Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

Chapter 231 Failing the Exam is Another Failure

"how is this possible?"

"how come?"

"How could my name not be there?"

Sheng Changfeng stood at the front of the crowd in disbelief, staring blankly at the yellow list posted in front of everyone.

He looked at them one by one, row by row!

Sheng Changfeng stared intently at every name and every word!
Unfortunately!
The result remains the same!
"impossible!"

"Will not!"

"Something must have gone wrong!"

"There's a mistake..."

Sheng Changfeng's face was deathly pale, and his lips trembled as he mumbled something like "wrong," as if he had lost his mind.

However, he recovered in a short while, but he still craned his neck, trying to find something he hoped to see on the list in front of him.

"Where?"

"Where exactly is it?"

"..."

However, Sheng Changfeng was not the only one in this state at this moment.

In this crowded place, apart from those who brought good news, countless candidates, all pale-faced, searched for their names on the list, hoping to find a miracle.

Yes, for them, being on the list is nothing short of a miracle.
"Brother, where is your name?"

Just as Sheng Changfeng was greatly shocked and then somewhat panicked, Mo Lan's voice suddenly rang in his ear.

"Brother, why don't I see your name?"

"Stop making noise!"

Upon hearing his sister's question, Sheng Changfeng immediately responded with a low shout without hesitation.

Then, feeling agitated, he replied somewhat guiltily, "You..."

"What are you yelling about?"

Although he was terrified, Sheng Changfeng tried his best to keep a straight face and shouted at Mo Lan, "I..."

"I...aren't I looking for it too?"

Especially at times like these, Sheng Changfeng must maintain his "high-class" demeanor and never let anyone see his inner thoughts. Otherwise, if he were to reveal his weakness, he would lose face!
However, he didn't consider that with his current demeanor, who wouldn't see through the secret?

Leaving aside close relatives like Mo Lan and Lin Qinshuang, even the team of messengers composed of small merchants could see what Sheng Changfeng was hiding beneath his current expression.

"Aniang~"

Seeing Sheng Changfeng's attitude, Mo Lan immediately felt wronged and wanted to go to Lin Qinshuang to complain.

Unexpectedly, before she could speak, she suddenly heard Lin Qinshuang say, "Let's go!"

"Ah? Mother, you..."

Mo Lan was stunned when her wrist was grabbed.

"go!"

Lin Qinshuang's face darkened. She didn't even glance at Sheng Changfeng beside her. Instead, she grabbed Mo Lan's wrist and walked out with her head down.

"Mother, we still haven't found my brother's name! We..."

"Find?"

"What are you still looking for?"

Lin Qinshuang truly lives up to her name now, with a face full of frost!

"That little bastard didn't even hit the target!"

Lin Qinshuang gritted her teeth and said, "If we could find his name now, that would truly be a miracle!"

She was furious at the moment, so naturally she looked very unhappy!

"I must have been blind to believe what this little brat said and think that Mr. Zhuang was wrong!"

Recalling her inner grumbling about Mr. Zhuang over the past few days, Lin Qinshuang felt so angry that she wanted to slap herself twice more!
Of course, both were for Sheng Changfeng.

"Auntie..."

Seeing Lin Qinshuang's annoyed expression, Mo Lan had no choice but to shut up and dare not report anything further.

After all, adding fuel to the fire at this time would likely backfire on oneself.

And just like that, the mother and daughter ditched Sheng Changfeng and returned to the Sheng family's convoy.

And the other side.

"Ugh!"

Just after Lin Qinshuang and her daughter left, a burly, thick-shouldered man covered in thick hair suddenly walked up behind Sheng Changfeng and said, "I'll talk!"

This guy shoved Sheng Changfeng in the shoulder with his strong shoulder and growled in a low voice, "Have you finished watching?"

"Once you've finished reading, get out of the way!"

"I'm eager to see which Wenquxing stars are on it, so I can collect some lucky money!"

"Thum! Thug! Thumb!"

Caught off guard, Sheng Changfeng was knocked forward by this guy!
I almost fell to the ground!

If it weren't for the officers maintaining order and protecting the list, who used their water and fire sticks to restrain Sheng Changfeng and block him, Sheng Changfeng would have definitely made a fool of himself this time, falling in a "wild goose landing on the sand" style!

"You...who are you?"

"You bastard, do you even know who I am?"

Sheng Changfeng first rubbed the pain from the water and fire sticks pressing against his body, then steadied himself and looked back angrily!

"Do you... want to die?"

Sheng Changfeng spoke in a very firm tone, issuing a warning to the other party.

Although his opponent was all muscle and had a huge physique, Sheng Changfeng was not afraid at all. In fact, deep down, he had a faint urge to fight him.

Of course, it wasn't that he wanted to get beaten up, but rather that Sheng Changfeng knew the man opposite him was just an ordinary commoner.

But Sheng Changfeng was different; he was a successful candidate in the provincial examination and a licentiate. The two of them were worlds apart in status.

Even if Sheng Changfeng hit him, the other party wouldn't dare to fight back. Otherwise, this big, clumsy guy would be in trouble with a lawsuit for insubordination.

That is precisely why Sheng Changfeng has such a psychological advantage!

However, the fact that this burly, dark-skinned man dared to provoke the failed scholar in this way also shows his survival wisdom.

"Hmph, you scholar, how rude of you!"

This burly, dark-skinned man already had a loud voice, and with his deliberate promotion, his voice spread even further.

"Even though he had already failed the exam, he still insisted on trying to get ahead and taking up other candidates' spots!"

"And all I said was a couple of words to you, and you're already threatening to hit me?"

"With your temperament, it's fortunate you're not capable, otherwise, wouldn't the people under your command have no way to survive?"

"you……"

This burly, dark-skinned man looked rough, but he was quite skilled with words.

Not only did he use public opinion to pressure Sheng Changfeng, but more importantly, he kept mentioning "failing the exam" in every sentence. In just a few words, he made Sheng Changfeng lose face.

"you……"

As more and more people gathered around him, Sheng Changfeng grew anxious!

At this point, he didn't even have time to speak, let alone take action. In the end, Sheng Changfeng could only move his lips, unable to utter a single word.

"Humph!"

Sheng Changfeng ultimately lacked the courage to risk everything. Seeing the situation, he immediately covered his face and fled, darting out of the crowd and hiding.

"hehe!"

After Sheng Changfeng left, the burly man chuckled to himself, secretly ruffled the purse in his arms, and smirked.

"Hey, there's really a lot of meat on the plate today!"

"It's no wonder that Old Hei's skills have been used up!"

"Meat head" is a derogatory term for prey.

Clearly, the purse in the burly man's hand was the one he had stolen from Sheng Changfeng, and his deliberate provocation was likely part of a pre-planned scheme. Thus, without anyone knowing, Sheng Changfeng not only lost face but also his purse—he was utterly humiliated!
However, he was not the only one who failed the imperial examination this time.

His classmates and friends, Young Master Qi and Marquis Gu Tingye, were also fellow sufferers in the world!
……

far away.

Inside the carriage of the Duke of Qi's mansion, Qi Heng sat with his parents, the Duke of Qi, and Princess Pingning. Just as the three of them were feeling uneasy, they heard a knocking sound on the window.

"Dong dong!"

"Quick! Tell me! What was my son's ranking in this imperial examination?"

Upon hearing the strange noise, the Duke of Qi immediately sprang to his senses and opened his mouth to ask the person who had come in.

The person knocking on the window was none other than Qi Heng's personal attendant, Buwei.

At this moment, Buwei felt extremely embarrassed when he heard the question in the carriage!
"Master!"

Buwei first exchanged glances with his companions behind him, and then, amidst their somewhat uneasy expressions, replied with difficulty, "Master, this time... we didn't see the young master's name."

Buwei spoke very softly, as if afraid of disturbing the people in the car.

However, no matter how soft Buwei's voice was, the entire Qi State Duke's entourage immediately fell silent after he finished speaking.

Beside them, all the servants who had witnessed the expressions on the faces of Buwei and the others kept their eyes down, as still as wooden sculptures, not uttering a single word.

It was obvious that they had guessed how well Qi Heng would perform this time.

—Of course, you failed the exam!
in the carriage.

Although he had been mentally prepared, Qi Heng's face still turned pale when he actually heard the news!

Not only did Qi Heng lose his composure, but Princess Pingning, standing beside him, immediately frowned, closed her eyes, and her entire aura became extremely solemn.

a long time.

"Cough cough..."

"Cough cough..."

Seeing the atmosphere growing increasingly tense, the Duke of Qi could only try to lighten the mood by saying, "This... is nothing!"

"Heng'er didn't do well on the exam this time, but he can try again next year!"

"It's...it's not a big deal!"

Qi Heng was, after all, the only child of the Duke of Qi, and so outstanding, so he naturally felt extremely sorry for him. Seeing his wife silent because of disappointment, the Duke of Qi had no choice but to bite the bullet and step in to comfort Qi Heng.

"Yes, father!"

Qi Heng lowered his head: "It is your son who has failed your expectations... and your mother's expectations!"

"The son is in the wrong!"

"Shh!"

Upon hearing Qi Heng's words, Princess Pingning suddenly raised her head, opened her eyes, and gave him a deep look.

But she didn't speak; she just glanced at him briefly before closing her eyes again.

However, just by looking at her deeply etched fingernails as she gripped the fan, one could tell just how agitated she was!

"ah!"

"Heng'er!"

The Duke of Qi looked at his son, who was bowing his head and admitting his mistake, with a pang of heartache. Seeing that his son still dared not raise his head, he became somewhat anxious!

"Alright, that's enough!"

The Duke of Qi nudged his wife's wrist, signaling her to speak.

He knew that the main reason why Qi Heng dared not raise his head was that Princess Pingning had not spoken. In the Duke of Qi's mansion, Princess Pingning was the only person in charge.

As for the Duke of Qi, he was nothing more than a figurehead.

However, there is genuine affection between the Duke of Qi and Princess Pingning. Perhaps they used to have conflicts because of this, but as time has passed, they have probably become accustomed to each other's presence.

At the very least, since Qi Heng was old enough to understand things, he had never seen his parents argue.

"You say a few words!"

Duke Qi looked at Princess Pingning and gestured for her to speak.

"okay!"

Seeing her husband's anxious expression, Princess Pingning could only temporarily calm her own inner turmoil and say something.

"Heng'er, you... get up!"

Feeling truly disgruntled, Princess Pingning immediately turned to the servants outside and ordered, "Let's go back to the manor!" after saying this.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing their master's command, the drivers outside the carriage immediately responded and then slowly drove the carriage back to the Duke of Qi's mansion.

"ah!"

Someone has won!

"Who? Which family is that?"

"It's the second son of the Sheng family, the Vice Minister of Works!"

"..."

Just as the carriage started moving, a sudden uproar and shouting came from outside.

"Hmm? The second son of the Sheng family?"

Duke Qi's expression shifted, and he began to ask Qi Heng, "Heng'er, is this second son of the Sheng family your classmate Sheng Changbai?"

"Not bad!"

Upon hearing his father mention this, Qi Heng was immediately filled with joy.

"Father, judging from what we're hearing outside, it seems that Brother Changbai has already passed the imperial examination!"

"Oh!"

The Duke of Qi stroked his beard and exclaimed, "Brother Xiujin, you are truly blessed!"

Because of Qi Heng's visit to the Sheng family, the Duke of Qi had some dealings with Sheng Hong. Due to Sheng Hong's talent for social interaction, the Duke of Qi had a very high opinion of him.

"Neither humble nor arrogant, truly the demeanor of a gentleman!"—This was the Duke of Qi's evaluation of Sheng Hong.

"In that case, Heng'er, go down and congratulate the second son of the Sheng family!"

Before Qi Heng could even figure out how to get down, the Duke of Qi offered his own instructions.

"Even though you didn't pass this time, others did, so don't feel bad about it!"

The Duke of Qi, unaware of his son's thoughts, spoke from the perspective of someone with experience: "No matter what, you must maintain your relationship as classmates!"

"I observe that although the Sheng family does not have a deep foundation, their family traditions are extremely upright!"

"I imagine that in a few decades, the Sheng family will surely rise to prominence and soar to great heights..."

The Duke of Qi spoke eloquently, and in his words, he truly held the Sheng family in high regard, believing that they showed signs of prosperity.

"Yes, father!"

After the Duke of Qi finished speaking, Qi Heng said with a joyful expression, "I will go and congratulate Brother Changbai right away!"

With that, he bowed to the Duke and Duchess of Qi, then jumped off the carriage and strode towards the Sheng family's carriage.

"Huh? What's wrong with Heng'er...?"

Seeing Qi Heng's anxious appearance, the Duke of Qi was also somewhat puzzled.

"Humph!"

At this moment, Princess Pingning suddenly opened her eyes and glared at him fiercely!
"You old man, you know absolutely nothing!"

"Your precious son didn't even want to go and congratulate his classmate!"

"He just wanted to see his sweetheart!"

Princess Pingning was furious with the father and son, and the veins on her hands were bulging as if they were about to burst!
"Sweetheart?"

Duke Qi was taken aback by his wife's words, but then he suddenly understood and a smile appeared on his face.

"hehe!"

"Heng'er, this child... has really grown up!"

While the old Duke was sighing softly, he was completely unaware of the pair of eyes beside him that seemed to be spitting fire... just how terrifying they were!
(End of this chapter)