The Incense Monopoly Order

Chapter 163 My Heart Belongs to Third Sister
"The Cheng family is seeking a beautiful woman to marry for Second Master Cheng!" Shang Zishu couldn't help but raise her voice.

Shock, disorientation, realization, and finally, a hint of irony—his bright eyes were brimming with a range of emotions.

Shang Zishu was the first to realize that Cheng She had feelings for Shang Mingshu, at which time Shang Mingshu was in love with Cheng Mian.

Now that it's no longer possible for her to be with Cheng Mian, Shang Zishu never thought that Shang Mingshu and Cheng She could get together. After all, the three Cheng brothers are closely related and respectful to each other, a fact known to everyone in Huizhou Prefecture.

If Shang Mingshu really marries Cheng She, how will Cheng She and Cheng Mian get along in the future?
She was clearly concerned about this, but the Cheng family didn't care and openly invited the matchmaker to their home.

"It must be Madam Cheng's intention." Shang Mingshu had a feeling that Cheng She would not act in this way.

Shang Jinliang glanced at Madam Yu: "It was Madam Cheng who sent a matchmaker to our door. Your mother and I neither agreed nor refused, but only said that we would see what you thought."

Madam Yu nodded: "The matchmaker has a great reputation in Huizhou Prefecture. Many officials' sons entrust their marriage to her. Once she comes to our door, within a day, half of Huizhou Prefecture will know that the Cheng family is asking you to marry their second master."

"I understand." Shang Mingshu knew what Madam Yu meant. There had been rumors that she and Cheng She were going to get married, and the Cheng family had put it out in the open so that she could make the decision.

She agreed to the marriage, thus uniting the two families.

Her refusal was made perfectly clear, to prevent anyone from spreading rumors behind her back, and perhaps also to show her reluctance to grant Cheng She's request.

"Master, Second Master Cheng requests an audience," a servant suddenly reported.

Shang Jinliang looked at Shang Mingshu. He knew that Cheng She hadn't come to see him at this time.

"I'll go see him." He'll handle his own affairs.

Even if Shang Jinliang were to intervene, Cheng She would still insist on seeing him.

Cheng She had visited the small flower hall of the Shang Mansion several times, but this was the first time he had seen the vibrant life of new green shoots emerging in early spring. Clusters of wisteria blossoms hung high, and tall magnolia trees were planted in the courtyard, their white and purple flowers intermingling and echoing the wisteria, creating a magnificent yet refreshing elegance.

Just like Shang Mingshu, who came slowly and silently.

"Third Sister," Cheng She greeted her first.

After returning the greeting, Shang Mingshu got straight to the point: "Did Second Master Cheng come looking for me?"

“That’s right.” Cheng She readily admitted, “I have two matters to discuss with Third Sister.”

"Please speak," Shang Mingshu said, adopting an attentive listening posture.

“Firstly, it was not my intention to have a matchmaker come to our house without my knowledge.” Cheng She’s gaze was focused on Shang Mingshu, without any sense of oppression. “I need to be honest with Third Sister, I am in love with Third Sister.”

Shang Mingshu had long sensed Cheng She's intentions, so she couldn't show any surprise or astonishment. A pool of water seemed to well up in her eyes as she bowed respectfully and said, "I dare not accept Second Master's favor."

As expected, Cheng She couldn't help but smile. His smile was initially bitter, a bitterness that indicated she had no interest in him, but it turned into genuine appreciation: "I know I don't fit the criteria for a husband in Third Sister's heart, so I don't want to be presumptuous."

"Second Master is majestic and brave..." "Ming Shu." Cheng She interrupted Shang Ming Shu's polite praise of him with a smile, not wanting to hear her reject him ruthlessly after praising him. "I will do my best to become the good man in your heart. As for you, I have no objection to love or circumstances. I only ask to be entrusted with your life, to grow old with you, and to sleep with you in the same grave after a hundred years."

Shang Mingshu's long eyelashes trembled slightly, and her interlaced fingertips unconsciously clenched.

She wasn't moved, she was at a loss.

After all, she was a young woman who had only been married for a year. She was able to calmly handle all kinds of business situations, big and small, because she had been silently observing the comings and goings of people in the business world since she was a child. She was able to look at the faces of good and evil with a cold eye because she had sat on the high platform of the teahouse countless times, pondering the changes in each face as the storyteller changed. She was able to rationally control the changing situation because she had read the history books from ancient times to the present and understood the rise and fall of dynasties from every piece of literature that did not involve bloodshed.

She didn't bother with romantic relationships; her heart was in business. From a young age, she considered marriage as the cornerstone of consolidating her family's business.

Finding a good partner is the icing on the cake.

To treat each other with respect and maintain one's dignity is to achieve one's desires.

Naturally, with her discerning eye, she wouldn't entrust herself to the wrong person; this was her confidence.

Cheng Mian is innocent, passionate, and yet naive; she handles things with ease.
Xu Tianxing was decisive and resolute yet restrained; she handled things with ease.
The person in front of her was frank and straightforward, with a firm tone. He was not aggressive, did not make any oaths, and was not affectionate at all, but Shang Mingshu could still hear the persistence in his words.

He wouldn't be as fragile as Cheng Mian; he wouldn't have as many concerns as Xu Tianxing...

Shang Mingshu knew perfectly well that no matter what she said, she could not dispel Cheng She's thoughts.

"Second Master, marriage is a matter that cannot be forced. The future is unpredictable and beyond human control. I am still young and have no other thoughts at the moment, so I dare not speak lightly of romance." After careful consideration, Shang Mingshu followed her heart and refused.

As for Cheng She's statement that he would do his best to become the good man in her heart, Shang Mingshu neither took it seriously nor denied it. Just as she thought, who can predict what will happen in the future?
Shang Mingshu's rejection was exactly what Cheng She had expected. He knew all too well that Shang Mingshu was completely clueless about romantic relationships.

To avoid making Shang Mingshu uncomfortable, Cheng She said, "The second thing I've come here to do is to inform Third Sister that the tribute market will not be held this year."

"Why?" Shang Mingshu's heart tightened. She had prepared a lot for the imperial tribute market, but she did not expect the imperial court to suddenly stop holding the tribute market. Was it not going to be held this year, or would it not be held at all in the future?

"Last year, following the clues about the Shi family's affair, the imperial court launched a crackdown on the Japanese pirates' hidden forces, severely weakening them. To vent their anger, they launched a massive attack on the sea, causing casualties among many diplomatic missions. Considering the overall situation, the imperial court decided not to hold tribute trade this year."

The Japanese pirates caused trouble at sea purely to annoy the imperial court. They killed anyone they could and retreated immediately when they encountered anyone slightly more rebellious, causing no major casualties. They stayed far from the coastal docks, and the imperial court, worried about the impact on people's livelihoods, issued a gag order. Unless they were merchants who had already gone to sea, most people were unaware of the situation.

Shang Mingshu relaxed, never expecting that the Shi family would have such a big follow-up impact on her family.

"Don't worry, Third Madam, the imperial court will not allow them to continue their rampage. Perhaps the tribute market can be reopened next year." Cheng She knew that Shang Mingshu's plan for the tribute market had made the Shang family's Xiangmingzhai famous for a long time, so he could only gently reassure her.

"Thank you, Second Master, for telling me." Shang Mingshu was truly grateful.

Although the new tea has been developed, the three Shang sisters felt that there was still room for improvement. However, they had tasted the tea countless times and tried many methods, but they could not improve it. It was fine to take it out now, so that they could refine it in the future and create a better product.

However, the supply may not be sufficient, and a delay of a year or two may be a case of good things coming to those who wait.