The Incense Monopoly Order

Chapter 5 Dress up to attend
"Third sister, you are right. Second sister, just send someone. If you don't have enough money, come to me." Shang Wenshu also realized how much benefit they would get if the tea could be improved, so she naturally gave her full support.

Shang Zishu did not refuse. She was devoted to studying tea. The money her father allocated to her was limited. Shang Wenshu had been helping her father manage the household accounts. She had more power than her and could withdraw more money from the accounts.

Shang Mingshu didn't say anything.

When it comes to wealth among the Shang family, even Shang Jinliang may not be able to compare with her. She has the dowry of her mother and aunt, and the entire Shang family's finances are controlled by Xiao Yu. Xiao Yu privately made a lot of money with the public money and gave it all to Shang Mingshu.

She doesn't make promises lightly. Helping someone in need is more relatable when they are trapped in the vast snow and feel deeply desperate.

"Second sister, please send some new tea to several tea kiosks in the city. Send more, or at least they can provide tea for three to five days." Shang Mingshu suddenly suggested.

Tea pavilions are pavilions built by tea merchants in the prefecture city along official roads and post stations for pedestrians to rest or shelter from the wind and rain. Tea merchants usually give tea to pedestrians in the tea pavilions, which is also one of their charitable acts.

The Shang Mansion built four tea pavilions. At the request of the Yu family, these four tea pavilions were fully decorated with brick carvings and wood carvings. People were sent to clean them every day to ensure they were tidy. Not only were merchants happy to go there, but one of the tea pavilions also had a lotus pond hundreds of miles away, which was even more beautiful in June. It was a place frequented by literati and distinguished guests.

"The tea pavilion in the capital? Besides the ones we built ourselves, will we also give away the ones built by others?" Shang Zishu was puzzled, but the love and trust she had for her sister since she was a child made her immediately start calculating how much new tea there was and whether it was enough to give away.

"Give them all away. Other people's teahouses will definitely not be used. Most will be returned or put aside. We will just give a few away, and then we will give our own teahouse." Shang Mingshu smiled, "In a few days, I will give you a big gift."

"I'm waiting." Shang Zishu was full of anticipation.

The sisters chatted for a while before saying goodbye and going about their own business. Shang Mingshu accompanied Yu to visit the prefect's house.

Magistrate He had just taken office. Before he even took office, some capable people in the city had already inquired about his preferences in detail.

Magistrate He was honest and upright, and he advocated frugality to cultivate virtue. Therefore, when Shang Mingshu entered the backyard of the magistrate's mansion, she saw only the most elegant and simple colors.

The eldest lady of the Shi family, who usually competed with her for beauty, wore a plain white dress with a cross-collared pipa sleeve and a moon-white horse-faced skirt. She had her hair in a bun that fell behind her ears, with pearls dotted in her bun. Her makeup was light, and she looked elegant and graceful.

Shang Mingshu and her daughter arrived neither early nor late. Among the all-too-plain-looking people, Shang Mingshu was particularly dazzling, instantly attracting everyone's attention. Many ladies were in disbelief and looked at Shang Mingshu as if she were a fool.

Some groups of people have already started whispering.

"I'm afraid you're crazy about wanting to be in the spotlight, right?"

"I'm not afraid of her being in the spotlight, but I'm afraid that the noble lady will look down on us business ladies."

"Even though he suddenly became rich, he still had the same style as a small family, which was not presentable."

"..."

Shang Mingshu and Xiao Yu turned a blind eye.

Shang Mingshu was like a peony standing out from the crowd among a pool of green lotuses. There were countless pretty young ladies present, but none of them could surpass Shang Mingshu in appearance, or none were as dazzling as her.

Many young ladies who were forced to dress plainly at home were furious. They were at the age when they loved quietness, and they also wanted to look more colorful.

"Whose young lady is this? She is so dazzling."

Someone in the crowd deliberately raised his voice and shouted. Shang Mingshu quickly caught sight of that person. Their eyes met, and the other person avoided her gaze.

Mrs. He looked over in the direction of the sound and frowned almost imperceptibly.

She truly disliked extravagance and extravagance. These tycoons were all wealthy, having built their fortunes through genuine ability. She didn't object to their enjoyment, but she didn't want to see excessive indulgence. She had to remember that when she and her husband had visited remote villages, they had seen so many poor people struggling to make ends meet.

I know that these have nothing to do with them, but when comparing the two, I can't help but feel unhappy.

"Lady." Xiao Yu brought Shang Mingshu forward to pay her respects.

Mrs. He showed no disgust, but asked a few casual questions with a faint smile.

Yu also answered respectfully. It was obvious that Madam He was not in the mood to talk, and she was about to leave, but someone did not allow her.

"Miss Shang is dressed up today, she is truly the most beautiful among all the girls. The shoes on her feet are probably worth a hundred silver coins." The Shi family is also one of the major tea merchants in the city. Mrs. Shi and Xiao Yu have always been at odds with each other.

Shang Mingshu had competed with Shi Qingyu for the shoes, but in the end, it was Xiao Yu, who loved her daughter more, who helped Shang Mingshu get what she wanted.

As if she didn't notice Madam He's lingering gaze on the shoes under her skirt, Shang Mingshu lifted the hem of her skirt generously and said, "I was competing with Sister Shi for that pair. Thank you, Sister Shi, for giving them up."

"Huh? Why is Sister Shi so plain and elegant today? In the past, Sister Shi was always dressed in a flashy and gorgeous outfit."

Before Shi Qingyu could sneer, Shang Mingshu reacted: "Oh, I remember now, Sister Shi has inquired about Madam Gong's preferences and is trying to please her."

"you--"

Everyone knew their little intentions of currying favor, but when Shang Mingshu said it so casually, it seemed a bit deliberate.

"Ms. Shang is unwilling to please others." Mrs. He said expressionlessly.

Shang Mingshu smiled and bowed again. "Your Highness, please allow me to inform you that I have never seen an imperial edict. I learned half a month ago that I would be meeting the Madam today, and I have been in a state of panic ever since. I had to seek help from a close friend in the capital. She wrote to comfort me, saying that Your Highness is sensible and generous, and that I only need to be honest with you, and I will not offend Your Highness. Instead, I have been evasive and trying to judge others by my own standards, which is disrespectful to Your Highness."

She likes to step on everyone.

"I wonder who Miss Shang's best friend is in Beijing?" asked Madam He.

"The third lady of Duke Xin's mansion."

Shang Mingshu did not lie. Three years ago, she had the honor of meeting the third lady of the Duke of Xin's Mansion who was passing by Huizhou Prefecture. She was not a person who wanted to please others, but just asked someone to collect some interesting things for her to give. Later, she met her twice and she never stopped giving her gifts in the past two years.

She had not thought about asking the noble lady to give her anything, but just wanted her to use the lady's skin as a banner when they were thousands of miles apart in the future.

Since she knew that Madam He was coming to Huizhou Prefecture to take up her post, she asked casually when she presented the "Da Yi Ji Yi" plate to her again.

This lady from the mansion loved engraving books, especially lost editions. She had long regarded Shang Mingshu as her confidante, so she was naturally happy to tell her this little thing. Therefore, even if Madam He asked, she would not hesitate.

Madam He remained calm upon hearing this and asked, "To be honest, does Miss Shang usually dress this way?"

"Of course not. Madam Gong is an honored lady, and I should show respect to her. When meeting her, I will dress up to show my respect to her." Shang Mingshu said slowly.

Look, how much I value meeting you, how much they try to hide it and how perfunctory it is.

(End of this chapter)