Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

"Good! Good for Lin Qinshuang! Good for undermining us!" Sheng Changquan laughed angrily, his eyes flashing with icy light. "It seems that my mother's life has only emboldened her! Not only has she not learned anything about 'respect', but she has even dared to extend her reach to the imperial examinations and the court's talent selection ceremony! Does she think the Sheng family's reputation is too secure?!"

Although it is unclear what Lin Qinshuang will do specifically, her actions will inevitably involve the imperial examination.

Even if it's just a minor detail, it will definitely attract the attention of the imperial court. At that point, let alone him...

Sheng Changquan sneered!
He knew his father, Sheng Hong, all too well. Although he favored Lin Qinshuang and was muddle-headed, the glory and future of the entire Sheng family was his top priority!
If Lin Qinshuang were to actually hire someone to kill her son, even if he was just an illegitimate son, and do something so foolish as to bring disaster to the family, Sheng Hong would be the first to not forgive her!
Not to mention it rose to the level of the imperial court!
However, Sheng Changquan could not allow this to happen.

After all, he was also preparing to enter officialdom, and he absolutely could not have such a tainted background.

"But the problem is, how can I convince my father before things happen?" Sheng Changquan thought to himself.

Xu Changqing, listening from the side, was terrified: "Young Master! She...she actually dared...If Master finds out..."

“Father?” Sheng Changquan’s lips curled into a cold sneer. “In Father’s eyes, Lin Qinshuang is gentle and kind, and Sheng Changfeng is also a ‘study seed’ on which he has placed high hopes. Without any evidence, based only on guesses and a few rumors from the streets, how can Father believe that his beloved ‘Shuang’er’ would do such a thing as confiscating property and exterminating the clan?”

"Stirring up trouble will only make her hide deeper, and she might even turn around and accuse us of framing our stepmother. Her intentions are despicable!"

His eyes were deep and unfathomable, like a bottomless, icy pool: "Moreover, things are probably not that simple."

Lu Hongti's decision to invoke the highest alert and personally descend the mountain was not solely due to Lin Qinshuang hiring someone to commit murder.

The key word is "tricky"! His mind flashed back to the days when he traveled to Lüliang Mountain to study and helped Lu Hongti suppress internal strife with swift and decisive measures and secure his position as the leader.

Those faction leaders who were suppressed were all desperate criminals who hated him, an "outsider," for interfering in Lüliang affairs!
"Yes!"

Sheng Changquan's eyes flashed with a sharp light. "That stupid woman Lin Qinshuang spent a fortune to hire someone, and it just so happened that the remaining forces in Lüliang Mountain who harbor resentment towards me took the job! They took this job for two reasons: first, to get the money; second, to avenge the grudges of the past! More importantly, their actions are also a challenge to Lu Hongti's authority! She personally came down the mountain, ostensibly to 'manage business,' but in reality, she was killing two birds with one stone—she wanted to find and eliminate these disobedient internal traitors who dared to take on private jobs and might even use this opportunity to attack her, to uphold the rules of Lüliang Mountain and her dignity as the leader; and also... to take this fatal blow for me!"

This realization shocked Sheng Changquan.

Lu Hongti's situation was more dangerous than he had imagined!
She not only had to face the treacherous waters of Bianjing, but also had to clean house and suppress internal rebellions! She was putting herself in a precarious position, caught between two fires!

"She's gone too far!" Sheng Changquan couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice, his tone filled with unprecedented anxiety and heaviness. "The Lüliang Mountains are beset by internal and external troubles. As the leader of the mountain, her departure at this moment shakes her foundation! Since those traitors dare to take on private jobs, they must have something to rely on. Her trip... is extremely dangerous!"

If she were to make even the slightest mistake, not only would she be in grave danger, but the entire Lüliang Mountains would likely descend into bloodshed and even disintegration!

He can't afford the consequences!
"Xu Changqing!"

Sheng Changquan turned around abruptly, all his turbulent emotions instantly suppressed beneath a layer of ice, leaving only two sharp, tempered points of light in his eyes, as cold as stars.

"exist!"

Xu Changqing straightened his back, feeling the unprecedented chilling killing intent emanating from his young master. "You immediately," Sheng Changquan spoke quickly and clearly, each word like a nail driven into wood, "first, use all our undercover agents in Bianjing to keep a close watch on Linxi Pavilion! Lin Qinshuang, Zhou Xueniang, and those tight-lipped maids in her room!"

"Focus on investigating their recent unusual movements, especially their contact with all sorts of people outside the manor! Investigate Lin Qinshuang's private treasury to see if there have been any large sums of money going to waste recently, or if she has pawned any particularly valuable items!"

"The accounts! I need concrete evidence of irregularities in the accounts!"

"Secondly, take that walnut token to the Tiger Might Escort Agency and ask their Chief Escort Wang if he knows anything about the situation."

"Also, keep an eye on the mule and horse market and the wharf warehouses in the south of the city, where merchants from Yuzhou gather. Cast a wide net and conduct a covert investigation of that 'peddler' who delivers the message! Since he is Lu Hongti's confidant, finding him might lead us to her whereabouts!"

"Third, send a message to Zhao, the head of the West City Garrison, and tell him that I, Sheng Changquan, owe him a favor. Ask him to keep a close eye on any unfamiliar faces who have recently entered the city, speak with a Yuzhou or Northwest accent, act fiercely, travel in groups of three or five, and stay in remote inns. But do not alert them!"

This Zhao Ban Tou was someone Gu Tingye had introduced him to years ago. Although he didn't have any powerful background, he was a seasoned veteran in the military command and was quite adept at gathering information.

"Yes, young master!" Xu Changqing was highly focused, knowing that he could not be careless at this moment.

“Furthermore,” Sheng Changquan’s voice was even lower, carrying a cold, metallic quality, “go to the third shelf of my study, to the hidden compartment behind the set of ‘Thirteen Classics with Commentaries,’ and take that small ebony box. Inside are five anonymous hundred-tael silver notes and half a broken bronze tiger tally.”

"Use the silver notes flexibly and smooth things over. As for the half tiger tally, go to the 'Bai Cao Tang' pharmacy in the east of the city and find Doctor Hu who is on duty. Tell him, 'I am an old friend from the north and I need three medicines: three qian each of red scorpion tail, black wind gall, and heartbreak grass.'"

"If he asks, just answer, 'The tiger roars in the mountains, and the Seven Killings are in control.' Get the medicine and return immediately, without fail!"

Xu Changqing's heart trembled violently. The names of these three herbs sounded extremely poisonous. What was the young master planning? He dared not think any further and nodded vigorously: "Understood! Don't worry, young master!"

“And another thing,” Sheng Changquan called after Xu Changqing, who was turning to leave, his gaze complex as he looked out the window at the boundless night. The lights of Bianjing shone brightly in the distance, yet they couldn't penetrate the deep darkness of this courtyard. “Find Lu Hongti…tell her…”

He took a deep breath, as if every word weighed a ton: "Tell her, I will avenge her in my own way. I want Lin Qinshuang to live, to watch the things she cherishes most crumble little by little, to suffer in despair."

"Tell her... not to confront the traitors within Lüliang Mountain for my sake, and even more so, not to step into the quagmire of Bianjing. The rules here will trap this tiger in an iron cage. Her foundation is in Lüliang Mountain; her safety is more important than anything else."

"Tell her to go back to the mountain immediately and stabilize the situation."

"Leave things here to me!"

The last sentence carries an undeniable determination, but also conceals unspeakable worries and pleas.

Seeing the deep, almost tangible worry and determination in the young master's eyes, Xu Changqing clasped his hands tightly and said, "Young master, rest assured! I, Xu Changqing, will definitely deliver the message! I will protect the chief with my life!"

Watching Xu Changqing's figure disappear into the thick night, Sheng Changquan stood alone by the window, the cold night wind unable to dispel the heavy killing intent and lingering worries in his heart. (End of Chapter)