The mistress just wanted to be bad, but she took off after being replaced

Sheng Junwei chuckled, as if she had already expected the other party to have such a reaction.

"Madam Zheng, no matter how elaborate the plan is, there will be loopholes. Even though you destroyed all the secret letters related to the whereabouts and habits of the Duke's sister, and even cleaned up all traces after eliminating those who knew about it, you missed a crucial piece of evidence. Because of your carelessness, it is still safe and sound."

She then turned to the emperor who was sitting high up in the sky and said, "Your Majesty, you may not know that the wife of the Duke of Guo owns a private estate in the suburbs of Beijing. In the utility room of that estate, there is a row of inconspicuous old cabinets. Between the cabinet on the far left and the wall, there is a painting. It is the one that Xiaohua accidentally picked up that year."

"The person depicted in the painting is the Duke's sister. Every detail is lifelike."

When the Duke heard this, his body suddenly shook, and he almost jumped up from his seat, "Is this true?"

His heart was filled with excitement, how could he possibly forget that painting?

It was a painting he had made himself, in which he poured all his love and longing for his sister. It was supposed to be a surprise for his sister's seventeenth birthday, but it was not given away for various reasons.

The painting not only contains his sister's portrait, but also his reluctance and helplessness about the impending separation from his sister, which is the eternal pain in his heart.

Yu seemed a little flustered at the moment. She opened her mouth but didn't know how to defend herself. However, Sheng Junwei didn't give her any chance and said first, "Your Majesty, I have written down the exact location of the manor on paper. We just need to send people to search for it. We will definitely be able to find the painting that proves everything."

There was confidence in her words, as if everything was within her expectations.

"No!" Yu spoke out suddenly, trying to stop him, her fingers trembling slightly.

However, the Duke's eyes were like a thousand-year-old ice, instantly freezing every word she said in her throat.

The Duke's gaze immediately turned to Sheng Junwei beside him, and his voice was filled with an imperceptible fluctuation: "If things are really as you said, why didn't she just return the painting to me, but took this detour?"

"Approaching through painting is direct, but it lacks the emotional preparation." Sheng Junwei said slowly, "When the Duke was in his prime, his heart was full of family and country. He was extremely indifferent to personal emotions and repeatedly rejected marriage proposals. This noble character was praised in the capital."

"After learning the Duke's true identity, Madam Zheng put a lot of thought into it and even visited a picture framing shop. She learned that the woman in the painting was the Duke's beloved sister and that the two had a deep sibling relationship. So she concluded that winning your sister's trust first would be a more effective strategy than approaching the Duke directly." Sheng Junwei's eyes sparkled.

"It turns out that her calculations were accurate." Sheng Junwei said calmly, "She carefully directed a drama of a beauty saving a hero, and with this favor, she quietly entered your sister's heart. She also took the opportunity to frequently go in and out of the Duke's Mansion, quietly collecting all your preferences. Knowing that you yearn for the battlefield, she spared no effort to study military books, just for that possible resonance."

The Duke remained silent, with mixed feelings in his heart. Indeed, the shock of that day was still fresh in his memory.

Some of the bystanders lost their patience and were eager to find out what happened next, so they blurted out and asked Yu.

Yu's fierce gaze was like a sharp blade that cut through the air in an instant, startling the reckless man and causing him to quickly shrink his head. The scene was extremely awkward for a moment.

Fortunately, Sheng Junwei intervened at the right time to ease the atmosphere: "Mrs. Zheng did win the favor of the Duke with this strategy. The Duke has always been decisive, especially when it comes to his own marriage. Even the opposition of the old Duke and his wife failed to shake his determination."

"In the end, Madam Zheng married into the Duke's Mansion as she wished, and even the Duke's biological sister was pleased with this happy marriage."

There was a barely perceptible sigh in Sheng Junwei's words.

The Duke frowned, and doubts arose again: "If she and my sister had a deep friendship, why would my sister's death be related to her?"

Every detail that Sheng Junwei mentioned earlier seemed to have hidden meanings, making it impossible to simply regard it as idle chat.

Especially the unfinished sentence, hanging in the air, making people feel itchy.

Regarding my sister... is there really a hidden story behind everything?

Yu was so flustered that she almost lost control. "What she said is all fabricated! Master, please don't listen to her slander! She is just a little girl who has never experienced the world!"

Sheng Ruijiao's brows knitted slightly, and she felt somewhat pleased with Yu's embarrassment.

But as a member of the Sheng family, she knew that any behavior that damaged the family's reputation was intolerable.

Even for Sheng Junwei, who is extremely smart, this move is extremely dangerous and will directly affect her status in the Duke's Mansion.

"Junwei, even jokes should be done in moderation!" Sheng Ruijiao pretended to be anxious and reprimanded, "Prime Minister Pei's ability should not be underestimated, but this cannot be a reason for us to speak nonsense! The past has been finalized by the Ministry of Justice. Don't make up stories just to attract attention and destroy the existing peace!"

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Pei slowly stood up again and walked towards the throne with steady steps: "Your Majesty, although I am the Prime Minister and hold great power, I am not a god and have no way of knowing the slightest secret of the inner courtyard of the Duke's Mansion. Looking back more than 20 years ago, I was still a child from a poor family. The high walls of the Duke's Mansion were like a natural moat to me, which was within my reach but out of reach."

These words awakened the audience who had been easily swayed by Sheng Ruijiao's words.

They suddenly realized that their thoughts were being led by a young girl, and they couldn't help feeling ashamed and their faces turned red.

Duke Dingguo frowned and said, "Minister Sheng, it seems that your family needs to further strengthen the education of your children."

After saying this, he turned his gaze to the dignified Yu beside him, with a meaningful smile on his face: "People outside say that Madam Zheng is strict in managing the family. Today, I see that the rumors are really unbelievable."

This clear irony was like an invisible sharp blade. Yu and Minister Sheng could not hide their embarrassment on their faces, but due to the occasion, they could not refute it.

Sheng Ruijiao's inappropriate behavior was indeed out of place at this palace banquet and violated the proper etiquette.

Yu glared at Sheng Ruijiao fiercely, her eyes full of blame and disappointment.

Minister Sheng looked at Sheng Junwei angrily, as if asking why her appearance always caused unnecessary trouble.

In the eyes of the Sheng family, the source of all the troubles was undoubtedly this unfilial daughter who broke in without permission and intended to show off, causing Ruijiao to lose control due to worry.

Just when the atmosphere was heavy, a messenger walked in quickly, holding the latest information obtained from the search of the manor in his hand, breaking the silence in the room.

Following the emperor's casual command, the messenger quickly pulled out a carefully wrapped scroll from his wide sleeves.

The Duke's body trembled slightly, and his eyes were instantly attracted to the scroll and could not be looked away.

The scroll slowly unfolds, and a vivid picture emerges.