Time Travel: He is My Dad!

The puzzle between reality and illusion

Princess Shen stood at her desk in her bedroom, her eyes sharp and her thoughts swirling. After days of meticulous planning, Prince Ping finally agreed to cooperate with her, but she knew this was only the beginning. The Crown Prince and Liu Mengyao had joined forces, backed by northern forces. The situation was becoming increasingly complex, forcing her to be ever more cautious with every step. The situation in the palace was unpredictable, and any misstep could cost her everything.

At this time, Cheng Jiahong walked in quietly, holding a copy of the latest intelligence. "Princess, I have the latest information on what you told me," he whispered.

Princess Shen smiled slightly and gestured for him to hand over the information. "Tell me, what's the situation?"

Cheng Jiahong quickly flipped open the memorial in his hand and began to read aloud, "The Crown Prince's cooperation with external forces has been officially reached. The representative of that northern faction is the younger brother of the Northern Frontier General, named Xie Tianfu. Xie Tianfu not only wields immense military power in the north, but also has long-standing connections with several high-ranking officials in the court. His influence is even comparable to that of the Emperor."

Princess Shen was slightly taken aback when she heard the name "Xie Tianfu." The Xie family, the great general of the Northern Frontier, was a prominent figure at court, controlling half the country, with military and political power closely intertwined. Xie Tianfu, his younger brother, had not only amassed a formidable influence in the north but also maintained secret connections with numerous officials, undoubtedly granting him immense influence within the court. Princess Shen immediately realized that if the northern forces truly allied with the Crown Prince, the situation would become even more thorny.

"Thank you, Tianfu..." Princess Shen repeated the name in a low voice, her eyes deep. "It seems that the Crown Prince's ambition has far exceeded our expectations. Cheng Jiahong, every step forward must be more cautious. We must find a breakthrough, otherwise even with Prince Ping's support, we will not be able to turn the situation around."

Cheng Jiahong nodded. "Princess, you are absolutely right. Xie Tianfu's power is not only formidable, but he is also extremely sensitive to the situation in the palace. If we want to gain a foothold in front of him, we must be more clever."

Princess Shen frowned slightly, as if lost in thought. "The Crown Prince and Liu Mengyao's combined strength is already the greatest threat. We can't confront them directly; we must seek opportunities elsewhere."

"Yes, Princess." Cheng Jiahong responded and left, carrying Princess Shen's order and disappeared into the depths of the palace.

……

Over the next few days, Princess Shen turned her attention to Liu Mengyao. She knew that while Liu Mengyao was allied with the Crown Prince, she didn't completely trust him. The Crown Prince's actions had long aroused Liu Mengyao's suspicions, and this presented Princess Shen with an opportunity. She had to quickly contact Liu Mengyao, break the trust between her and the Crown Prince, and seize the opportunity to obtain more intelligence and resources.

Princess Shen decided to meet Liu Mengyao in person. This meeting was both a test and a deal.

That day, Princess Shen, meticulously made up and dressed in a light blue palace dress, gently entered the imperial garden where Liu Mengyao was. Liu Mengyao was leaning against the bluestone railing by the lake, gazing quietly at the water, her figure graceful, like a lotus emerging from the water. Seeing Princess Shen approach, the corners of Liu Mengyao's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile.

"Princess Shen, how come you have time to come to my garden today?" Liu Mengyao's tone was gentle and distant, as if she had anticipated Princess Shen's visit.

Princess Shen smiled slightly, walked to her side and sat down gently: "Sister Liu, there are constant disturbances in the palace, and everyone feels like a huge rock is pressing on their hearts. I really can't help it, so I came to see you and chat by the way." Her tone was neither hurried nor slow, with a hint of gentle concern.

Liu Mengyao lowered her head slightly, as if pondering the meaning of Princess Shen's words. "There's constant turmoil in the palace, and everyone is uneasy. Princess Shen, on the other hand, seems calm." She shifted her gaze from the lake and gently passed it over Princess Shen, a subtle glint in her eyes.

Liu Mengyao's eyes flashed, as if she caught the meaning behind Princess Shen's words. She raised her eyebrows slightly and asked calmly, "What does Princess Shen mean?"

Princess Shen's voice became deeper and more magnetic. "I simply feel that Sister Liu's cooperation with the Crown Prince is more than just a game of power. The Crown Prince's ambition is no longer just a simple power struggle within the palace, but the future of the entire empire. If you are willing to cooperate with me, perhaps we can avoid some unnecessary risks."

Liu Mengyao was stunned, her eyes filled with mixed emotions. She didn't answer immediately, but instead looked out at the lake in the distance, as if pondering the deeper meaning of Princess Shen's words.

Princess Shen didn't rush him, but waited quietly. She knew that Liu Mengyao had ambitions different from the Crown Prince's, and if she could win her over to her side, the game would usher in a huge turning point.

Finally, Liu Mengyao slowly turned her head, looked directly into Princess Shen's eyes, and whispered, "You are right. The Crown Prince's ambition is indeed growing. My cooperation with the Crown Prince is no longer as trusting as before." She paused, as if making a difficult decision. "I am willing to cooperate with you, but there is one condition."

A hint of surprise flashed across Princess Shen's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure: "Go ahead, I'm listening."

Liu Mengyao's tone became calm and resolute: "Can you guarantee that the forces on my side and the Crown Prince's side will not be implicated? If you can do this, I am willing to provide you with the information behind the Crown Prince."

Princess Shen raised the corners of her mouth slightly, a cunning glint in her eyes. "I can guarantee that Sister Liu and your family are safe and sound, and I can provide you with more support. Together we will fight against the Crown Prince and the northern forces."

The two people's eyes intertwined in the air, as if a tacit deal had been quietly reached.

"It's a pleasure to work with you." Princess Shen smiled gently, her eyes as deep as the night, as if she had already seen the future victory.

……

Princess Shen left Liu Mengyao's garden, but her inner turmoil hadn't subsided. Although Liu Mengyao had agreed to cooperate, her every move was shrouded in deep calculation. Princess Shen knew the real battle had just begun. The Crown Prince, Liu Mengyao, and the northern forces—each one of these pieces could potentially change the course of the situation.

But at this moment, Princess Shen also understood a truth: if she wanted to win this game, the most important thing was to control her opponent's heart. And she had already begun to walk at the center of this chessboard, waiting for fate to turn.

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Chapter 47: Undercurrent of Betrayal