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

The smoke of war is everywhere, and it is impossible to escape

Shen Yiyao's order was like a deafening bomb, instantly stirring up a tsunami within the palace. Every step she took was like a carefully orchestrated storm, and her goal was not only to completely destroy the Shen Mansion's enemies, but also to make all the palace forces realize that the Shen Mansion would not be swallowed up, but would become the most important presence in the entire court.

"Miss, all arrangements have been carried out as planned." Nangong Xiu reported softly beside her, a cold glint in his eyes. He knew that the upcoming struggle was related to the survival of the Shen family and even more so to Shen Yiyao's personal fate.

Shen Yiyao nodded, a sharp look in her eyes. "Very good. Next, we must make all the enemies in the palace feel their powerlessness. Especially the Zuo Shangshu family. Their arrogance must be completely shattered."

-

The situation in the palace is quietly shifting. The actions of the Shen family gradually attract the attention of numerous factions. Concubine Meng's covert support further alerts these factions. The Shen family's actions are more than just a simple counterattack. The power and ambition behind them are gradually leading to a more complex situation.

The pressure on the Zuo Shangshu family is growing. Their once deep foundation in the palace has begun to waver due to a sudden storm. Each of Shen Yiyao's precise strikes seems to completely dismantle the Zuo Shangshu family's complex interests at the critical moment.

However, behind these open struggles, there is another undercurrent surging. This undercurrent comes not only from the powerful officials in the palace, but also from deeper forces - external merchants and martial arts forces.

Shen Yiyao had realized that while the Shen family's alliance with Concubine Meng had given them an advantage within the palace, if they couldn't quickly eliminate these external threats, the Shen family would still be surrounded on all sides. The external forces' eagerness to make moves was precisely what she needed to be most vigilant of.

"Miss, we have obtained more intelligence. The Zuo Shangshu family has begun to contact external forces, intending to unite merchants and martial artists to fight back against us." Nangong Xiu reported with a somewhat heavy expression.

Shen Yiyao frowned slightly and sneered, "They're just digging a well when they're thirsty, and when they see the situation is bad, they start asking for help. But if external forces really dare to interfere in this struggle, the Shen family is not afraid of a fight." She turned her head, her eyes flashing, "Perfect, this is our chance to break the deadlock."

Nangong Xiu immediately understood what Shen Yiyao meant. "You mean, cooperating with merchants and martial arts forces? This might lead to greater conflict."

"Exactly," Shen Yiyao sneered. "Although external forces are difficult to control, they share a common weakness—selfishness. If we can exploit their greed and find opportunities for cooperation, we can leverage their power to help us."

-

As night fell, the Shen Mansion's study was brightly lit. Shen Yiyao was discussing specific cooperation matters with Concubine Meng's envoy. This time, Shen Yiyao didn't rely solely on the support of the palace's powerful forces, but actively sought alliances with merchants and the martial arts community. She knew that relying solely on Concubine Meng and the powerful officials within the palace wouldn't necessarily defeat those hidden external forces. Only by leveraging the power of these merchants and the martial arts community could she truly break through the Shen Mansion's situation.

"Miss, you want to form an alliance with an external force?" Concubine Meng's envoy looked at Shen Yiyao, her tone somewhat tentative. "Is this really feasible? You know, the power of merchants and martial artists is complex and extremely difficult to control."

Shen Yiyao said in a deep voice, "Noble Concubine Meng, don't worry. I know how to exploit the greed and ambition of these forces. If we can form an alliance with them, we will not only be able to defeat the Zuo Shangshu family, but we will even be able to establish the Shen family's unshakable position in the palace."

She raised the corners of her lips slightly. "Furthermore, by cooperating with them, we can obtain more resources and make more advantageous arrangements. Although external forces are difficult to trust, as long as the benefits are sufficient, they will definitely be used by us."

The messenger pondered for a moment, as if weighing the pros and cons. Finally, he nodded. "In that case, I will convey your thoughts to the Imperial Concubine. If she agrees, the Shen family's plan can proceed further."

"Thank you." Shen Yiyao's eyes were sharp as knives, and her tone was calm. "Remember, this is a win-win cooperation. If any external forces dare to rebel, we will make them pay the price."

-

While the Shen family's alliance with external forces caused considerable turmoil within the palace, the most direct consequence was the complete collapse of Minister Zuo's family. As Shen Yiyao's strategy gradually took shape, Minister Zuo's family network began to disintegrate, and several of his key allies underwent drastic changes within a few days.

Inside the palace, Minister Zuo wore a scowl, the paper in his hands crumpled into a ball. "Shen Yiyao! You're such a ruthless character!" he cursed under his breath, his eyes filled with anger and despair. At this moment, he knew he had reached the brink of life and death, and no matter how hard he struggled, he could not escape this unfathomable power struggle.

However, just as the Zuo Shangshu family was eager to strike back, Shen Yiyao had already turned the battlefield to a more complicated situation. She realized that if the external forces behind the scenes were not dealt with quickly, the palace would usher in an even more intense game.

-

Shen Yiyao's eyes gleamed. She knew this struggle had reached a critical moment. The power structure within the palace, the competing interests of merchants and the martial arts world, Concubine Meng's ambitions, the counterattack of Minister Zuo's family—all of this had been woven into an inescapable web.

However, Shen Yiyao had already made sufficient preparations. What she wanted to do was not only to break this web, but also to weave it anew, so that everyone's fate would be under her control.

In the palace, the night deepened. Shen Yiyao closed her eyes and gently stroked the scroll in her hands, already planning her next move. She knew that the ultimate winner would be the one who could best seize every opportunity.

"Victory is only one step away from me." Shen Yiyao whispered, her eyes flashing with absolute confidence and determination.

-

This power struggle has entered its final stage. Shen Yiyao stands at the center of the storm, preparing for the upcoming final battle that will change the entire palace landscape.

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Chapter 33: Decision on the chessboard, betrayal and counterattack