Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

Chapter 526 Dark Zi
However, Mo Lan is still Mo Lan.

Even though she had just suffered cold looks and rebukes in Shou'an Hall, and even suffered a crushing defeat and felt disheartened at the hands of her own brother, when she stood alone under the corridor, the slightly chilly spring wind brushed against her cheeks, and her turbulent emotions of shame and indignation cooled down a little.

She subconsciously lowered her head, her gaze falling on the expensive, exquisitely embroidered, water-red brocade dress with gold thread and butterflies, her fingertips touching the heavy, cool, red-gold and kingfisher-red ruby ​​headdress.

This attire is the dignity of the sixth mistress of the Yongchang Earl's Mansion, and it is also the foundation upon which she now makes a living.

A strange supporting force seemed to seep out from her gorgeous clothes, slowly flowing into her almost exhausted body.

She took a deep breath, the cold air filling her lungs, which strangely cleared her confused mind.

"It doesn't matter..."

She told herself this, digging her nails deep into her palms, using the pain to force herself to calm down.

"As long as... as long as I am still the sixth mistress of the Yongchang Marquis's Mansion, as long as Liang Han still needs the Sheng family as a marriage alliance, as long as Sheng Changquan's future is truly bright... then... I will not lose!"

"I, Mo Lan, will never admit defeat so easily!"

She recalled Liang Han's eager fawning attitude towards Sheng Changquan today, and realized that the Yongchang Marquis's family also needed to find allies in the civil service system to maintain its status. She, Mo Lan, was the most direct bridge connecting the Sheng family and the Liang family!
As long as this relationship exists, she has value and room to maneuver.

As for Sheng Changfeng… a cold glint flashed in Mo Lan’s eyes, a mixture of disappointment, pity, and final resolve.

Well then, since my elder brother is already useless and has lost all his spirit, he's an incapable son of a ruler, and we can't count on him.

Biological mother... Lin Qinshuang...

The thought of that name still aches in Mo Lan's heart, but it brings a coldness hardened by reality.

The mother committed the heinous crime of hiring someone to kill her offspring. It was already a mercy from her father and grandmother that she was spared on the estate. To expect her to return to the mansion in the short term was nothing short of wishful thinking.

Moreover, Madam Wang's place is an impenetrable fortress, offering no hope whatsoever.

"If I can't rely on anyone else, then... I'll rely on myself!"

This thought, like a spark in the darkness, quickly ignited in her heart.

She can't fall. If she falls, who will save her? Who will maintain her position in the Liang family?

She had to grasp everything she could—her husband Liang Han's covetousness of the Sheng family's power, and the enormous influence that Sheng Changquan might bring in the future.

Upon thinking of this, Mo Lan closed her eyes, forced herself to regulate her breathing for a long time, and suppressed all her grievances, anger, resentment, and fear deep into her heart.

When she opened her eyes again, her gaze was calm, and she even regained that gentle, graceful, and impeccable smile that she had practiced countless times.

She straightened her sideburns and smoothed out the wrinkles in her sleeves, instantly transforming into the dignified and elegant sixth mistress of the Yongchang Marquis's mansion. There was no trace of her previous bewilderment, helplessness, or hysteria. She straightened her back and walked with composed steps toward Liang Han in the front yard, as if the disheartened and disheveled woman in the back yard had never existed.

……

In the days that followed, the number of carriages and horses in front of the Sheng Mansion gradually decreased, but the mansion was still enveloped in a busy atmosphere of joy and anticipation.

Although the red lanterns had been taken down, everyone's face still shone with pride.

Sheng Changquan, who was at the center of this storm of glory, remained unusually calm.

He knew that although the title of top scholar brought him honor, it was only a stepping stone to the core of power. The real leap over the dragon gate would come in the upcoming palace examination.

He declined almost all unnecessary banquets and invitations from fellow graduates, demonstrating a composure and self-control far beyond his years.

Every day at dawn, I would rise first to pay my respects to my grandmother at Shou'an Hall and listen to her teachings. Then I would go to Weirui Pavilion to greet my parents. Afterward, I would return to my quiet and secluded study, Zeyu Hall, located in the southeast corner of the mansion, and stay inside. In Zeyu Hall's study, the windows were bright and the desks were clean. The only sounds were the turning of pages and the rustling of the brush on the Xuan paper.

Sheng Changquan would either immerse himself in a vast sea of ​​classic texts, meticulously studying the policy questions from previous imperial examinations to analyze the imperial intentions and the trends of the court contained within them, or stand before a mirror, meticulously simulating and rehearsing every step of the etiquette during the audience with the emperor—from how to walk and kowtow, to the angle of his lowered gaze and the rhythm of his breathing, striving for perfection and forming a visceral memory of it.

More often than not, he would concentrate and lay out the Xuelang paper on his desk, refining his writing, striving for lofty ideas, rigorous structure, and every word to be precious, with neat and clear handwriting that combined elegance and grace, in order to leave His Majesty with the best impression within the limited time.

He was single-minded, like an old monk in deep meditation, waiting only for the final test in the Zichen Palace, where he would face the emperor directly.

Meanwhile, in another corner of Bianliang City in Tokyo, Gu Qianfan, who passed the imperial examination in the same year as Sheng Changquan and had met him once before, embarked on a completely different path.

……

He wasn't preparing for the exam in a quiet study, but rather, alone, he walked through the bustling streets towards the imposing Imperial City Guard, a place feared by all the civil and military officials of Bianjing and avoided like the plague by ordinary people.

The Imperial City Guard's gate was deep and secluded, its black lacquered doors resembling the jaws of a giant beast ready to devour its prey. The guards standing before the gate were as hard as cast iron, their eyes as sharp as hawks, exuding a menacing aura that kept strangers at bay.

This was completely at odds with Gu Qianfan's aloof and handsome demeanor, which belonged to a scholar.

He stood before the gloomy threshold, his steps faltering slightly, when unexpectedly, the scene from two days ago in the Qi family's study surfaced in his mind.

On that day, after the news of his passing the imperial examination spread, he went to pay his respects to Qi Mu, a close friend of his mother's family and the current Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites.

Qi Mu was nearly fifty years old, with a lean face and three long, meticulously trimmed beard. He wore ordinary blue scholar's robes and looked like a typical scholar-official. However, the occasional glint of shrewdness in his eyes revealed that he was no ordinary person.

The Qi family's study was simply furnished, yet it exuded elegance and thoughtful design. The bookshelves on all four walls were filled with classic books, and a pot of orchids exuded a quiet fragrance.

Qi Mu stroked his beard, dismissed his attendants, and said to Gu Qianfan earnestly, "Qianfan, you are exceptionally talented. You have achieved top marks in the high school entrance examination, which is truly commendable. If your mother were alive, she would be very pleased."

He first expressed his concern as a family friend and elder to build rapport, then his tone changed, his expression became serious, and his voice lowered.

"However, Qianfan, you must know that the current situation in the court is turbulent and unpredictable, far from being as peaceful as it appears on the surface. Treacherous officials have already begun to stir up trouble!"

He stared intently at Gu Qianfan: "You must know Xiao Qinyan. He is a wicked man who is adept at manipulating power and will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. He was behind the recent retirement of Grand Secretary Yu!"

Xiao Qinyan's scheme against the Yu family was practically an open secret in the court. Although no one spoke of it openly, everyone knew it in their hearts.

Everyone despised his methods, but deep down they secretly envied him and wished they could take his place.

Qi Mu was the same. However, he was an old fox with years of experience. No matter how envious he was in his heart, he appeared righteous and awe-inspiring. He knew about Gu Qianfan's background and had a plan in mind.

Looking at the "passionate young man" before him, he said with righteous indignation, "He actually schemed against Grand Secretary Yu's son, framing his son Yu Zhenghao for smuggling salt and iron with the Liang bandits. This is a serious crime of treason! He used this to force the highly respected Grand Secretary Yu to recommend him for a position in the cabinet!"

"Such behavior is simply outrageous, trampling the laws of the court and the dignity of the literati underfoot!"

Qi Mu slightly adjusted his statement, omitting the fact that Yu Zhenghao himself was not upright, and attributed all the reasons to Xiao Qinyan, because he knew that only by saying this could he fully unleash Gu Qianfan's "potential".

really!

Young Gu Qianfan was filled with ideals and a pursuit of justice and righteousness. He deeply abhorred his biological father Xiao Qinyan's behavior of disregarding ethics and the law in order to achieve his goals. He was determined to prove that the true way of being an official should be to serve the country and benefit the people, rather than engaging in such petty scheming and forming cliques for personal gain.

At this moment, upon hearing the "truth" revealed by Qi Mu, his heart surged with righteous indignation!

"Qi Shishu's words were truly shocking!"

Gu Qianfan clenched his fist and nodded resolutely: "Xiao... such a person is truly a parasite on the country! Although I am not talented, I know the principles of loyalty to the emperor and love for the country, and I am willing to do my best to cleanse the court of its corruption!"

A barely perceptible hint of satisfaction and calculation flashed in Qi Mu's eyes. What he wanted was Gu Qianfan's naive hatred of evil and his eagerness to prove himself.