The Incense Monopoly Order

Chapter 167 Why should we lower ourselves even slightly?

"Third Miss, what a handsome young man Tan is!" He Sui exclaimed upon returning.

When we last met, Tan Si looked terrible, even emaciated and haggard.

In just a few months, Tan Si remained thin and somewhat frail. Clothes make the man, and after he dressed up carefully, he caught He Sui's eye.

"When joy fills the heart, the spirit is refreshed and the energy is high." Shang Mingshu smiled faintly.

Having avenged his great enemy and achieved the highest honor in the imperial examinations, Tan Si was in a moment of triumph and high spirits. Even an ordinary-looking person would radiate a certain charm, especially since he already possessed handsome features and his inherent charisma was now on full display.

He Sui's gaze fell on Shang Mingshu, who was wearing a nightgown, with her black hair loose, holding a book by the window. After holding back for a long time, she mustered up her courage and asked, "My lady, are you really not going to consider Tan Langjun?"

She wasn't questioning Shang Mingshu, nor was she trying to say anything on behalf of Tan Si; she was simply curious why Shang Mingshu was willing to give Cheng Mian a chance, yet so decisively rejected Tan Si.

It was just idle chatter between master and servant.

Shang Mingshu put down her book, and her uniquely soft voice slowly rang out: "I will be a burden to him."

"Huh?" He Sui was even more confused.

She had been with Shang Mingshu since she was a child, and she knew Shang Mingshu better than anyone else what kind of person she was.

In her opinion, nothing could stump Shang Mingshu, and no one could hurt her.

If Tan Si were fortunate enough to marry her, it would be like adding wings to a tiger. Why would the woman think that she is a burden?

He remembered my kindness in rescuing him from his predicament; praised my displayed talents and abilities; and admired my stunning beauty at our first meeting. With these feelings intertwined, he decided to marry me.

"Isn't this bad?"

He Sui didn't understand that if Tan Si's character was decent, he would never let his wife down in this lifetime.

“It’s not that it’s bad.” Shang Mingshu pushed open the window and looked at the crescent moon hanging on the willow branches. “It’s that he has ambitions.”

"Ambition?"

“Yes.” Shang Mingshu nodded gently. “He is different from Cheng Sanlang.”

Before marrying her, Cheng Mian had no ambitions and no burdens on his shoulders. With Cheng Mian, no matter how high his official position became, he would have no regrets, would not weigh the disadvantages of marrying her, and would not harbor any resentment.

Tan Si craves power. If he marries her, his career path will inevitably be more arduous and tortuous than if he were to marry a woman from a high-ranking family. He might even be stuck at a certain position because of her, making it difficult to advance any further.

Tan Si is a virtuous person, and this will be his lifelong regret; Tan Si is a dishonest person, and he may very well turn on her with a knife in the future.

Shang Mingshu didn't want to see either outcome, because she had never had any feelings for Tan Si, and their relationship was only brief.

Knowing full well what the other person truly desires, why waste her time and effort?

Moreover, if she wasn't mistaken, Tan Si was a man who valued his career more than his personal feelings. Having experienced the bitterness of being crushed into the mud, he would never allow himself to be trampled underfoot again.

At the crossroads, I hesitated for a moment.

As for Tan Si, perhaps he hesitated because the other option was not substantial enough; or perhaps he couldn't weigh the pros and cons, so he left the choice to her. Thus, Tan Si would soon choose a marriage that would benefit his career.

He Sui frowned as she listened. She felt that Shang Mingshu was thinking too far ahead, but she had no way to refute her, so she could only silently step back and ponder it on her own.

Two days later, Zhang Yushuang came to her door and chatted about the Tan Temple matter: "The Marquis of Jingshan's family is related to His Majesty, and their title is hereditary. That second young lady and my cousin's classmate were having an affair, and the matter has caused quite a stir..."

At least those with some ability knew this, but since the reputation of the Marquis of Jingshan's mansion was somewhat related to His Majesty, they couldn't discuss it in private. It was only because Shang Mingshu had a good relationship with her that she told Shang Mingshu about it.

"This third-place scholar is too impatient." Zhang Yushuang sighed regretfully at the end.

"Everything is a double-edged sword, with both advantages and disadvantages." Shang Mingshu has a more comprehensive view of things. "Some people dislike ambitious people, while others admire those who are open and honest. As for the marriage alliance with the Marquis's family, it doesn't matter what others think; the benefits brought by the Marquis's family are real and tangible."

Zhang Yushuang thought about it and agreed: "You're right. Everyone knows that the Marquis's Mansion owes him. He saved the Marquis's Mansion's reputation, so the Marquis's Mansion will have to plan more for him in the future. If he is a capable person, he won't have to worry about not being able to win people's hearts."

"This young master Tan came to express his feelings to my wife just two days ago, but he turned around and started currying favor with the powerful and wealthy. He's no good person." He Mai learned the whole story from her sister, and today, after hearing what Shang Ming Shu and Zhang Yu Shuang said, she was very angry.

"Tan Si wants to confess his feelings to you?" This was something Zhang Yushuang had not expected.

She knew how Shang Mingshu had helped Tan Si turn his life around, which is why she casually mentioned it when she was with Shang Mingshu.

Shang Mingshu played with the round fan in her hand. In front of Zhang Yushuang, she revealed her languidness, leaning against the chaise lounge, and softly replied: "A little admiration, or perhaps not even admiration, just a little gratitude."

She spoke casually, then turned to comfort her indignant maid: "What? Your mistress rejected someone, but won't let him find another partner? That's too domineering."

“My lady, I did not mean that…” He Mai retorted.

Shang Mingshu smiled and waved her fan. She knew that He Mai was on her side and thought that Tan Si might want to eat at both ends.

Zhang Yushuang had seen it all. She didn't think Tan Si was fickle; on the contrary, she regarded Shang Mingshu as someone who genuinely wanted to marry her: "My father said that Tan Si is no ordinary person and will surely achieve great things in the future. He comes from a respectable family, his parents are kind and gentle, his younger brother is well-mannered, and he is both talented and handsome. Why don't you like him?"

Since Shang Mingshu was willing to bet on Cheng Mian, why did she ignore Tan Si? Zhang Yushuang knew that Shang Mingshu would not treat the two families differently because of their wealth difference.

“He’s not suitable…” Shang Mingshu didn’t hide it.

"You truly have a keen eye." Zhang Yushuang couldn't help but admire Shang Mingshu for guessing just two days ago that Tan Si was choosing between two options and what his next scheme was. "You don't want Tan Si, you refuse Lu Sanlang, but what about General Xu? And why is General Xu here?"

Zhang Yushuang has never asked Xu Tianxing why he wasn't among Shang Mingshu's choices, even though Xu Tianxing meets Shang Mingshu's needs in every way.

Shang Mingshu truthfully repeated what she had said to Shang Zishu.

Zhang Yushuang was speechless: "This... Ming Shu, you are really being a bit harsh..."

Xu Tianxing lost because he was the only son in the Xu family...

“I am in the prime of my life, beautiful and healthy, with plenty of money and no burdens. There are countless people I can choose from, so why should I lower myself in the slightest and jeopardize my own life?” Shang Mingshu retorted.

Previously, she had no experience with power and influence, and Shang Mingshu wanted to use marriage as leverage to marry into a wealthy family. Her resounding victory in her last confrontation with the Yan family made her realize that she didn't necessarily need a powerful man to help her.

She herself can become powerful, or even more so, powerful people who need to curry favor and fear!