Time Travel: He is My Dad!

The palace is like the sea, and the schemes are hard to predict

As the night deepened, the palace's tranquility was shattered by the sound of hurried footsteps. Cheng Jiahong and his entourage quietly returned, bearing evidence of Princess Shen's personal command. Their every movement was meticulously calculated, down to the last detail. Yet Princess Shen's nerves remained tense, far from relaxing. She knew the real battle had only just begun; today's action was merely the opening salvo.

Upon returning to her chambers, Princess Shen didn't immediately rest. Instead, she summoned several secret messengers to carefully examine the evidence they had obtained the previous night. The letters revealed a shocking revelation—the collusion between the princes and external forces was far more complex than it appeared. The covert support mentioned in the letters wasn't limited to money and supplies; it also involved manpower. Elite troops would be dispatched from various locations, ready to support these princes in overthrowing the current imperial order at a crucial moment.

"Cheng Jiahong." Princess Shen's voice was cold, revealing an invisible pressure. "Investigate thoroughly for me who is supporting these princes behind the scenes."

Cheng Jiahong nodded and replied in a low voice: "Princess, we have already started following up. I will immediately mobilize more forces to track down every clue."

Princess Shen pursed her lips, but a turbulent storm was already brewing within her. She had once believed that a power struggle could be controlled through her own wisdom and tactics, but now she realized that things were far more complicated than she had imagined. In the palace, the foundation of power was not as solid as a rock, and even she herself was not completely in the upper hand.

"It seems these princes and nobles have planned this long ago." She whispered to herself, as if she was talking to herself, or as if she was examining the ever-changing situation in the palace.

Cheng Jiahong was quick-witted and sensed Princess Shen's deep concern. He whispered, "Princess, perhaps we should slow down our actions for a while to avoid alerting the enemy. After all, we now have a grasp of their movements, but if we launch an offensive too early, they might counterattack."

A cold light flashed in Princess Shen's eyes. She waved her hand gently, "No, I won't give them any more breathing space. Since they dared to make such plans, they should pay the price for their actions."

At this moment, a small commotion was heard in the palace, as if a palace maid had come to report something. Princess Shen's eyes froze. She turned back to look at the door, where several trusted palace maids walked in, holding a letter. The maid carefully handed the letter to her, then bent down and whispered, "Princess, this is an order from the Emperor."

Princess Shen frowned slightly, took the letter, and opened it. She glanced at the contents of the letter and felt a chill in her heart.

"There are constant disturbances in the palace. Tonight I have summoned the princess to discuss a matter. You can see her late at night." - The emperor's handwriting.

"It seems that the emperor has finally made a move." Princess Shen's heart moved. She put down the letter and turned to Cheng Jiahong and said, "Get ready. Let's go see the emperor."

Cheng Jiahong's expression shifted slightly, and then he whispered, "Princess, since the Emperor has summoned you, it's probably more than just a simple inquiry. There's probably a deeper meaning behind it. Has he noticed anything?"

"No matter what, we have to go and see him." Princess Shen replied softly, but the coldness in her tone did not diminish, but became more determined.

As the night deepened, the palace became almost breathtakingly silent. Princess Shen donned her simplest palace attire and journeyed with Cheng Jiahong to the Emperor's chambers. Along the way, the palace attendants bowed respectfully, but Princess Shen's gaze remained calm, as if she could handle any situation with composure.

Arriving at the Emperor's chambers, Princess Shen was ushered in. The Emperor remained seated on his high throne, his expression indistinct. Princess Shen knelt in greeting, but did not speak immediately. Instead, she quietly waited for the Emperor's words.

After a moment, the emperor finally spoke, his voice low and tinged with an unfathomable tone: "Princess Shen, there have been constant disturbances in the court recently, and your frequent actions have inevitably made me suspicious. Is there any hidden reason behind your handling of the case with the Crown Prince?"

Princess Shen's heart trembled, and she immediately understood the emperor's deeper meaning. These words were superficially inquiring, but in reality they were probing. The emperor seemed to be hinting that her rise to power was too rapid, and even beginning to make him wary.

She smiled faintly and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, I am only following your Majesty's orders to clean up the filth in the palace and restore the integrity of the court. As for the Crown Prince's matter, it was handled properly for the sake of the country. How could I dare to hide anything?"

The emperor's eyes flickered slightly, but he quickly returned to normal. "Do you think I really believe what you say? I am not completely unaware of the collusion in the palace. Princess Shen, I am not targeting you. I just want to ask, what do you want?"

Princess Shen sneered inwardly, but maintained an elegant smile. "I have no desires. My only wish is to be able to safely contribute to the country and do my best. As for the so-called 'collusion', I have no intention of participating. I simply want to eliminate the corruption in the palace one by one."

The emperor narrowed his eyes, as if pondering her words. After a long pause, he finally spoke softly, "I don't completely believe what you say. Now that the Shen family is gaining power, I have to be on guard."

Princess Shen's eyes suddenly became sharp, and she said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, I have no second thoughts and am solely devoted to the country and the court. Any conspiracy will surely be exposed. As for whether I am a threat, I'm afraid that once the emperor makes his own decision, he will know for sure."

Her tone was low and full of confidence, as if she had a strong sense of control over the future. The emperor's expression changed slightly when he heard this, obviously not expecting Princess Shen to be so firm and calm.

"You are quite courageous," the emperor snorted coldly. "Well, in that case, I will trust you for now. However, Princess Shen, if you take any action that harms the court again, I will never tolerate it."

Princess Shen secretly laughed in her heart, but she still maintained a respectful attitude: "I will obey the emperor's order and have no second thoughts."

When she left the emperor's bedroom, Cheng Jiahong quietly approached and asked in a low voice: "Princess, how do you plan to respond to the emperor's temptation?"

Her words were gentle yet powerful, and the gleam in her eyes was like the sharp edge of a sword, ready to sever all obstacles. The struggle within the palace remained as complex as ever, but Princess Shen's steps remained unwavering.

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Chapter 57: The puzzle of trust