The Incense Monopoly Order

Chapter 16 I Will Marry the Third Lady in a Splendid Manner
Shang Mingshu didn't know that the three brothers of the Cheng family almost fell out because of her. Cheng Mian looked at her with sincere and passionate eyes. She guessed that Cheng Mian had feelings for her, but she didn't expect the Cheng family to be so eager to come to her house.

She was having breakfast when Shang Wenshu came running over mysteriously, "The Cheng family's eldest lady came to visit, bringing many gifts. She said she wanted to thank you for helping Third Master Cheng escape from trouble yesterday, and also for saving Third Master Cheng during the Lantern Festival. They were looking everywhere for someone, and I didn't know it was you."

At the beginning of the year, the Cheng family's search for Cheng Mian's savior caused a sensation in the city. Many people tried to claim the title. The sensible ones left out of shame, while the unsensible ones were first given a reward by the Cheng family and then sent to jail for extortion.

"I just found out about it last night." Shang Mingshu knew about the Cheng family's search for their savior, but she didn't pay much attention to it, nor did she associate it with what she had done casually. There were many mistakes during the Lantern Festival, and many merchants were held accountable by the government.

Shang Mingshu and Xiao Yu naturally tried their best to stop Shang Jinliang from doing such a thankless task. They would rather donate real money to the clan and let them buy a few big fat pigs to give a few pounds of meat to the villagers, which would be more cost-effective than joining in the fun.

"I was accompanying her in the front yard just now, and heard what Madam Cheng meant by both sides..." Shang Wenshu secretly looked at Shang Mingshu's expression, and saw that Shang Mingshu continued to eat the meat soup with the porcelain bowl without changing her expression.

Unable to figure out whether Shang Mingshu was completely unaware or simply didn't care, she paused for a moment, failing to pique Shang Mingshu's curiosity. Feeling somewhat discouraged, she simply said, "Mrs. Cheng is here to inquire about you on behalf of Mr. Cheng San."

Wang was only the eldest sister-in-law and could not decide on her younger brother-in-law's marriage. She came to the house in person, which must have been with Mr. Cheng's approval. Mr. Cheng had never met Shang Mingshu, so it could only be because Cheng Mian expressed his feelings that this happened.

Shang Mingshu finished her meat soup slowly and put down her bowl. She took the silk from He Sui and wiped the oil stains on her lips bit by bit: "Eldest sister, I don't have the final say on my marriage."

"Third sister, I think Master Cheng San is a good son-in-law." Shang Wenshu hoped that Shang Mingshu would take the initiative to fight for him. "The Cheng family is wealthy. As fellow merchants, they won't look down on you. If you marry into a wealthy family, you will inevitably be ridiculed. If you meet someone with bad family traditions, they will spend your money and still think you are full of money!
Mr. Cheng San is about the same age as you and has no parents. He is well-known for his talent and is quite popular with teachers in the academy. It is only a matter of time before he becomes famous.

If you marry into the Cheng family, you don't have to learn the rules of a wealthy family. Young couples should support each other, and their love is not comparable to marrying up."

Hearing that Shang Wenshu was only thinking about herself, Shang Mingshu couldn't help but feel a little moved: "Eldest sister, there are countless people with talent and fame, and fame can only be achieved with real talent and knowledge. I'm not in a hurry, my two sisters haven't gotten married yet."

Throughout history, most talented scholars have been stuck at the imperial examination stage.

Shang Mingshu has no love or dislike for Cheng Mian. Cheng Mian is a good son-in-law, which Shang Wenshu can see, and Shang Jinliang and Xiao Yu naturally understand as well. However, for the long-term benefit of the family, Shang Jinliang will not give in easily, and she can wait another one or two years due to her age.

Whether or not I will be destined to be a couple with Cheng Mian depends entirely on whether he performs well in the imperial examinations this autumn and next spring.

Xiao Yu understood her husband's thoughts and knew Shang Mingshu's wishes even better. From the perspective of an elder, Xiao Yu wanted to agree immediately.

Even though Cheng Mian failed in the imperial examination, marrying into the Cheng family was a powerful alliance. He had nothing to fear in Huizhou Prefecture, and those with ulterior motives in the clan did not dare to have any evil intentions because of the Cheng family.

But she could control her husband, but she couldn't control her daughter.

She could only blame Shang Jinliang. She was a little woman who could not make the decision at home. Her daughter was well-behaved and her marriage was arranged by Shang Jinliang. Shang Jinliang was a cruel father who was determined to use his daughter to get close to him.

Wang returned to her mansion happily, and the three brothers were waiting for news at home.

Seeing Wang's smiling face, Cheng Mian was delighted.

I only heard Wang say: "Mrs. Shang praised my third brother highly and she couldn't be more satisfied with him.

After I arrived, Madam Shang first accompanied me but then left. I think she went to look for Madam San. When I left, Madam San didn't send anyone to express her opinion, which means she doesn't reject this marriage." "Great!" Cheng Mian clapped his hands in joy, wishing he could go look for Shang Mingshu right away.

His reaction made Wang shake her head with a smile, then changed the subject: "However, Madam Shang also revealed that the philanthropist Shang is interested in choosing a high-ranking and noble husband for the third lady..."

"I'll go find Uncle Shang myself right now." Cheng Mian couldn't sit still.

Cheng She held his shoulders.

"Second brother, please let me go. I want to tell Uncle Shang that I will definitely pass the imperial examination and win an imperial decree for the Third Lady!" Cheng Mian struggled.

"What can you offer as a guarantee?" Cheng She gripped Cheng Mian's shoulders firmly. "You're only a scholar now. Wait until you pass the imperial examination in the autumn and then you can make a solid statement. Perhaps you can gain Uncle Shang's trust."

"Second brother, you're absolutely right," Wang said quickly. "Madam Shang said that Third Lady has two older sisters who are still married, and she's her only blood relative. She wants to stay for two more years. If Second Brother wins the imperial examination next spring, then this marriage is a no-brainer."

Cheng Mian calmed down and broke away from Cheng She: "I'm going to review my studies right now. I will definitely marry the Third Lady in style!"

"Look, look, when has he ever been so full of fighting spirit?" Cheng Qin couldn't help but point at Cheng Mian's back and joked to Cheng She with a comforting smile.

Cheng She's eyes were deep and his face was calm, he did not respond.

Shang Mingshu didn't care about the Cheng family. She went to visit Mrs. He on the pretext of asking her to seek justice for the orphanage and brought Shang Zishu's new tea.

The reason was extremely far-fetched, so Mrs. He ordered her servants to send him away.

Mrs. He didn't want to see her, which was as Shang Mingshu expected, so she left Shang Zishu's tea.

The servant brought the gift up, and when the words to share it with the servant were about to come to his lips, he swallowed them. Madam He thought of Shang Mingshu who risked her life to save Wang Pozi that day, so she ordered, "Make a pot."

The tea was ready when Magistrate He returned. Although the tea was not yet of the highest quality, its fragrance was lingering and pleasant. Magistrate He smelled the tea and said with a smile, "This is tea sent by the merchant."

"How do you know?" Mrs. He's first reaction was that Shang Jia had already entertained Magistrate He, and Shang Mingshu's intention in sending tea was not to entertain Magistrate He, but to please him.

Magistrate He sat down. "A few days ago, I went to the post station to see off the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner. The aroma of tea wafted from the tea pavilion outside the post station, attracting Lord Lin and me to search for tea. We then discovered that this tea was supplied to the tea pavilion by a merchant. Lord Lin is a tea lover, and this tea is new and not yet available for sale. I heard the waiter at the tea pavilion say that this tea is still being carefully crafted. Lord Lin also said that if the dross is removed and the essence is retained, it is comparable to the tea of ​​Lu'an."

After hearing this, Madam He took a lamp from the maid and handed it to Magistrate He: "I was too suspicious."

"Why do you say that, ma'am?"

(End of this chapter)