Time Travel: He is My Dad!

Dangers abound, and the game becomes clearer

The atmosphere at the banquet grew more subtle with the arrival of Princess Shen. Prince Zhao remained seated in the main seat, surrounded by familiar faces, all of whom held positions of power within the palace. Some were representatives of business tycoons, others were court officials with whom Prince Zhao had long-standing relationships, and even some mysterious eunuchs, their auras undeniable.

Princess Shen entered the banquet hall and spotted several familiar faces. Eunuch Li was standing nearby, conversing quietly with several officials, occasionally glancing at her, as if observing her reactions. Meanwhile, Cheng Jiahong stood off to the side, chatting and laughing with a close confidant of Prince Zhao. While they appeared close, there was no hint of heart-to-heart communication.

Princess Shen showed no sign of discomfort. Instead, she slowly approached Prince Zhao with a dignified and elegant demeanor. She knew that tonight's banquet, ostensibly for building relationships, was actually a hidden bargain of interests that would determine her future position in the palace.

"Princess Shen, please take a seat." Prince Zhao stood up with a smile and pointed to the seat with an elegant gesture.

Princess Shen sat down and said politely, "Thank you, Prince Zhao."

Prince Zhao didn't respond immediately. Instead, he glanced at the guests in the banquet hall, a cold glint in his eyes. Then, he raised his glass and gently gestured to Princess Shen, "Tonight, we're not just chatting and laughing. In fact, I've prepared something for you. Is Princess Shen interested?"

Princess Shen was slightly startled, a hint of alarm flashing in her eyes, but she didn't show it directly. She took a sip of wine and smiled, "If Prince Zhao really has any plans, Princess Shen is naturally willing to listen to them."

Prince Zhao smiled and nodded, as if gauging Princess Shen's reaction. He then spoke, "The situation within the palace is becoming increasingly complex. The rise of the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce has caused unease among many traditional powers. Your intelligence and talent have already attracted the attention of many. Perhaps you have realized that this situation concerns not only the power within the palace, but also the turmoil in the business world outside."

Princess Shen's heart was moved, but she remained calm. "Prince Zhao's vision is indeed sharp. The power struggle in the palace and the game in the business world are indeed becoming increasingly tense. Although Princess Shen is in the palace, she does not want to be constrained."

Prince Zhao's eyes flickered with a subtle emotion upon hearing this, but he quickly regained his composure. "I know you don't want to be bound by constraints, and perhaps you've already decided on your own path. But if you can cooperate with me, you'll definitely have a bright future. The Qingyun Chamber of Commerce may be powerful, but the power within the palace is fundamental. If you can seize the opportunity and unite with us, we can definitely break the current deadlock."

Princess Shen understood that the cooperation Prince Zhao was talking about was clearly more than just a simple alliance; it involved a profound exchange of power. She looked at Prince Zhao calmly, "Prince Zhao's proposal is indeed tempting, but I must know the price of cooperation."

Prince Zhao smiled faintly, as if he had anticipated Princess Shen's question. He whispered, "The price is simple. You are willing to provide us with intelligence that will help us break the current balance in the palace. You will gain not only power, but also everything you desire."

Princess Shen took a deep breath, her mind gradually coming to a clearer understanding. All of this, it turned out, was a long-planned chess game by Prince Zhao. He hoped to use her to gain more intelligence on other forces within the palace, and she, in turn, would be drawn deeper into the vortex.

She nodded slowly: "If that's the case, Princess Shen is of course willing to cooperate."

Prince Zhao chuckled. "In that case, after tonight, I will arrange for you to meet with representatives from the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce. They have been looking for valuable partners, and you happen to fit their needs."

These words hit Princess Shen like a bombshell. She hadn't expected Prince Zhao to push her directly into the heart of the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce. The Qingyun Chamber of Commerce's influence had already transcended the boundaries between the imperial court and the business world. Anyone who collaborated with it would be deeply trapped, unable to extricate themselves.

Princess Shen didn't respond immediately. She knew she had been caught up in a massive power struggle, and the rise of Qingyun Chamber of Commerce was no accident. There must be a deeper conspiracy behind it.

Meanwhile, Cheng Jiahong stood in a corner of the banquet, silently observing Princess Shen's every move. He knew that tonight's banquet was more than just a social event for Princess Shen, but rather a grand chess move within the palace. He closely watched the interaction between Princess Shen and Prince Zhao, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Princess Shen, you are really an unpredictable woman." Cheng Jiahong said to himself.

He knew that Princess Shen's thoughts were becoming more and more profound. She was no longer the weak woman who was abandoned in the cold palace. Instead, she pushed herself to the pinnacle of power step by step. However, the power struggles in the palace were complicated. Any small mistake could make her lose everything.

After the banquet, Princess Shen did not return to the palace immediately, but met with Cheng Jiahong in a secluded corner outside the banquet hall.

"Cheng Jiahong, what do you think of the cooperation proposed by Prince Zhao?" Princess Shen asked straight to the point.

Cheng Jiahong lowered his head and pondered for a moment before slowly speaking, "Although Prince Zhao's words were suggestive, I don't think he's simple-minded. He must have a deeper purpose behind pushing you to the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce. If you rashly cooperate with him, you might be exploited or even trapped in a quagmire from which you can't escape."

Princess Shen nodded, her eyes firm. "I understand. But who in this palace can avoid being exploited? However, I must make a choice, and I have already made it."

Cheng Jiahong sighed: "Princess, every step you take is full of unknown risks. I am worried that you may pay a higher price for it."

Princess Shen's gaze grew sharper. "No matter what the cost, I'm ready. Cheng Jiahong, help me keep a close eye on every movement in the palace, especially the movements of Prince Zhao and the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce. I need to know everything before I can make the final decision."

Cheng Jiahong's heart trembled. He finally realized that Princess Shen was no longer just a simple concubine, but a master in the game of power. Her every decision was quietly changing the situation in the palace, and she had quietly become the most important chess piece in this game.

Princess Shen smiled slightly: "Cheng Jiahong, from now on, we will no longer be chess pieces, but the controllers on the chessboard."

After these words fell, Princess Shen's back disappeared into the night, as if foreshadowing that she was about to face an unprecedented storm. And the center of the storm was the pinnacle of power that she had carefully arranged.

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Chapter 65: Undercurrents and Confrontation