The Incense Monopoly Order

Chapter 75 She is precious to him

Seeing Shang Zishu stretching out her claws again, Shang Mingshu quickly slapped her hand away and handed her a pair of chopsticks under Shang Zishu's accusing gaze.

Shang Zishu was delighted. She ate from her bowl while staring at the pot: "Leave me some more lotus root and tofu. I like them."

After quickly taking a few bites to satisfy her craving, Shang Zishu got back to the point: "What did you mean by that just now?"

"If Shi Houqiong wants to protect Shi Bing, she'll do everything she can to get Shi Erchuan to change his confession." Shang Mingshu took out a takeout lunch box and packed different braised dishes in a special ceramic pot. "But he knows this is a trap I set for him. I might have someone waiting for him to attack Shi Erchuan, catch him red-handed, and leave him with no way to defend himself."

She had sent people to follow Mu Mian that day just for this day, to throw the killed people back to the Shi family, to let Shi Houqiong know that her people were not ordinary guards.

With this incident in mind, Shi Houqiong did not dare to act rashly. Once the people she sent were caught alive by her, the Shi family would be in trouble and more and more people would fall into her trap.

"Then when will he make his move?" Shang Zishu's lips were glistening with oil from eating, her eyes full of anticipation, and her words were slurred. "Are you sending enough people? Don't let him get away."

Shang Mingshu glanced at her sideways and continued to serve the braised food: "I didn't send anyone."

"What? What did you say?" Shang Zishu stopped chewing the delicious food in her mouth and stared at Shang Mingshu blankly, unable to believe her ears.

"Shi Houqiong won't take this risk. Shi Bing is not worth the risk. If he can't get his way with County Magistrate Gao, he will simply abandon Shi Bing." Shang Mingshu filled the pottery jar, sealed the food box, and took out another food box.

"How can you two eat so much?" There was still half of the food in the pot, and Shang Zishu was already feeling distressed. Shang Mingshu seldom made braised food, and it was rare for her to eat it.

"This is for Uncle Cheng and Second Brother Cheng." Shang Mingshu brushed away Shang Zishu's hand, scooped out the food in large spoonfuls, and even specially put in a can of leftover braised soup.

"Leave some more soup, I'll ask Jinya to cook noodles for me!" Shang Zishu stopped him.

"There are still many." Shang Mingshu ignored Shang Zishu and pretended to be full.

"There are quite a few people in our family. You don't know how many people knock on the door to ask what we are cooking. With Dad's personality, he will definitely share some of the food with the elders when they come to visit." Shang Zishu continued to eat. It tasted better when eating alone. She wouldn't feel too bad if she couldn't stop her father from sending them away.

"If I keep less, Dad will be reluctant to give it to others." Shang Mingshu knew that Shang Jinliang was filial and charitable, but Shang Jinliang would not order her to do more just because he wanted to be filial.

When he sees that there isn’t much left and it can’t be divided evenly, he won’t give anything away to anyone.

Shang Zishu did not continue the topic of the Shi family. As for her suspicion that her sister had miscalculated, Shi Houqiong would still attack Shi Erchuan, she never doubted Shang Mingshu. Whatever her sister said would happen would definitely happen!

Shang Mingshu packed up some of the pastries she had prepared to relieve her greasiness, picked up a jar of osmanthus wine that Cheng Mian had sent her yesterday, handed the things to He Sui, asked her to take the carriage, and she rode to Cheng's house on horseback.

Cheng Mian got up early in the morning and rummaged through the boxes and cabinets. He almost didn't try on all the clothes. Finally, he picked out a set, tied his hair into a bun with a white jade hairpin, and waited eagerly at home.

Thinking about how he had also been waiting at home yesterday, and finally received a letter from Shang Mingshu saying that the plan had changed and there was no need to bother him anymore, he was filled with disappointment and wanted to go to her house immediately. However, thinking that Shang Mingshu was probably busy with something and that going by himself might distract her, he managed to hold back.

Because of what happened yesterday, he was worried that he wouldn't be able to wait for Shang Mingshu today. He paced back and forth behind the screen wall at the door of his house. He didn't even dare to go around the screen wall to face the door, for fear of being bumped into by Shang Mingshu.

Cheng Qin, holding his breakfast bowl, stood under the porch pillars, watching his brother's eager expression as he ate. He felt that today's breakfast was particularly appetizing, and he ate much more than usual. The sound of Dada's horse's hooves approached from afar, and Cheng Mian's heart was pounding.

"Third Master, Third Master, it's Third Lady!" Cheng Mian's servant ran back excitedly to report.

Cheng Mian didn't have time to listen to the servant's words. He knew it must be Shang Mingshu from the joyful tone of his voice. He ran out immediately and saw the woman in riding clothes riding a tall horse towards the morning glow. It turned out that the beautiful Sanniang who was as beautiful as a fairy could be so heroic.

The golden light of the morning sun shone on her, and countless beautiful thoughts flashed through Cheng Mian's mind, but he didn't even sigh.

He felt that these words were not enough, that they were not enough to describe the woman before him, who was more beautiful than anything in the world.

"Third brother, how about we go for a horseback ride?" Shang Mingshu jumped off the horse and walked in front of Cheng Mian.

"Okay!" Cheng Mian immediately winked at the servant, "Go and get my horse."

"This is some food I made. Let Brother Cheng and Brother Cheng try it." Shang Mingshu took the food box from He Sui.

Cheng Qin, who had followed a little later, sniffed the air and realized it was coming from the food box. He strode forward and took it before Cheng Mian could. "My wife and I are envious of Sanniang's cooking. We only hope to be able to taste it every moment in the future."

Cheng Qin was obviously trying to help his brother hint at Shang Mingshu, but Cheng Mian didn't appreciate it at all. His smile faded, and he said to his eldest brother with a stern face, "Brother, if the cook at home doesn't suit your taste, you can hire someone else. The third lady is a precious person at home. There's no way she would go to another family and have to serve others."

"You..." Cheng Qin was dumbfounded by his brother's attack.

Shang Mingshu couldn't help but look at him again, surprised that he said such words in front of her.

She knew that Cheng Qin didn't mean that, and even she didn't think about it that way, but he always protected her and was reluctant to let her suffer any grievances.

"Third Madam, let's go." Cheng Mian saw the servant leading the horse out, and he walked away without even saying hello to his brother, indicating that he cared a lot about what his brother had just said.

Shang Mingshu had no choice but to hurriedly bow to Cheng Qin and say goodbye before chasing after him.

Cheng Qin was left standing at the door with a lunch box, staring blankly at his brother and Shang Mingshu walking side by side into the morning light, leading the horse, until they disappeared.

Finally, he burst out laughing, lowered his head and took a deep breath of the tempting aroma of the food box, threw aside what his brother had just said, and took the food to share with his wife and second brother.

"Brother Cheng was just saying it casually and didn't have that kind of thought." Shang Mingshu tried to persuade Cheng Mian instead.

Cheng Mian's expression returned to the joy and earnestness he had when facing Shang Mingshu. "I know big brother doesn't have such thoughts, but even if I say it unintentionally, it won't work. Third Lady is kind-hearted. You are so kind to others. I will always think about you when you don't want to think about things."

There were some things he was not qualified to say to Shang Mingshu now. She was going to marry him, and his attitude in the future would determine how others would respect her. He would not allow himself to be negligent in the slightest and cause others to not know how precious she was to him.

(End of this chapter)