The Incense Monopoly Order

Chapter 36 Mu Xiaoniang

"Master, Wen Xiucai wants to see you." Just when the atmosphere at home was harmonious, the steward hurried in to report, "I see he looks anxious, I'm afraid he has something important to tell you."

Shang Mingshu couldn't help but glance at the young steward, thinking that Wen Yan had made good arrangements, making him unable to help but speak for Wen Yan.

Shang Jinliang is a bit old-fashioned. It was a rare time when he had just made a fortune and his three daughters were at home. It was the perfect time for him to enjoy family happiness. If it weren't for the steward's words, he would have planned to ask Wen Yan to come again tomorrow.

As for the fact that Wen Yan came to visit late at night and must have something important to tell him, Shang Jinliang would not understand. Shang Mingshu sometimes wondered if her selfishness was not something she had learned from Shang Jinliang.

It's just that she is better than her teacher.

"I'll be back soon. I'm in a good mood today. I know you've already had dinner, so why not sit with me for a while? I've already asked the kitchen to prepare a table." Shang Jinliang kept looking back as he walked, "Just stay here and wait for me."

Xiao Yu shook her head and waved her handkerchief, "Everyone, please sit down. If anyone leaves today, your father will definitely nag about them for half a month. It's rare for the whole family to be together."

"I've arrived just in time." A gentle and graceful voice came from a woman in a rouge-colored stand-up collared gown with a moon-white pleated skirt. She walked gracefully, her eyebrows and eyes were picturesque, and she was full of charm. She bowed to Xiao Yu, "Madam."

The person who came was Shang Jinliang's most beloved concubine - Mu Xiaoniang.

In their merchant families, they call the main wife "Auntie" or "Madam", and those who are particular about the concubines will call them "Second Auntie", "Third Auntie" and so on in that order. Those who are not particular will just call them "Little Auntie".

Girls are all called "wife".

Shang Jinliang has three concubines so far. The first two are Shang Mingshu's mother, Dayu, who took the initiative to find Shang Jinliang after she married him for three years without having any children. They are the biological mothers of Shang Wenshu and Shang Zishu respectively. As for how many fleeting romances Shang Jinliang had during the years when he was doing business outside, no one knows.

Shang Wenshu and Shang Zishu's biological mother and Dayu have both passed away. Apart from the three sisters, the only female relatives left in the mansion are Xiaoyu and Mu Xiaoniang.

"Who do you think you are? We are all masters here. Why don't you stay in your own yard? Why do you run out?" Shang Zishu hated Mu Xiaoniang very much and she was in a bad mood whenever she saw people.

"How can Second Lady think of me like this? What's the difference between me and Second Lady's biological mother?" Mu Xiaoniang clutched her handkerchief over her chest, her face filled with humiliation and sadness. "Could it be that in Second Lady's heart, Wu Xiaoniang isn't her master either? A servant? A lowly slave?"

"How dare you be compared to my biological mother?" Shang Zishu's eyes were icy. "My mother married my father with no chastity. The eldest wife personally betrothed her, and she was carried into the family in a formal ceremony, dressed in wedding attire. You were merely a gift."

"Second Madam!" Seeing that Mu Xiaoniang was on the verge of collapse and looked like she was going to commit suicide again, Xiao Yu scolded Shang Zishu before Mu Xiaoniang could get angry. "No matter how you enter the house, Mu Xiaoniang is your father's servant after all. You should look at the owner before beating the dog."

Even if Xiao Yu stopped Shang Zishu, she would not give Mu Xiaoniang a good face.

Her position in the Shang family was as solid as a rock, and she had long lost interest in Shang Jinliang. She disliked Mu Xiaoniang because she was a bad person and liked to cause trouble for her. If she had stayed in her own courtyard, she could have ignored her, but Mu Xiaoniang liked to hang around in front of her.

Shang Zishu knew who was right and who was wrong. When she and Mu Xiaoniang quarreled, her father would definitely side with Mu Xiaoniang. She was the one who spoke rudely first. She hurriedly bowed to Xiao Yu and said, "Mother is right."

Mu Xiaoniang watched the mother and daughter go back and forth, biting her lip in anger: "If Madam doesn't like me, just sell me off. Why treat me like this?"

"He Sui, go ask the housekeeper to contact the brothel owner and find a good place for Mu Xiao Niang." Shang Ming Shu suddenly spoke. She slowly scraped the lid of the teapot, her face calm and her tone gentle. "Since Mu Xiao Niang feels unhappy staying in the mansion, and my aunt likes to tease people, I will help her."

Mu Xiaoniang's face froze. She'd dared to challenge Xiao Yu because she was sure of her reputation. The legitimate wife was jealous of the innocent Xiao Yu. Shang Mingshu was different; she was Shang Jinliang's legitimate daughter. While she didn't know why Shang Jinliang, a commoner who had donated his status to a clerk, prioritized the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate daughters, she knew Shang Jinliang held his three daughters in equal esteem. Mu Xiaoniang watched helplessly as He Sui bowed and retreated to seek out the steward. She was filled with resentment, but remained calm. The steward was Shang Jinliang's trusted confidant, and upon hearing this, he wouldn't immediately seek out the traffickers but would instead inform Shang Jinliang.

Thinking of this, she sat stiffly in the last seat, waiting for Shang Jinliang to come!

Shang Wenshu didn't want Shang Jinliang, her father, to come and make things difficult for her, so she gave Mu Xiaoniang a way out. "Mu Xiaoniang, you've been there every morning and evening, serving me at every meal, bringing me tea and water, limiting my monthly salary. Which of these things has your mother ever done to you? Even if I invited the elders to come, I wouldn't dare say that your mother can't tolerate you. Why don't you apologize to your mother quickly?"

Mu Xiaoniang took the step and bowed respectfully to Xiao Yu: "Madam, please forgive me, I spoke carelessly."

Shang Mingshu raised her eyebrows.

Shang Zishu sneered.

Xiao Yu was too lazy to argue with Mu Xiaoniang: "If you have something to say, please tell me now."

Mu Xiaoniang hesitated, "I...I...just heard that the master was taken to the government office. I finally came back and was worried, so I wanted to see him..."

Shang Zishu's eyes almost rolled up to the sky.

Xiao Yu said with a cold face: "Just sit and wait."

Ready for women.

Shang Zishu followed Xiao Yu away. Shang Wenshu sat down and waited because Shang Jinliang went to see Wen Yan. She was worried that Xiao Yu would misunderstand that she was on Mu Xiaoniang's side, so she had to beg Shang Mingshu.

Shang Mingshu was about to stand up, but when she saw Shang Wenshu's pleading look, she thought for a moment and sat down.

Shang Wenshu was extremely grateful. If Shang Mingshu stayed, Xiao Yu would not have any grudges against her.

The third sister is still so considerate.

She chatted eagerly with Shang Wenshu and didn't even glance at Mu Xiaoniang.

Mu Xiaoniang didn't mind being left aside. She just looked forward to it and kept looking outside.

About half an hour later, Shang Jinliang hurried back with a sullen expression. Seeing that only his two daughters and a concubine were left, his expression grew even colder. He ordered Mu Xiaoniang, who was throwing herself at him softly, "Go back first."

Mu Xiaoniang began to sob: "Master, Chan Niang is worried about you, which is why she made Madam unhappy. It's because Chan Niang cares too much about you and has lost her sense of proportion..."

"Okay, okay, I have something to say to Wenshu and Mingshu. You go back to the yard first, and I will come to find you later." Shang Jinliang lowered his voice and patted Mu Xiaoniang's shoulder.

Mu Xiaoniang burst into laughter, her long eyelashes stained with moisture: "I will take my leave. I will wait for you, Master."

(End of this chapter)