Time Travel: He is My Dad!

The storm is brewing again, and the mystery is surging.

Princess Shen gazed out the window at the autumn breeze, her face devoid of a smile. In recent days, the atmosphere within the palace had grown increasingly tense. Prince Zhao's close associates had been frequently missing or assassinated, and news of internal divisions within the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce had grown increasingly serious. Although Princess Shen's chess game had been successfully launched, she knew it was only the beginning; the real storm was only just brewing.

Just when she thought everything was under control, a sudden secret letter broke her meditation. The letter had no signature or seal, only one line of words: "Someone is watching you from behind."

The brief words in the letter, like a sharp blade, pierced directly into Princess Shen's heart. She clutched the letter tightly, her eyes cold, and a subtle tension appeared on her face.

"Someone is watching me?" she whispered to herself, her eyes suddenly sharp. "Who is it? Who knows everything about me?"

Over the past few days, Princess Shen has remained calm and decisive, carefully planning every move. Yet, she never imagined she would be targeted. Her every move was being observed by an unknown force, who could even discern her deepest plots. This force, it seems, wasn't Prince Zhao or the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce, but a powerful enemy lurking behind the scenes.

"Princess, what do you think?" Eunuch Li walked in quietly, holding a bowl of hot tea in his hand, with a hint of worry in his eyes.

Princess Shen raised her head, her gaze swept coldly over Eunuch Li, and she said in a deep voice, "I'm telling you, all the spies in the palace must be more cautious from today on. Every piece of intelligence must be double-verified. Also, gradually reduce my contacts with the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce. The person behind this obviously knows that I'm behind this."

Eunuch Li was startled and immediately agreed respectfully, "Yes, Princess. I will arrange it immediately."

However, Princess Shen couldn't calm down. She knew that the situation in this power struggle had become more complicated. Prince Zhao, the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce, and herself were all vying for power on each other's chessboards, but now, it was clear that a more powerful force had begun to quietly influence the entire situation.

At this moment, Princess Shen's eyes flickered, as if a thought struck her. She gently rose, walked to the desk, and picked up a yellowed, old book. This book had been secretly given to her by a maid when she first entered the palace. Its contents were simple, yet it contained some of the palace's hidden history. In particular, one incident seemed to offer a clue: a veteran minister who once held power in the palace had left behind a secret about "hidden power" before his death.

"Hidden power... is it him?" Princess Shen muttered to herself, a trace of doubt suddenly emerging in her heart. She opened the page and quickly scanned the text, her eyes gradually becoming solemn.

Several years ago, a powerful official held significant influence within the palace. However, following a palace coup, he was ousted and has not been heard from since. Princess Shen discovered a hidden passage in a book that mentioned the connection between this old official's family and a mysterious power. It seems this power, not just a few families within the palace, is more likely a hidden force manipulating the entire palace's power transition.

She analyzed calmly, a glint of inspiration flashing in her eyes: "Could this be the dark secret I've never touched? Is this the hidden power I'm facing?"

Princess Shen felt a strong sense of crisis, and she had no time to hesitate. This mysterious power was clearly more unfathomable than those of Prince Zhao, the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce, and others. If she wanted to truly win this game, she must first uncover this mystery and discover the true source of this hidden power. Only then could she gain the upper hand in the ensuing power struggle.

-

The next day, news suddenly spread from the palace, shocking the entire circle of power. Rumors spread that Prince Zhao was secretly colluding with foreign enemies and plotting rebellion. Although these were only preliminary accusations, the situation had become unmanageable. Prince Zhao was forced to close all palace banquets and order his men to search for anyone connected to the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce. For a time, the entire palace was in a state of panic.

Princess Shen stood at the window, gazing at the palace buildings outside, a complex emotion flickering in her eyes. She knew that Prince Zhao must have sensed her manipulations, and his reaction was merely a superficial struggle. However, Princess Shen knew that behind all this, there was still a rival more powerful than Prince Zhao, controlling everything.

"Eunuch Li," she whispered, "make arrangements to evacuate all informants from the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce as quickly as possible. Don't leave any traces behind."

"Yes, Princess," Eunuch Li replied respectfully, a flicker of admiration in his eyes. Princess Shen's adaptability was already beyond the ordinary. She knew that the next move would determine everything.

However, just as Princess Shen was about to expedite her plans, even more urgent news suddenly arrived from the palace: Prince Zhao had appeared outside the palace in person, accompanied by a team of men, seeking documents related to the transaction with the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce. This meant that Prince Zhao not only intended to completely eliminate the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce, but also decided to completely reverse the situation and remove himself from the spotlight.

Princess Shen's heart trembled. She knew that Prince Zhao must have sensed the approaching danger. At this moment, her eyes flickered, and she suddenly thought of a possibility - if she could push Prince Zhao into a more dangerous situation, she would not only be able to resolve the crisis in her own life, but also use Prince Zhao as a card in her hand.

"It's time to start closing the net." Princess Shen whispered to herself, with a complex light in her eyes.

-

Over the next few days, the situation in the palace shifted dramatically. Prince Zhao's closest confidant suddenly vanished overnight, prompting an intensified investigation, with almost all attention focused on the murky relationship between Prince Zhao and the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce. Princess Shen's schemes gradually began to bear fruit, and her scheming inched closer to true victory.

However, she also knew that the real challenge lay ahead. The hidden power behind her was always following her like a shadow, quietly approaching her steps. And this power struggle was destined to be even more brutal and complex.

Princess Shen knew very well that the crucial moment for her ultimate victory might come in the near future.

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Chapter 74: Game in the Shadows