Time Travel: He is My Dad!

The end of power, the breaking of backs

The palace banquet was ablaze with lights and music, but Princess Shen could clearly sense the oppressive atmosphere in the air. Tonight, this banquet was destined to be more than a simple palace feast, but a game of power, perhaps even a struggle for life and death.

The Crown Prince stood at the main seat in the banquet hall. Although he wore a broad smile and spoke with the air of an emperor, his eyes no longer held the sharpness and confidence they once held. Princess Shen gazed at his self-possessed face, a complex mix of emotions—some of which were smugness and sneer, while others felt a faint sympathy for the Crown Prince's struggle to accept defeat.

At this moment, Princess Shen knew that she had reached the pinnacle of power, and every decision she made would determine the final outcome of this dispute.

At the start of the banquet, the palace's important officials remained respectful and smiling, but their subtle expressions and words betrayed a sense of nervousness and anticipation. The crown prince continued to smile in response to the ministers' toasts and congratulations, attempting to mask his inner anxiety through the lively atmosphere.

However, Princess Shen's eyes were already filled with undercurrents amidst this splendor. She knew that this night, the entire situation would undergo earth-shaking changes.

"Your Highness, today's banquet is very lively, and the scenery in the palace is better than ever." Princess Shen walked slowly towards the prince, gently holding up the wine glass. Her tone was gentle but polite, but her eyes were as sharp as a knife.

The prince was slightly taken aback, then smiled faintly, trying to show his unmoved calmness: "Princess, you are too kind. Everything in the palace depends on the support of you and the ministers."

Princess Shen smiled, turned gracefully, and scanned everyone present, as if silently assessing each person's position and potential threat. She knew that every decision tonight could not be made without error.

She stood in the right position and waved her hand gently, and Cheng Jiahong immediately began the "game" he had arranged. At Princess Shen's suggestion, the palace guards quietly dispersed, and several gorgeously dressed palace maids walked to the center of the banquet and respectfully presented a letter to the prince.

The Crown Prince's expression changed, and he lowered his head to take the letter. The smile on his face gradually disappeared, replaced by deep worry. Princess Shen's heart moved, and murderous intent gradually emerged in her eyes. She had already planted the decisive blow in this letter.

The letter's contents were brief, yet they were enough to instantly change the situation. It revealed a secret agreement between the Crown Prince and the northern forces, and not only that, it also made the details of this agreement public. The Crown Prince's collusion with the northern forces was a complete conspiracy that betrayed the imperial court. It turned out they had long been planning to unite and overthrow the current emperor's rule.

"What is this?" The prince said in a low voice, clearly frightened by the sudden news. He forced himself to finish reading the letter, his face as pale as paper, the cold sweat and fear in his eyes clearly exposed.

A sudden silence fell in the banquet hall, all eyes fixed on the Crown Prince. As everyone watched the panic and bewilderment gradually emerge on his face, many ministers, filled with complex thoughts, began to exchange glances, some with sudden changes of expression, while others revealed complex smiles.

The prince struggled to his feet, wanting to protest, but his voice seemed weak and feeble. "Princess, is what you said true?" His tone was filled with disbelief and deep fear. "I—I didn't..."

"Your Highness, there's no need to defend yourself any further." Princess Shen smiled faintly and raised her glass gently. "The facts are before our eyes, in plain sight. Everything will be revealed. And you have no way to escape."

As Princess Shen finished speaking, the atmosphere in the banquet hall grew more solemn. Some officials who had already sided with the Crown Prince began to look embarrassed and uneasy, while those who had remained neutral with Princess Shen finally understood where they should stand.

Princess Shen's smile remained gentle, as clear and cold as the bright moon. "Your Highness, since your relationship with the northern forces is no longer salvageable, tonight may be the last time you can hold your position firmly in the court."

She turned to look at Cheng Jiahong, her eyes filled with determination, "Cheng Jiahong, execute the order."

Cheng Jiahong waved his hand, and guards immediately rushed into the banquet hall, quickly apprehending all high-ranking officials suspected of supporting the crown prince. Some ministers, feeling guilty, had already begun secretly trying to escape, but were blocked one by one by Cheng Jiahong's men.

At the same time, under the arrangement of Princess Shen, Pei Zhongming quietly launched a surprise attack on the core members of the Northern faction. Through a series of carefully planned plans, the senior members of the Northern faction were arrested one by one, all of which demonstrated Princess Shen's extremely precise control.

The Crown Prince stood in the center of the banquet hall, his former imperial dignity completely gone. His body began to tremble slightly, his mouth dry, and he almost collapsed to his knees. "Princess, I beg you, please spare my life... I... I am willing to submit to you. You... Whatever you desire, just ask..."

Princess Shen listened to the Crown Prince's plea for mercy without a trace of pity in her heart. Her gaze was cold and ruthless. "Prince, what has happened today is irreversible. You have betrayed your father and the court. Today, you are destined to pay the price for your actions."

She took a step forward, walked in front of the prince, and whispered, "Your collusion with the northern forces has been exposed. From tonight, the power of the entire empire will be dominated by me."

The prince closed his eyes and burst into tears. He knew that he had completely failed. In this power struggle, Princess Shen would eventually become the winner.

Princess Shen turned and gave the ministers a faint smile. "Today's affairs are all official business. Whether it is the court officials or the palace, everyone must be held accountable for their actions. No one can escape."

With Princess Shen's final command, the Crown Prince was taken away, and the "shadow" of the northern forces completely collapsed in this storm. Everything inside and outside the palace fell into unprecedented turmoil.

However, Princess Shen did not relax at all. She knew that this was just the beginning.

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Chapter 53: It’s lonely at the top, the storm is coming again