Of course, what Lin Nancheng didn’t know was that, for Lan Luoyun, who possessed a magical space, exile wasn’t really a problem at all.
She could simply treat it as a combination of sightseeing and a life experience.
The collateral branches of the Lin family and the members of the main household were shackled together with iron chains.
Under the pushing and shouting of a group of soldiers, they were paraded through the streets for public humiliation.
The streets were packed with townspeople.
Having heard that Lin Yixiao had colluded with foreign enemies and betrayed the country, many were filled with anger.
People continuously hurled objects at the prisoners while cursing Lin Yixiao, as if doing so could ease their resentment.
Worried that Dabao and Erbao might be frightened, Lan Luoyun quickly covered them with her outer robe.
At that moment, some members of the collateral branch began cursing Lin Yixiao as well.
These were the same opportunists who had flocked to flatter him when he became Prime Minister.
Now that he had fallen from power, they turned against him without hesitation.
Truly a pack of fair-weather friends.
Among those being paraded through the streets was the Imperial Preceptor as well.
Rumor had it that he had been sentenced to death.
Grand Tutor Xue’s influence was certainly formidable.
After completing a circuit around Chang’an Street, the prisoners were finally escorted toward the city gates.
Outside the gates stood their relatives, gathered to bid them farewell.
This was the last chance for family members to provide money, food, and supplies for the journey.
As the procession arrived, many relatives of the Lin family’s womenfolk were already waiting along both sides of the road.
For many prisoners, this would be the last time they ever saw their loved ones.
It was also their final opportunity to obtain provisions.
Many anxiously searched the crowd.
Without food or travel funds, surviving the journey to Gannan would be extremely difficult.
The soldiers temporarily removed everyone’s restraints and allowed them to meet with their families.
After all, no one was foolish enough to attempt escape now.
“Luoyun! Luoyun! Over here!”
No sooner had Lan Luoyun stepped forward than she heard someone calling her name.
It was her younger half-sister, Lan Luoyu.
Lan Luoyun was the eldest daughter of the family.
Lan Luoyu was the second.
Seeing her sister arrive, Lan Luoyun asked Lin Nancheng to take Dabao and Erbao aside for a while.
When Lin Nancheng saw that the visitor was Luoyun’s younger sister rather than a servant, he immediately understood that his father-in-law had refused to write the severance letter.
Noticing his unease, Lan Luoyun reassured him.
“Nancheng, don’t worry.”
“The Lan family will be fine.”
Only then did Lin Nancheng relax and lead the children away.
Crying as she ran, Lan Luoyu threw herself into Lan Luoyun’s arms.
A carriage stood nearby.
To Lan Luoyun’s surprise, their grandmother emerged from it as well.
The moment the sisters met, Lan Luoyu burst into tears.
Instead of being comforted, Lan Luoyun found herself comforting her younger sister.
She repeatedly assured her that she would survive the journey and make it safely to Gannan.
Supported by a maid, their grandmother slowly approached.
Her face looked pale and exhausted.
Holding back tears, she wrapped Lan Luoyun in a tight embrace and gently patted her back.
Lan Luoyun had never expected her elderly grandmother to personally come and see her off.
“Grandmother, how have you been lately?”
She didn’t want the old woman worrying about her.
“Yun’er, don’t worry about me at a time like this.”
“I’m doing fine.”
Grandmother squeezed her hand tightly.
Countless words filled her heart, but none could be spoken.
She had never imagined her beloved granddaughter would suffer such a calamity.
“Grandmother, how are Father and Mother?”
“They’re both well. They’re both well.”
Although Lan Luoyun had never met the original owner’s parents, she now occupied her body.
To her, they were family.
In her previous life, her parents had died in a car accident.
She had grown up in an orphanage and never truly experienced familial warmth.
But in this life, the original owner’s family had given her something she had never known before.
A sense of belonging.
A sense of love.
Lan Luoyu quickly explained,
“Father and Mother are both healthy.”
“The confiscation happened so suddenly.”
“They had gone back to our hometown to visit relatives and haven’t returned yet.”
Seeing their grandmother too emotional to speak, Lan Luoyu hurriedly filled in the details.
“Then please give Father and Mother my regards.”
“Tell them I’m doing well.”
Just as they finished talking, Lin Nancheng approached.
“Grandmother.”
He greeted her respectfully.
Seeing how much thinner her grandson-in-law had become, Grandmother’s heart ached.
“Great-Grandmother!”
Dabao and Erbao ran forward and hugged her.
She pulled the children into her arms, her hands trembling.
The two little ones were still so young.
Yet they were already suffering such hardship.
Who knew what kind of future awaited them?
While Grandmother doted on her great-grandchildren, Lan Luoyun and Lan Luoyu continued their private conversation.
Since Lan Luoyun’s marriage, opportunities for the sisters to meet had become increasingly rare.
And after today, they might never see each other again.
There seemed to be endless things left unsaid.
Eventually, Lan Luoyu instructed a maid to retrieve two bundles from the carriage.
One contained food.
The other contained several strings of copper coins along with pieces of silver.
A servant also brought over two carrying baskets.
Grandmother had specifically prepared them so Dabao and Erbao could ride in them when they grew tired.
When no one was paying attention, Lan Luoyu secretly slipped several banknotes into Lan Luoyun’s clothing.
Then she whispered,
“Sister, don’t use these unless absolutely necessary.”
“When the copper coins are nearly gone, find a chance to exchange the banknotes.”
In Lan Luoyu’s mind, her elder sister had always been someone who was easily bullied.
Now that she was being exiled, she worried whether Lan Luoyun could truly take care of herself.
She couldn’t help glancing at Lin Nancheng.
Hopefully the couple could weather this disaster together.
Nearby, the family of Concubine Chu had also come to say goodbye.
Concubine Chu came from a wealthy household.
Originally, she and Lin Yixiao had been considered a perfect match.
Unfortunately, Madam Su had intervened.
The Chu family had wanted their daughter to marry someone else.
But Concubine Chu had stubbornly insisted on marrying Lin Yixiao.
Now her family had prepared a generous amount of supplies for her.
There were banknotes, food, and an entire basket packed full of provisions.
Watching from the side, Madam Su’s eyes practically turned green with envy.
The families of the Second Branch and Third Branch wives had also come.
Each brought considerable supplies and money.
Only Third Concubine and Lin Nanxuan remained without visitors.
No one from their family had arrived.
Third Concubine couldn’t help feeling disappointed.
Seeing this, Lan Luoyun comforted her.
“Auntie, don’t be sad.”
“Perhaps your family simply hasn’t heard the news yet.”
The downfall of the Lin family had come far too suddenly.
And Third Concubine’s relatives lived outside the city.
The news may not even have reached them.
At that moment, Madam Su appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
With a smug expression, she began mocking Third Concubine.
“Oh?”
“Where are your relatives?”
“Why hasn’t anyone come to bring you supplies?”
Judging by the self-satisfied look on her face, one would never guess that she herself was being sent into exile as well.
The sight of Madam Su’s expression made Lan Luoyun feel sick.
Clearly, unless someone taught her a lesson, she wasn’t going to stop causing trouble.
Lan Luoyun’s eyes suddenly lit up.
A plan had just occurred to her.