture. She thought that by leaving the capital and making her stance clear, Prince Yu would give up. After all, what kind of beauty couldn't he have? Prince Yu's residence was not just occupied by Princess Yu. There were plenty of other women, so there was really no need for him to worry about a woman who didn't know what was good for him.

Shang Mingshu knew that Zhang Yushuang must have had a reason for not returning home for the holidays, but she never expected it to be for such a reason. Just now she clearly saw that Prince Yu might have some feelings for Zhang Yushuang, but in his eyes it was a favor that he had condescended to do. Zhang Yushuang still went against Prince Yu's wishes today, and she was afraid that her marriage would be difficult in the future.

Throughout the land, few men dare to marry the woman an emperor desires.

And what about the people of the Duke of Changguo's mansion? Could they just stand by and watch such immense wealth slip through their fingers?
But she didn't know how to comfort Zhang Yushuang. Since it involved matters of imperial power, she had no right to speak. She could only hold Zhang Yushuang in her arms, listen to her emotions, accompany her, and let her vent her feelings.