松鼠症仓库

“Why don’t you remember?”

Though he wasn’t Liu Shimei’s own brother, the original host and her brother had a deep bond.

Especially when they lost their mother, Liu Quan was only 11 years old at the time. Boys of that age are usually mischievous, but this brother of Liu Shimei was exceptionally caring.

He was afraid that his young sister would not be able to cope with losing their mother. So, despite Liu Fuyun’s punishments and without regard for social norms, he stayed in the side room of the Lotus Courtyard for a whole month, accompanying her.

Liu Shimei easily unearthed these memories from the original host’s recollections: the sibling bond was profound.

The original host was not always the cold and distant highborn lady from childhood. She lost her mother at 6 and, after losing her beloved brother at 11, she lost the sibling bond in the Grand Chancellor’s Residence. This was what made her become silent and reticent.

Unable to suppress her sadness, she threw herself into reading the classics and pushed all her emotions outside the world of scholars.

Rather than saying that the original host was indifferent to people, it would be more accurate to say that she rejected interaction with the outside world. Whatever Liu Fuyun asked her to do, she did. It wasn’t that she couldn’t distinguish or understand many things; she simply could not be bothered.

In other words, she was just going through the motions.

Unfortunately, after their mother’s death, Liu Fuyun did not allow them to interact much with the maternal family. So, the original host never knew until her death that there were many people who loved her.

“Liu Shimei, now that you’ve grown wings, you don’t even respond to your father’s words. You’re daydreaming in front of me. Are you disregarding your father?”

Liu Fuyun’s stern words brought Liu Shimei back to her memories. She suppressed the sorrow that belonged to the original owner and raised her head. “Of course, I remember. Whether it’s Mother or Brother, their birthdays and death anniversaries are surely etched in my memory more firmly than yours, Father!”

With that, showing no interest in exchanging words with Liu Fuyun, she turned and walked toward Leihua Courtyard.

Liu Fuyun was choked by her response. He wanted to get angry but realized that this daughter was no longer within his grasp. She was like a cactus now, full of thorns that he could not pluck out, no matter how hard he tried. So, he could only give up begrudgingly.

Back in Leihua Courtyard, Mo’er had prepared dinner for her. “Eldest Young Miss, you’ve been gone the whole day. I was worried the kitchen might run out of food, so I prepared something hot in the small kitchen.”

“Mo’er, you’re truly wonderful!” Liu Shimei smiled at her and, seeing her holding Little Mute, asked, “It seems like Little Mute’s fur has grown better?”

“It has improved a bit, but with summer here, this little thing is shedding fur like crazy!” Mo’er had a disgusted expression.

She might be disgusted, but she hadn’t thrown him away. Although he was a pet gifted by Huangfu Lingyao, Liu Shimei did not have much time to take care of him. Mo Er mostly looked after him.

Lao Li piped in, “Isn’t shedding fur normal? You won’t be wearing a cotton robe in the summer, will you?”

Mo’er pouted.

Since Fusheng Pavilion was currently busy, Lian Qiao was temporarily assigned to help there, leaving only Nanny Li and Mo’er in the courtyard. The heavy work was mostly done by Lu Ying.

Seeing that Liu Shimei had almost finished eating, Nanny Li tentatively asked, “Eldest Young Miss, the day after tomorrow is Young Master’s death anniversary… I’ve prepared the incense and offerings. Shall we pay our respects in the ancestral hall or go to the grave?”

Liu Shimei paused and replied, “There are too many unrelated people in the ancestral hall. Let’s go to the grave.”

“Very well,” Nanny Li acknowledged.

The next day, Liu Shimei, along with Shu Jun and Huangfu Lingyao, settled the supply of medicinal herbs. Upon returning in the evening, they found that everything needed for the grave-sweeping had been prepared.

Feeling a sudden impulse, Liu Shimei went to Jiuyun Courtyard, where Liu Quan used to live.

After inspecting the area for a while, she picked up something and asked, “Nanny Li, was this book originally here?”