Time Travel: He is My Dad!

Undercurrent surges, betrayal has begun

Princess Shen returned to her chambers, her emotions still mixed. Chu Heng's appearance and his words stirred a wave of emotions within her. She knew that every struggle within the palace was more than just superficial. Everyone had their own interests and agenda, and she needed to be even more cautious to navigate this complex situation.

There were too many hidden dangers in the palace, and she couldn't afford to ignore any potential threat. Most unsettling of all was the unfathomable connection between Prince Zhao and the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce. She had always felt that despite her considerable power within the palace, if she forged too deep a connection with either, she might be swept into an uncontrollable storm.

However, as she said, if she could control the situation, she could force everyone to bow down. She was never afraid of challenges; on the contrary, the more challenges she faced, the more she could demonstrate her true strength.

That night, Chu Heng's warning didn't frighten her; instead, it fueled her fighting spirit. She decided she had to expedite her actions and gain control of everything as soon as possible to ensure her own safety. To this end, she had already made all kinds of preparations.

-

Over the next few days, Princess Shen remained relatively quiet, maintaining a low profile. She began appearing frequently at important palace events, attracting a great deal of attention at every banquet or palace discussion. She remained the same aloof princess, cold and mysterious, yet also exceptionally intelligent and shrewd.

Prince Zhao seemed to notice a change in Princess Shen's behavior and gradually became more proactive. He began appearing before her more frequently, offering her gifts and tender words. Everyone in the palace knew that Prince Zhao was constantly striving for more power, but Princess Shen never felt attracted to him. She understood that Prince Zhao's approach to her was merely part of a power struggle.

Yet, Princess Shen knew that Prince Zhao was merely a pawn in her chessboard. She didn't fully trust him, and sometimes even doubted his motives. Everything Prince Zhao did wasn't necessarily out of love for her, but perhaps more of a desire to increase his power and status.

She would occasionally keep her distance from him, testing whether he truly had any designs on her. Sure enough, Prince Zhao's patience and attitude always seemed to break through her defenses.

That night, Prince Zhao appeared at her bedroom door again, his eyes filled with eagerness and longing: "Princess, it's been a long time since we last met. Would you be so kind as to have a meeting?"

Princess Shen looked at Prince Zhao with a hint of sneer in her heart. She knew that he didn't just want to spend time with her, but wanted to use this opportunity to open the door to higher power.

She nodded slightly, indicating that he could come in. Prince Zhao then walked into the room, his eyes flashing with anticipation, but also with a hint of conspiracy.

Princess Shen knew that she had to remain vigilant in every contact with Prince Zhao. She did not want to have too much friendship with Prince Zhao at this time, because she knew that the closer she got to him, the easier it would be to be drawn into his power games.

"Prince Zhao, the situation in the palace has been complicated recently. You must be more careful." Princess Shen still maintained a calm tone.

Prince Zhao smiled faintly. "Don't worry, Princess. I've long been accustomed to the complexities of the palace. However, I always admire your wisdom and calmness."

Princess Shen didn't respond, but simply sipped her tea, her eyes thoughtful. Seeing she had stopped talking, Prince Zhao spoke softly, "I heard that the princess had recently been in contact with the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce. I'm afraid this move could land you in trouble."

Princess Shen looked up at him, a hint of sarcasm flashing in her eyes. "Why worry, Prince Zhao? I know my limits. The Qingyun Chamber of Commerce is no ordinary group. I'm afraid my interactions with them aren't as simple as you imagine."

-

Meanwhile, the palace was in turmoil. As the relationship between Princess Shen and Prince Zhao gradually warmed, other palace forces began to quietly take action. Some began to doubt her, while others secretly plotted to exclude her.

One of these was a powerful official in the palace named Lu Zhao. While Lu Zhao appeared respectful to Princess Shen, he harbored a deep resentment. Princess Shen not only enjoyed Prince Zhao's favor, but her partnership with the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce also allowed her to gradually gain control of key palace resources. This threatened Lu Zhao, who believed that if he didn't take action, he would struggle to maintain his position within the palace.

So, he began to contact some old forces in the palace in private, trying to get rid of Princess Shen through an assassination. He worked secretly, planning an operation in which a close confidant in the palace would put Princess Shen in trouble.

However, Princess Shen was clearly aware of all this. She was no ordinary woman, possessing sharp insight and unparalleled wisdom. She had already discerned Lu Zhao's plot from the details and had begun secretly laying out a counterattack.

In her opinion, anyone who tries to challenge her must pay the price for their actions. She did not take action directly, but through a series of carefully planned means, she exposed Lu Zhao's conspiracy step by step.

Lu Zhao soon discovered that his entire plan had been discovered by Princess Shen. With no other options left, he quietly withdrew and abandoned his assassination attempt. Princess Shen finally breathed a sigh of relief, but she didn't let it stop her. She knew this was only a small victory; the real challenge had just begun.

-

Princess Shen stood at the window of her bedroom, gazing at the distant palace walls, her heart calm and resolute. She knew every step was fraught with danger, but this would not deter her. She was ready to face every storm that came her way, even if it meant plunging her into a bottomless abyss, she would not fear the slightest.

She took a deep breath and whispered, "The storm is coming, betrayal and conspiracy are coming one after another. The road I have to take will not be smooth, but I will dominate everything."

As she whispered, the night in the palace grew darker, as if foreshadowing the coming of a bigger storm, and Princess Shen was already standing in the center of this storm.

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Chapter 68: A plan to break the deadlock, a hidden secret