Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

……

By the time Sheng Changquan returned to the Sheng residence in Jiying Lane, the sun had already set and dusk had fallen.

However, the area in front of the Sheng Mansion was still brightly lit, with carriages and sedan chairs coming and going in an endless stream, almost blocking the alley entrance.

The servants and stewards from various mansions who came to offer their congratulations lined up at the gatehouse, holding gift lists and name cards, each with a fawning smile on their face.

Although the gatekeepers and servants of the Sheng Mansion were so busy that their feet barely touched the ground and their voices were a little hoarse, they all stood up straight, their faces shining, and they greeted guests and accepted gifts with great pride, their movements showing great efficiency and spirit.

"Congratulations, Mr. Sheng!"

Congratulations on this grand event!

"My master specially ordered me to deliver a small gift to congratulate Young Master Sheng on achieving the top score in the imperial examination!"

"..."

Such congratulatory shouts rose and fell, one louder than the other, almost shaking the sky off Jiying Lane.

Don't think this is an exaggeration. You should know that the Sheng family has lived in Bianjing for a long time. Sheng Hong is a cautious official. Although he does not deliberately curry favor with the powerful, he has accumulated many colleagues and old friends from the same year. In addition, the Wang family, the Hai family, and the old lady of the Sheng family are all old friends. When they heard the name of Sheng Huiyuan, they naturally sent people to congratulate him and add to the joy.

Although the host family may not come in person to disturb the Sheng family reunion, this courtesy and attention is enough to demonstrate the great prestige brought by Sheng Changquan's high school graduation.

Moreover, it should be noted that there are very few who fail to achieve the highest rank in the provincial examination. In fact, it can be said that once someone achieves the highest rank in the provincial examination, they are almost guaranteed to be among the top ten in the palace examination, or even the top-ranked candidate!
"Uu——!"

As soon as Sheng Changquan's carriage came to a stop at the gate, a sharp-eyed servant rushed in to report the news.

As soon as he stepped off the carriage, Qingfeng, who had been waiting by the screen wall, jumped out like a frolicking sparrow, his face flushed with excitement, his voice crisp and bright, almost trembling with tears: "Young Master is back! Young Master... is back!"

This shout was like cold water being poured into boiling oil, instantly causing the inner courtyard to boil over.

Sheng Changquan did not immediately go to Zeyu Hall, which was located deep in the mansion. It was a secluded courtyard in the southeast corner of the mansion, which could only be reached by passing through two corridors and a small bamboo grove.

He first gently calmed the excited breeze, and then, amidst a deafening chorus of congratulations, he walked steadily across the front yard toward the main hall.

When the servants along the way saw him, they were all filled with joy and awe. They made way for him, bowed and offered their congratulations. Sheng Changquan responded with gentle nods, showing no arrogance. His calm demeanor, cultivated through years of hard study, added to his noble and elegant air at this moment.

Before they even reached the main hall, the head maids of Zeyutang, having received the news, hurriedly came out to greet them.

Led by the composed and capable Cui Ming, followed by the gentle and beautiful Zi Yuan and the smiling but tearful Jie Geng, they encountered Sheng Changquan in the corridor. They all curtsied and bowed, their voices trembling slightly with excitement: "Welcome back to the manor, young master! Congratulations on passing the imperial examination with top honors!"

Looking at the familiar faces who had accompanied him since childhood, and seeing the genuine joy that almost overflowed in their eyes, Sheng Changquan felt a warm current flow through his heart.

With a gentle and peaceful smile on his face, he offered a slight gesture of help: "Please get up. Thank you for your hard work."

Despite his early success and fame in the capital, he showed no arrogance whatsoever. His demeanor remained calm and composed, and his maturity beyond his years only highlighted his extraordinary character.

He did not go to the main house to see his parents immediately, but turned towards Zeyu Hall first: "I need to go back to my room to wash up and change my clothes before I go to pay my respects to my father and mother."

Cuiming immediately stepped forward, her voice excited yet clear: "Hot water and clean clothes are ready. I have had someone bring the lotus seed soup and some refreshing side dishes that have been kept warm in the kitchen to your room, young master. Please have something to eat first."

Back at Zeyutang, the quiet little courtyard in a corner of the Sheng Mansion where he had lived since childhood, it was now filled with joy.

The maids in the courtyard were all beaming, and they worked with exceptional speed and efficiency. Inside the house, hot water at a comfortable temperature and everyday clothes that exuded the scent of sunshine were already prepared. Everything was in perfect order, and they did not appear flustered at all because of this sudden and great honor.

Kikyo quickly helped him wash up, excitedly saying, "Madam has sent someone to urge you three times already, she's just waiting for you to come over, young master! Grandmother has also asked about it..."

Sheng Changquan quickly but not hastily finished washing up, changed out of his gorgeous clothes which were covered in the dust of the outside world, and put on a simple blue robe after the rain. His dark hair was tied up with a simple jade hairpin. He immediately lost some of the sharpness of the imperial examination and gained a more elegant and gentle scholarly air.

He didn't eat much, only drank half a bowl of warm lotus seed soup as instructed, and then got up and said, "Let's go, don't keep Father and Mother waiting."

……

Before even stepping into the main hall, the sounds of laughter and cheerful conversation already filled the air.

The main hall was brightly lit, marking the most lively and glorious moment for the Sheng family in recent years. Sheng Hong and Wang Ruofu sat in the highest seats, both beaming with joy.

Seated in the hall were several colleagues and old friends who had a very close relationship with Sheng Hong, as well as two elderly people who had come from outside the city, dressed relatively simply, and with excited and proud expressions.

These two were not Sheng Hong's direct uncles or elders—as mentioned earlier, the Sheng family only rose to prominence during Sheng Hong's grandfather's generation, and his father, Sheng Xu, left behind only one son who died young. Sheng Hong's branch of the family had no close direct relatives or elders in Bianjing. These two were actually senior members of a collateral branch of the Sheng family. One was Sheng Hong's distant cousin, and the other was an elderly scholar from the clan school who had received favors from the patriarch Sheng Xu and had a close relationship with the Sheng family. They were Sheng clan members living near Bianjing, and upon hearing this earth-shattering news, they specially traveled overnight to offer their congratulations, making it a truly significant occasion.

At this moment, Sheng Hong stroked his beard with one hand and patted his knee with the other, listening to the compliments from the crowd below. He was especially excited when the two clan elders said tremblingly, "Bringing glory to our ancestors, the Sheng family is on the verge of becoming great."

After all, he was the epitome of a gentleman who valued his family's reputation more than his own life!
Although Sheng Hong repeatedly said modestly, "I am just lucky, all thanks to the blessings of my ancestors, you are all too kind," the smile lines at the corners of his eyes were so deep that they could hold a piece of paper between them, and the pride and smugness between his brows were almost overflowing.

He would glance towards the door from time to time, hoping for the son who would bring him and the entire Sheng family unparalleled glory.

Wang Ruofu, who was standing nearby, was so happy that she couldn't sit still. She loudly instructed her maid, "Quick! Go to the kitchen and see if the crab meat lion's head and Buddha Jumps Over the Wall are cooked yet. My son must have some tonic today!"

A moment later, he pulled Hai Chaoyun beside him and exclaimed loudly, as if afraid that everyone in the hall wouldn't hear him: "I knew our Changquan was going to be something! I could tell he was different from others since he was a child! He studied so hard, training in the coldest winter and hottest summer, and now he's finally made it! He's the top scholar in the imperial examination! Good heavens! Our Sheng family is the first to achieve this!"

"..."

The joy he felt was intense and straightforward, seemingly no less than when he himself passed the imperial examination in Changbai, and even more exciting because of the higher level of this honor.

After all, Changquan was raised in her home, and she truly deserved this honor.

Rulan, Minglan, and Hai Chaoyun sat to one side with the exquisitely beautiful Zhuojie.

Rulan held a candied fruit in her hand, listening with a complicated expression to her mother's almost exaggerated praise of her seventh brother. She pursed her lips, wanting to say something, but looking at the festive atmosphere in the room, she swallowed her words and turned to tease her little niece, Zhuo'er, with the candied fruit, whispering, "Zhuo'er, you have to learn from your uncle in the future, and make your aunt proud too."

However, Rulan forgot that Zhuojie could not take the imperial examination.

Minglan sat quietly to the side, a gentle and gratified smile on her lips. Her gaze kept drifting towards the door, anticipating her younger brother's figure. Her eyes were filled with pride and a hint of barely perceptible tears.

On the other side, Hai Chaoyun was taking care of her daughter while whispering to Wang Ruofu, praising her seventh brother for his intelligence and hard work, which led to his success in the imperial examination.

……

When Sheng Changquan's tall, straight figure and refined, elegant appearance appeared at the door, the originally noisy main hall instantly fell silent. Everyone's eyes were focused on him, filled with admiration, envy, and a sense of satisfaction.

He stepped forward steadily, lifted his robe, bent his knees, and bowed. His movements were as fluid as flowing water, and his clear and steady voice resounded throughout the hall: "Your son greets Father and Mother. Your son has successfully passed the imperial examination."

"Good! Good! Get up quickly! My son, you've worked hard!" Sheng Hong stood up almost immediately, personally stepping forward to help his son up. His voice was loud and cheerful as he tightly grasped his son's arm. "It's not just passing! It's being the top scholar in the imperial examination! You've made a great contribution to the Sheng family! You've brought glory to our family!"

"May our ancestors bless us! May our Sheng family be blessed!" He was so excited that his voice choked with emotion.

Wang Ruofu also stood up hurriedly, her eyes instantly reddening, and said repeatedly, "Get up, get up! My son, look at you, you must have been working too hard lately, you've lost weight! You must eat more today to make up for it!"

She looked Sheng Changquan up and down, becoming more and more satisfied, as if she could already see countless noble families vying to come and propose marriage. She was overjoyed.

Sheng Changquan stood up and turned to the elders, clan elders, and old friends in the hall, bowing respectfully to each of them. His manners were impeccable.

Facing the two excited elders, he lingered a little longer, gently inquiring about their journey and expressing his gratitude for the kindness of his clan. This made the two elders feel deeply honored, and tears streamed down their faces.

Finally, he greeted his elder brother, sister-in-law, and sisters. Rulan awkwardly returned the greeting quickly, saying in a muffled voice, "Congratulations, Seventh Brother." Minglan smiled and said softly, "Congratulations, Seventh Brother, you've worked hard."

Hai Chaoyun, holding Zhuojie'er, said with a smile, "Congratulations, Seventh Brother! Zhuojie'er, quickly congratulate your Uncle."

at this time.

A servant's excited voice, almost hoarse, came from outside the door: "Master, Madam, the eldest young master is back!"

Sheng Changbai was dressed in a blue official robe, clearly having just returned from the Hanlin Academy. His forehead was even slightly damp with sweat, but his face was filled with undisguised eagerness and great joy.

Before he could even pay his respects to his parents, his gaze was fixed precisely on his younger brother in the center of the crowd. He strode across the hall, stepped forward, and gave Sheng Changquan a firm, resounding pat on the shoulder, laughing loudly with admiration and satisfaction: "Good lad! You really did it! Top scholar! Excellent! That's wonderful! This is truly a cause for celebration!"

"As soon as I left the office, I heard my colleagues talking about how our Sheng family had produced a young scholar who was only fourteen years old and had become the top scholar in the imperial examination. He was a prodigy with outstanding literary talent, a rare talent in a century! I rushed back as fast as I could!"

His joy was genuine and fervent, devoid of any jealousy; it was only the eldest brother's heartfelt pride in his younger brother's success and the family's prosperity.

Sheng Changbai then apologized to his parents and guests, his demeanor remaining proper, but his excitement was palpable.

The two brothers looked at each other and smiled, a thousand words unspoken, their deep brotherly affection moving and inspiring everyone present. (End of Chapter)