Time Travel: He is My Dad!

Undercurrent

When Princess Shen emerged from the Grand Empress Dowager's palace, the atmosphere within the palace remained like a slumbering lake, calm on the surface, yet surging beneath the surface. She knew full well that behind every word and action of the Grand Empress Dowager lay countless calculations. She herself had long been drawn into this bottomless vortex of power.

Upon returning to her palace, Princess Shen didn't immediately rest. Instead, she dismissed her maids and sat alone at her desk, her gaze deep. She wasn't simply uneasy about the Grand Empress Dowager's threats; more importantly, she realized that this palace struggle was far more complicated than she had imagined.

The threat from the Empress Dowager, the power struggle in the palace, and the death of Zhao Han were all superficial. She had to be more careful because the enemy was not just the Empress Dowager.

"Princess, Princess Shen." A low voice came from outside the door, breaking the silence of the palace.

Princess Shen was slightly startled, and quickly stood up, straightened her sleeves, and walked towards the door. Standing outside the door was not her guard, but a man dressed in purple with an extraordinary temperament - Cheng Jiahong.

Cheng Jiahong, one of Princess Shen's closest confidants, is one of the few people in the palace she can trust completely. A former friend of the Shen family, he is now embroiled in the palace's power struggles. While his reputation is mixed, Princess Shen still considers him her most reliable ally.

"Come in." Princess Shen spoke calmly and pointed to the seats in the hall.

Cheng Jiahong walked in, his face solemn, as if he had important news to tell her. He didn't sit down, but stood in front of Princess Shen and whispered, "Princess, I just received news that the Empress Dowager's actions were much faster than we expected."

Princess Shen frowned slightly and stared at him sharply: "Her actions?"

Cheng Jiahong nodded, his expression serious: "The Empress Dowager has already begun contacting some ministers in the palace, preparing to unite the powerful officials in the court and use your background as a threat to force Your Majesty to make a choice."

Princess Shen's heart tightened, and she sneered, "So direct."

"She doesn't intend to hide it anymore," Cheng Jiahong whispered. "She plans to use some indirect means to stir up disputes in the palace in the near future and force the emperor to make a decision. Your position in the palace has become her biggest obstacle."

Princess Shen's eyes grew even colder. She knew she had fallen completely into the Grand Empress Dowager's schemes. If she didn't strike back soon, she would be pushed into a corner step by step.

"What exactly does she want to do?" Princess Shen asked in a deep voice.

Cheng Jiahong gritted his teeth and hesitated for a moment before speaking: "She intends to stir up conflict within the palace, exacerbate the relationship between the emperor and you, and at the same time guide public opinion to force the emperor to make a choice. If he cannot make a clear response, the Empress Dowager will use this situation to force him to depose you. At that time, all your rights in the palace will be completely lost."

"Dethrone me?" Princess Shen sneered, "She's dreaming. Do you think the emperor will listen to her?"

Cheng Jiahong sighed, "The Emperor's thoughts are hard to predict. The current situation is already somewhat complicated. He is being held hostage by many forces within the palace, and I'm afraid he won't be able to respond quickly."

"In that case, we will take the initiative." Her tone was resolute. "From now on, all undercurrents in the palace must be under my control."

Cheng Jiahong looked at her, surprise flashing in his eyes. He knew that Princess Shen had always been intelligent, but her decision at this moment was beyond his expectations. She seemed no longer the deposed concubine who had languished in the cold palace for years, but a powerful woman capable of rivaling the Grand Empress Dowager.

"What are you going to do?" Cheng Jiahong asked.

Princess Shen's lips curled up into a smile, a cold glint in her eyes. "I will use the power struggle in the palace to open a new path. You will arrange for some ministers in the palace who have close ties with the Grand Empress Dowager to gradually reveal their intentions. At the same time, I will secretly support those ministers who have done me a favor and gradually win them over. In the struggle for power, you ultimately have to take sides. What I have to do is to make these ministers understand that if they stand with me, they stand with the future."

Cheng Jiahong's eyes flashed with admiration: "The princess is indeed thoughtful."

Princess Shen nodded gently, the smile on her face gradually fading, replaced by a stern expression. "However, all of this must be done quietly. We cannot let the Grand Empress Dowager notice anything unusual. At the same time, I will strengthen my relationship with the Emperor to minimize the Grand Empress Dowager's chances of instigating trouble."

Cheng Jiahong pondered for a moment and nodded: "I understand, I'll arrange it right away."

"Go." Princess Shen watched him leave, then stood in front of the window, looking at the palace wall in the distance, thinking secretly in her heart.

Tonight's turmoil was only the beginning. Princess Shen knew she had to complete her plan quickly, leaving the Grand Empress Dowager with no way out. And every move the Grand Empress Dowager made would become a stepping stone for her to further control the palace.

Princess Shen smiled coldly. If she couldn't stand firm in this storm, she would be destined to become a chess piece drifting in the wind.

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Chapter 21: Rising Storm