Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

Chapter 137 Dual Case Leaders
"Brother, it's nothing!"

Minglan carefully stood up, slowly sat down next to Sheng Changquan, took his hand, and whispered to comfort him, "Don't worry too much about the ranking, as long as you pass the exam, that's all that matters!"

"Besides, you're still young, so it's okay if your writing isn't very good right now."

"No matter what, as long as I pass and qualify for the provincial examination, that's all that matters!"

"Well?"

Sheng Changquan was somewhat puzzled by Minglan's words, but for a moment he was relieved of his worries.

"Sister, what are you saying?"

Sheng Changquan looked at Minglan with some confusion and said, "I did pretty well on the exam this time!"

"Uh-huh!"

Minglan couldn't help but smile at her younger brother's stubbornness. She decided not to expose him and simply said, "Since you did well on the exam, don't make that face anymore!"

"You know, you really look awful like this!"

Minglan playfully rubbed Sheng Changquan's fair, collagen-rich face with a hint of jealousy, speaking with a smile as if they were having a playful, affectionate moment. However, the strength in her reddened palms was evident, clearly indicating that she was "taking revenge" for Sheng Changquan's earlier lecture to her.

Speaking of which, Sheng Changquan's face was not only fair and smooth, but his entire body, including his hands which he had practiced martial arts for many years, was also smooth and supple without any calluses. It was as if he were a spirit carved from warm jade, different from ordinary people.

Minglan, who knew her younger brother well, was naturally very jealous of this. She always felt that there was such a big difference between the two siblings who were born of the same mother. At the very least, Minglan did not have such good skin.

"Sister, you..."

Sheng Changquan felt helpless as his older sister vigorously rubbed his face. Since he couldn't resist, he simply rolled his eyes and stopped talking.

"puff!"

Seeing her younger brother's attitude of letting her "do whatever she wanted," Minglan finally laughed out loud happily.

"Oh, right, little brother!"

After the siblings played around for a while, Minglan finally brought up another matter.

"I have some good news to tell you!"

"What's going on?"

Sheng Changquan covered his cheek and replied in a muffled voice.

"My aunt will be coming soon!"

"aunt?"

Sheng Changquan was stunned for a moment.

"Yup!"

Minglan nodded happily and said to Sheng Changquan, "When you went to take the imperial examination a while ago, your aunt had already sent a letter saying that she would come to the capital after the spring planting."

"I estimate it will be in the next few days!"

Thinking of Aunt Wei, Minglan couldn't help but smile: "Speaking of which, you've never seen your aunt since you were born, have you?"

"Ah."

Sheng Changquan nodded, but did not reveal his true thoughts.

Actually, she had already seen her when Sheng Changquan was born. After all, because of Wei Xiaoniang's matter, Aunt Wei had specially come to the gate of the Sheng family.

Thanks to his family's exceptional memory, Sheng Changquan can still remember what Aunt Wei looks like.

"I wonder if my aunt is still the same after all these years?"

Minglan sat next to Sheng Changquan and said with a look of deep affection.

Perhaps, in Minglan's heart, she could only receive motherly care from Aunt Wei, after all, Aunt Wei and Wei Xiaoniang were sisters. However, in Sheng Changquan's memory, he felt that Aunt Wei and Wei Xiaoniang were different. Although they looked somewhat similar, their temperaments were completely different.

Wei Xiaoniang has a gentle and graceful temperament, like water nourishing the earth silently. Wei Yima, on the other hand, is different. Perhaps because she is the youngest sister in the family, she has a more vigorous and powerful temperament.

Sometimes, Sheng Changquan often wondered what Wei Yima would do if she were in Wei Xiaoniang's situation.
Presumably, Aunt Wei would not swallow her anger. In fact, given her temperament, she would more likely explode and expose everything, leaving no trace of filth.

"Yes, elder sister, is Aunt coming to the capital on business?"

Recalling his aunt's stubborn nature, Sheng Changquan suddenly asked, "I remember we had been writing to Auntie to ask her to come to the capital, but she always refused. Why is she willing this time?"

Sheng Changquan felt something was amiss. Could something have happened at his aunt's house?
"I don't know."

Upon hearing Sheng Changquan's question, Minglan shook her head and said, "However, my aunt said in her letter that she came this time to tell us something important."

"I guess something big has happened?"

Actually, Minglan was also a little puzzled about her aunt's trip to the capital. However, although she didn't understand, Minglan was very happy for her aunt to come, after all, Aunt Wei was the last relative of Minglan's maternal family!
"Important things?"

Sheng Changquan pondered the meaning behind it, and gradually frowned.

"Could it be that Auntie discovered something?"

……

Shengfu.

When Minglan and her siblings returned, Sheng Hong had not yet left his official post. Therefore, apart from Sheng Changbai, who was studying diligently behind closed doors in preparation for the imperial examination, only Old Madam Sheng was at home.

Inside Shou'an Hall, Minglan was the first to enter. She whispered something to the old lady, and Sheng Changquan figured that his sister was probably reporting her achievements to the old lady.

really.

"Quan'er, you won?"

The old lady's tone was tinged with joy. Although Minglan had already explained it, the old lady still wanted Sheng Changquan to explain it again in person before she would feel at ease.

"Yes, Grandmother!"

Sheng Changquan bowed respectfully and said, "Grandson has finally lived up to Grandmother's expectations and has been fortunate enough to be ranked first in this year's preliminary examination."

"The top case?"

Minglan was startled!
"Is he the top scholar in the prefectural court?"

The old lady raised an eyebrow, looking extremely expectant.

After all, although both the county and prefectural examinations were for candidates for the imperial examinations, the status of the top candidate was different. In particular, the top candidate in the prefectural examination was considered a candidate for the county-level examination, and if someone could obtain this status, it meant that the person could be considered a scholar and could directly prepare for the next provincial examination.

Because the imperial court had a rule that anyone who ranked first in the prefectural examination could be exempted from the provincial examination and directly obtain the status of a scholar.

"hehe!"

Sheng Changquan smiled sheepishly and said somewhat embarrassedly, "Grandmother, actually, I was the top scorer in both the imperial examinations."

"Two trials?"

Minglan couldn't hold back any longer: "Doesn't that mean that you, brother, passed the imperial examination twice, becoming the top scholar in both the county and prefecture?"

"it is good!"

The old lady put down her prayer beads with surprise, and her usual composure vanished. She looked at her grandson with a strange look in her eyes.

"Quan'er, you did very well on the test this time!"

"When your father comes back, have him take you to the ancestral hall, offer incense to your grandfather, and tell him about this!"

Thank you to the generous donors Weiyu-Choumou, Muhou Guanzhong, and Shuyou20200614203013150 for their generous donations!
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(End of this chapter)