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

As the emperor, although he controls the world, he is unable to personally experience all the details of his mother's private life.

Especially regarding trivial matters such as personal preferences and gift exchanges, he would not deliberately inquire into them.

The Queen Mother remained silent, but her slight nod undoubtedly encouraged Sheng Junwei to finish her words.

Sheng Junwei continued respectfully: "Half a year ago, Prince Jingxuan returned to the capital in triumph and specially presented an icy jade bracelet. The bracelet was pure and flawless, and breathtakingly beautiful. The Queen Mother loved it so much that she put the Hetian jade bracelet aside for a while."

The wisdom of the man behind the scenes was as deep as the abyss. He was good at planning and had foreseen the day when the Queen Mother took off the precious Hetian jade bracelet for the first time that she would wear it again.

So he secretly gathered the most skilled craftsmen, and spent several months to create a replica of the bracelet that was exactly the same as the real thing. Every texture was carefully copied, and even the most discerning eyes would find it difficult to distinguish the authenticity.

The real Hetian jade bracelet was quietly transported out of the heavily guarded palace by a group of nimble men in black under the cover of night. After a tortuous journey, it was finally buried deep in a desolate mass grave in the suburbs. There was an ancient tomb forgotten by the world, which became its new hidden home.

The mass grave has been a gathering place of negative energy since ancient times. The grass and trees are withered and yellow, the wind is weeping, and there are few people even in the daytime.

That lonely grave seemed like a corner abandoned by the world, looking particularly desolate and cold.

Legend has it that the people sleeping in the tomb suffered injustice in their lifetime and died with hatred. Their strong grievances and resentment have not diminished with the passage of time, but have become stronger with the accumulation of years, forming a force that even ghosts and gods are afraid of.

The person behind the scenes was well aware of this and spared no expense to hire a secret monk who was proficient in the evil arts. Through complicated rituals and spells, he drew the accumulated resentment of the wronged souls in the tomb little by little onto the jade bracelet, turning it into a horrible cursed object, quietly waiting for the moment when it would touch the skin of a living person again.

Time flowed slowly, and two months passed in a flash. On the anniversary of the death of the late emperor, the empress dowager felt something in her heart. She accidentally rediscovered the jade bracelet that symbolized past memories in her dressing box full of treasures. An inexplicable ripple arose in her heart, and she gently put it back on her wrist.

Little did they know that this simple action quietly opened the prelude to a huge conspiracy.

When the Queen Mother heard Sheng Junwei's statement for the first time, her soft and clear voice seemed to carry some kind of magic. It was not only irresistible, but also inadvertently touched the Queen Mother's heartstrings.

She was deeply attracted by the profound meaning contained in those words, and it was not until Sheng Junwei finished her narration that she suddenly came out of her thoughts. A complex expression appeared on her face, showing both shock and doubt.

When the topic turned to the bizarre mass grave, the emperor's expression became increasingly solemn and his tone became urgent, and it was obvious that he attached great importance to the matter.

And when he learned that the location was actually near the capital, he gave orders without hesitation and sent capable agents to investigate.

Soon, the leader of the capital's guards brought back accurate news. The lonely grave described not only existed, but there was also an unusual piece of land next to the grave. It seemed that someone had recently started digging. And under the severely damaged tombstone and the deserted appearance, there were unexpectedly offerings and burnt ashes. All of this was surprisingly consistent with Sheng Junwei's description.

Upon hearing the news, the Empress Dowager couldn't help but tremble slightly, her face was full of tension and anxiety, and the Emperor's expression also became gloomy.

Although his trust in Sheng Junwei has never been shaken, his anger is hard to suppress in the face of such blatant provocation and blasphemy.

Under the joint questioning of the two, Sheng Junwei remained silent. After a moment, she sighed lightly, with a hint of helplessness in her eyes, and explained that it was not her intention to interfere in the cause and effect of others, and that there were limits to it.

The emperor seemed to realize something and remained silent. Eunuch Yu reacted quickly and took out a golden bean that sparkled with an alluring luster from his arms. This small but priceless item was undoubtedly the key to solving the problem.

Sheng Junwei accepted the reward and slowly opened her mouth to reveal the real culprit who was manipulating everything behind the scenes - Concubine Sheng.

This revelation was surprising. After all, in the previous emperor's not-so-complicated harem, Concubine Sheng had always been known for her gentleness, virtue and non-confrontational attitude, and had won wide acclaim from people both in the palace and in the harem.

She had no interest in power struggles, which made the Queen Mothers of the East and West Palaces particularly confident in her. Even the King of Qi, whom she gave birth to, never aroused any suspicion.

However, it is precisely beneath this inconspicuous gentleness that hides a magnificent conspiracy and an endless desire for power.

In fact, in the past years, the King of Qi had indeed not shown any extraordinary qualities or outstanding political achievements.

Compared to Prince Jingxuan, who voluntarily withdrew from power struggles because he was the emperor's younger brother, and indulged in poetry, wine, flowers and the moon, winning the admiration of everyone with his extraordinary talent and otherworldly lifestyle, Prince Qi's life was as plain as water, without any waves.

His daily life is so ordinary that it is hard to believe that anyone would try to weave a web of power by relying on him.

Now, the news circulating in the palace is as shocking as thunder.

The conspiracy against the Empress Dowager was actually planned by Concubine Sheng, who was known for her indifference to worldly affairs.

The complexity and subtlety hidden behind this news are enough to make people chew on it carefully.

Royal secrets are inherently complicated, and simple black-and-white judgments often fail to touch the depths of the truth.

The emperor knew very well that even though Sheng Junwei had a sharp eye and could see through everything, he did not want her to make it all public so as to avoid causing more unnecessary trouble.

Therefore, the emperor rarely asked too many questions and acquiesced to Sheng Junwei leaving the palace on her own with a tolerant attitude, thus avoiding more court disputes.

Sheng Junwei naturally understood the pros and cons of this. She has always been cautious in her actions and does not want to make enemies easily.

After quietly arranging for someone to notify Zhang, she walked slowly towards the palace gate alone, and every step she took seemed both resolute and calm.

"Junwei..." A voice as thin as a mosquito's, but full of helplessness and pleading, sounded behind her.

Sheng Junwei paused slightly but did not look back. It was just a brief pause, and it was just a trace of pity for that pure emotion.

Then she continued to move forward firmly.

At this moment, a gust of wind blew past, as if a hesitant hand was trying to touch her sleeve, but at the moment when it was about to touch the soft fabric, it was gently bounced away by an invisible force, as if there was an invisible barrier protecting her.

Sheng Mingtao withdrew his hand awkwardly and stood there, seeming to be in a dilemma.

Finally, he made up his mind to stop trying to touch her secretly and instead mustered up the courage to stand directly in front of her.