After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Chapter 500 Expelled from the Capital
That man is completely unreliable! She can only rely on her family and herself!

At this moment, Zhao Wanyi finally understood.

The master and servant carried their belongings all the way to the house where Consort Li and her daughter were staying.

Consort Li and her daughter had just escaped death and were starting to calm down when they heard that Zhao Wanyi had arrived. Consort Li's face turned pale instantly, and she looked at the maid beside her with a weak and helpless expression. "She must be begging me for help. I don't want to see her!"

The maid hurriedly advised, "Consort, don't panic. Zhao is biased towards the commoner Xu and is slandering you and Miss. She is in the wrong. Why do you need to avoid her?"
Although she has been demoted, she still has the Zhao family behind her. We neither try to please them nor offend them; it wouldn't hurt to meet them.

If Lady Zhao makes any unreasonable demands, this servant will certainly inform the Empress Dowager, and she will surely stand up for you.

Consort Li was stunned for a moment, then realized that she was now out of the Second Prince's residence. She immediately breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, "Alright! Let's meet him then!"

Zhao Wanyi and Qiuju entered the hall, led by a maid.

Before Consort Li could speak, Zhao Wanyi bowed and said with a face full of guilt, "Sister, I came here today specifically to visit you and Jing'er and apologize to you."

Consort Li looked at the maid beside her in shock. What was going on?
Before she could react.

Zhao Wanyi then said to herself, "You suffered unfair treatment and abuse in the mansion, and I even smeared you. It was wrong of me. I know I was wrong now, but it's too late. I accept the beating and punishment, as long as you and Jing'er can calm down."

Zhao Wanyi gritted her teeth and knelt down.

Consort Li shuddered, jumping up from her stool in fright. She quickly went over to help Zhao Wanyi up, saying, "Sister, what are you doing? I admit that I truly hated you when you falsely accused us of poisoning."

But the Empress Dowager is discerning. Now, seeing the Second Prince's fate, I understand why my sister did what she did. We accept your apology, but what's done is done, and further words are useless. Jing'er and I will no longer hate you, but forgiveness is truly difficult!

Zhao Wanyi choked up and nodded, "I understand, I understand! Here are some tonics, all of which were part of my dowry. You can take them to nourish yourselves, and I won't bother you any longer."

Zhao Wanyi came quickly and left quickly.

Consort Li stared at her retreating figure, muttering absentmindedly, "How can a person change so much? Do you think she genuinely came to apologize or was it just pretense?"

A maidservant stepped forward to help her back to her seat. "Consort, whether Zhao's apology was sincere or not, at least she showed genuine remorse today. The instigator, the commoner Xu, is nowhere to be seen. In comparison, the difference in their attitudes is obvious!"

Consort Li wholeheartedly agreed. No matter how wicked Zhao Wanyi was, at least she had done the bare minimum and even won her over. But the commoner Xu hadn't even made a statement. It was simply hateful!
When Zhao Wanyi returned home and learned that Shuren Xu still hadn't come back, her heart felt as cold as the weather outside.

After thinking for a moment, she instructed Qiuju, "Pack your luggage. Starting today, we will move to the Buddhist temple. From now on, I will repent before the Buddha every day to atone for my sins!"

Qiuju hesitated and asked, "Master, where is the son-in-law? Aren't we going to abandon him?"

Zhao Wanyi sneered repeatedly, "I can't even protect myself now, how can I care? It's impossible to reason with that damned fool; he was just born with bad luck!"

Qiuju dared not continue speaking and hurriedly went inside to pack her things.

Before leaving, Zhao Wanyi pawned all her major dowry items and exchanged them for silver. As a result, her luggage could be packed in just two boxes.

Because of these dowry items, they delayed their departure by a whole day.

During this time, there was still no sign of Shuren Xu.

Zhao Wanyi's last hope was shattered, and she left with remarkable agility.

three days later.

Shuren Xu only remembered Zhao Wanyi after he had spent all his money. When he and his confidant returned to the residence in the west of the city, they discovered that all of Zhao Wanyi's belongings were gone. Shuren Xu gritted his teeth in anger, "That slut dared to sneak back to her parents' home! Someone! Go and bring Zhao back!"

The trusted aide hurriedly went out.

They returned in less than half an hour.

When Shuren Xu didn't see Zhao Wanyi, his face darkened. "Where is that bitch?"

The confidant shook his head nervously, "I went to the Zhao family to ask for her back as instructed by Master. The gatekeeper of the Zhao family said that Madam had not returned. I did not believe it, and in the end, I alarmed Old Madam Zhao and Master Zhao."

They panicked when they learned that Madam was missing and turned to me demanding to know where she was. I carefully questioned everyone near the Zhao family's house, and indeed, no one had seen Madam return.

Shuren Xu was even more furious. "Where else could she have gone if she didn't return to the Zhao family? And her dowry—it can't all have vanished! Go and find out!"

The confidant quickly withdrew, and this time he was gone for a little longer.

When the confidant finally heard the news, his face turned extremely ugly.

"Master, the lady sold all her dowry, rented a carriage and went to the Buddhist temple, and hasn't left since."

Enraged, Shuren Xu kicked over the table and chairs. "Zhao Wanyi! You really are something! How dare you do so many things behind my back!"

He rushed to the Buddhist temple in a rage and forced Zhao Wanyi to hand over the silver.

Zhao Wanyi looked at him sarcastically, "Has Your Excellency forgotten that those things were all part of my dowry? It is perfectly reasonable for me to dispose of my own dowry."

"Enough nonsense! Hand over the silver!" Shuren Xu's eyes were bloodshot, and he looked as if he wanted to devour Zhao Wanyi.

Zhao Wanyi laughed with satisfaction, "Too late! I've already donated all the money to the Buddhist temple. From now on, I'll live in this temple. If you'd like, you can come with me!"

"You wretch! You deserve to die!" The commoner Xu slapped Zhao Wanyi in anger.

They beat her face until it was swollen.

The abbot of the Buddhist temple rushed over with his men and rescued Zhao Wanyi.

What happened at the Buddhist temple could not be kept secret from the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Empress.

When the Empress Dowager learned that the commoner Xu had made a move at the Buddhist temple and injured Zhao Wanyi, she shook her head in disappointment. "I could find all sorts of excuses to cover up everything before, and I could even understand his desire to compete for the position of crown prince."

Even though he used Jinlan Courtyard to commit heinous acts, I was still willing to give him a chance, but he just wasted my good intentions!

Even Lady Zhao knew to apologize to Consort Li and her daughter, beg for forgiveness, and donate her dowry to a Buddhist temple to atone for her sins. But what about him? After leaving the palace, he frequented brothels and violated the rules for several days. Now that he has no money, he beats his wife. He is utterly despicable!
"Go! Tell the Emperor and Empress about this, and banish the commoner Xu from the capital!"

The Emperor and Empress were both surprised by the Empress Dowager's decision. The Emperor even went to the Empress Dowager's palace to plead for the commoner Xu, but was scolded by the Empress Dowager and had no choice but to issue an edict.

When Grand Tutor Zhao received the news, his last glimmer of hope was shattered.

Those court officials who supported Murong Xu were all in danger and dared not even mention him.

Time flies, and two springs and autumns have passed in the blink of an eye.