The Rebirth of a Concubine's Daughter and Her Heartless Lover!

The thin ice of power

Shen Yiyao was deeply aware that the chessboard she was on was far more complex than she had imagined. Bai Yueqin's appearance was merely a new variable in this game. The information she provided was undoubtedly a powerful trump card, but Shen Yiyao wasn't entirely confident in the extent of her potential. This woman was very likely more dangerous than she had imagined.

Shen Yiyao stood at the window of a tall building, her eyes piercing through the window, looking out at the distant Shen Mansion illuminated by the morning light. Every palace and every corridor was like a carefully arranged painting, and she was the author and master of this painting.

"Miss, what is Bai Yueqin's purpose?" Nangong Xiu's voice came from behind, breaking Shen Yiyao's thoughts.

Shen Yiyao turned slightly, a calm smile on her face. "I can roughly guess what she wants. She wants power, and I happen to be able to give her that opportunity."

"But does the fact that she is trying so hard to help the young lady mean that she has already prepared for her future?" Nangong Xiu frowned slightly, obviously doubting Bai Yueqin's true intentions.

Shen Yiyao shook her head slightly, a sharp glint in her eyes. "She's helping me not because of what I can give her, but because she believes I'm the only way to achieve her goals. The secrets she holds about Shen Qianyun are enough to entice her to work with me. But she doesn't know that I'm the true player in this game."

"In that case, Miss, how do you plan to deal with her?" Nangong Xiu asked, his eyes full of confusion.

"Cooperate with her, but don't trust her completely." Shen Yiyao's tone was calm, as if she already had a plan. "I don't mind giving her some of the power she wants. But the conditions must be something she's willing to accept. I need her intelligence and her connections within external forces, but most importantly, she can help me eliminate those enemies who threaten me."

Nangong Xiu nodded, clearly understanding Shen Yiyao's plan. "The young lady wants to use Bai Yueqin to contain these external forces and gain more initiative."

Shen Yiyao's lips curled up slightly, revealing a meaningful smile: "That's right. And she probably doesn't know that she is building a bigger network for me."

-

Soon after, Shen Yiyao began to have close contact with Bai Yueqin, further strengthening their cooperation. The list and intelligence provided by Bai Yueqin did provide Shen Yiyao with a lot of useful information, especially the network of relationships between Shen Qianyun and those external forces during his lifetime. This information allowed Shen Yiyao to plan the next action more accurately.

However, just as she was steadily advancing her plan, shocking news came from the palace - the ministers in power in the Shen Mansion, several old ministers who had always supported her behind the scenes, actually began to secretly join forces and tried to revive the former power structure in the name of Shen Qianyun.

"Miss, these ministers don't seem to be willing to sit idly by." Nangong Xiu frowned, his brows filled with worry. "They have deep connections with external forces, and now, they are beginning to accumulate strength behind the scenes, intending to seize control of the Shen Mansion."

Shen Yiyao's gaze grew deeper, as if she could see through it all. "They are nothing more than incompetent officials who intend to take a piece of the pie after Shen Qianyun's death." A sneer played on her lips. "However, this is also my opportunity."

She slowly stood up, folded her hands over her chest, and said in a deep voice, "Nangong Xiu, investigate the specific actions of these ministers, especially their connections with external forces. I need to know every one of their escape routes."

Nangong Xiu nodded and immediately turned and left.

Shen Yiyao's gaze remained calm, but her heart was already stirring. She knew that while she had temporarily assumed control of the Shen Mansion, this vast power machine could fall into chaos at any moment due to her negligence. And the powerful officials who were secretly manipulating it were a major challenge she needed to face head-on.

She knew that in the days ahead, she would not only have to face the potential threat posed by Bai Yueqin, but also be wary of counterattacks from these old ministers. The complex relationships left behind by Shen Qianyun were precisely the obstacles she had to clear one by one.

-

A few days later, Shen Yiyao's spies brought new information about the ministers' activities. Shen Yiyao was not surprised but delighted, knowing that this was her chance to strike back.

She calmly analyzed this information and quickly formed a new plan in her mind - she needed Bai Yueqin's help to further expand her influence among external forces, and at the same time take advantage of the conflicts between these ministers to divide them and defeat them one by one.

"Nangong Xiu, pass the order down. Secretly contact those ministers who are willing to support us and have them begin to exert internal pressure." Shen Yiyao's tone gradually became colder. "Also, Bai Yueqin must also begin to take action. She is very capable of navigating external forces. It would be best if she could act as a bridge for us."

Nangong Xiu nodded and turned to leave. Shen Yiyao's eyes were deep, with a cold light flashing in them.

She knew that her next move would be her most crucial. The game had reached its most crucial juncture. Every move she made would determine her future, and any tiny mistake could cost her dearly.

-

Meanwhile, tensions within the Shen Mansion grew. The powerful officials who had once relied on Shen Qianyun after his death began to secretly organize their own forces. High-level meetings within the Shen Mansion became increasingly frequent, and the situation became increasingly complex and confusing. Everyone seemed to be waiting for a decision, for the transfer of power.

In this complex power game, Shen Yiyao has already decided on her strategy - she will gain more support from external forces, while gradually eliminating those powerful officials one by one through internal division and game. In the end, the true ruler of the Shen Mansion will be Shen Yiyao, not any of the former powerful officials.

She knew full well that the challenges she faced were far greater than these. External forces were surging, various factions within the Shen Mansion were ready to make moves, and even Bai Yueqin was not entirely under her control. But she was not afraid, because she knew that the strongest chess player was often the one who could best maintain his footing amidst chaos.

Shen Yiyao's eyes became more determined: "I will definitely win this game."

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Chapter 23: Hunter in the Mist