Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

Chapter 530 The Imperial Examination (Part Two)

……

After bidding farewell to his family, whose eyes were filled with anticipation and pride, Sheng Changquan walked steadily out of the vermilion main gate of the Sheng family mansion, a symbol of the family's glory, under the burning gazes of everyone.

The morning breeze carried a slight chill, but it couldn't dispel the burning passion in my heart.

To his slight surprise and sudden warmth, Sheng Changbai not only took leave from the Hanlin Academy, but was also already dressed in his blue official robe, a symbol of noble status, standing upright like a pine tree, waiting solemnly and respectfully beside the blue-curtained carriage that had been prepared in front of the gate.

Judging from this, he was going to personally escort him to the palace to take the imperial examination.

"Brother..."

Sheng Changquan felt a warmth in his heart and quickly stepped forward.

In this family that places great emphasis on seniority and the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children, Sheng Changbai's actions as the eldest legitimate brother, who was already an official in the imperial court, were undoubtedly a great support, encouragement, and silent affirmation for his younger brother, carrying far more weight than a thousand words.

Sheng Changbai's face remained as dignified and serious as ever, just like the meticulous official script he wrote. But at this moment, his eyes, which were always as calm as an ancient well, clearly reflected undisguised concern and deep expectations.

He didn't say much, but simply reached out and patted Sheng Changquan's shoulder heavily, with a steady strength, his voice deep and powerful: "Is everything checked? Pens, ink, calligraphy, references, everything you need, have you brought them all?"

Seeing Sheng Changquan nod solemnly, he said simply, "Let's go. If you have any questions on the way, or any doubts you still have, please feel free to ask."

His words were few, yet each one carried immense weight, brimming with the responsibility and reliability of an elder brother who is like a father to his children.

The two brothers boarded the carriage one after the other. The carriage was not spacious, but it was filled with a reassuring, faint scent of ink and soapberry. This was the scent that Sheng Changbai often carried. At this moment, the smell of it gradually calmed down Sheng Changquan's heart, which was racing slightly because he was about to face a major exam.

The carriage slowly started moving, its wheels rolling over the bluestone pavement, making a clattering sound, as it drove away from the Sheng Mansion, where the lights were still not completely extinguished and the hustle and bustle of the previous night still lingered, and merged into the gradually awakening sounds of the city streets.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, draping this imperial capital in a hazy veil.

“Seventh Brother,” Sheng Changbai spoke first, breaking the silence in the carriage. His voice sounded particularly deep and solemn in the small space, as if every word had been carefully considered, “The key to the palace examination, besides the etiquette and procedures that Father and I have mentioned before, and the essay topic, is even more important: one’s state of mind. This is the key to victory, especially since you are already the top scholar and are under the spotlight of everyone, you need to be even more composed.”

He looked calmly at Sheng Changquan, as if trying to convey his composure to him: "In the Zichen Palace, the imperial majesty is awe-inspiring. The imperial guards stand solemnly like a forest, and the civil and military officials are lined up in orderly ranks. The invisible pressure is so overwhelming that newcomers are bound to feel their hearts flutter and their hands and feet go blank."

"You must remember that although His Majesty is the supreme ruler, holding the power of life and death, he is also a sovereign who cares about the world. Today, His Majesty is seeking wise and talented people, good steeds who can help the country, not scholars who are trembling with fear, sweating profusely, and unable to speak fluently."

He leaned forward slightly, his tone becoming increasingly earnest: "Treat this as presenting to a highly learned, wise, and compassionate elder the thoughts, lessons, and insights you have gained through more than a decade of diligent study. Be composed, speak fluently, offer meaningful and logically sound advice, and address current issues directly. Avoid being nervous and unable to express yourself clearly, or being afraid to speak freely."

He paused, then continued to impart his knowledge without reservation. These were invaluable experiences he had gained as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, through close observation of the court and understanding of the Emperor's mind. He would never easily share these with anyone other than his closest relatives: "As for the questions of policy questions, no matter what they are, even if they vary a thousand times, their core principle is nothing more than 'practical application to the world.' What His Majesty wants is not empty talk, but good policies that can take root and benefit the people."

"Therefore, the approach to identifying a topic must be accurate, requiring a clear understanding of the underlying practical issues; the perspective must be lofty, considering the interests of the court and the nation; and the vision must be broad, taking a holistic view rather than being confined to a narrow perspective."

"However, the argument must be grounded in reality, based on evidence, with specific implementation steps and feasibility analysis. We must avoid empty talk and general discussions, merely citing classics without any concrete results. In recent years, His Majesty has placed particular emphasis on practical matters and abhorred empty talk by those who are merely purveyors of knowledge. We must grasp this point precisely. Those articles that are flowery but impractical, piling up words but having no practical use, are the most taboo."

Sheng Changquan listened intently, imprinting every word of his brother's speech in his heart. He knew that these words were Sheng Changbai's heartfelt advice, genuine words of concern for his well-being.

He nodded earnestly, his gaze firm: "Thank you for your careful guidance, elder brother. Your words are invaluable and enlightening. I will remember them and never forget them."

In the dim morning light, the carriage passed through streets and alleys where shouts, wheels, and footsteps gradually filled the air, finally approaching the majestic and solemn imperial city complex, a symbol of the core of power in the land.

The closer you get, the more solemn and dignified the atmosphere becomes.

……

All vehicles must stop outside Donghua Gate.

Sheng Changquan bid a solemn farewell to his elder brother, tidied his robe, which might have been slightly wrinkled from the journey, and straightened his scholar's cap to ensure that he was impeccably dressed. Then, he took a deep breath and walked with the other candidates, each with a different expression, toward the towering, heavily guarded palace gate.

By this time, the sky was bright, and the rising sun leaped over the horizon, generously showering the world with its golden rays, especially enveloping this royal forbidden area. The golden light shone on the vermilion palace walls and the gleaming bright yellow glazed tiles, reflecting a dazzling and awe-inspiring halo that seemed to drape the imperial power in a sacred cloak.

Before Donghua Gate, the Imperial Guards stood in rows, their armor gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

They stood solemnly, halberds in hand, their eyes sharp as hawks, silently and warily scrutinizing each candidate who passed by. Their chilling aura was enough to make the weak-willed weak in the knees. Officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Court of State Ceremonial had been waiting there for a long time. Dressed in formal official robes, their faces serious, they meticulously checked the name cards and guided the candidates to line up in order. The scene was completely silent, with only the officials' deep voices calling out the names and the candidates' cautious responses.

However, before entering this palace gate, which symbolizes supreme glory and opportunity, there is one last and most stringent checkpoint—a routine search.

At that moment, the heavy palace gates slowly opened a crack amidst the dull creak of their mechanisms, and a line of people with fair complexions, solemn expressions, and dressed in the colors of eunuchs emerged. Their steps were light and quick, yet their eyes were equally sharp, even possessing a keen insight into details unique to those in the palace.

"All candidates, listen to my command!" The head eunuch, a fair-skinned man with piercing eyes, who appeared to be around forty years old, spoke in a low but exceptionally sharp and clear voice, carrying an undeniable authority that reached the ears of every candidate present like cold water dripping into a hot oil pan. "Step forward in order and undergo inspection!"

"No whispering, no looking around, and no concealing anything suspicious! Anyone who violates these rules will be immediately disqualified from the palace examination and handed over to the relevant authorities for investigation!"

The sternness in his tone sent a chill down everyone's spine.

The system of body searches has always been extremely strict, almost harsh, to prevent anyone from being so audacious as to smuggle in cheating and desecrate this highest-level talent selection ceremony.

Sheng Changquan stood in the queue, his mind as still as water, waiting quietly with a calm expression.

He observed that the experienced eunuchs picked up and carefully examined every detail of the candidates, from their clothes and headdresses to their shoes and socks, and even the smallest items they carried, such as snuff bottles and sachets, to make sure they didn't miss any gaps or crevices where a note might be hidden.

It was finally his turn.

Two elderly eunuchs with stern faces and eyes like searchlights stepped forward. They first checked his identity documents and credentials, carefully comparing the portrait on them with his own appearance. After confirming that there were no errors, one of them nodded slightly.

Then, a more thorough body search began.

“Raise your arms.”

The eunuch's voice was cold and devoid of any emotion, as if he were treating an object.

Sheng Changquan did as he was told, his expression calm and his gaze serene as he looked at the eaves of the distant palace.

The eunuch skillfully patted and pinched his body, checking for notes or other prohibited items hidden in the lining of his inner or outer garments, collar, cuffs, or other places where tampering could easily occur.

The crisp, starched blue robe, a symbol of a scholar's status, was carefully smoothed in every corner, leaving no area untouched by any possible unusual thickness.

Next, the ordinary jade hairpin that he used to tie his hair was removed. The eunuch examined it carefully in the light, stroking it to confirm that it was just an ordinary jade hairpin, without any hollow or engraved marks.

Then, he was even asked to take off one of his shoes and socks. The eunuch picked up the clean cloth sock and carefully examined the inside of the sock and the sole of the shoe to make sure there was nothing smeared or tucked in.

"What is this?"

One of the eunuchs found the knee pads that Sheng Changquan was wearing on his knees. They were soft to the touch, but he still needed to be questioned as usual.

"Reporting to the eunuch, these are knee pads prepared at home to keep warm. I've heard that it's cold inside the palace, and people may be kneeling for a long time, so these are just in case."

Sheng Changquan answered calmly, his tone even, showing no sign of tension.

The eunuch gestured for him to remove the knee pads, then carefully examined them inside and out, inch by inch, feeling the even softness of the cotton filling. Confirming there was absolutely no possibility of any paper or writing marks, he nodded almost imperceptibly and handed the knee pads back to him, saying in a businesslike tone, "According to palace regulations, all items brought inside, regardless of size, must be inspected before being allowed in. Keep them safe."

After all the checks were completed and everything was confirmed to be correct, a palace eunuch quickly and precisely drew a small, uniquely shaped mark on the back of his left hand with a vermilion pen. This mark was not easily imitated or noticed by others, indicating that he had passed the check and was qualified to enter the palace to participate in the imperial examination.

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