Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

Chapter 273 Shulan's Thoughts
"Of course not!"

Minglan smiled gently: "Actually, I've already asked Grandmother about this!"

“Grandmother said she had heard some rumors that the matter in the palace was over and that those who left before could go back.”

In fact, although the selection of imperial concubines takes a long time, it can be completed in no more than a year.

Moreover, the only step that could involve Minglan was the initial selection process, which only took three months. Most of the rest of the time actually took place in the palace.

In other words, the selection process involved three months of open selection outside the palace and nine months of training within the palace before it could be completed.

In fact, there are quite a few people like Minglan who have left the capital. The reason is simply that the officials are giving the emperor face, so as not to expose the fact that no one wants their daughters to enter the palace and make the situation awkward.

Moreover, although the emperor didn't care about these things, for the sake of the royal family's dignity, or so-called etiquette, these girls who didn't want to enter the palace were actually punished.

That is to make them "leftover women of advanced age" and prohibit them from getting married within three years.

If she is still young, it's fine, but if she is an older woman, then you can imagine what she might face in three years.

Unless they already have someone they like and a way out, they might as well just go to the palace.

Not to mention the previous rule—"Any man or woman who does not kiss after the age of 10 without a valid reason shall pay a heavy fine"—this situation would naturally be considered "without a valid reason," so it would be very difficult for a girl who is already seventeen!
Not only did she find it difficult to get married, but her family also suffered a significant financial loss.

Therefore, unless the girl is extremely pampered, most families would choose to enroll their daughters in the program.

In fact, Minglan's departure from the capital can be seen as a tacit understanding between the Emperor and his officials, a long-standing unspoken rule that has naturally developed between them.

It can only be understood but cannot be expressed in words.

"Is that so?"

Sheng Changquan nodded, but said nothing more.

After all, he had never experienced these things before, so he naturally didn't know much about them.

However, Sheng Changquan believed what Minglan said, because he knew that even if his own sister wasn't worried about anything, their grandmother wouldn't be, not to mention the two mothers in the capital.

When the time comes, we'll just need to see how Mo Lan and Ru Lan are doing, and then we'll be able to see for ourselves.

"Oh, right, little brother!"

After discussing this topic, Minglan asked about other things.

"Where have you and the scholar been all these years?"

To be honest, Minglan was quite curious about Sheng Changquan's study tour.

Of course, this curiosity was not envy.

After all, Minglan is not the type to like traveling around. In fact, she has a lazy and leisurely temperament. If she were to run around outside every day, she would probably not be used to it, or even suffer from it.

"hehe!"

When this was mentioned, Sheng Changquan chuckled softly.

"Sister, if you ask about this, we could talk about it all night long!"

Sheng Changquan said this, but his actions spoke louder than words. He took out a small booklet from his pocket and handed it to Minglan.

"Sister, look, these are all the places I've been to over the years."

Minglan took the booklet, opened it, and immediately saw a series of place names.

Shaanxi, Huainan, Jinghu, Zhejiang and Jiangsu, Fujian...

Familiar yet unfamiliar names leap off the page.

"That's not all!"

Sheng Changquan's voice continued: "Speaking of which, I've been all over the place, from Yanzhou in the north to the South China Sea in the south, even to the Hulun Mountains in the west and Longwan in the east..."

……

Sheng Changquan said a lot of things simply, and then said, "Sister, you don't need to be envious!"

Seeing the envious look on Minglan's face, Sheng Changquan immediately understood her thoughts.

"Although I have traveled to many places and seen many beautiful sights and experienced many different people, I have also faced many difficulties over the years!"

Sheng Changquan chuckled and teased, "Let's not talk about anything else, just take sleeping for example. I really haven't slept in once in six years!"

"I get up at 7 AM almost every day, and I can't slack off even once!"

"Sister, if you also want to see those places, you'll probably have to suffer just like me!"

These words immediately dispelled Minglan's desire to go out for a walk.

"Ah ha ha……"

"Well... in that case... I guess I'll just forget about it!"

Minglan, quite timidly, started to back down: "Forget it, little brother, don't you know my personality?"

"If it's really as you say, then... then I'd better not bother!"

Minglan shrank back conscientiously, immediately suppressing the impulse that had just surged within her.

"hehe!"

Sheng Changquan smiled slightly and said, "Sister, don't be disappointed!"

"Actually, I came back this time with a big gift for you!"

"Ok?"

Upon hearing this topic, Minglan immediately perked up!
Then he jumped up from his seat, walked over to Sheng Changquan, and urged, "What is it?"

"Take it out and let me see it!"

"Sister, you...you don't have to worry!"

Sheng Changquan was both amused and exasperated by Minglan's behavior.

"Sister, the gift I prepared for you is still on its way; it hasn't arrived yet!"

Left with no other choice, Sheng Changquan could only explain that Xu Changqing had stayed behind at the escort agency and was preparing to return to Youyang County the next day.

"Huh? It's not until tomorrow!"

After hearing the explanation, Minglan was initially disappointed, but then a thought arose in her mind, and she tentatively asked in a low voice, "Brother, then..."

"Hey, stop!"

"Sister, don't ask!"

"I will never tell you what this gift is beforehand!"

Before Minglan could finish speaking, Sheng Changquan preemptively refused, saying, "The gift should only be known upon receipt; otherwise, the atmosphere won't be right!" Sheng Changquan smiled as he watched Minglan's hesitant expression, finding it somewhat amusing.

"Brother, you!"

Upon seeing this, Minglan was immediately enraged!
……

After laughing and joking for a while, Sheng Changquan and Minglan gradually quieted down.

"Sister, you've been staying in your hometown of Youyang for the past three years."

Sheng Changquan looked at Minglan and asked with some curiosity, "Are you getting used to things here?"

Although Minglan always appeared happy, Sheng Changquan immediately noticed something was off about her.

She seemed to have something on her mind, and her smile appeared forced.

That's why Sheng Changquan asked such a question.

"hehe!"

Minglan didn't notice anything amiss, and simply smiled, saying, "What's there to be used to or not used to? Actually, sometimes I think Youyang is even better than the capital!"

"At the very least, it's much freer, and there aren't as many rules as there were back then."

"is it?"

Sheng Changquan squinted and asked with some suspicion, "Sister, if that's really the case, then you seem to have something on your mind."

Unable to glean any information, Sheng Changquan simply asked directly, "Isn't this because you want to return to the capital, sister?"

As Minglan's younger brother, Sheng Changquan noticed the hesitation in her eyes the moment he saw her, as if she had something on her mind that she wanted to say but dared not.

At the time, he thought it was because Minglan was not used to life in the countryside of Youyang, but now that she says it, it seems there is another reason.

"This……"

Minglan hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped herself.

"Sister, just say what's on your mind. What's there to hide between us siblings?"

Looking at Minglan's expression, Sheng Changquan guessed what was going on. This matter probably didn't involve him and his sister. Otherwise, Minglan would have changed her appearance long ago and wouldn't be so hesitant.

He casually picked up two cups from the table, poured some tea into them, drank one himself, and handed the other to Minglan, saying, "Besides, even if you don't tell me now, I can ask Sister Xiaotao later!"

Minglan took the tea that Sheng Changquan handed her, lowered her head and took a small sip, before hesitatingly replying, "Actually, this matter is about your sister Shulan!"

After hearing Sheng Changquan's words, Minglan finally decided to tell him about her troubles. After all, it was best for Sheng Changquan to handle this troubling matter.

"Ok?"

"Sister Shulan?"

Sheng Changquan was taken aback and stopped refilling his cup.

……

Speaking of which, the Sheng family's rise to prominence originated from the generation of the old patriarch Sheng, but its prosperity came with the generation of the old patriarch Sheng Xu.

Grandma Sheng had three sons: Sheng Nong, Sheng Xu, and Sheng Bang.

Among them, the eldest son, Sheng Nong, married a woman surnamed Li and had one son and two daughters. However, the eldest daughter died young, and only one son and one daughter survived: the eldest son, Sheng Wei, and the second daughter, Sheng Yun.

However, the eldest patriarch, Sheng Nong, has long since passed away, and the oldest member of their lineage is now only the eldest matriarch, Madam Li.

As for the second branch, that is, the Sheng family, there is no need to say more. Old Master Sheng Xu only had one son, Sheng Hong, who was registered under the name of Old Madam Sheng to continue the family line.

As for the last branch of the family, it only had one son, named Sheng Zhou.

On another note, unlike his two older brothers who died young, this third patriarch was extremely healthy. Moreover, his wife, the third patriarch, was also quite long-lived, and the two of them are still alive today.

As for Shulan, whom Minglan mentioned, she is actually the eldest daughter of Sheng Wei from the eldest branch of the family, and is Minglan and her siblings' cousin.

"Sister Shulan?"

Sheng Changquan asked curiously, "What's wrong with Sister Shulan?"

"I remember Sister Shulan is already married to that child prodigy, Scholar Sun, isn't she?"

Actually, Sheng Changquan had met Shulan years ago, and the two had a pretty good relationship.

Leaving aside childhood events, let's talk about six years ago when Sheng Changquan returned to Youyang to take the imperial examination. He had met Shulan then, and that's when their friendship was formed.

At that time, Sheng Changquan returned to Youyang alone, but the Sheng family members took great care of him.

Of course, this was not only because they were of the same clan, but more importantly, it was because of the respect shown by his family's leader, Lord Sheng.

This also includes the third branch of the Sheng family.

Sheng Changquan was fully aware of this.

However, the elders of the main branch were different. They cared more deeply about Sheng Changquan, and their concern was not just for Sheng Hong, who was an official in the capital. The feeling they gave Sheng Changquan was more like kinship.

Although he was unclear about the specific reasons, Sheng Changquan could feel the other party's sincerity, so he naturally developed a good impression of the Sheng family members from the first branch of the family.

Among them, the one who took great care of him was his uncle, Shengwei.

At that time, after returning to Youyang, Sheng Changquan planned to go back to his old family home, but his uncle Sheng refused to agree and insisted that Sheng Changquan stay at their home.

Moreover, Uncle Sheng said that the old house of the second branch of the Sheng family had been uninhabited for a long time and lacked vitality, making it somewhat unsuitable for living. Therefore, he insisted that Sheng Changquan stay.

In fact, Sheng Changquan found Sheng Wei's statement somewhat laughable and exasperating.

Because he knew that Sheng Hong had put a lot of effort into maintaining the old house in Youyang. He not only hired people to watch over the house, but also regularly invited craftsmen to inspect the contents to prevent any damage.

So how could this old house be as dilapidated and uninhabitable as Sheng Wei said?

However, out of respect for his elders, Sheng Changquan couldn't be too stubborn and eventually had no choice but to stay at his uncle's house.

Because at that time, it wasn't just Uncle Sheng who spoke up, but even the old lady spoke up. How could Sheng Changquan disobey her?

Therefore, Sheng Changquan came into contact with Shulan's family.

After Sheng Changquan settled in at his uncle's house, his uncle and his family took into account that Sheng Changquan's purpose in returning to Youyang was to take the imperial examination. Therefore, they instructed the servants not to approach Sheng Changquan's courtyard at will, and all matters concerning Sheng Changquan were to be handled by the Sheng family members themselves.

And this person was Sheng Shulan.

Shulan has a dignified appearance and a gentle nature. She is always gentle and kind in her dealings with people, without a trace of worldliness. Even if she suffers some grievance, she will only smile and then forget about it.

Speaking of which, Shulan is truly the most gentle and kind girl in this world.

During the time Sheng Changquan lived at his uncle Sheng's house, she was the person he interacted with the most among his peers.

What impressed Sheng Changquan the most was Shulan's personality; it seemed that she greatly admired scholars.

(End of this chapter)