Time Travel: He is My Dad!

Game in the Shadows

Princess Shen's heart grew heavier, knowing she had embarked on a path of no return. The palace was in turmoil, with Prince Zhao's closest associates disappearing and the core members of the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce facing a series of repressions. The situation grew increasingly complex, and she herself was constantly at the center of the storm. Although she relied on her wisdom and political strategy to advance her plans step by step, she knew that a mysterious force lurked in the shadows, ready to strike a fatal blow at any moment.

Princess Shen stood in her palace study. Outside the window, the autumn atmosphere filled the garden, the crimson leaves blazing like fire, practically painting the entire world a blood-red hue. Her eyes were heavy, her fingers tapping lightly on the table. The gradually emerging clues and traces seemed to point to a single truth: the unseen mastermind had quietly become her greatest enemy.

"Eunuch Li." She called in a low voice, with a hint of coldness in her voice.

Eunuch Li hurried into the room and bowed his head respectfully: "Princess, do you have any instructions?"

"Go contact the remaining members of the Chamber of Commerce and completely eliminate their clues, leaving no trace." Princess Shen's eyes were as sharp as a knife. "If anyone dares to spy on me in secret, I will make him disappear completely."

"Yes, Princess." Although Eunuch Li felt a little uneasy, he still retreated respectfully. Princess Shen's coldness and determination made him feel in awe.

Princess Shen stood by the window, gazing quietly at the distant palace walls, her heart pounding with emotion. She knew she had to fight not only Prince Zhao, but also that mysterious force. And this struggle was destined to be one of no compromise or retreat.

-

As night fell, the tranquility of the palace seemed like a thick curtain, covering up the hidden storms. Princess Shen was dining alone in her bedroom when suddenly, a sharp knock on the door broke the silence.

"Come in." Her voice was calm, but with a hint of coldness.

Eunuch Li hurried in, his face pale. "Princess, this is bad. A spy just brought back news that one of Prince Zhao's closest associates was found dead in a secret warehouse at the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce. And all of this seems to point to your handiwork."

"What?" Princess Shen's expression suddenly changed, and her originally calm expression suddenly became solemn. "What did you say?"

Eunuch Li said in a deep voice, "Prince Zhao's confidant died in a tragic manner. The traces around him indicate someone attempted to frame the princess. Even more terrifying, news has reached Prince Zhao. He seems to suspect a deeper connection between the princess and the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce and is sending people to search for evidence."

"I didn't do this." Princess Shen's voice was as cold as ice, yet a faint sense of anxiety welled up within her. This situation was beyond her control and beyond her control. Clearly, Prince Zhao's enemies had already begun targeting her. She was a key pawn in this power struggle, and her opponent knew it.

"Princess, what should we do about this?" Eunuch Li asked anxiously.

Princess Shen took a deep breath, returned to her desk, and sat down again. Her eyes were as sharp as a knife, and a cold light flashed in her eyes. "If Prince Zhao doubts me, then let him guess for himself. I'm not afraid of him." She smiled slightly, and her eyes revealed a cold confidence. "However, I can't let this matter get completely out of control. I must first sever this thread completely."

"Immediately send someone to investigate the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce's warehouse and find conclusive evidence," she said calmly. "I need a perfect excuse to get out of this trouble. At the very least, I need to make Prince Zhao respect me."

Eunuch Li nodded and left.

A flash of deep thought flashed through Princess Shen's eyes. She knew this wasn't a simple misunderstanding. The murder of Prince Zhao's trusted aide was likely a deliberate attempt to drag her into the situation. And the hidden power was likely at the center of this vortex. She needed to take control of the situation and not allow anyone to take advantage.

She suddenly remembered an old associate of the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce, someone she had done business with before and who held some of the chamber's secret documents. Princess Shen's heart stirred, and she immediately decided to personally take action and bring that person under her control.

-

That night, Princess Shen personally went to a secret location within the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce, where some items left over from a previous transaction were hidden. Her contact with the former subordinate must remain absolutely secret, and no one else must know about it.

"Are you sure that person will come?" Eunuch Li asked in a low voice, looking a little worried.

Princess Shen sneered, "He will come. A person who once betrayed me always thinks he can escape, but he always forgets that some people can never escape the web I have laid."

In the dead of night, Princess Shen and several trusted aides quietly infiltrated the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce's warehouse. She was familiar with the place, knowing every nook and cranny like the back of her hand. This was the escape route she had laid out for herself, and it also marked a part of her past with the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce.

She patrolled the warehouse while patiently waiting for her old subordinate to arrive. Finally, around midnight, a familiar figure quietly appeared at the warehouse entrance. The man was slender, with a hint of vigilance in his eyes, apparently unaware that he was walking into a trap.

Princess Shen smiled and whispered, "Catch him."

Several trusted aides quickly took action and restrained the man. The man's eyes widened in fear and he tried to struggle: "Princess, you...what are you doing?"

Princess Shen stepped forward, her eyes as cold as a knife: "Do you think you can escape the trap I set? You betrayed me and used me. Now, it's time to pay it back."

She looked into the man's eyes, her tone calm but cold: "Take him away and interrogate him thoroughly."

At this moment, Princess Shen's heart was as tranquil as the deep sea, yet every step she took was like navigating an undercurrent. She knew there was no turning back in this game. Whoever emerged victorious would control the entire palace. Her mind and determination would determine the ultimate outcome of this power struggle.

The mysterious power behind this was finally beginning to show its edge. Although Princess Shen's plan ran like a finely tuned cogwheel, she knew that this game was far more sinister than she had imagined.

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Chapter 75: Playing Hard to Get, a Game Within a Game