Chapter 46

Chapter 46

The Fourth Daughter

What Shen Wan described was too fantastical for the four Shen brothers, who originally didn't believe in such supernatural tales. After all, in their line of work, escorting valuable items and facing life and death situations, they had seen too much. Believing in ghosts and spirits would only make their work more nerve-wracking.

However, as Shen Wan mentioned, she had never met General Qin or Miss Qin before, and her visits to Bianjing were few. Her relationship with Meng Ming, though they grew up together, couldn't have informed her about so many details of the Meng family. The clarity of her dream, featuring people who exist in reality, was inexplicable!

"You don't believe me...?" Seeing the hesitation on her four brothers' faces, Shen Wan felt disheartened and lowered her head, murmuring, "Right, it makes sense you don't believe. How could anyone dream of their own future..."

Though she said this, Shen Wan herself believed in the dream. As someone who experienced it, no one else could understand its realism. But describing it might not convince others to believe as she did.

Shen Wan felt somewhat dejected and sad.

Suddenly, Jiang Su took her hand, saying, "Mother believes you."

Shen Wan looked up at Jiang Su in surprise and joy, "Mother... you really believe what I said...?"

"Yes," Jiang Su nodded. Shen Wan, both happy and doubtful, asked why. Jiang Su looked into her eyes solemnly, "Because mother had a similar dream."

"What?!"

Shen Wan was utterly astonished, and the four Shen brothers were equally shocked, staring at Jiang Su.

Jiang Su continued gravely, "Do you remember when I asked Xiao Wu and Meng Ming to delay their marriage?"

Shen Wan and the four Shen brothers nodded in acknowledgment.

Jiang Su revealed, "It was because I had a dream similar to Xiao Wu's, which led me to make that decision. Like her, I couldn't believe the dream was real at first. But considering the fate of Xiao Wu and our Shen family in the dream, I had to be cautious. That's why I used the rumors as a reason to temporarily call off Xiao Wu and Meng Ming's wedding."

"...I see now." Shen One frowned, somewhat enlightened. At the time, although the rumors were unpleasant, there were multiple solutions. Shen One had thought that if Xiao Wu had feelings for Meng Ming, at most they would not allow Meng Ming to marry into the family but instead have Xiao Wu marry out. He hadn't expected his master to suggest pausing the marriage, and surprisingly, Xiao Wu, who had always been fond of Meng Ming, agreed.

Shen Da found it quite strange at that time.

But now, hearing Jiang Su and Shen Wan speak, he understood everything.

The four Shen brothers looked grave. Just hearing Shen Wan's words had already shaken them, and now with Jiang Su's addition, they naturally chose to believe them.

The room fell silent for a while. Everyone was uneasy, and after some time, Shen Si, regaining his composure, asked, "So now, taking that dream as real, master, what should we do?"

"Naturally, we should go back and annul the engagement with Meng Ming, make a clean break!" Shen San, coming back to his senses, immediately retorted angrily, "Now that we know what he's like, of course, we should stay as far away from him as possible. This way, without this marriage, our family and he will have nothing to do with each other. If he wants to climb the ranks or get rich, he won't see us as an obstacle anymore!"

Shen Er nodded, "Old Three is right. The priority now is to cut ties with Meng Ming."

Shen Da remained silent but agreed with Shen San and Shen Er. If the future is as Shen Wan described, cutting ties with Meng Ming now would ensure they wouldn't be obstacles in his ascent to power or reasons for his remarriage, thus not becoming stepping stones he needed to remove.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Su disagreed with Shen San's suggestion, stating, "I said before, the dreams I had were similar to Xiao Wu's but with differences."

"Xiao Wu dreamed of her death and our family's demise, but my dream saw Meng Ming feeling guilty after our family was destroyed..."

Shen Si laughed in disbelief, "Guilty? What's the use of guilt after he's caused our deaths? Is he trying to disgust us?!"

V0: Exactly, to disgust you!

Jiang Su suppressed a laugh, appearing thoughtful.

After a pause, she continued, "After our deaths, Meng Ming married Miss Qin, rose through the ranks, even surpassing Minister Meng in power, but he always thought of Xiao Wu. He believed she was his true love and regretted his past decisions. In my dream, heaven gave him a chance to start over, right before he and Xiao Wu were to marry..."

The tea cup Shen Wan was holding shattered on the floor.

The Shen brothers were stunned.

If Shen Wan's accounts were merely eerie, Jiang Su's words were downright terrifying.

Shen Si had to drink two cups of tea in quick succession to calm himself slightly.

"I know it's hard to believe," Jiang Su addressed their shock, "I also didn't want to believe the dream because it's absurd. But Meng Ming's recent behavior made me doubt him. He's always been polite to us, to Xiao Wu, but think about his actions these days."

Shen Wan and her brothers pondered, then their expressions changed drastically.

They hadn't thought much about it until Jiang Su mentioned it, but recalling Meng Ming's recent actions, they felt something was amiss.

Previously, Meng Ming would avoid causing talk, hardly visiting the Shen family, let alone seeing Shen Wan frequently. It was usually Shen Wan who visited him under the pretext of delivering something. But what about these days?

Lately, Meng Ming has been visiting frequently, seemingly indifferent to gossip, openly showing his affection for Xiao Wu, making it a point to see her daily, treating her exceptionally well...

Suddenly, Shen Wan felt her heart turn cold.

The images of Meng Ming looking at her with love and tenderness blurred in her mind, making her feel sick as if she had ingested something foul. It dawned on her that these were not her future but her past.

Tears streamed down Shen Wan's face as she felt a dull ache in her chest.

The scenery of Bianjing remains unchanged.

After a long journey, Meng Ming finally returns to Bianjing, the place he has lived for decades, to take the exam. He feels both familiar and enlightened.

In his previous life, driven by the desire for success and revenge for his mother, he came to Bianjing filled with hatred. Now, with a chance to start over and Shen Wan still alive, his urgency fills his heart.

He wishes to finish the exam quickly to return to Shen Wan.

In his past life, Shen Wan died early, and by the time he realized his feelings for her, it was too late, leaving him with a lifetime of regret. Now, being able to be with Shen Wan again, even the separation doesn't hurt as much, though the longing is unbearable.

Meng Ming chuckles at himself for being so sentimental, yet he's also delighted.

Upon entering Bianjing, he finds lodging at an inn.

Many scholars have come to the city for the exam. Meng Ming becomes friendly with many talented individuals staying at the same inn, some of whom will become the pillars of the country. Meng Ming, appreciating talent and thinking of his future career, makes an effort to build connections with them.

After two days, Meng Ming writes a letter to the Shen family, having not seen Shen Wan since the night before her escort mission and receiving no news. Now settled in Bianjing, he sends the letter, assuming the Shen family has returned from their mission.

The messenger takes nine days for the round trip from Bianjing to the Shen family and back.

By the time the messenger returns to Bianjing, Meng Ming has passed the metropolitan exams and is preparing for the imperial exams the next day.

Upon seeing the messenger, Meng Ming eagerly asks if his letter was delivered and if there was any reply.

The messenger hesitates, his expression uneasy.

Meng Ming's mood sinks at the sight, asking if there was no reply.

The messenger apologizes, causing Meng Ming to feel a tinge of disappointment.

Meng Ming, understanding that it's not the messenger's fault, is about to console him when the messenger reveals that he couldn't deliver the letter at all.

"Not delivered?" Meng Ming's hand trembles as he pours tea, urgently asking for an explanation.

The messenger explains that upon reaching the intended escort agency, he found nobody there.

Meng Ming mentions that it's common for the agency's main family to be out on missions, suggesting the letter could have been left with the servants for safekeeping.

The messenger, anxious, clarifies that not only was the main family out, but the servants were absent too. When he arrived, the agency was locked up.

Meng Ming felt a sinking feeling in his heart, a premonition of unease.

The messenger added, "I found it odd, so I asked the neighbors nearby."

"What did the neighbors say?!" Meng Ming urgently asked, losing his composure.

The messenger replied, "The neighbors said that the Shen family moved away shortly after returning from their last escort mission. They even sold their house!"

Meng Ming felt a tightness in his chest.