Chapter 1115 My Stepbrother is Really Gone

As soon as Lin Yuesha returned to her residence, Madam Xu from next door heard the commotion and, accompanied by Wuya, went through the small gate between the two residences to inquire.

"Auntie, I was so busy reuniting with my family that I hurriedly got into the carriage on my way back and forgot about my cousin at the dock."

Lin Yuesha was a little embarrassed. She had been separated from her parents for several years and now had a younger brother. The joy of their reunion filled her heart, and she was so excited that her mind went blank.

"It's alright."

Madam Xu waved her hand, not caring at all. Anyway, Xu Da had legs and could walk back on his own. Besides, she had sent a carriage from the Xu family to the dock to pick him up.

"Yue Sha, I'm glad you've returned to the capital safely."

The two families lived too close together, so Madam Xu came over to take a look so as not to disturb Lin Yuesha and her family's reunion. Just as she was about to leave, Madam Chen stopped her and said, "You've come at the right time. You're not allowed to leave now that you're here. We're having a feast at home today, so it'll be lively with lots of people."

"Yes, Auntie, it's been a long time since you've had my cooking. I'll cook today."

Lin Yuesha brought a fresh black carp from the dock and made a pot of boiled fish. She remembered that Madam Xu and Wuya both liked it very much.

"Sister Yue Sha, I can't accept this."

Uya tugged at her mother-in-law, Madam Xu's sleeve, feeling slightly uneasy. She knew very well that everything had changed since Lin Yuesha came to the capital.

The two might still be able to maintain their original relationship, but there is a distinction between ruler and subject, and Uya must show some respect.

When Lin Yuesha and Qi Heng got married, Wuya had to kneel down and kowtow every time she saw Lin Yuesha.

In her heart, Wuya adapted well to Lin Yuesha becoming empress and never felt unbalanced.

"Sister-in-law, it's been a while since we last met. You've been treating me coldly. How ungrateful of you!"

Lin Yuesha feigned sadness and said, "You and your cousin ate a lot of my cooking back in the fishing village, have you already forgotten?"

The Great Qi Dynasty had strict etiquette, and some formalities were unavoidable. Lin Yuesha believed that these were just for show, and that she cherished her relationship with her relatives and friends and did not want them to become estranged because of them.

"I haven't forgotten, I haven't forgotten. I figured you'd be on the ship for a few days and needed to rest."

Uya wanted to offer to cook, but she swallowed the words back. Her cooking skills were no good; they were not even as good as her mother-in-law's, and they were worlds apart from Lin Yuesha's.

"I heard that Aunt Xu has some fat rabbits at home, which would be perfect for making cold-served rabbit."

Lin Yuesha set her sights on the rabbits in the Xu family mansion and prepared to make her move.

"Don't eat the rabbit!"

Unexpectedly, the first to object was Lin Yuesha's younger brother, Little Baozi, who puffed out his cheeks and said.

Tell your sister, why can't we eat rabbits?

Lin Yuesha squatted down, patted the little bun's head, and asked patiently.

"Because bunnies are cute."

On weekdays, Xiao Baozi often goes to play at the Xu family's house next door, and occasionally brings vegetable leaves to feed the rabbits.

The little bun couldn't bear to kill and eat the soft, cute rabbit.

"How about we eat chicken?"

Lin Yuesha asked again.

"good."

The little boy clapped his hands; he liked to eat chicken.

"Do you like to eat chicken because chickens aren't cute?"

Lin Yuesha teased the little boy, not wanting her younger brother to be too precocious, as that would inevitably lead to a more tiring life than others. Children should be free to run around all day, happy and safe.

"I raised the rabbit myself, so I can't eat it, but I didn't raise the chicken."

The little boy clearly explained the reason, and then solemnly opened his arms, saying that he wanted to protect the rabbit.

The people around laughed good-naturedly and stopped mentioning eating the rabbit.

After having a family reunion dinner in the afternoon, it was soon time to put down the lamps.

Several years after Lin Yuesha left the manor, her bedroom remained unchanged, with no alterations whatsoever. The servants of the manor would come to clean and sweep it every day.

After washing up, Lin Yuesha strolled around the mansion and unconsciously walked to her stepbrother's courtyard.

Pushing open the door, Lin Yuesha was immediately familiar with every blade of grass and every tree.

Inside the study, the bookshelves were filled with books, and it was unclear how long it had been since anyone had been there; a thin layer of dust covered the tabletop.

There was a well in the courtyard. Lin Yuesha drew a bucket of water and used a rag to wipe the table.

Seeing this, Qingxing sighed and hurriedly said, "How can a servant sit idly by and watch Miss work? That would be an act of arrogance on the part of the servant."

"No need, there's nothing else to do anyway."

Bai Cha is getting married, so Longjing and Qi'er went to help at the courtyard Qi Lu bought, leaving Qingxing alone by Lin Yuesha's side.

"Miss, the courtyard is cleaned by servants. Please rest."

It was already time to light the lamps, but the oil lamps in the room had run out of oil.

Qingxing stood there for a while before her eyes adjusted to the dim light in the room.

"No need, let me clean up first, just in case my older brother comes home tonight."

Lin Yuesha shook her head and persisted in wiping away the dust with water again and again.

In fact, she had already sensed from her parents' unnatural expressions that her stepbrother was really gone.

Who would disappear for years without a trace? Xiao Qi isn't that kind of person; at least he would send someone back with a letter to let them know he's safe.

Lin Yuesha deliberately went along with her parents, not wanting to reopen old wounds in their hearts today.

Fortunately, her parents have a younger brother, so when she gets married in the future, her younger brother will always be by her side.

Lin Yuesha sighed. She thought she would see her stepbrother's memorial tablet when she entered the courtyard, but unfortunately she didn't.

It's unfair that a living person is never mentioned because of their passing. Even if the younger brother is just a child, he should know about it.

My parents never mentioned my stepbrother, and my younger brother didn't even know he had such an older brother.

Lin Yuesha smiled bitterly. She was dissatisfied with her parents' actions and felt that Xiao Qi was not worth it.

Lin Yuesha struggled with herself, scrubbing and washing again and again.

It was already dark outside the window. The thick dust on the Korean paper made it almost impossible for the light from the lanterns hanging in the courtyard to penetrate, so the study was pitch black.

The oil lamp in the room was almost empty; Qingxing had gone to add more oil and should be back soon.

"Qingxing, quickly light the oil lamp."

Hearing footsteps at the door, Lin Yuesha wiped the water droplets from her hands with a handkerchief and gave the order.

"It's me."

Qi Heng stopped and stood behind Lin Yuesha. He opened his arms and hugged Lin Yuesha tightly from behind.

The two had not been apart for long, but Qi Heng could not sleep well every day, feeling that his heart was empty and missing a piece.

The moment he saw Lin Yuesha, it was as if the flesh of his heart had miraculously returned, making him feel very at ease and comfortable.

Why are you here?

Lin Yuesha turned her head and hugged Qi Heng's waist as well. She rubbed against Qi Heng's chest like a kitten that needed to be stroked.

"Of course I'll come to see you."

Standing in the courtyard where he once lived, Qi Heng felt very uncomfortable being reminded of the absurd lies he had told him.

He went to the outskirts of Beijing to deal with the remnants of the Wei family, and after finishing his business, he came to see Lin Yuesha without stopping.

The two embraced, and Qi Heng closed his eyes, wanting to merge Lin Yuesha into his body and never be separated again.

"Husband, are you hiding this from me like my parents did?"

Lin Yuesha said quietly, "Over the years, I have made many guesses and overturned them time and time again."