Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

Chapter 287 Bringing Back the Talented Scholar
"you?"

"You are... from the Sheng family?"

Looking at Sheng Changquan, whose demeanor was so different from hers, Madam Sun was still somewhat uncomfortable, but she managed to suppress her unease and stammered, "Then..."

"...Then...why haven't I seen you before?"

"Are you really Shulan's younger brother?"

Although Madam Sun was a little nervous at first, she was the oldest person present, and the event was being held at the Sun family's home. So, as time went by, she spoke more and more fluently!
Of course, the main reason was that after she came to her senses, she thought of her family's strength—her son who was a scholar!
A mother's status depends on her son.

Having an "outstanding" son, Madam Sun was naturally very calm.

"Kid, don't think I don't know!"

Thinking of Sun Zhigao, Madam Sun's tone became even more confident.

Without waiting for Sheng Changquan to say anything, she immediately questioned him with a suspicious look: "Sheng Shulan only has two younger brothers. Besides Sheng Changsong and Sheng Changwu, where are her other brothers?"

"You're not kidding me, are you?"

Faced with Sun Huangshi's questioning, Sheng Changquan smiled and explained to her, "Grandma is joking!"

"I am indeed Sister Shulan's younger brother, but not her biological brother, but her cousin."

"My name is Sheng Changquan, and I am from the second branch of the Sheng family, so Sister Shulan is indeed my sister."

Sheng Changquan lifted the medicine box in his hand and showed it to Sun Huangshi opposite him, saying, "The main reason I came here this time is to diagnose my sister and see how her health has been lately."

Sheng Changquan squinted at Sun Huangshi across from him and said softly, "After all, my grandmother also dotes on Sister Shulan very much. She wants to see how she has been doing all these years."

"Second...second wife?"

After hearing Sheng Changquan's words, Sun Huangshi immediately thought of the situation of the second branch of the Sheng family.

"You...you are Lord Sheng Hong's son?"

Although Sheng Hong was not a high-ranking official in the capital, he was still quite remarkable in the small territory of Youyang.

After all, putting everything else aside, the very title of "official in the capital" is enough to inspire awe!
Not to mention Sheng Hong's fifth-rank official position.

"hehe!"

Sheng Changquan's lips curled into a smile, but he said calmly, "That's right, my father is Sheng Hong."

In fact, the reason Sheng Changquan was happy at this moment was not anything else, but because he finally experienced the joy of being a "second-generation official".

Although the reason was not very legitimate, he really had no chance of having such an opportunity in Bianjing City.

As an "old monster" who has been reincarnated, he once had fantasies of living a happy life as a second-generation official, playing with birds and walking dogs, when he was still in his mother's womb.

Unfortunately, ever since Sheng Changquan realized his situation, he had nothing to do with such a life.

"Sheng...Hong?"

Upon hearing Sheng Changquan mention Sheng Hong, Madam Sun immediately became tense and frightened.

As a relative by marriage to the Sheng family, Madam Sun Huang had naturally heard about the situation of the second branch of the family and knew Sheng Hong's status. Therefore, she was inevitably somewhat surprised when she met Sheng Changquan.

Of course, the main reason was her fear, and there were two reasons for her fear.

Firstly, it was out of awe for the prestige of the second branch of the family and for the power of Lord Sheng Hong, a "fifth-rank official in the capital."

After all, the second branch of the family is not like the first branch. Their family consists of respectable scholars, especially the patriarch of the second branch, Sheng Xu, who was once a renowned scholar who ranked third in the imperial examinations!
Especially in Youyang, the old man Shengxu has been mythologized even more.

Ultimately, Sheng Xu's ancestral home is Youyang, and Youyang produced a third-place finisher in the imperial examination. How could the elders and relatives of this land not express their gratitude?

In fact, the prosperity of the eldest son's branch of the family is not only due to their own remarkable abilities, but also inseparable from the potential connections left by Old Master Sheng Xu. It is precisely because of this that Sheng Wei and his wife are trying so hard to produce a high-ranking official from their own family.

In fact, another reason why Sun Huangshi was afraid was that she suddenly remembered what Sheng Changquan had just said.

"His grandmother wants to know how Shulan is doing?"

Sun Huangshi's expression changed, and she was thinking rapidly, "I've met the old lady of the second branch of the Sheng family before. She's never seemed to care about our family's situation. Why is she here to check on us today?"

"Could it be that this little bitch said something to her family?"

"Shh!"

Sun Huangshi turned her head and glared fiercely at Shulan across from her, her anger already directed at her.

"Damn it!"

"Once this matter is over, I will definitely punish her severely!"

"Teach her that her surname is Sun, not Sheng!"

Madam Sun was furious!
At the same time, she secretly devised countless vicious plans to set rules for Shulan.

Shulan immediately noticed Sun Huangshi's fierce gaze, but she was always submissive and dared not show any reaction.
At most, she trembled slightly before lowering her head, not daring to look the other person in the eye.

But Pinlan is different!

When she saw the unfriendly look in Sun Huangshi's eyes, she immediately glared back!

Regardless of who she was looking at, he immediately glared back at her with an even fiercer look and let out an angry snort.

"Humph!"

"You old hag, what do you want to do?"

"old lady!"

Seeing that the scene was about to descend into chaos again, Sheng Changquan immediately spoke up.

"Originally, I just wanted to take my sister's pulse and check her health condition."

"but!"

He glanced around the Sun family compound and said meaningfully, "I don't think your Sun family is in a very convenient situation today. Why don't I take Sister Shulan back with me?"

"Then, my grandmother can meet my cousin Shulan, her granddaughter. What do you think?"

Sheng Changquan didn't want Pinlan and Sun Huangshi to clash again, so he decided to take Shulan back with him.

"what?"

"no!"

Upon hearing that Sheng Changquan wanted to take Shulan back, Madam Sun refused without even thinking.

"Shulan can't go back with you!"

"Ok?"

Sheng Changquan frowned, his expression somewhat displeased: "Grandma, why can't Sister Shulan go back?"

"Could it be that the elders of my Sheng family are not even allowed to see their own granddaughter?"

Sheng Changquan narrowed his eyes, staring directly at Sun Huangshi opposite him, and said in a cold voice, "Or do you think my second branch of the family is easy to bully, old lady?"

"You want to humiliate our family?"

Sheng Changquan didn't mince words; he simply used his power to intimidate her, relying on his father's official authority to scare her.

Having traveled all over the country for so many years, Sheng Changquan had seen people like Sun Huangshi before. He had limited experience and feared power more than virtue.

There's no need to say much to them; just use overwhelming power to subdue them.

Because there is no other way.

"scare?"

Sun Huangshi was startled by Sheng Changquan's words and hurriedly waved her hands in denial, saying, "You...you're talking nonsense!" "I have not disrespected your family!"

"I...I...it's just me..."

Sun Huangshi stammered as she tried to come up with a reason, but given her knowledge and wisdom, it would be difficult for her to find an excuse in such a short time.

More importantly, Sheng Changquan didn't give her a chance to think at all, and said directly, "Alright, since you don't look down on our second branch of the family, I'll take Sister Shulan back now!"

"After all, my grandmother really misses Sister Shulan!"

Without waiting for Sun Huangshi's reply, Sheng Changquan turned around and winked at Minglan.

"Sister Shulan, Sister Pinlan, let's go quickly!"

Minglan understood her younger brother's meaning very well. She immediately took Xiaotao and walked towards Pinlan and the others, ignoring the murderous look in Sun Huangshi's eyes. She pulled Shulan and her sister away.

As Minglan walked away, she called out to Madam Sun, "Thank you for your understanding, Madam Sun. I'll be taking Sister Shulan with me now!"

"Don't worry, Grandma, we'll send her back as soon as my grandmother has met with Sister Shulan!"

"you……"

With Sheng Changquan blocking her way, Sun Huangshi could only futilely extend one hand, as if that might salvage something.

"Please wait, ma'am!"

Sheng Changquan chuckled and bowed to Madam Sun, then turned and walked out.

"hateful!"

Seeing the backs of the Sheng family, Madam Sun was so angry that her liver ached!
"quick!"

"Go and call my son back immediately. Tell him the Sheng family has come to cause trouble!"

Madam Sun waved her hand, and immediately ordered the servants in the mansion to go outside and bring Sun Zhigao back.

……

"Bang!"

"Bangdang..."

After Sheng Changquan was the last to leave the Sun family's residence, he immediately boarded a carriage and prepared to return to the East Mansion.

After all, his aunt, Madam Li, had prepared a banquet there to welcome him back.

Of course, after he made Shulan's matter clear, it was uncertain whether the East Mansion would still be in the mood to welcome him back.

"Sister Shulan!"

Inside the carriage, compared to the three who arrived, there was now an additional person, Shulan.

"Brother Changquan!"

Upon seeing Sheng Changquan, Shulan immediately forced a smile and greeted him softly.

"Sister, what exactly happened to you?"

After Sheng Changquan and Shulan had exchanged greetings, Pinlan finally couldn't hold back any longer.

She grabbed Shulan's hand and asked anxiously, "Why were you so abused by that old hag today?"

Because she was kept in the dark from beginning to end, Pinlan had no idea what kind of life Shulan was living in the Sun family.

"Pinlan, what happened today is not my mother-in-law's fault!"

Shulan grasped her sister's hand, pretending nothing was wrong, and whispered in defense, "This time, I really did something wrong!"

"It's only right that my mother-in-law made me kneel in the yard as punishment!"

"Pinlan, don't worry about me!"

Shulan forced a smile, trying to gloss over the matter.

"what?"

Pinlan is very angry!
"Sister, how could you think like that?"

"Even if you did something wrong, she shouldn't punish you like this!"

After hearing Shulan's explanation, Pinlan mistakenly believed it and thought that the kneeling punishment today was Sun Huangshi disciplining her daughter-in-law. However, she still could not accept it!

"Sister, don't you know your own body?"

"How can you just let that old hag abuse you like this?"

Unlike the strong and healthy Pinlan, Shulan's body, like her personality, was rather weak. Therefore, Pinlan naturally opposed Sun Huangshi's "training".

"Pinlan, it's alright!"

Shulan interrupted Pinlan, deliberately saying, "My mother-in-law doesn't punish me like this every day. Today's incident was just a special case."

"Sister, you..."

"Oh, right!"

Shulan deliberately didn't give Pinlan a chance to speak, and directly changed the subject, asking Sheng Changquan, "Brother Changquan, when did you come back?"

"Hehe, Sister Shulan, I came back yesterday!"

Sheng Changquan smiled, offered a casual explanation, and then said, "Sister Shulan, please extend your hand!"

"Let me examine your pulse!"

Sheng Changquan opened the medicine box he had brought, took out the pulse pillow, and gave instructions to Shulan.

"what?"

This was the first time Shulan had heard that Sheng Changquan knew medicine. She looked at the three people in the carriage with some confusion and stammered, "Brother Changquan, you...you really know how to take a pulse?"

"That's natural!"

Inside the car, Sheng Changquan was too embarrassed to boast, so he didn't speak. Pinlan was still angry about what had just happened, so she didn't say anything either. Among the group, Minglan was the most suitable person to speak.

"Sister Shulan, my younger brother's medical skills are quite amazing!"

Minglan said to Shulan with a smile, just like an old mother showing off her own child.

"is it?"

Shulan looked at Sheng Changquan opposite her with some surprise and admiration: "I didn't expect that Brother Changquan is not only highly accomplished in his studies, but also has extraordinary medical skills!"

"Truly worthy of being called the 'Number One Talent of Youyang' who won first place in the three imperial examinations!"

The most talented scholar in Youyang?

Sheng Changquan's eyelids twitched upon hearing this, and he asked blankly, "What?"

"Sister Shulan, what kind of talented man are you talking about?"

"The Number One Talent in Youyang!"

At this moment, Pinlan was also drawn over by the conversation. She looked at Sheng Changquan and explained, "Brother Changquan, ever since you came first in the academy examination six years ago, everyone has said that you have inherited your great-grandfather's talent and have the potential to be a third-place scholar!"

"Therefore, some well-meaning people called you 'the number one talent in Youyang,' hoping to revitalize the literary scene in Youyang and produce more people with official titles!"

Youyang was not an important town, nor did it have much of a history, so not only was the literary style not flourishing and the literary scene not thriving, but there were also very few people who could read books. Therefore, when Sheng Changquan, who had achieved the top honors in the imperial examination, appeared, everyone naturally wanted to create momentum for him.

After all, most scholars who could achieve the "minor three honors" were extraordinary, and Sheng Changquan was even more so, because Bianjing, where he took the county and prefectural examinations, was the most difficult place outside of the Jiangnan region.

(End of this chapter)