Time Travel: He is My Dad!

Game in crisis

Princess Shen stood calmly at the palace window. The night was as dark as ink, and the faint glow of distant palace lanterns illuminated her delicate and cold face. She knew she didn't have much time left. The alliance between the Crown Prince and Liu Mengyao had pushed her to the forefront of the storm. Every step forward must be cautious. Any mistake could plunge her into an irretrievable situation.

Her fingers tapped lightly on the windowsill, silently pondering her next strategy. The situation in the palace was complex and volatile, with hidden enemies and traitorous friends. The situation was far more complex than she had anticipated. But she was not afraid. Princess Shen knew that, just like her own rise from the cold palace, the struggle for power in the palace was a contest that required wisdom and strategy to win.

Suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps broke her meditation, and Cheng Jiahong hurried in. Seeing Princess Shen, Cheng Jiahong's expression was quite serious, and it was obvious that he had brought important news.

"Princess, the Crown Prince's henchmen are accelerating their actions." Cheng Jiahong's tone was filled with anxiety. "They have sent people to investigate your connection with the palace, and it seems they are preparing to take action against you."

Princess Shen's expression changed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. "Do they dare?" she asked softly, a hint of coldness in her tone.

Cheng Jiahong nodded, a hint of unconcealable worry flashing in his eyes. "Princess, we've learned that the Crown Prince has decided to transfer some of the palace's power to external forces. Through this collaboration, he will gain more support, not only within the palace, but also with greater influence outside. Liu Mengyao may become the Crown Prince's real assistant. She has even begun contacting several major families with close ties to the court."

Princess Shen frowned, a wave of unease rising within her. The interference of external forces meant the Crown Prince's plans had transcended the palace, even impacting the entire empire's political landscape. The stronger her inner strength grew, the stronger her enemies grew. The Crown Prince's ambitions were becoming increasingly apparent, and she needed to find a way to thwart them quickly.

"The Crown Prince's actions are becoming more and more aggressive, and his ambitions are becoming more and more obvious." Princess Shen stood up and said coldly, "If we don't stop him, the consequences will be disastrous."

Cheng Jiahong lowered his head and pondered for a moment. "Princess, we can contact some key figures to create some chaos in the palace and divide the Crown Prince's power. But the Crown Prince has powerful supporters behind him. If we want to strike him down completely, we must find solid evidence of Liu Mengyao's connection with external forces."

Princess Shen's eyes grew cold. She walked to the desk, picked up a map of the palace, and gently swiped it. "If Liu Mengyao truly has connections with external forces, she wouldn't reveal them so easily. There might be something deeper going on behind her. I must personally uncover her details."

"Princess, are you going to do it yourself?" Cheng Jiahong's expression tightened. "This is a dangerous move."

Princess Shen smiled faintly, her eyes gleaming with determination. "No one in the palace understands the rules of this game better than me. If we rely solely on others, there will eventually be hidden dangers. Besides, the Crown Prince and Liu Mengyao's conspiracy is already deep, and we can't delay it any longer."

Her voice was calm and firm, like a sharp sword about to be unsheathed.

……

Princess Shen's plan quietly unfolded. She decided to personally contact key individuals, gather more evidence and intelligence, and uncover Liu Mengyao's true connection to external forces. She knew the power hidden behind these external forces was far greater than that of the princes and princes within the palace. As the crown prince's confidante, Liu Mengyao's identity became increasingly shrouded in mystery. Only by delving into her inner circle could she uncover the thick veil.

After several days of planning, Princess Shen dispatched a trusted guard to secretly contact a prince within the palace. This prince, a former subordinate of her father's, while not prominent within the palace, possessed a powerful family background and a deep understanding of the palace's power struggles. Princess Shen knew that leveraging such a figure would allow her to more quickly break through the defenses of external forces.

That night, Princess Shen, dressed in a crimson palace gown, walked towards the palace. Her steps were calm and steady, with a hint of a cold smile on her face. She did not invite Cheng Jiahong to accompany her, but walked alone, as if she was already able to handle all the complex situations in the palace.

"Your Majesty, it's been a long time since we last met." Princess Shen spoke softly, her voice soft but full of majesty.

The prince was reading memorials at his desk. When he heard the voice, he looked up. When he saw Princess Shen, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Princess Shen, why are you here so late?" The prince smiled slightly, his tone a little cold, "What can I do for you?"

Princess Shen didn't answer directly. Instead, she stepped forward and gently sat down across from the prince. Her hands folded on the table, her eyes deep. "Your Majesty, I wonder if you've heard any rumors recently. A new situation has emerged in the palace. The Crown Prince's alliance with external forces may have affected the entire palace's power structure."

The prince's eyes flickered, as if he was thinking about something, but he didn't rush to respond. Instead, he looked down at the memorial on the table and shook his head slightly: "Princess Shen, I have never been very involved in the affairs of the palace. The struggle for power has long been boring to me. I'm afraid what you said is none of my business."

The coldness in Princess Shen's eyes flashed away for a moment, and she smiled faintly: "Your Majesty, don't forget that everything in the palace, even the smallest fluctuation, will affect the entire situation. If the Crown Prince joins forces with external forces, the seriousness of the matter will probably not be as simple as the struggle within the palace."

The prince frowned, then finally raised his head and looked directly into Princess Shen's eyes: "What do you want to say?"

Princess Shen smiled slightly, as if she had anticipated the other party's reaction. "I know that the king has always been very secretive. He may not be well-known in the palace, but he has a huge influence behind him. If you are willing to help me once, I believe that you will have a place in the future power structure."

Her words were like a heavy hammer, hitting the prince's sore spot precisely. The prince's eyes grew deep, and he lowered his head. After a moment, he gently put down the memorial in his hand, as if he had made some kind of decision.

"Princess Shen, do you really dare to cooperate with me?" There was a hint of temptation in the prince's tone.

Princess Shen's eyes were blazing. "I know the King has seen through everything in the palace. You may not want to get involved in the struggle, but there are some things you can't avoid. It's always safer to be on the right side than on the wrong side."

The prince was silent for a moment, then finally nodded: "You are right. In that case, let's cooperate."

Princess Shen smiled slightly, a clearer plan already in mind. She knew that this cooperation was not only to disrupt the Crown Prince's plan, but also to pave a path to the pinnacle of power for herself.

……

Princess Shen returned to her chambers, gazing out the window at the gradually brightening morning light, a surge of resolve welled up within her. She had already embarked on a path of no return, and every step she took within the palace was destined to be crucial to her future. The Crown Prince's alliance with Liu Mengyao had not only made her realize the complexities of power, but also taught her that only in the most dangerous moments could she attain her greatest strength.

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Chapter 45: Deal in the Dark