The Incense Monopoly Order

Chapter 89 I Have Someone I Love

The slender willow branches swayed in the wind, the tips of the leaves were dyed with the light yellow of early autumn, and they made rustling sounds.

Shang Mingshu raised her chin slightly so that she could meet Xu Tianxing's eyes as he leaned forward and gazed at her. She showed no trace of shyness or retreat as a woman should: "General, I already have someone in my heart."

"I see." Xu Tianxing looked away and turned to face the river. "I was reckless. I hope Sanniang gets what she wants."

"Thank you, General." Shang Mingshu stepped back and bowed gracefully. "My sister is still waiting. If you have no other instructions, General, I will take my leave."

Xu Tianxing lowered his head slightly and said, "Madam San, please do as you please."

Shang Mingshu left silently.

The figure of the beauty gradually moved away from the corner of his eye and finally disappeared. Only then did Xu Tianxing turn around and look at her back.

In recent years, his mind has not been on love affairs. The elders in his family are worried about his marriage. He has seen some ladies from afar, some of whom are beautiful, some are smart, and some are cheerful and generous, but none of them can make him pay more attention at first sight.

Until Shang Mingshu appeared.

He learned her name from a letter from his aunt. Before he could write his rejection letter, his aunt wrote to him again, full of regret saying that the girl had declined. Only then did he completely remember Shang Mingshu's name.

Men always treat women who reject them differently than others; it's an innate bad habit. He didn't mind it, but seeing this woman again inevitably made him take a second look, to see what kind of woman she was who ignored him.

That's it.

He never thought that they would meet for the first time in such a situation. She fought bravely and killed the enemy cleanly and neatly, she took the bow and pulled the string, and her eyes, calmer than a deep pool, met his eyes, as if taking root, and could not be shaken off from then on.

Xu Tianxing finally understood what the woman he was looking for to accompany him for the rest of his life looked like.

Later, when he learned that she was Shang Mingshu, his heart began to ripple. He wanted to know why she was unwilling to meet him before rejecting him.

It turns out that my heart belongs to someone.

At that moment, he tasted the feeling of loss for the first time since he knew about the incident.

Although I feel regretful, I still hope that she can find a good man and be cherished in the future.

Shang Mingshu walked out of Xu Tianxing's sight slowly and then slowly breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't know Xu Tianxing as a person, but she knew some men's nature.

Especially for a man in a high position like Xu Tianxing, how could he tolerate being rejected in person by a merchant girl?

When Xu Tianxing asked that question, she thought about it for a long time, but finally told the truth. To outsiders, she and Cheng Mian seemed to be in love with each other.

It is better to risk angering Xu Tianxing than to be mistakenly thought of as playing both sides in the future.

"Third sister, where have you been?" Shang Zishu picked out the books and paid the bill. She waited and waited but Shang Mingshu didn't show up. Xiaolang also had a message, so she didn't dare to go looking for her rashly for fear that the two sisters would miss each other.

"I just went out and saw someone scaring a horse." Shang Mingshu said lightly, without mentioning that she met Xu Tianxing's brother.

"Frightened horse? Are you okay?" Shang Zishu nervously held her sister's arm and checked it carefully.

"I'm fine, Second Sister." Shang Mingshu held her hand. "It's getting late. Let's go back first."

After confirming her sister was alright, Shang Zishu picked up her books and went home with Shang Mingshu. Shang Mingshu reached out to take half of them for her and glanced at the titles. They were all storybooks. Shang Zishu excitedly shared with Shang Mingshu: "I just saw a storybook that tells the story of Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty and her male favorite..."

"Mrs. Shang Er." The two sisters had not walked far when a voice came from behind them.

Shang Zishu and Shang Mingshu looked back and saw that it was Chen Jin who came from Huizhou Prefecture to compete in tea.

Chen Jin stepped forward and politely clasped his hands: "Second Lady Shang, Third Lady Shang."

The two of them politely responded, "Mr. Chen."

"I heard a few days ago that the second lady came to Xihang, but I have been busy with other things and have no time to host a banquet. It is really rude. It is better to do today than to wait for another day. Would you two ladies Shang be so kind as to allow me to host a banquet for you today?" Chen Jin's tone was gentle. He was handsome and well-dressed, which made people like him easily.

Shang Mingshu turned to look at Shang Zishu. She knew who Chen Jin really wanted to invite.

Shang Zishu refused bluntly: "Mr. Chen has business dealings with my father. If he wants to entertain you, why not ask my father? It is not appropriate for us two ladies to have a private banquet with Mr. Chen."

This did not give Chen Jin any face at all.

Chen Jin was not angry, but apologized: "I was rude, I will send an invitation to Mr. Shang another day. Madam Shang, please forgive me. I was very happy to see you, so I was impolite."

"Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Chen. My sister and I have been out for a long time. I am afraid that we may worry our mother, so I will take my leave now." Shang Zishu is very similar to Shang Mingshu in some ways.

For example, when it comes to love between men and women, they are never dragged out. Chen Jin and Chen Che obviously have conflicting interests. She admires Mrs. Chen and currently has no ill feelings towards Chen Jin, but she also cannot feel any good towards him.

Chen Jin did not try to persuade them to stay, but still said goodbye to them politely.

This scene happened to fall into the eyes of Chen Che, who was sitting by the window on the second floor of the restaurant opposite. He didn't know that Chen Jin and Shang Zishu had known each other in Huizhou Prefecture. He just felt that the two strangers were chatting so speculatively, and his deep sword-like eyebrows were furrowed.

That afternoon, he sent someone to deliver a letter to Shang Zishu, hoping to meet with her.

Shang Zishu didn't even take the invitation and asked the servant to send it back.

After receiving the unopened post, Chen Che gritted his teeth and turned to visit Shang Jinliang. He said directly to Shang Jinliang, "Uncle Shang, I have some questions about the tea ceremony. I heard that Madam Shang is quite an expert in this art. Could you please allow me to meet her so I can learn from her?"

Shang Jinliang was quite satisfied with Chen Che. Chen Che was handsome, kind-hearted, and came from a wealthy family. He was a perfect match for Shang Zishu, and he was happy to facilitate this marriage.

Naturally, someone was sent to invite Shang Zishu. Shang Zishu didn't know that Shang Jinliang called her because of Chen Che. When she arrived at the main hall and saw Chen Che, the joy on her face disappeared in an instant.

"Zishu, Chen Dalang has some things about tea that he wants to discuss with you. You young people should learn from each other. I have some things to do, so I'll leave it to you to entertain Chen Dalang on my behalf." Shang Jinliang didn't give Shang Zishu a chance to refuse, and strode away with the housekeeper.

"Hey, Dad..." Shang Zishu could only watch Shang Jinliang's back disappear.

"Apologize to the Second Lady first. I shouldn't have used Uncle Shang to force you to meet me." Chen Che also knew that his actions were inappropriate.

Shang Zishu sneered, "Mr. Chen, you've already done it. Why are you apologizing now? Are you trying to make yourself look good?"

"No matter how much Madam Second Lady blames me, it's all my fault." Chen Che looked like he was willing to learn from her.

Shang Zishu felt extremely bored. She took a few steps to the side, putting some distance between herself and Chen Che. "Why did you go to so much trouble to see me?"