201. I know you are not her.

As soon as they arrived at the city gate, the little girl saw a crowd gathered not far away. She pushed open the carriage door and jumped out, immediately spotting Xie Wenling in a scarlet brocade robe, and Gan Fanggui and Lin Lingrong standing opposite him.

"Although His Majesty has pardoned you, the capital is still a place of trouble. You should stay away from here and never appear before His Majesty again to ensure your safety." Xie Wenling's admonishing gaze fell on Gan Fanggui and Lin Lingrong.

Although he persuaded Wei Xiuming, the emperor's heart was ultimately unpredictable.

Just as there is the phenomenon of loving someone because of their possessions, there is also the phenomenon of hating someone because of their possessions.

Because Qu Zijin had repeatedly asked him for help yesterday, and out of a rare bit of kindness, he offered a few words of advice: "If you want to live a peaceful life, leave the capital together today and never set foot in the capital again."

Whether they listen or not, he doesn't care.

Anyway, he tried to persuade him.

Gan Fanggui nodded gently, her eyes showing reluctance but also relief: "Thank you for reminding me, sir. Lingrong and I had planned to leave the capital today, travel around and settle in Jiangnan, and never come back."

Lin Lingrong stood beside her mother, her gaze sweeping across the distance—the Duke of Anguo, wearing heavy shackles, was being escorted by two guards to the roadside.

He was tortured in prison yesterday, his face was tattooed, and now his hair is disheveled and plastered to his face. His former dignity is gone, leaving him only in a sorry state.

Li Yuniang, holding Lin Fuman's hand, stood beside Duke Anguo, her eyes red-rimmed.

The little boy grabbed Jiang Xiyue's hand and stumbled over.

"Big sister! Sister Fufu!" The little dumpling spotted two friends in the crowd at a glance. "Are you leaving? Can you not go?"

Lin Lingrong reached out and touched the little dumpling's sweaty face: "Princess, my mother and I are going to Jiangnan to see the scenery. We'll come back to visit you when we have the chance, okay?"

The little girl burst into tears and threw herself into Lin Lingrong's arms: "But Yue'er can't bear to part with her big sister..."

Jiang Xiyue quickly stepped forward, gently pulled the little dumpling out of Lin Lingrong's arms, and softly comforted her, "Yue'er, be good. Big Sister Lin is going to see even more beautiful scenery, and she will come back later. We can't stop her from doing what she wants to do, right? Besides, Big Sister Lin will have a better life in the future."

She was telling the truth.

Gan Fanggui and Lin Lingrong are now completely free from their constraints and are completely free.

Although the price is that I will have to come to the capital less often in the future, it is really insignificant.

Now, they have money and freedom. The mother and daughter can live together without worries, enjoying their lives in the prosperous and peaceful Jiangnan region. They can make their own decisions about their future.

Lin Lingrong was also reluctant to part with the little dumpling: "Princess, I will miss you too. How about I write you letters in the future?"

The little dumpling sniffled and nodded obediently: "Then...then big sister must write a letter to Yue'er, and big sister must be happy from now on."

"Yes, definitely." Lin Lingrong nodded vigorously.

Xie Wenling glanced at the sky and said to everyone, "It's getting late, we should set off."

Upon hearing this, Gan Fanggui took the prepared bundle from the maid and handed one to Li Yuniang: "There is some silver and dry food in here. Take good care of yourself and Fufu. If you encounter any difficulties, come to Jiangnan to find me."

Li Yuniang took the bundle: "Thank you, sister. Please take care of yourself."

Duke Anguo looked at Li Yuniang, then at Lin Fuman, and spoke in a hoarse voice: "You... all go, don't worry about me."

He looked at them, his eyes filled with guilt: "I'm sorry, I've made you suffer because of me."

Li Yuniang shook her head: "I'll go to the place of exile with you, so that someone can take care of you."

"No!" Duke Anguo was taken aback, then became anxious. "The place of exile is so harsh, how can a weak woman like you endure it? You take Fufu to Jiangnan, travel and enjoy the scenery with them, live a good life, and don't worry about me!"

"No!" Li Yuniang's attitude was unusually firm. "You said that I am your wife, and I will follow you wherever you go."

Lin Fuman also took Li Yuniang's hand, wiping away her tears, and said, "Auntie, I'm going with you too! I want to take care of you and Father!"

Duke Anguo looked at Lin Fuman, his heart aching even more: "You mustn't go! The road to exile is so far, you'll only be throwing your life away if you go! Listen to me, go to Jiangnan with your mother and grow up well!"

"No!" Lin Fuman was unusually stubborn, holding Li Yuniang's hand tightly. "I want to go with you! Even if it's hard, I want to be with my family!"

“You shouldn’t have come with us. You’re only five years old. The journey to exile is a thousand miles long and so arduous. You’ll die on the way,” Li Yuniang added.

“I’m not afraid of hardship, I can endure hardship, I’m only afraid of being all alone.” Lin Fuman insisted.

Looking at Lin Fuman's stubborn appearance, Li Yuniang closed her eyes and finally couldn't hold back her tears.

She knelt down and gently hugged Lin Fuman, her voice trembling: "Good child, don't be silly. Actually... actually your father and I already know that you are not Fufu."

Lin Fuman froze instantly, her eyes widening in disbelief as she stared at Li Yuniang: "Auntie...you...what did you say?"

“We knew all along,” Li Yuniang gently stroked Lin Fuman’s hair, her voice tender. “When you first came back, although you looked the same, many of your habits had changed. At first, we only suspected it, but later we were certain.”

Duke Anguo knelt on one knee with difficulty, his gaze towards her as loving as ever: "You are a good child, you shouldn't suffer with us. Go and tell your sister the truth, she will be willing to take you away."

But Lin Fuman was no longer listening.

She was first shocked, then confused and desperate.

She stood there, frozen in place.

She knew her acting was terrible, and she knew that her parents would eventually see through her.

But she never expected things to be even worse than she imagined...

Whether in her past life or this one, she seems destined to have nothing and be all alone.

Lin Lingrong had actually been watching her the whole time, and she heard what the three of them were saying.

Her suspicions were confirmed, which made her very sad.

She believed that she had harmed her aunt and an innocent girl.

Seeing Lin Fu's sorrowful and desperate expression, she felt a tightness in her chest and could hardly breathe: "I'm sorry..."

“No, it’s not your fault…” Lin Fuman gradually came to her senses, shook her head, and walked out.

She didn't know where she was going; she just wanted to leave.

There's no place for her in modern times, and it seems there isn't one here either.

However, Li Yuniang grabbed her hand, pulled her back, and hugged her: "Good child, no matter who you are, you are our daughter, and we all love you."

Lin Fuman stared at her with wide eyes, completely bewildered.

Li Yuniang placed a kiss on her forehead: "So, you can't come with us to the place of exile. You must live well and live your own life."

Lin Fuman's tears instantly burst forth. She threw herself into Li Yuniang's arms and cried out, "Auntie... I... I..."

Li Yuniang gently patted her back, her own tears streaming down her face.

Duke Anguo stood aside, watching Lin Fuman weep uncontrollably, and also shed tears: "This child... if we leave, how will she live alone?"

Li Yuniang looked at them, then at her surroundings, and was at a loss for what to do.

They didn't have any close relatives or friends in the capital, and now that the Duke of Anguo has fallen from power, no one dares to take Lin Fuman in.

She held Lin Fuman tightly, her heart filled with reluctance and worry, unsure of who to entrust the child to.

It seems... we can only entrust it to Lin Lingrong and her daughter Gan Fanggui.

Seeing Li Yuniang's troubled expression, the little girl tugged at Jiang Xiyue's sleeve and whispered, "Mother, shall we take Sister Fufu home? Yue'er wants to play with her, and Yue'er will take good care of her."

Jiang Xiyue patted the little dumpling's head, feeling a little reluctant, but still looked at Marquis Beiding, waiting for him to make a decision.

Before Marquis Beiding could speak, Xie Wenling shook his head first, his tone firm: "No. With the fall of Duke Anguo, if we take in his daughter, it will inevitably attract criticism, and His Majesty might even misunderstand that we are connected with the remnants of Duke Anguo's faction, which will bring trouble."