Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

Chapter 518 Connotation
Nothing was said that night, except for the bright red lanterns under the porch of the Sheng Mansion in Jiying Lane, which burned all night, illuminating the invisible glory on the lintel.

The next day, as dawn broke, the Sheng family's doors were already wide open.

Although the house was not as crowded with guests and carriages as it was yesterday, the entire household was still immersed in the lingering festive atmosphere.

Just as the old lady had expected, those who came to offer their congratulations today were all close family friends or in-laws with whom they had frequent interactions.

Sure enough, not long after breakfast, the gatekeeper came to report that two groups of people had arrived almost one after the other.

The first to arrive were Liang Han, the sixth young master of the Yongchang Earl's Mansion, and his wife, Mo Lan, the fourth young lady.

Liang Han was clearly dressed up carefully today, wearing a royal blue silk robe with dark cloud patterns and floral designs, a leather belt around his waist, a jade pendant and sachet hanging from his waist, and black boots with pink soles and trim. His whole body exuded the wealth and elegance of a noble son.

As soon as he stepped off the carriage, he habitually unfolded his gold-flecked fan with a "whoosh," waved it lightly twice, and then, as if he felt that this gesture was a bit frivolous for the occasion, snapped it shut.

He tried to maintain a composed and dignified demeanor, but the arrogance of a scion of a noble family that was ingrained in his bones had faded considerably, replaced by a warm and polite manner that came from careful consideration of the situation.

Just then, Sheng Hong and Sheng Changbai were dressed in their finest clothes, preparing to head out to the yamen. There was an important matter in the court that required all officials to discuss, and neither father nor son dared to be negligent.

Upon seeing this, Liang Han immediately stepped forward, cupped his hands in a respectful bow from a few steps away, and, with a beaming smile, said in a loud voice, "This humble son-in-law greets his father-in-law! Congratulations, father-in-law! Congratulations, Brother Changbai! What a joyous occasion for your household!"

He spoke very quickly, as if afraid of being too late: "Yesterday, when the results were announced, I happened to be there and saw with my own eyes that my seventh brother had achieved the highest rank in the imperial examination and was listed at the top of the list!"

"The scene was truly spectacular, with everyone lining the streets and cheering wildly!"

"I wanted to come to your residence to offer my congratulations immediately, but I thought that my father-in-law's house must have been full of guests yesterday, and I would only cause trouble if I came. So I suppressed my joy and waited until today to come and offer my congratulations! I hope that my father-in-law and brother Changbai will not blame me for being late!"

He seemed to have forgotten the unpleasantness of the last time. His words were sincere and his posture was quite humble. He addressed Sheng Changquan as "my son-in-law" and naturally changed "Sheng Changquan" to the very affectionate "seventh brother". This was a world of difference from his previous slightly distant and even slightly contemptuous attitude.

Sheng Hong, dressed in a scarlet official robe, was about to get into the sedan chair when he heard this. He stopped and offered a slight, formulaic smile.

"You're very kind, son-in-law."

"It's a joyous occasion at home, thank you for your concern. Your mother-in-law and brothers are inside, please make yourself at home. Changbai and I need to go to the palace immediately, as court affairs are urgent, so we won't stay with you any longer."

Although his tone was polite, it revealed a hint of haste to leave.

Sheng Changbai, also dressed in a blue Hanlin official robe, stood beside his father. His expression was as calm as ever. He simply nodded slightly to Liang Han and said concisely, "Thank you, Fourth Brother-in-law."

Then, he turned his gaze to Sheng Changquan, who was waiting to the side, and instructed him, "Seventh Brother, Father and I will go to the yamen first. Please take good care of things at home."

Today, Sheng Changquan was dressed in a light blue Hangzhou silk robe, which made his handsome face and upright posture even more striking.

He stepped forward calmly, cupped his hands in greeting to his father and elder brother, and said, "Father, elder brother, rest assured, you have important business to attend to."

She then turned to Liang Han, smiled slightly, her demeanor impeccable, neither overly enthusiastic nor impolite: "Fourth brother-in-law, fourth sister, please come into the mansion for a chat."

Liang Han quickly smiled and agreed, stepping aside to let Sheng Hong and his son go first. Only after watching the Sheng family's sedan chair and horses leave did he follow Sheng Changquan into the mansion.

Mo Lan, standing beside her, was also dressed in her finest attire today. She wore a water-red brocade dress embroidered with gold butterflies and flowers, which was dazzling. She also wore a headdress adorned with red gold, kingfisher feathers, and rubies, surrounded by pearls and jade, making her incomparably beautiful.

She first followed Liang Han in bowing to her father and elder brother. When she saw that her father and elder brother had left without showing her any extra concern, she clenched her hands tightly in her wide sleeves, her nails almost digging into her palms.

"With my mistress gone, there is truly no place for me, Mo Lan, in this Sheng mansion!"

She was filled with hatred and jealousy, but on the surface she tried her best to maintain a flawless smile. In secret, she gritted her teeth and decided that she must keep Liang Han firmly in her grasp and maintain her dignity as the eldest daughter-in-law of the Liang family.

...The group entered the main hall and took their seats according to their status as guests and hosts.

The maids served fragrant tea, and Liang Han, holding the teacup, smiled and said to Sheng Changquan, "Seventh Brother's success in passing the imperial examination has truly brought honor to our family!"

"Yesterday at home, my uncles and brothers were talking about him, and they all said that he is a genius who has been reincarnated as the God of Literature, a rare talent that is only seen once in a hundred years! From now on, we brothers should get closer together!"

"Especially in the future, our two families must maintain close relations in the imperial court!"

His words automatically implied that Sheng Changquan was "one of his own," attempting to build a closer relationship.

Sheng Changquan picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and smiled warmly, but his tone was neither humble nor arrogant: "Fourth brother-in-law is too kind."

"Changquan was fortunate to pass the exam, which is truly due to the Emperor's great grace and the examiners' favor. In addition, he was also taught by his elders and urged by his elder brother. He dares not take credit for it."

"As for matters of the court, Changquan is new to the game and needs guidance from someone as knowledgeable as my fourth brother-in-law."

His answer was impeccable, both humble and subtly hinting at his future prospects, without readily accepting Liang Han's overly enthusiastic "brother" title.

Liang Han was met with a rebuff, but he was not annoyed. Instead, he felt that although his brother-in-law was young, he was calm and composed and more worthy of friendship. So he smiled even more and turned to talk about the customs and culture of the capital and literary gatherings, trying to find some common topics.

They had only been gone for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea when the gatekeeper came again to report that Yuan Wenshao and his wife Hua Lan from the Earl of Zhongqin's mansion had also arrived.

Today, Yuan Wenshao was dressed in a dark blue Hangzhou silk robe. He was tall and strong, and his demeanor was as neat and efficient as that of a military family and as composed as someone who had experienced many things.

After entering, he glanced around and, seeing that Sheng Hong and Sheng Changbai were not there, first bowed to Madam Wang, who came out from the back room upon hearing the news, and said sincerely, "I congratulate my mother-in-law! My seventh brother has passed the imperial examination with top honors, which is a great fortune and glory for the Sheng family. I am also deeply honored to hear this!"

Their actions were quite disciplined.

Then, Yuan Wenshao’s gaze eagerly found Sheng Changquan, who was talking to Liang Han.

He strode forward, and surprisingly, reached out his large hand and patted Sheng Changquan's shoulder firmly. The force was considerable, revealing his inner excitement and an indescribable attempt to establish a closer relationship. His voice was loud and straightforward, filled with undisguised praise: "Seventh Brother! Well done! You really did it!"

"Huiyuan! Hahaha! Yesterday at the Military Command Office, when my colleagues heard that I was Sheng Huiyuan's brother-in-law, they all surrounded me, asking questions with such envy that their eyes were practically red! This time, you and my sister have really gained a lot of face!"

His enthusiastic, even somewhat smug and ingratiating demeanor was a stark contrast to his usual subdued and repressed appearance at the Yuan family home, perhaps due to his mother's domineering presence.

Hua Lan followed behind him. Today, she wore a lotus-colored satin dress embroidered with magnolia branches and a set of lustrous pearl headdress. She was dressed in a way that was both dignified and festive.

With a gentle smile on her face, she first greeted Madam Wang, and then greeted Liang Han and Mo Lan.

However, when she saw her seventh brother, surrounded by her husband and Liang Han, speaking calmly and exuding remarkable charm, her smile truly revealed a sense of genuine comfort and ease. The wet nurse followed behind, carrying the bright red-clad, chubby-faced Shi Ge'er, whose big, dark eyes gazed curiously at the bustling hall.

While responding to the compliments from his two brothers-in-law, Sheng Changquan's gaze passed over them and landed on Hua Lan.

He smiled slightly, his tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable concern, his voice clearly reaching everyone's ears.

"Eldest sister is back too. Yesterday was so busy at home that I didn't have time to ask in detail. How have you been doing at the Yuan family's house these days?"

"I see that my sister looks quite well, but Shige'er..." He changed the subject slightly, looking at the child in the wet nurse's arms, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly, "He seems to have lost some weight since the last time I saw him? There are still some dark circles under his eyes, so is he not sleeping well at night?"

"Young boys are delicate and need the most careful care. Their diet and daily life cannot be neglected in the slightest. Sister, you still need to take extra care of them."

His seemingly ordinary words of concern actually steered the conversation toward Hualan's situation and her child, revealing something that was difficult to articulate.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Wenshao's smile froze instantly!