Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

Chapter 485 Spring
The cold wind in the western suburbs was still biting, while in Bianjing city, as the opening of the examination hall approached, a suffocating yet intense atmosphere had already swept through the entire city.

In the streets and alleys, in teahouses and taverns, the talk of the town is all about the most promising scholars of this year's imperial examinations, which family has the best chance of passing and which family has been a family of scholars for generations.

Carriages and horses flowed like dragons, and crowds thronged, all converging on the solemn examination hall that symbolized a turning point in fate. The sons of noble families were not to be outdone. Qi Heng of the Duke of Qi's mansion was a given, and even the Yuan family of the Earl of Zhongqin's mansion paid special attention to this year's examination because of the fate of Dong Wenchang, the nephew of Madam Yuan's wife.

……

The white horse passes through the gap.

On the day the examination began, just as dawn was breaking and the stars were still shining, the Sheng family's carriage quietly stopped in a relatively quiet corner outside the examination hall.

On this special day, Sheng Hong took a day off to personally escort his son, Sheng Changquan, to the venue.

Although the Sheng family was not a top-tier noble family, they were still a prominent official family in Bianjing. Sheng Hong rose from a prefectural judge in Yangzhou to a high-ranking official in the capital, and his family was quite wealthy.

Unlike some scholars from humble backgrounds who wore coarse cotton robes, Sheng Changquan wore a brand-new light blue cotton robe, with a brand-new dark blue brocade vest over it. This vest was painstakingly sewn by Minglan these past few days. It was clean and the stitches were fine and even, showing both the elegance of a scholar and a dignified appearance.

He stood tall and straight like a bamboo, his face calm and his eyes deep, as if the bustling crowds and noise of the surroundings were isolated by an invisible barrier.

Sheng Hong, dressed in casual clothes, had a solemn expression, with concern and a hint of tension hidden deep in his eyes, as well as expectations for his son's "Little Four Scholars"—the top scholar in the county, prefectural, academy, and provincial examinations.

If he could win the top two positions in the provincial and imperial examinations, he would become the first person in the history of the dynasty to achieve the "six top honors" (both the minor and major top honors)!
Such achievements are no less than those of military generals who have sealed the wolf's lair!
However, Sheng Hong also harbored a hidden pain in his heart.

A few days ago, Mo Lan scratched Chang Quan's right hand. Although he has been treated by a famous doctor and can write normally, the intense nine-day and nine-night imperial examination... Thinking of this, the guilt in Sheng Hong's heart caused by his past favoritism towards Lin Xige was like a vine entwining him.

Wang Ruofu also came today. At this moment, she was sitting in the carriage, feeling very uneasy. She was twisting her handkerchief tightly with her hands and muttering incantations. She prayed to all the gods and Buddhas in the sky, hoping that Sheng Changquan, whom she had raised, would have a smooth life. Accompanying her in the carriage were two unmarried daughters of the Sheng family, Rulan and Minglan.

Rulan, being impatient by nature, could no longer contain herself. She peered out through the crack in the carriage window, and looking at the dense crowd of people and all sorts of vehicles outside, she exclaimed in a low voice, "My God, so many people!"

"Where's Quan-ge? He should be getting off the bus soon, right?"

Her tone was filled with pride and excitement, but she couldn't hide a hint of nervousness.

Minglan sat quietly beside Madam Wang, her gaze calm and serene, looking out the other car window at the tall figure outside.

She was Sheng Changquan's older sister, and the two siblings had a deep bond since childhood. At this moment, her heart was also filled with turmoil, worrying about whether the injury on her brother's hand would affect his answers to the questions, and even more worried about how he would endure the torment of the past nine days and nine nights.

She had a small purse tucked into her sleeve, containing a peace charm she had specially obtained from the Daxiangguo Temple a few days ago, as well as a small jar of high-quality menthol oil for her younger brother to use to keep him alert in his cell. She gently twirled the edge of the purse with her fingertips, her knuckles turning slightly white.

Sheng Changquan got out of the car, accompanied only by his steady and reliable attendant, Xu Changqing.

Seeing him get out of the carriage, Wang Ruofu became even more anxious. Through the curtain, she couldn't help but call out, "Brother Quan!" Her voice was tinged with barely perceptible sobs.

Upon hearing this, Sheng Changquan slightly turned his head towards the direction of the carriage, revealing a faint yet reassuring smile, and gently nodded to indicate that he was fine.

Just as he took the exam basket from Xu Changqing and was about to step into the crowd, a voice that was deliberately "warm" yet couldn't hide its reserve rang out not far away.

"relatives by marriage?"

The magnificent double-drawn carriage of the Earl of Zhongqin's mansion was parked to the side, and Madam Yuan was helped out of the carriage by two neat and capable maids.

Today she wore a deep purple brocade jacket with wide sleeves, paired with a matching skirt covered in gold horse-face patterns, and an overcoat of royal blue satin cloak lined with black fox fur. She wore a phoenix crown inlaid with red gold, kingfisher feathers, and rubies. Her makeup was exquisite, her demeanor dignified, and her face wore her usual, just-right smile, which made her look both noble and dignified as a mistress.

"You've come to send your nephew or niece to the exam today too? What a coincidence!"

Her gaze first swept over Sheng Hong, carrying a hint of the natural superiority of a noble family, and then landed precisely on Sheng Changquan, as if assessing an object, but that scrutinizing gaze was well concealed by her outward gentleness.

"This must be the seventh young master of your household? Indeed, he is a handsome and distinguished man." Madam Yuan's voice was gentle, and her smile was appropriate, as if she were genuinely praising him.

Her gaze swept over Sheng Changquan's brocade vest, and a barely perceptible hint of discernment flashed across the depths of her eyes—a scion of a prestigious family should wear something grand and imposing for such an occasion to show respect.

She turned her head slightly to Sheng Hong and said in the tone of an experienced person advising a younger person: "This imperial examination is a gathering of the best talents in the world, a single-plank bridge for thousands of soldiers. Many old scholars have spent years studying the classics, but they may not be able to achieve their goal."

"Seventh Young Master, you are so young yet you have the courage to step into the fray. This kind of spirit is extremely rare. The important thing is to gain experience. Having seen this kind of scene is a great qualification."

"Don't be discouraged if you don't succeed the first time. There's plenty of time and a bright future ahead." Her tone was gentle, like an elder giving earnest advice, but the subtle barbs in her words were incredibly precise—implying that Sheng Changquan was too young and lacked experience, and was just there to broaden his horizons. Whether he succeeded or failed, it didn't matter.

Beside her were two equally elegantly dressed and imposing young men, who were the nephews and nieces of the Yuan family who had participated in this event. Their gazes toward Sheng Changquan carried the arrogance inherent in the sons of noble families, along with a hint of condescending scrutiny.

Hua Lan did not accompany them; Madam Yuan clearly wouldn't allow her to appear on such an occasion.

Sheng Hong's face darkened slightly, and a surge of anger rushed to his head.

This Madam Yuan, every word she uttered seemed to be out of concern, yet every word struck a chord deep within!
He suppressed his anger and maintained his composure in officialdom, cupping his hands and saying, "What you say is true, my dear in-law. My son is young, and this ordeal is indeed a valuable experience for him. He dares not have any improper thoughts."

His tone was humble, but his eyes turned cold, revealing a hidden sharpness.

Wang Ruofu, inside the carriage, heard everything clearly. She trembled with rage, her fingernails digging deeply into her palms, leaving crescent-shaped red marks. In her heart, she cursed: "Old hag!"

"You're spewing filth! Let you be proud of yourself! Wait until my brother Quan passes the imperial examination with flying colors, then let's see how you'll still be laughing!"
Rulan was so angry that her face turned red, and she almost lifted the curtain and rushed out to confront her: "What does she mean! Who does she think she is!"

Minglan reacted quickly, grabbing Rulan's wrist with a light touch but with undeniable composure.

She shook her head slightly, signaling to Rulan not to act impulsively, and then used her eyes to soothe her mother who was about to explode.

Minglan herself was also angry. Yuan Da Niangzi's disdain and harshness felt like needles pricking her heart.

She watched her younger brother's calm figure outside the car and silently thought: Let's see what the future holds! The future of the Sheng family's sons depends on their own efforts!
She took a deep breath, suppressing her surging emotions, and turned her gaze back out the window, landing on her brother's straight back, filled with silent trust and support.

Sheng Changquan, however, seemed detached from the matter. Madam Yuan's "concern" and the scrutiny of the Yuan family members were like a gentle breeze brushing against the rocks, failing to stir even the slightest ripple in his calm heart.

He didn't even look up at the Yuan family members, but bowed deeply to Sheng Hong. His voice was not loud, but it carried a rock-solid calmness and unquestionable confidence: "Father, rest assured, your son is going."

Just as he turned around, Minglan finally couldn't resist and gently lifted a crack in the carriage curtain, calling out in a soft but clear voice, "Seventh Brother!"

Sheng Changquan paused, looked in the direction of the sound, and met Minglan's concerned and firm gaze.

Minglan quickly handed the small purse from her sleeve out the carriage window, her voice gentle yet firm: "Be careful in everything, and take care of yourself."

Because paper was not allowed to be brought into the examination hall, Minglan took out the amulet and kept only the menthol oil.

Looking at the worry and encouragement hidden in his sister's eyes, Sheng Changquan felt a warmth in his heart. He took the purse, which was still warm from her body, held it tightly in his hand, and nodded solemnly in Minglan's direction.

No need to say more, everything is self-explanatory.

After that, he didn't linger. He took the examination basket, turned around, and with steady steps, he went straight into the torrent of scholars surging towards the examination hall.

The faint morning light outlined his straight, javelin-like back, which, amidst the noisy and crowded throng, exuded an aura of solitary strength and unwavering determination!

That calmness and composure were like a dragon rising from the abyss!
As Madam Yuan watched Sheng Changquan's composed departure and his indifferent demeanor, her perfect smile faltered almost imperceptibly, and a strange feeling flashed through her heart.

This young man... doesn't seem to be feigning composure?
She then secretly shook her head, thinking that the young man was just being presumptuous and putting on a brave face.

She quickly adjusted her expression, her smile becoming even more "warm," and turned to her two nephews from her maternal family. Her voice rose a few decibels, filled with earnest encouragement and undeniable confidence: "The time has come, hurry inside!"

"Don't be nervous. With your family's academic background and years of hard work, you will surely succeed in the imperial examinations and bring glory to your family! Your aunt is here, waiting for good news!"

These words were spoken not only to his nephew, but also to all those around who were listening intently, demonstrating the profound heritage and confidence of the Zhongqin Earl's Mansion.

"Yes, Aunt!"

The two men confidently raised their hands in a bow, displaying their "unparalleled confidence," as if their names were destined to be on the honor roll this time.

Even before the imperial examination, the two of them referred to themselves as "Sleeping Dragon and Young Phoenix" in the Zhongqin Earl's mansion.

Thank you to the following users for their support: 要猛, 悠扬_, 总十八画1981, 我们都是代名, and 书友20201112143954393! Uh… the author's abilities are limited, so please don't criticize me if you don't like it, because there are worse books out there, like my previous one…