Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

Chapter 382 Conspiracy
Regardless of what happened to Sheng Changquan after he returned, Xu Changqing was absolutely filled with regret!

In fact, after this guy returned to the Sheng residence and reported to everyone, he immediately remembered Sheng Changquan's instructions.

Unfortunately, before he could run out to find someone to salvage the situation, Sheng Changquan returned in a disheveled state.

Of course, the first thing Sheng Changquan did upon returning was not to seek revenge. Instead, he waited until he had changed his clothes and greeted the old lady and others before he had time to "take revenge."

After Sheng Changquan returned to his courtyard, he dragged Xu Changqing into Zeyutang without saying a word, and then started banging on the door for a long time.

During this time, no one was allowed to enter. Not only Qingfeng and Mingyue, but even Cuiming did not dare to step forward.

The people outside were all at a loss. Perhaps only the occasional wails coming from inside could prove that the person was still alive.

……

a long time.

When Sheng Changquan came out of the house again, the sky seemed to brighten considerably.

"Alright, you don't need to worry."

"The guy inside is fine."

Seeing the worried looks on everyone's faces, Sheng Changquan gave a helpless wry smile: "That guy is tough and thick-skinned, what are you all worried about?"

"Whoo~"

Only then did everyone feel relieved.

"Young Master, you looked really scary just now!" Xiao Qingfeng said, sticking out his tongue.

At this point, she was still somewhat afraid.

"Yes! It was terrifying...it was terrifying!"

Xiao Mingyue stared blankly as she affirmed Qingfeng's words.

"Cough cough..."

Being criticized like this by the two little girls to his face, Sheng Changquan was a little embarrassed, so he turned his gaze to Cuiming, Ziyuan and the always bold Jiegeng.

"Kids are timid, that's how they are. But adults are different. They wouldn't really think I would do anything, would they?"

Sheng Changquan thought to himself, hoping that Cui Ming and the others could understand him.

But who knows?
The three women, however, also had strange expressions on their faces, as if they were blaming him.

"Uh...no way?"

Sheng Changquan was speechless with emotion.

……

time flies.

Quite some time has passed since the news of the provincial examination, and everyone has gradually returned to calm.

Neither Minglan and the others' happiness nor the worries and fears of the people in Linxi Pavilion could affect the fact that the many servants of the Sheng family became even more respectful when facing Sheng Changquan.

Actually, this is still considered good. Sheng Changquan's reputation outside the Sheng family mansion is even greater. Many young scholars admire him and believe that he will eventually become a shining pearl in the history of literature. As for the scene of the opening of the provincial examination, it is probably never going to happen again.

Speaking of which, of Sheng Changquan's rivals back then, apart from Yuan Shanjian and Li Yancheng who passed the exam, Lou Ben failed to make the list.

Yuan Shanjian ranked eighth, not in the top three, but still a force to be reckoned with, while Li Yancheng ranked fifteenth, a rather low position.

Of course, the ranking is a minor matter; as long as you pass, that's all that matters. After all, this is just the provincial examination, not the metropolitan examination.

If you really want to compete, you'll have to wait a few months and participate in next year's spring imperial examination.

On the other hand, because of his success in the provincial examination, Sheng Changquan's status in the household has improved considerably. His master, Sheng Hong, has also changed his attitude towards him, now consulting him on all important matters and no longer treating him like a child.

It was precisely because of this that Lin Xige became increasingly afraid of him.

……

"Xue Niang, that matter can't be delayed any longer!"

"We have to take care of them all!"

Inside Linxi Pavilion, Lin Qinshuang's expression was fierce, and she was tightly clutching a handkerchief in her hand, squeezing it until it looked like a rag.

"Young lady, I know!"

"But... this is not easy to handle!" Seeing the veins bulging on her mother's hands, Zhou Xueniang naturally knew how urgent the matter was.

As Lin Qinshuang's "strategist," Zhou Xueniang also agreed with her mistress's idea; however, some things were different from what she had imagined.

At this moment, only Lin Qinshuang and her servant were in the room, so Zhou Xueniang did not dodge. She spoke directly: "Young lady, I have already sent my husband to Yangzhou to check. The doctor from back then has long since disappeared. It is said that... he went back to his hometown."

Zhou Xueniang leaned closer to Lin Qinshuang and whispered, "According to people nearby, that doctor comes from a small place in Yanzhou."

"Eight years ago, his mother died, and he wanted to return to his roots, so the whole family packed up and moved back to Yanzhou."

"I'm afraid I'll never come back in this lifetime."

"Yanzhou?"

Lin Qinshuang stopped wringing her handkerchief abruptly, frowning in confusion, and asked, "Isn't that place very close to Liang Kingdom and part of the border region?"

"Does their whole family want to die if they go back there?"

"Young lady, why do you care whether someone lives or dies?"

Zhou Xueniang panicked. She couldn't bear to see her young mistress go astray, so she quickly advised, "No matter what, no one will know what happened back then!"

"Without evidence, even if Madam Wei's personal maid returns, there's nothing we can do!"

After hearing this, Lin Qinshuang didn't dwell on the reason why the doctor had returned to his hometown; she just kept thinking about this matter.

After a long silence, she shook her head and denied it.

"no!"

"Ah? Young lady, you..."

"Xue Niang, Xiao Die still can't be kept!"

Lin Qinshuang, unlike her usual meek self in front of "Honglang," made an unusually resolute decision: "The hatred for my parents is irreconcilable!"

"Whether Xiaodie has evidence or not, that brat Sheng Changquan must not be allowed to know about what happened back then!"

"If he finds out, he might have some doubts. And sometimes, these doubts don't need any evidence; he'll do whatever he wants!"

"And that kid Sheng Changquan would definitely do it!"

At this point, Lin Qinshuang looked up in the direction of Zeyutang, as if she saw Sheng Changquan's figure.

"Sheng Changquan is much more ruthless than Feng'er! If he puts even a little effort into dealing with my Chang Feng, his future will be ruined!"

Lin Qinshuang knew in her heart that Sheng Changfeng was no match for Sheng Changquan. Not to mention that his talent was inferior to Sheng Changquan's, he was even inferior to him in temperament.

Over the years, if she hadn't always been by Sheng Hong's side speaking up for Sheng Changfeng, her beloved Honglang's heart would probably have already turned to Sheng Changquan.

Even though she kept trying, Sheng Hong still valued Sheng Changquan more than Sheng Changfeng.

"Little girl..."

Zhou Xueniang pondered for a while, and finally nodded in agreement.

Indeed, one should never take chances with one's own life.

“Young lady, but my husband really can’t find any trace of Xiaodie. And even if he did find her, it would be difficult to take action.”

"After all, she has been freed from slavery and is from a respectable family."

"It doesn't matter!"

Lin Qinshuang remained calm: "As long as we find her, we can definitely resolve this!"

"Anyway, things haven't been very good these past two years..."

"I've heard... that heroes have descended from the Lüliang Mountains in Yanzhou again, haven't they?"

Lin Qinshuang's expression was enigmatic. "As long as we have enough money, there will be 'heroes' to help us."

"That makes sense."

Zhou Xueniang agreed.

……

However, what no one knew was that Xiaodie, who had been the subject of much discussion, had already been taken to Bianliang by Aunt Wei.

(End of this chapter)