Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

At this moment, the two of them were so confident that they were almost arrogant!

They looked around, looking down on all living beings, their gaze sweeping over the simply dressed scholars with an undisguised sense of superiority.

These two men, one from the illustrious Dong family of Madam Yuan, named Dong Wenchang, and the other from a branch of the Yuan family of the Marquis of Zhongqin, named Yuan Wenxian, were already recognized by the servants in the Marquis's mansion as "Sleeping Dragon" and "Young Phoenix".

There's nothing I can do; you're the master, so whatever you say goes.

In their respective ancestral homes, Dong and Yuan relied on their family's prestige and the flattery of local officials and gentry to have a smooth path in the imperial examinations. They obtained the title of Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial-level imperial examinations) at a young age and truly believed that all the talented people in the world were nothing special, and that they themselves were the reincarnation of the God of Literature.

In this imperial examination, they privately felt that even the position of Tan Hua Lang (third-ranked scholar) was beneath them; the top spot was the Zhuang Yuan (first-ranked scholar), and they only mentioned the top three out of modesty.

Just as they were brimming with confidence, Sheng Changquan, who was already queuing outside the examination hall, calmly glanced over them and fixed his gaze on a young man standing not far away beside another elegant carriage.

The man was in his early twenties, with a tall and straight posture like a pine tree, a handsome face, and calm and reserved eyes. He wore a slightly worn moon-white fine cloth robe, without any ornamentation, yet he possessed a profound and dignified air.

He was accompanied only by an old servant, his demeanor almost plain, but Sheng Changquan recognized him—Yuan Shanjian from the Yuan family of Henan Province.

The Yuan family is an old and prestigious family with a history spanning hundreds of years. They are renowned for their poetry and literature, and are extremely noble. They were even more prominent during the reign of Emperor Zhen of the previous dynasty.

Although the current dynasty was somewhat quiet, especially during the reign of Emperor Zhenzong, the Yuan family had no choice but to submit to the traitor Li Ang in order to protect their clan. Although they did not get their hands dirty with blood, they did many things against their conscience, which damaged their reputation.

After ascending to the throne, the current head of the Yuan family felt deeply ashamed and once wrote a letter requesting to close the family for sixty years and prohibit his descendants from participating in the imperial examinations in order to atone for his past mistakes. This matter caused a sensation in Bianjing at the time and was known to everyone.

The man before them, Yuan Shanjian, was the only member of the Yuan family to be granted an official position after many years of silence.

Sheng Changquan had heard Shen Li mention that this matter seemed to have the Emperor's will involved, involving a secret past event. The reasons behind it were difficult for outsiders to know, but Yuan Shanjian's ability to represent the Yuan family in his comeback speaks volumes about his talent and the expectations he bears.

Yuan Shanjian is a formidable rival.

Sheng Changquan knew that the Imperial Examination Hall was a place where hidden talents lurked, far more complex than Dong and Yuan thought.

"Squeak!!"

Suddenly, a loud sound rang out, and the gates of the examination hall swung open with a resounding boom amidst the solemn tolling of the morning bell!
A gust of wind, carrying the scent of aged ink, cold dust, the stench of sweat, and an invisible sense of impending doom, rushed out as if it were a tangible force!

"The door is open..."

"Let's go!"

Everyone's spirits lifted!
The scholars, carrying heavy examination baskets, lined up in a long, winding queue under the fierce shouts and stern gazes of the yamen runners, enduring a nearly humiliating and harsh search.

Remove the outer robe, loosen the inner garment, let down the hair bun, and even take off the shoes and socks for inspection.

The dry rations they brought were broken and crushed, and their writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were repeatedly inspected. If anything was found to be suspicious, they would be sternly reprimanded, or even put in shackles on the spot and expelled from the venue!
The air was heavy, as if filled with lead, so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

Sheng Changquan stood in the queue, his expression calm and composed throughout.

He calmly unbuttoned his clothes, loosened his hair, and allowed the constables to search him thoroughly. His movements were fluid and natural, without any embarrassment or panic.

The bailiff in charge of the search saw that although he was young, he had a calm demeanor, clear and sharp eyes, and no fear or evasion. The bailiff's search actions unconsciously became less rough and more "gentle".

After the search was completed, he calmly tied his belt, fixed his hair, picked up the examination basket, and with steady and firm steps, joined the torrent of scholars heading towards the gate of destiny. His back was straight as a javelin, and in his hand, he still tightly held the purse given to him by Minglan.

Not far away, "Sleeping Dragon" Dong Wenchang and "Young Phoenix" Yuan Wenxian became the focus. Their inherent arrogance of "being superior to others" was particularly irritating to the yamen runners. These soldiers, who might be inconspicuous on ordinary days, were now guarding the gate of the examination hall, feeling that they bore a heavy responsibility and had the air of "junior examiners." They couldn't stand these arrogant young noblemen.

"Oh, young master, the fabric of your robe is of high quality. We must examine it carefully, lest it conceal some 'exquisite writing,' we cannot bear the consequences!"

A bearded constable with a forced smile stopped Dong Wenchang and roughly ripped open his magnificent brocade robe. The force was so great that the faint sound of the silk threads snapping could almost be heard.

"How dare you! This is the gate of the Imperial Examination Hall! How dare you be so disrespectful!" Dong Wenchang's face flushed red with shock and anger. His hair was ripped off, and he looked utterly disheveled.

"Rude?" A tall, thin constable next to him sneered, mimicking in a high-pitched voice, "We're just following orders, we only know how to search according to the rules, we don't know anything about 'civility'!"

He deliberately elongated the word "refined," which drew laughter from his companions.

When it was time to inspect the examination baskets, Yuan Wenxian's basket contained exquisite pastries carefully wrapped in fine oil paper and scented with incense.

The tall, thin constable sniffed exaggeratedly: "Wow! What fragrant snacks! Young master, you really know how to enjoy life!"

As he spoke, he deliberately poked and poked at the snow-white pastry with his fingers, which were still covered in dirt under his fingernails, breaking it apart and crushing it, leaving crumbs scattered all over the floor.

What's even more outrageous is that the short, stocky yamen runner next to him loudly blew his nose in public, and then "carefully" examined Yuan Wenxian's pastries again with the hand that had just blew his nose, muttering, "Hmm, there's no smuggled food, but it tastes just like this... tsk!"

When had Dong and Yuan ever suffered such humiliation?

His face turned from red to green, then from green to white. He was so angry that he trembled all over, muttering vulgar curses under his breath: "Disgraceful," "Vulgar," "Looking down on people like dogs."

The constables pretended not to hear, and after the search was completed, they deliberately threw their clothes and stationery on the ground.

The two were filled with shame and indignation. They no longer cared about the demeanor of young noblemen. They hurriedly picked up their belongings, wrapped them haphazardly around themselves, and scrambled into the gate of the examination hall as if they were being chased by evil spirits. Staying for even a moment longer would be a great disgrace.

"Hahaha……"

Nearby, the many scholars who had long disliked the two men burst into laughter.

This shows just how much these two have damaged their public image.

……

outside.

As everyone entered, the two heavy, vermilion gates of the examination hall, studded with copper nails, slowly closed with a dull, long creak after the last scholar entered.

The massive bolt slammed down with a deafening clang, like the gates of fate slamming shut, completely shutting out all the noise, anticipation, and prying eyes outside.

Sheng Hong gazed at the tightly closed door and let out a long sigh. He glanced at Madam Yuan beside him, and while she wasn't looking, he secretly clenched his fist in his sleeve, silently praying for the ancestors' protection...

Wang Ruofu, however, remained inside the carriage, his hands clasped together, bowing repeatedly to the sky.

Only Rulan, standing to the side, patted her chest carelessly and muttered, "Finally inside! I was about to suffocate from watching!"

Minglan gazed at the imposing Dragon Gate with deep eyes, silently praying for her younger brother's safety, success, and achievement in the imperial examination.

She knew the real test was just beginning. (End of Chapter)