"… Fourth Sister, it's my Fourth Sister."
Yu Shu was speechless. Looking at Xia Mingming's pale face, she remembered that she had occasionally mentioned "Fourth Sister". It seemed that their relationship wasn't very good.
"Don't panic. Tell me, what did you dream about?"
Xia Mingming gripped the quilt tightly and cried, "Blood. I dreamed that my Fourth Sister was killed. It was a rainy night. Someone sneaked into her room from the window and killed her. What should I do? My Fourth Sister … My Fourth Sister will die … "
Yu Shu's eyelids twitched. She comforted her, "Don't cry. Are you sure it's a dream? What if it's just a dream?"
Xia Mingming hugged her head and said incoherently, "I don't know. I don't know. I just dreamed that something bad happened to her."
Yu Shu thought that it was better to be safe than sorry. She hesitated and said, "Do you want to write a letter home as soon as possible? Can you make it in time?"
"Write … write a letter home?" Xia Mingming looked at Yu Shu with tears in her eyes.
"That's right," Yu Shu thought that she was dizzy from fright, so she pressed her shoulder and said, "You're just dreaming. You're not dead yet, right? If you had informed your family earlier, you might have been able to escape."
Although she said that, she felt worried. She didn't know where Xia Mingming's home was. It would take at least half a month to send a letter from the capital. If she was supposed to die, she would have died a long time ago.
Xia Mingming heard Yu Shu's words and suddenly stopped crying. She grabbed Yu Shu's hand and said, "Yes, yes. I have to inform her. I have to let her avoid it."
Yu Shu saw that she was emotional and didn't dare to remind her that she might not make it in time. She comforted her, "Okay. I will accompany you to the post office tomorrow morning to write the letter. We will pick a fast horse to deliver it."
"No, you don't have to write." Xia Mingming shook her head. She sniffed anxiously and said, "I will go find her at dawn. She is in the capital."
"Ah?" Yu Shu was surprised. "Your Fourth Sister is in the capital?"
She thought that Xia Mingming had no relatives in the capital. It turned out that her sister was here.
Xia Mingming wiped her tears and couldn't hide it from Yu Shu anymore. "Yes, she is studying Yi in the Taishi Library."
Yu Shu was shocked again. Studying Yi in the Taishi Library? Xia Mingming's fourth sister was not simple. She had a big change every three years, and this year's didn't count. Didn't her fourth sister pass the Great Yan Examination three years ago?
Tsk, tsk. She had thought that Ji Xingxuan from the Ji Family was already strange enough. She hadn't expected that there would be more than one such amazing young lady.
Xia Mingming calmed down a lot at this time. He vaguely guessed what she was thinking. He smiled bitterly and said, "My fourth sister is only two years older than me, but she is much smarter and more capable than me. Three years ago, she passed the Great Yan Examination. The elders in the family all like her very much. Back then, it was easy to send her to the capital to study, but my mother was very reluctant. If something really happened to her, my mother … "
Xia Mingming nodded. Yu Shu saw that her face was still dark.
She suppressed her doubts and said, "You are from the same mother, right?" Xia Mingming nodded. Yu Shu saw that her face was still dark. Tomorrow morning, go to the Taishi Library to find her. You two sisters can discuss how to guard against it. "
Xia Mingming was flustered. "Are you not coming with me?"
At this time, Yu Shu was like a life-saving straw for Xia Mingming. If anything happened, she would be the first person Xia Mingming would think of.
Yu Shu said, "I don't know Yu Yu. What can I do? You have a big business. She will leave the capital alone. She will have a guard. I can't help. It's inconvenient. You can go by yourself. "
To put it bluntly, the life and death of the Xia Jiang family's fourth daughter had nothing to do with her. She was friends with Xia Mingming, but it didn't mean that she had to care about a stranger's life.
Back then, when she forcefully saved Zhao Hui's life, Daoist Qing Zheng had once warned her that life and death were up to the will of the heavens. She shouldn't force anything, and an eye for an eye. Changing someone's lifespan would incur the wrath of the heavens. It was fine if it was for her own people. But it was not worth it for a stranger.
If the fourth young mistress of the Xia Jiang Clan really wanted to die, no one could stop her.
Of course, she couldn't say this to Xia Mingming. No matter what, they were sisters. If she heard what she said, she would definitely fall out with her.
"But I'm alone … I'm alone …" Xia Mingming's eyes were red as she stammered. She had snuck out from home. If she really went to find Fourth Sister, she didn't know how Fourth Sister would mock her.
"Ashu, can you accompany me? You don't have to see Yu Yu. Just wait for me." Xia Mingming held Yu Shu's hand. She begged, "Okay?"
Yu Shu thought about it and said, "I'll send you to Taishi Library tomorrow."
"Okay." Xia Mingming nodded quickly. She was afraid that Yu Shu would change her mind.
"Go to sleep. Don't worry. Maybe you're dreaming." Yu Shu pushed Xia Mingming back to bed. She touched the cold sweat on her forehead. "I'll wake you up tomorrow morning. Go to sleep."
Xia Mingming grabbed Yu Shu's hand and didn't let go. "I, I'm a little scared. Ashu, can you sleep with me?"
Jing Chen was just outside. If she really wanted her to sleep with Xia Mingming, he might say something shocking again. Yu Shu took this into consideration and did not agree. She patted her and said, "What's there to be afraid of? Didn't I hear you call out to me? Don't worry and sleep. I'll be right here. I'll leave after you fall asleep."
Yu Shu waved at Yu Xiaoxiu, who was standing at the door. Yu Xiaoxiu saw that there was nothing else, so he scratched his head and left. After coaxing Xia Mingming to sleep, Yu Shu was so sleepy that her eyelids were fighting. She quietly left Xia Mingming's room and closed the door. She turned around and saw Jing Chen still standing at the door of the west room. He didn't seem to have moved. She was stunned and whispered, "Why aren't you asleep?"
Jing Chen pointed at Xia Mingming's room and gestured with his hand, "Are you alright?"
"It's just a nightmare. Don't worry. Go and sleep." Yu Shu pushed Jing Chen's shoulder and asked him to go into the room. The autumn night was already very cold. Jing Chen's body had just gotten better. If he caught a cold again, he would have to stay in bed for two more days.
Jing Chen wanted to say something but stopped. Seeing Yu Shu's sleepy expression, he swallowed his words and obediently returned to the room. He closed the door and stood behind the door, listening to Yu Shu's footsteps. When she heard the sound of the door, she walked back to the bed and lay down with her clothes on.
She closed her eyes. His mind was filled with the dream just now. He was in a vast fog, holding a long silver sword in his hand, practicing the set of swordsmanship that he remembered a few days ago. Not far away, there were a few blurry figures who seemed to be guiding him. They were wearing white robes with black patterns embroidered on the hem. Some had white beards, and some held horsetail whisks. Some sat on the ground, and some stood with their hands behind their backs.
Before he could see their faces clearly, he was awakened by the cries in the courtyard. He could feel it. Those people in white robes were very important to him. But how could he not remember who they were?
***
Yu Shu had long heard of the name of Taishi Library. This time, she sent Xia Mingming to the north of the city and had a chance to see it. Previously, she had guessed what kind of spiritual treasure land could gather talents from all over the world. Even if it was not built magnificently, it should be beautiful with carved beams and painted rafters. However, when she really arrived at the door, she felt like she had been deceived.
"Is this Taishi Library?"
She got off the carriage with Xia Mingming. After standing on the street for a moment, Yu Shu pointed to the opposite side of the street with a strange expression. There was a row of white walls less than ten feet high, with old blue tiles hanging from them. There were two small yellow wooden doors. There were three steps in front of the door, which were flat on the road. There was a horizontal plaque at the top of the door. The shape was neither square nor round, and it was hard to tell whether it was red or purple. There were only two flat words written on it — Taishi.
Such a shabby facade was Taishi Library? Could it be that the coachman was lazy and took them to the back door?
"This is it." Xia Mingming could understand Yu Shu's current mood. Two years ago, when she returned to the capital for the first time, she saw that Taishi Library was not as grand as their back door. She also suspected that she had come to the wrong place. However, when she really walked around, she realized that it was worthy of its reputation.
However, she was worried about Fourth Sister and was not in the mood to explain these to Yu Shu.
"There are guards at the door, and no one is allowed to enter. I have to ask the guards to help me find Fourth Sister." Xia Mingming asked Yu Shu, "Are you waiting for me here?"
Yu Shu looked around and pointed to a teahouse that had just opened. "I will wait for you inside. Come find me when you are done."
"Okay." It was sultry today, and Xia Mingming was embarrassed to ask Yu Shu and to wait at the door with her.
Yu Shu entered the teahouse and saw that there were no customers on the first floor. She went directly to the second floor and found a shady spot by the railing. She could see clearly what was going on in front of Taishi Library. However, when she wanted to look into Taishi Library, she could only see green flowers and grass, blocking her view. She could not see any scenery.
When Xia Mingming stood in front of the two small yellow doors, a guard came out. Yu Shu could only see half of the figure and could not hear anything.
Yu Shu asked for a pot of the cheapest cloud pieces and took out a stack of papers that she carried with her. It was the paragraph that she copied at Xianghe Yi House yesterday. It was a book that recorded the disasters that happened in various places in various years since the founding of the Da An Kingdom more than three hundred years ago. There were also some annotations on the analysis of Yi, such as astrology, lunar eclipse, Qimen calculation, etc. She found the fifth volume, and she did not know how many more volumes there were.
Yu Shu studied the manuscript in her hand and drank tea. She unconsciously forgot about Xia Mingming. When she remembered and looked back, she found that Xia Mingming was not in front of Taishi Library.
"Eh?" Yu Shu put down the teacup and stood up. She held the railing and looked down the street. She still did not see Xia Mingming. When she was worried and was about to pack up and go downstairs to look for him, she heard the voice of the waiter on the second floor. "Two guests, this way please. Be careful of the stairs."
Yu Shu turned her head and saw two people coming up the stairs. The young woman walking in front was wearing a light yellow gauze dress. She held a round fan in her hand in front of her chest. This dress was the same as the two young ladies she saw in front of Xianghe Yi House yesterday. Because she did not cover her face, this woman had a peach and plum face, and her eyebrows were proud. Yu Shu felt that this person was familiar and saw Xia Mingming behind her.
This must be the fourth daughter of Xia Jiang's family. No wonder she looked familiar. She could see that Xia Mingming and she were 50% similar. The difference was that the former was more delicate, while the latter was more arrogant. They were both beautiful.
Xia Mingming also saw Yu Shu and shook his head at her gently. Yu Shu understood and sat back down. She raised her cup with one hand and pretended to drink tea. She glanced at them from the corner of her eyes as they walked to an elegant room separated by a screen and sat down.
Seeing that the waiter had retreated downstairs, he picked up the teapot and teacups from the table, moved to a place near the screen, and sat down again. Just as he perked up his ears, he heard a voice on the other end, "You're saying, you dreamt that I died?"
When Yu Shu heard the voice of Xia Mingming, the fourth sister, she did not feel the slightest worry and fear that she should have. Instead, there was a sense of arrogance.
"… Yes."
If she did not know that the person sitting behind the screen was Xia Mingming, Yu Shu would have thought that the timid voice belonged to someone else.
The other end of the screen quieted down. Yu Shu could not see their expressions. She waited to hear the fourth daughter of Xia Jiang's reaction. Who knew that she would get a sneer. "Heh, do you think I will believe your nonsense?"
"Fourth Sister, it's true this time. I didn't lie to you. I really dreamed it."
"You didn't lie to me? Then who was the one who lied and told Father that he dreamt that he was kidnapped and killed on the road, almost causing him to miss the Great Yan Examination three years ago and replacing Second Sister to seek the Dao at Mount Longhu, staying in the deep mountains and forests for the rest of his life? Wasn't it you? Huh? "
Yu Shu raised her eyebrows. Why did this fourth daughter of Xia Jiang sound like she had done something wicked to her?
"… I, I really didn't do it on purpose. I didn't know at that time. I just wanted to …"
"You don't have to explain. I don't want to hear it. I will write a letter home and ask someone to pick you up as soon as possible. The capital is not a place you should stay. I don't care how you came to the capital or where you have been staying these days. Now, stay here obediently and wait for someone to pick you up. Don't think about running around. "
"Fourth Sister! Can you believe me? I swear I didn't lie to you this time. I dreamt that someone jumped into your room from the window at night and took you … "
"Xia Jiangmin!"
Yu Shu was startled when she heard the sudden rebuke from the other end of the screen. She rubbed her left ear and listened with her right ear. "I'm in the Taishi Library. Although I'm proficient in astrology, there are many classmates who are proficient in physiognomy. How can I not know if there's a disaster? If you continue to exaggerate, be careful that I won't be polite to you!"
When Yu Shu heard the sound of the table and chair moving, she quickly picked up the teapot and teacup before anyone came out. Just as she sat back down, she saw the fourth daughter of Xia Jiang walk out with a sullen face. Seeing her go down the stairs, Yu Shu got up and walked to the partition screen.
Xia Mingming was sitting there in a daze, looking as if she had suffered a great blow. Yu Shu felt pity for her and coughed twice. "That was your fourth sister, right? How is it? Have you discussed it?"
Xia Mingming slowly raised her head and said bitterly, "She, she doesn't believe me."
Yu Shu sighed and sat down on the chair beside her. "Actually, I heard everything from outside just now. What's going on between you two? Have you lied to her before?"
Xia Mingming lowered her head and said nothing.
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