The Crown Princess's so-called elopement didn't even last a day before she was captured and brought back by the Empress's men.

Even if she hadn't been caught, Wei Wangqing didn't think the Crown Princess could survive outside. Would a pampered Crown Princess of the country know what life is like, or what the mundane realities of daily life are?

Or perhaps she'll be supported by her true love?

Although she was a palace maid, she didn't seem to have suffered any hardship. In Wei Wangqing's view, their so-called elopement was no different from playing house.

Oh, there is a difference. At least children's pretend play makes adults find it interesting and fun, but their actions only leave people with countless troubles and messes.

The next day, the court meeting.

The Grand Tutor's health is no longer a major concern. Besides, he must be present for the Crown Princess's punishment, otherwise, how can he face the trampling that has befallen the Grand Tutor's mansion?

A minister stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, I believe that Her Highness the Crown Princess has violated the fundamental principles of morality and order by abandoning her mother, father, husband, and country for a man. She is unfilial as a daughter, unkind as a mother, and unrighteous as a ruler. Her Highness’s character is no longer worthy of the position of Crown Princess. I implore Your Majesty to depose her.” After speaking, he glanced at the Third Princess.

Several other ministers immediately stepped forward and said, "I second that proposal."

The Empress narrowed her eyes. Although she also had the idea of ​​deposing the Crown Princess, she was still slightly displeased to hear so many ministers belittling her daughter in front of her.

"Grand Tutor, what do you think? The Crown Princess was raised by you." The Empress said, looking at the unmoved Grand Tutor. What a cunning old fox.

The ministers thought to themselves, "Is this going to blame the Grand Tutor? Is the Grand Tutor going to take the blame?" However, some people who were at odds with the Grand Tutor secretly gloated.

“This old minister is guilty. I have failed Your Majesty’s grace and failed to properly educate the Crown Princess. I am deeply ashamed and wish to resign to atone for my sins.”

The crowd erupted in uproar.

The Grand Tutor is indeed the Grand Tutor! This tactic of retreating to advance is brilliant! The Grand Tutor's reputation for integrity is renowned throughout the land. She is the foremost among the upright officials, both civil and military. The only thing worth criticizing is her extravagant purchase of fine chrysanthemums for her husband, but that is of no great importance. In fact, many people think that the Grand Tutor dotes on her husband and is a devoted and loving woman.

How could such a person be implicated and dismissed from office because of the mistakes made by the Crown Princess?

I'm afraid she can only leave the court if the Grand Tutor retires to his hometown or does something that goes against his principles and morality.

The Empress was furious at being tricked, but she still smiled and said, "Grand Tutor, you are overthinking this. How can you blame yourself? After all, even I didn't expect the Crown Princess to do such a thing."

Having said that, he summoned a palace attendant to draft an imperial edict.

"The Crown Princess Wei Changsi is morally deficient and unworthy of her position. Therefore, she is stripped of her title as Crown Princess and demoted to the rank of Prince. She will soon depart for her fiefdom of Yinchuan."

It's better to send this daughter far away, so as not to cause her any distress.

The Third Princess's faction was naturally overjoyed; with the Crown Princess fallen, the Third Princess would naturally take the throne.

The Third Princess never expected that bringing down the Crown Princess would be so easy. The Crown Princess was really courting death, which meant that the Third Princess couldn't use her backup plans. But now she was in a difficult situation.

She wondered why the Crown Princess had been so difficult to deal with before, because she hadn't found her weakness. In other matters, the Crown Princess had always been dutiful and responsible, making it impossible for the Third Princess to find a way to attack her. It turned out that her weakness lay with men.

Tsk, Wei Sijin scoffed. In her opinion, abandoning the throne for a man was an extremely foolish act. This time, she couldn't help but thank her eldest sister.

After the court session ended, news of His Majesty's deposition of the Crown Princess spread like wildfire.

When Wei Wangqing heard this news, she was not surprised. After all, if such a person could continue to sit in the position of Crown Princess, she really wondered if the entire court and the Empress were as brainless as the Crown Princess.

She'd better run away quickly, lest the country be destroyed one day and she be implicated.

As for that red silk ribbon, Wei Wangqing wondered if breaking the plate that day was an accident? Would a well-trained palace servant make such a big mistake at a banquet? Or was it just to get the Crown Princess's attention?

However, these are all just Wei Wangqing's guesses, since the person is already dead.

Yes, he's dead.

He was beaten to death.

This time, the Crown Princess was powerless to protect him. After all, she herself was in dire straits. Moreover, how could the Empress allow someone who had instigated her daughter to commit such a grave error to live on, bringing shame upon the royal family?

Therefore, whether Hongchou's relationship with the Crown Princess was genuine or if there was another ulterior motive remains unknown.

No matter how much the Empress pleaded while kneeling outside the Taiji Hall, she could not persuade the Empress to rescind her decree. Instead, the Empress took her anger out on the Crown Princess because of her failure to properly educate their child and stripped the Empress of her power to manage the harem.

He then handed it over to Lady Jiang and promoted her to the rank of Noble Lady.

Now Consort Jiang was riding high, and the people in the palace were always opportunistic. With the Crown Princess fallen and the Empress weakened, wouldn't it be the Third Princess's world from now on? Everyone in the palace rushed to fawn over Consort Jiang, while the Empress's gates were left desolate.

"Father, what's going on lately? I'm scared."

"Don't be afraid, Fifth Prince, it's alright, your father is here." The Empress Dowager hugged the Fifth Prince and patted his back.

I know that people in the palace are used to flattering others and belittling me, but I feel a little disheartened, both towards His Majesty and towards my daughter.

Fortunately, Xiao Wu is already engaged, so even if the Wang family cannot give him the respect he deserves, they probably won't treat him too poorly.

Although he felt heartbroken for his daughter, she was still his own child and had the status of a prince. No one would dare to look down on her when she went to her fiefdom, so she would probably live a good life.

As for myself, I'm afraid I can only spend the rest of my life in this palace.

There is no hope left!

When Wei Changsi left, only the Third Princess and her husband, the Grand Tutor, came to see her off.

Needless to say, the Third Princess came to ridicule her elder sister, the eldest princess, and to watch the spectacle.

The old lady couldn't bear to part with her grandson and great-grandson, and she hated the deposed crown princess to the core. She wasn't satisfied with being humiliated, and she also had to suffer because of her.

But Lady Kota, oh, she's now Prince Kota.

But the Prince was still trying to comfort his grandfather, after all, if he hadn't misjudged people, he wouldn't have ended up like this. He just felt sorry for Xiao Bao.

“Grandpa, don’t worry. I will take care of myself and Xiaobao. It’s your grandson who is unfilial. Grandpa is so old and you still have to worry about me.”

"Oh dear, what kind of talk is that? If your grandfather doesn't worry about you, who else can he worry about!"

“Grandmother, she…”

“Silly child, your grandmother doesn’t blame you. You know she can’t stand the pain of separation. She can’t bear to see this.”

The prince and his entourage set off.

As the prince boarded the carriage, he turned back to look at his grandfather one last time. He feared that once he left, he would never return.

He no longer had any expectations for his wife; he only wanted to raise Xiaobao to adulthood in peace.