Time Travel: He is My Dad!

Ice and Fire

Princess Shen stood in the shadows outside the palace walls, quietly observing all the changes within. Deep within the palace, Zhao Hao's conversation with the Grand Empress Dowager finally opened a new chapter in the palace struggle. And she, already at the center of this storm, became the key figure in determining victory or defeat.

This palace power struggle may appear calm on the surface, but undercurrents are surging. Princess Shen knows that her every move will determine the ultimate outcome. Whether it's towards Zhao Hao or the Grand Empress Dowager, every step she takes is carefully planned, and every detail could affect the final outcome.

And now, what she needs to do most is to wait for the opportunity.

……

Tensions within the palace grew. The Grand Empress Dowager knew her scheme had been thoroughly exposed, and Zhao Hao was no longer the young emperor she had manipulated. She had never imagined Zhao Hao would make such a decisive and ruthless decision. This forced her to reflect deeply on her own situation—her advantage in this power struggle had completely vanished.

"Mother, if you still refuse to repent, then I can only make you disappear from this palace completely." Zhao Hao said coldly, with a ruthless threat in his voice.

"If you really intend to do this, then don't blame your mother for being cruel." The Empress Dowager's voice was low and full of warning.

Zhao Hao didn't say anything else, just looked at her coldly, his eyes devoid of any warmth. The Empress Dowager also knew that she had no way out and could only face an outcome she could not imagine.

……

Meanwhile, Princess Shen calmly observed the unfolding events within the palace. She knew her time had come. While Zhao Hao's split from the Grand Empress Dowager was ostensibly a shift in power, the underlying struggle was more a matter of life and death. And Princess Shen had become a pawn in the unfolding situation.

Cheng Jiahong walked into her room, his brow furrowed, having clearly received some news. "Princess, Zhao Hao has completely broken with the Grand Empress Dowager and has issued an order to purge those officials who colluded with her."

Princess Shen nodded slightly, her expression remaining calm. "This is exactly what I expected. The Empress Dowager's chess game has completely gotten out of control. Next, we must seize this opportunity and completely destroy her power."

"Princess, what do you plan to do?" Cheng Jiahong asked cautiously.

Princess Shen's eyes narrowed, her tone icy, "First, we must intensify our crackdown on the traitors within the palace. All ministers secretly colluding with the Grand Empress Dowager must be exposed one by one, and her influence completely eradicated. At the same time, we must control the forces outside the palace to ensure we can seize the initiative at this critical moment."

"I understand." Cheng Jiahong responded with understanding, his eyes flashing with a cold light.

"Furthermore," Princess Shen paused briefly and whispered, "when the power structure within the palace is adjusted, we must ensure that we can quickly gain control of the military and finances. Only in this way can we truly curb the Empress Dowager's counterattack."

Cheng Jiahong's heart trembled, and then he took a deep breath: "If we can do this, we can completely control the entire court. Princess, you are indeed far-sighted."

Princess Shen raised the corner of her mouth with a slight sneer: "This game has never been about gaining a temporary advantage, but about controlling everyone's fate."

……

As night fell, the atmosphere in the palace grew increasingly tense. The streets outside the palace remained quiet and dim. Princess Shen knew that beneath this seemingly calm surface, undercurrents swirled. Every move she made could instantly alter the entire palace landscape.

"The Empress Dowager has lost power, and the situation in the palace has changed." Princess Shen sighed softly, her eyes cold, "But our goal has never changed."

Cheng Jiahong nodded and said, "Princess, the Empress Dowager's confidants have already made moves. Some ministers have begun to frequently contact forces outside the palace, and seem to be preparing for a counterattack."

A cold glint flashed in Princess Shen's eyes. "Counterattack? They're overconfident. Without the support we promised, what can they do? They're just courting their own destruction."

Though her tone was calm, the intimidation it held was not to be underestimated. She knew that if this struggle ended, the fate of the Grand Empress Dowager and those traitors would be forever sealed in the judgment of history. And she, on the other hand, would usher in her true moment of glory.

……

Everything was quietly changing. Though the Empress Dowager's power was immense, her adversaries proved more decisive and ruthless than she had imagined. Every betrayer was quickly exposed, and the palace was in turmoil. Zhao Hao's command was like a sharp sword, slicing through the palace's fog. Meanwhile, Princess Shen's schemes were like a dense net, quietly tightening, awaiting the final moment of retraction.

"This game has finally reached its most intense moment." Princess Shen took a deep breath, with a hint of joy in her eyes.

She knew that she was getting closer and closer to victory.

……

Just when everyone thought that the Empress Dowager's power was about to collapse, an unexpected news came from the palace - one of Princess Shen's confidants was suddenly arrested, suspected of colluding with the remnants of the Empress Dowager.

This news was like a bombshell, instantly shattering the palace's tranquility. Princess Shen's heartbeat quickened slightly. Although she had anticipated this, she still felt a tinge of unease. Her eyes, like a cold blade, surveyed the sudden chaos within the palace.

"Someone has tampered with it." She whispered, a sinister smile on her lips. "However, this will not hinder my plan."

She stood up, her eyes full of determination: "Start moving."

That night, every minute and every second in the palace seemed to be waiting for some kind of inevitable explosion. And Princess Shen was the one who would control everything in the storm.

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Chapter 27: Undercurrent