The Incense Monopoly Order

Chapter 165 I Can Roam Freely Between Heaven and Earth
In this world, who would willingly watch their spouse choose a successor when they are terminally ill, and then be tolerant, generous, and affectionate towards that person?
Even a saint cannot do it.

“You and I both know that even saints cannot do it, yet some people believe it without a doubt and are complacent about it.” Zhang Yushuang’s tone was indifferent; she didn’t even have the desire to mock Prince Yu.

"You and Princess Yu... have you thought about the future?" Shang Mingshu looked at Zhang Yushuang with worry and concern in her eyes.

The quick-witted Shang Mingshu could guess the reason why Zhang Yushuang and Princess Yu were so kind to each other with just a few words.

There may be genuine interactions based on shared hatred of the enemy, or genuine feelings of mutual appreciation after in-depth contact.

More than anything, it was revenge against Prince Yu!
Prince Yu's determination to possess Zhang Yushuang was a sharp sword piercing Princess Yu's heart. While she was alive, Prince Yu's unbridled behavior was undoubtedly a constant threat to her heart.

Prince Yu never considered Princess Yu's pain from her perspective, because he didn't care about her.

Prince Yu cares more about Zhang Yushuang than Princess Yu, but Zhang Yushuang's avoidance of him is undoubtedly a challenge to the dignity of the chosen one. Prince Yu wants Zhang Yushuang to submit.

Princess Yu suppressed her hatred for Prince Yu and, as he wished, adopted the demeanor of a virtuous, kind, and magnanimous princess. She took Zhang Yushuang with her in everything, fulfilling Prince Yu's unrealistic fantasy of having three wives and four concubines living in harmony.

Her actions would win Prince Yu's favor, allowing her to secure some reasonable benefits for her family and achieve her goals through Prince Yu.

At the same time, it makes it even more natural for Prince Yu to think that Zhang Yushuang will become his second wife.

Once she's gone, and he can't marry Zhang Yushuang, the immense disappointment and resentment will overwhelm Prince Yu. The more smug Prince Yu is now, the more miserable he will be in the future!

Princess Yu sometimes thought that when Prince Yu's hopes were dashed and his face contorted in despair, the torment he suffered from illness would be relieved. It's just a pity that she wouldn't be able to see it...

“Huizhou Prefecture is a good place. I want to build a nunnery and adopt some abandoned babies so that I won’t be lonely in the future.” Zhang Yushuang made plans for her future. “You can come and see me often. This life is more carefree than that of an immortal.”

Upon her return, Princess Yu, having seen through her attitude, took the initiative to seek her out, intending to join forces with her. Princess Yu's goal was to plan for her family while she was still alive and to take a small revenge on Prince Yu after her death.

Zhang Yushuang readily agreed. This would deepen Prince Yu's obsession with her, cutting off her path to marriage. Prince Yu might be unwilling to accept ordinary obsessions, but he was unwilling to risk his reputation as emperor.

Zhang Yushuang doesn't hold that much weight for him!

But their current alliance has undoubtedly woven a beautiful dream for Prince Yu. At this moment, Prince Yu has probably already labeled Zhang Yushuang as "Princess Yu," someone who belongs to him.

He could not allow Zhang Yushuang to marry someone else. Once he held power, Zhang Yushuang's husband's family would be the first to suffer. Why should she implicate innocent people?

"Shuangshuang, why are you doing this?" Even when they parted ways the following year, Zhang Yushuang wasn't this resolute.

"Love and romance are not worth wasting my energy on. Being free, I can roam the world freely." Zhang Yushuang was very open-minded. "Ming Shu, you should congratulate me; I will have everything that every woman in the world desires..."

She has obtained what she sought. She now hopes for Prince Yu's well-being more than anyone else, and that he will ascend to the throne. The hardships Prince Yu has brought her today will be compensated to her a thousandfold in the future!
She wanted to be the irreplaceable, cherished, and untouchable cinnabar mark on the emperor's heart!

The benefits that Princess Yu can secure for her family today will allow her to secure even greater benefits for the Duke of Changguo in the future, given the incomparable status of Prince Yu. The entire Zhang family will depend on her for their honor; and with her every command, no one in this world will be able to restrain her!
Thinking of the future, Zhang Yushuang's eyes welled up with lively tears, and Shang Mingshu understood that this was truly what Zhang Yushuang wanted in her heart, a helpless expression of helplessness without any compromise or concession.

"Choose a beautiful mountain peak, plant tea all over the mountain, lush and verdant, like dark eyebrows; then build a courtyard, plant pearl orchids around it, wait for them to sprout and bloom, and let the fragrance of tea waft around the courtyard. The mountain has fine trees, the courtyard has pure fragrance, accompany each other from morning to evening, and the years will be peaceful."

Since this was what Zhang Yushuang wanted, Shang Mingshu naturally agreed, joined her in the discussion, and offered her suggestions.

“Excellent! We will build it according to your instructions!” This description pleased Zhang Yushuang greatly.

With that, Zhang Yushuang hurriedly led her people home to implement the plan, as building a Taoist temple and a courtyard was not something that could be done overnight.

She had already thought of all her reasons: His Majesty values ​​Taoism, she likes Huizhou Prefecture, and she wants to build a female Taoist temple there without having to hide it. She figured Prince Yu wouldn't care if he saw it, since he had far too many other things on his mind.

Shang Mingshu was unable to leave for the time being. After all, this was her business, and as the owner, she had too many things to do. There were also many distinguished guests brought by Zhang Yushuang that she needed to get to know.

Even though she had been exposed to teahouse management since childhood and had an experienced manager transferred from the merchant guild early on, it still took Shang Mingshu five or six days to manage the teahouse in the capital in an orderly manner, so that she could barely manage to stay at the teahouse without having to personally oversee it.

That day, after she finished tallying the accounts, she turned around and walked to the front of the store, where she unexpectedly met Cheng Mian's eyes.

After several months apart, Cheng Mian seemed like a completely different person.

That youthful, straightforward, and radiant boy has shed his naivety and become more reserved and profound.

The once crystal-clear water, which could be seen through at a glance, is now shrouded in a thin mist, making it difficult to see through.

Separated by a threshold, their eyes met. Cheng Mian's expression was unreadable as he quietly gazed at Shang Mingshu.

After a brief moment of stunned silence, Shang Mingshu lifted her skirt and stepped out the door, walking up to Cheng Mian and greeting him as always: "Third Master Cheng."

There was no animosity between them. Shang Mingshu simply put the man back in a familiar place. Merchants in Huizhou have always been united. Even if they had never met before, they would greet each other if they knew that the other was from Huizhou. How much more so for someone as familiar as Shang Mingshu and Cheng Mian, they could not avoid seeing each other or pretend not to see each other.

"Third Sister, it's been a long time." Cheng Mian quickly composed himself, a gentle smile appearing on his lips.

"We haven't congratulated Third Master Cheng on passing the imperial examination yet." After the spring examination, Cheng Mian passed with flying colors, becoming a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination). Although he didn't make it into the top rank, he was still very young. In the teahouse, Shang Mingshu heard people mention Cheng Mian's name several times, all saying that his future was limitless.

Cheng Mian's eyes darkened, and he quickly lowered his gaze to hide the bitterness in them: "Thank you..."

He was indeed intelligent, but he was also carefree and easily satisfied. For the sake of the Cheng family business, he knew he had to work hard and that entering officialdom was an unavoidable responsibility, but he never had a passionate heart.

It wasn't until he met Shang Mingshu and learned about her criteria for choosing a husband that he began to strive for success, hoping to achieve fame and fortune as soon as possible so as not to miss out on her...