Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

……

"Young Master He, please wait!"

After meeting with Old Madam He, He Hongwen personally escorted Xu Changqing to the gate according to etiquette. Just as he was about to bow goodbye, Xu Changqing suddenly turned around and bowed solemnly again.

He Hongwen hurriedly returned the greeting, slightly surprised that the Sheng family guard had returned so deliberately.

"Does Guard Xu have any further instructions?" He Hongwen asked gently.

Xu Changqing straightened up, his face still bearing that respectful yet not overly humble smile. He took out an object from his robes and said, "I dare not presume to offer guidance. It was my oversight. Before I left, my young master had another item that he instructed me to personally deliver to you, Young Master He."

He Hongwen was slightly taken aback, his gaze falling on the brocade box in Xu Changqing's hand.

The box, no bigger than a scroll, was exquisitely crafted from the finest sandalwood, its fine texture gleaming with a subtle luster. The sides of the box were inlaid with mother-of-pearl, forming elegant orchid patterns. It was clear at a glance that it was quite valuable, matching the style of the thank-you gift the Sheng family had sent today, both exuding a low-key luxury.

“This…” He Hongwen was somewhat puzzled.

The generous gift of thanks was already presented to my grandmother in person, so why was this one given to me privately? And why was it placed in such an expensive box?

Xu Changqing didn't say much, but handed over the brocade box with both hands, smiling amiably, but his tone was solemn and unquestionable: "My young master specifically instructed that this item is ordinary, but please make sure that Young Master He can examine it carefully by himself when he has free time."

He Hongwen's suspicions deepened, but seeing the other party's insistence, he had no choice but to accept it with both hands. Upon holding it, he felt that the sandalwood box was heavy, which was somewhat similar to his current mood.

He nodded blankly: "Thank you for your trouble, Guard Xu. Please tell Brother Changquan that Hongwen is very grateful."

Looking at He Hongwen's calm and bewildered appearance, completely unaware of the impending storm, Xu Changqing felt a pang of sympathy.

He thought for a moment, then lowered his voice and said a few more words: "Young Master He, I shouldn't be saying this. But I've been following my young master for a long time and I know a little about things. In this world, some things seem to be about loyalty and righteousness, but in reality, they are just indecisiveness; what seems like compassion may actually lead to harm to oneself and others."

He paused, and seeing He Hongwen listening intently, he continued, "Especially when faced with choices, it is easy to be blinded by illusions. I am just a rough man, I don't understand grand principles, I only know that in all things, one should never forget the word 'original intention'."

"If you choose a path that goes against your conscience because of a moment of weakness or fear of what others say, you will probably regret it later. In any case, in the end... you still have to be true to your own heart to be truly sincere."

These words were spoken subtly, yet every word hit the nail on the head.

He Hongwen wasn't stupid; how could he not understand what those words implied?

His cheeks flushed slightly, and he immediately understood. These were not words a guard could utter without permission; they must represent Sheng Changquan, or even the Sheng family's attitude. He tightened his grip on the heavy brocade box and whispered, "Thank you for your guidance, Guard Xu. Hongwen... will remember it."

Seeing that he had taken his words to heart, Xu Changqing said no more, cupped his hands in farewell, and this time he really turned and left, his figure quickly disappearing at the alley entrance.

……

He Hongwen carried that exquisite brocade box as if it were a branding iron, and he was restless all day long.

During the day, when he was taking the pulse of patients, he was often in a daze. He finally managed to get through the evening and returned from the follow-up visits. Only then did He Hongwen dismiss the servants and go into his study alone.

The flickering candlelight cast his slightly thin figure onto the wall. He Hongwen took a deep breath before solemnly opening the sandalwood and mother-of-pearl inlaid brocade box.

However, the expected rare antiques did not appear. Instead, lying quietly inside the box was just a thread-bound booklet with an ordinary bluish-gray paper cover. On it, three words were written in neat but undeniably sharp ink characters: "The Tale of Two Beauties".

He Hongwen was taken aback again.

Such an expensive box, just to hold this seemingly ordinary storybook?

With a sense of doubt, he carefully picked up the book and opened it.

He was stunned at first glance.

This handwriting... is definitely not from an ordinary bookstore!
His calligraphy is characterized by its strong, vigorous strokes, revealing a sharp edge that cannot be ignored within its upright and meticulous style. The strokes are full of character and spirit.

He Hongwen was a worldly man and immediately recognized that this was not woodblock printing, but handwritten!

Moreover, he vaguely recognized the handwriting; he seemed to have seen it in some rare scholar's calligraphy. It was rumored that Sheng Changquan, the seventh son of the Sheng family, although young, possessed extremely skillful calligraphy, which had even been praised by nobles in the palace, though it was rarely circulated outside the palace...

His heart skipped a beat, and a thought popped into his head: This was actually written by Sheng Changquan himself?! He suppressed his shock and focused on reading it carefully.

The story is written in a refined and elegant style. It tells the tale of a young gentleman from a noble family with upright character, and a young lady from a prestigious family who is as pure and beautiful as a secluded orchid in a valley. They are a match made in heaven and admire each other.

Unexpectedly, a distant cousin of the young master, whose family had fallen on hard times and who had come to seek refuge with him, developed a desire to cling to and depend on him.

This cousin usually just sheds tears and pretends to be weak, often threatening to "be alone and helpless" or "would be better off dead," putting the young master in a dilemma and making him indecisive. He pities her loneliness and weakness, but can't bear to part with the beauty, thus falling into a quagmire of self-righteous "benevolence" but actually confusion.

The young lady from the noble family is praised in the text as "intelligent and resolute," and her personality is described as "pure and aloof."

Although she knew that the young master was not a bad person at heart, she was even clearer about her own way of dealing with the world: she respected people who were "upright and decisive" and "could not stand things that were ambiguous or dragged out". She believed that "a gentleman should make a decision when necessary, and protecting one's own interests is also a way of respecting others".

So, before the young master could make a final decision, she calmly withdrew, leaving only the words: "A fine piece of jade should be placed in a bright hall and on a high table, to be admired by the world. How can it be trapped in the mire and entangled with filth? This is not the fault of the jade, but rather the fault of the foolish and inappropriate person who placed it!"

In the end, the young lady gracefully turned away and chose a gentleman who was "upright and honest in his conduct, decisive in his actions, and never allowed anyone around him to fall into a corrupt situation," thus creating a beautiful story. However, the indecisive young man, due to a moment of kindness, made a series of mistakes, not only losing his good match but also falling into a predicament of mutual resentment and mutual loathing with his cousin, spending the rest of his life tormented by regret and sorrow.

This story doesn't mention "He," "Sheng," or "Minglan" at all, but the words "orchid," "aloof," "decisive," "dislikes procrastination," and "cousin's entanglement," along with the young lady's temperament, choices, and the icy metaphor of "exquisite jade," are like a polished ice mirror, clearly revealing He Hongwen's current situation, his inner struggles, and the possible irreversible consequences, leaving him nowhere to hide!

In particular, the line "It is not the fault of the jade, but the fault of the one who placed it" was like a bucket of ice water being poured over his head in the dead of winter, chilling him to the bone, making even his fingertips tremble, and causing fine beads of cold sweat to instantly seep from his forehead.

He slammed the book shut, his heart pounding wildly in his chest, almost as if it would jump out.

This is hardly a collection of idle stories or light novels.
This is clearly a manifesto written by Sheng Changquan himself! A silent yet most severe trial!

The young Sheng Qilang, who was already famous in Bianjing at the tender age of ten and whose future was limitless, used such a roundabout yet sharp method to lay bare before him the possible attitude of his elder sister Minglan, the despicable nature of his own behavior, and the clearly visible tragic future.

This is not vulgar gossip from the streets and alleys, but a warning and admonition that carries the fragrance of ink and the dignity of an aristocratic family, impeccable yet piercing to the heart.

He Hongwen slumped in his chair, completely distraught.

His cousin Cao Jinxiu's pale, pitiful face, constantly weeping; his mother's distressed and relentlessly pressuring nagging; his grandmother's enigmatic attitude... all these, along with the heavy, oppressive thank-you gift from the Sheng family during the day, Minglan's calm and insightful eyes that seemed to see right through people, and the sharp, needle-like words in this storybook before him, wove together into a huge, sticky net, tightly binding him and tearing him apart repeatedly, almost suffocating him.

He gasped for breath, and the candlelight flickered, casting a dim glow on his pale face.

He knew he was standing on the edge of a cliff.

Taking a step back might be the so-called "stability" that Mother and Aunt desire, but it could be an abyss, an endless quagmire and regret; taking a step forward... there might still be a glimmer of hope for the Sheng family, Minglan, and that bright and promising future.

If he continues to be so indecisive, he will not only lose Minglan, a woman with a clear mind like the bright moon, but he will also fall into an abyss of no return, just as described in "The Tale of Two Beauties", completely destroying himself and dragging down the Cao family!

The comments about him being "indecisive" and "tiring of himself and others" will be branded onto his and the He family's name like a mark!

The night was as dark as ink, but the solitary lamp in He Hongwen's study remained lit all night until dawn.

At that moment, Sheng Jiaze and Sheng Changquan had just finished practicing a set of spear techniques and stood still.

The cold glint of the spear tip recoiled into its sheath. His breathing was steady and long, his expression calm and undisturbed, as if the silent yet life-altering clash of the day had never occurred.

He merely raised his eyes slightly, his gaze seemingly piercing through the rooftops, looking towards a distant place in the south, his heart filled with a cold and serene tranquility.

He Hongwen, the road has been paved and the lights have been lit. Whether you realize your mistake and see the clear sky and gentle breeze, or remain stubbornly deluded and ultimately suffer disgrace and ruin, it all depends on your decision.

All I know is that my older sister can't wait any longer.

Also, disdain, etc.

However, something seems amiss here... as if something... has interfered.

Sheng Changquan shook his head: "Regardless of who intervened, as long as it wasn't forced, these are all choices that He Hongwen needs to make himself..."

With this thought in mind, Sheng Changquan swung his spear horizontally!
Release it!
"Qiang!"

The red-tasseled spear was instantly returned to its rack, steady and perfectly positioned. (End of Chapter)