202. The Ending of the Duke of Anguo's Mansion

Upon hearing this, the little dumpling pouted and almost cried: "But... Sister Fufu is so pitiful all by herself..."

Upon hearing Xie Wenling's words, Lin Fuman slowly lifted her head from Li Yuniang's embrace and wiped away her tears.

Looking at the worried eyes of Li Yuniang and Duke Anguo, and then at the little dumpling's disappointed look, she took a deep breath, and her eyes gradually hardened.

“Aunt, Father, don’t worry about me,” Lin Fuman’s voice was still a little choked up, but she showed a familiar, optimistic smile. “I can take care of myself.”

Li Yuniang and Duke Anguo were both stunned: "How will you take care of yourself?"

Lin Fuman wiped away her tears and transformed back into the confident and carefree Lin Fuman: "Didn't I learn business from my aunt? She taught me how to read account books and how to select goods. I can find a small city near the capital to live in and start from scratch. I'm sure I can support myself."

As she spoke, she turned to look at the little dumpling and waved to her: "Little Moon, don't worry, I'll be fine. Once I've settled down, I'll send you a letter to tell you what shop I opened and how much money I made, okay?"

Seeing Lin Fuman's determined expression, the little girl chose to believe her and nodded vigorously: "Okay! Yue'er will wait for Sister Fufu's letter!"

Lin Lingrong looked at Lin Fuman: "Aren't you coming with us?"

"No," Lin Fuman said. "After all, I did use her body. You will feel uncomfortable looking at this body, and I will cause you trouble. Don't worry about me, I will live my own life."

But everyone was worried, since she was only five years old.

Jiang Xiyue hesitated for a moment, but still said, "Since we're going to settle in a nearby city, we can look after her. We can't guarantee anything else, but we can make sure she's safe."

Li Yuniang thought about it and realized that this seemed to be the best solution.

This would save Lin Fuman from a long journey and the hardships of travel.

It also respects her own wishes.

Lin Lingrong was silent for a moment, then stepped forward and hugged Lin Fuman: "Sister, you are also my sister. If you encounter any difficulties, come to Jiangnan to find me. No matter when, I will help you."

Lin Fuman smiled at Lin Lingrong and said, "Thank you, sister. If I ever go to Jiangnan, I will definitely come to visit you. We can travel around together then."

Gan Fanggui also took out some silver from her bundle and handed it to Lin Fuman: "Take this silver. You can use it on the road or as capital for opening a shop. Don't deprive yourself. If it's not enough, write to me and Lingrong and we'll send it to you."

Lin Fuman accepted the silver and bowed deeply to Gan Fanggui: "Thank you, Mother. Don't worry, I will use this silver well and will not let you down."

Duke Anguo couldn't stop crying either: "Good child, it's your father who's sorry. You must be more careful and take good care of yourself when you're out in the future."

"I understand, Father," Lin Fu nodded, tears welling up again, but she still tried to smile. "You two take good care of yourselves. If I have the chance, I will come to see you."

Li Yuniang gave Lin Fuman a final hug and whispered in her ear, "Fufu, no matter who you were before, you will always be my daughter."

Lin Fuman paused for a moment, then softly called out to her, "...Mom."

Li Yuniang seemed to understand the meaning of the title and responded softly.

They are parents who have lost their children, and orphans who long for their parents.

The guards escorting them were urging them on again. Li Yuniang and Duke Anguo took one last reluctant look at Lin Fuman, then turned and followed the guards toward the direction of exile.

Lin Fuman stood there, watching their figures gradually disappear into the distance until they were no longer visible. Then she turned around and said to Gan Fanggui and Lin Lingrong, "Mother, sister, I'm leaving too. Until we meet again."

The crowd saw her off, watching her small figure carrying her bundle and walking alone out of the city.

Finally, there are Gan Fanggui and Lin Lingrong.

As they gradually disappeared, the little dumpling stood there, waving her hand vigorously: "Big sister, remember to send a letter to Yue'er!"

Lin Lingrong turned around and waved to the little dumpling: "Okay! You take good care of yourself too!"

Only after their figures disappeared at the end of the street did the little dumpling take Jiang Xiyue's hand and ask the person she was most worried about: "Mommy, Sister Fufu will definitely get better and better, right?"

Jiang Xiyue patted the little dumpling's head: "Yes, she's so brave and capable, she'll definitely get better and better."

Xie Wenling looked in the direction they had gone and seemed to be thinking: "This child may really be able to make a name for himself in the future."

-

After returning home, the little dumpling hid in her room and was sullen all afternoon.

I only ate a couple of bites of rice at dinner before putting down my chopsticks, barely touching even my favorite dishes.

Seeing her daughter's listless appearance, Jiang Xiyue felt both heartache and helplessness. She could only ask the maid to prepare some pastries, thinking that her daughter could eat them when she was in a better mood.

The next morning, the little dumpling woke up with dark circles under its eyes, a round face, a chubby body, and short little hands and feet... it really looked like a panda now.

She sat blankly in front of the dressing table, letting the maid comb her hair.

My favorite sparkly hair accessory from the past no longer brings me the same joy when I wear it today.

Jiang Xiyue walked in and, seeing her daughter's dejected look, comforted her, "Yue'er, how about we go to the Wenhua Hall today and play with the little prince and princess for a while?"

The little dumpling nodded slowly, took Jiang Xiyue's hand, and walked out of the room.

Upon arriving at the Wenhua Hall, the little dumpling saw the young prince and princess standing at the hall entrance, having already heard the news. The two princes immediately ran over to the little dumpling.

"Little Moon! You've finally arrived!" The little princess grabbed the little dumpling's hand.

The young prince said, "Little Moon, don't be sad. Your two friends have just gone to live in other places, it's not like you'll never see them again. When Father's anger subsides, I'll have him send someone to bring her back, and you can play together again."

The little dumpling whispered, "Thank you, but... Sister Fufu said she's going to open her own shop and might not come back."

“That’s alright!” the little princess said with a smile. “We can write her a letter! I’ll ask Father to prepare the best stationery and writing materials for us, and we can write to her together, okay?”

The second brother held a paper package containing roasted chestnuts that his mother had asked him to prepare for his younger sister: "Little sister, try some. Mother specially asked the kitchen to make these this morning, they're still warm."

The second brother handed the oil paper package to the little dumpling, ruffled her hair haphazardly, making her sway from side to side: "Don't be sad. If you miss them, I'll secretly take you to see them, okay?"

The little girl took the roasted chestnuts, then popped one into her mouth from her second brother's peel. The sweet, warm taste dispelled her gloom.

"Thank you, second brother, but Sister Fufu and eldest sister are so far away."

"What are you afraid of? I'm a great hero, taking you on your journey through the world is a piece of cake! We'll set off tomorrow, no, tonight!" the second brother said boldly. "Just the two of us, we'll sneak out of the city tonight!"

"Where are you going?" Qu Zijin appeared behind his second brother like a ghost and asked abruptly.

The second brother jumped, his hair standing on end in fright: "No, no, no, I'm not going... I'm not going anywhere..."

"You're not allowed to do something like running away from home with your younger sister; it's too dangerous."

"I...I...I was just saying..."

"Talking about it won't work; I'm going to call your parents."

"No!"

Qu Zijin snorted and led them into the Wenhua Hall to sit down. Then he beckoned to the little dumpling: "Princess, come and sit down."

The little dumpling walked over and sat down next to Qu Zijin.

“Princess,” Qu Zijin wasn’t very good at comforting people, and although his words were a bit dry, he was trying his best to reassure her, “Although the two older sisters from the Lin family have passed away, you still have many good friends, right?”

"From now on, in the Wenhua Hall, you will have the little prince and princess with you, as well as your second brother and me."

"Once you leave the Wenhua Hall, Young Master Bai will be waiting for you."

"Everyone cares about you. We all care about you."

The young prince stepped forward, took off his jade pendant, and placed it in the little girl's hand: "Little Moon, this jade pendant is for you. Your father said it can protect you. With it, you won't be sad anymore."

The little princess handed her sachet to the little dumpling: "This sachet is filled with calming spices. My mother said that if you put it by your pillow at night, you'll get a good night's sleep."

The second brother handed the little girl a small note with a big smiley face drawn on it and the words, "Little sister is the bravest, don't cry!" written next to it.

The little dumpling looked at the jade pendant, the sachet, and the smiling face on the note in her hand, and felt a warm feeling in her heart, as if it had been soaked in warm water.

She looked up at the little prince, the little princess, and her second brother, then at Qu Zijin, her eyes glistening with tears, but she smiled happily as always: "Thank you all, Yue'er isn't sad."