Time Travel: He is My Dad!

Playing hard to get, a game within a game

Inside the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce warehouse, the air was heavy and the lights flickered. Princess Shen stood aside, coldly observing the bound man before her—her former subordinate, Li Xuwen. Once upon a time, he had been a capable figure within the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce, and they had engaged in a political conspiracy, calculating their mutual interests. But now, this former ally had become a pawn in her carefully orchestrated schemes.

Li Xuwen was tied tightly with iron chains, his face was pale, sweat kept oozing from his forehead, his eyes were filled with fear and confusion, but more of it was helplessness and resentment for betrayal.

"Princess...you..." Li Xuwen tried to struggle, his voice choking. "Are you really going to do this to me? We've planned so many things together before, how could it end so easily?"

Princess Shen's face was expressionless. She slowly walked up to Li Xuwen and looked at him coldly, "Our previous joint plans were all based on my trust in you, but you chose to betray me. When you decided to steal confidential documents from the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce and tried to push me into the fire pit, I already knew it, but I just hadn't found the right time to deal with you."

Her voice, without a trace of fluctuation, was like an icy blade, piercing Li Xuwen's heart. His face turned even paler, and his heart grew more panicked. Princess Shen's coldness suffocated him, as if every word she said was pushing him to death.

"Princess, I... I know I was wrong, and I'm willing to pay the price for what I did." A hint of pleading flashed in Li Xuwen's eyes, and his voice trembled. "But I really didn't expect you to be so cruel. You know, the person behind this isn't just Prince Zhao, he has more allies, and they've been keeping an eye on you. I was forced to do this, you must believe me..."

Princess Shen raised her hand to interrupt him. "I know what you meant. Do you think I'll let you go just like that?" Her eyes grew fierce. "The power behind this is indeed strong, but I'm not afraid anymore. You're no longer a pawn on my chessboard. You're just a discarded piece that can be discarded at any time."

Li Xuwen's heartbeat was rapid, and his eyes were filled with shock and fear. Princess Shen's words were like a sharp sword, piercing him from his previous fantasy. Her coldness, decisiveness, and ruthlessness had long exceeded his expectations.

He understood that he had no way out.

"Princess... please don't..." Li Xuwen lowered his head, not daring to look directly into Princess Shen's eyes. He knew that no matter how much he explained, it would be useless. Princess Shen had already regarded him as an enemy, and he himself had no room for resistance.

Princess Shen ignored Li Xuwen's pleas and slowly walked to a nearby table, picking up a secret letter. There was no seal on the letter, only a simple line of words: "Have you made your decision?"

A hint of doubt flashed in her eyes. The words seemed to hint at something. This information didn't come from Li Xuwen, but from a deeper power.

"Prince Zhao's conspiracy has begun to close in. And you, Princess Shen, are a pawn in this closing net. If you don't want to become a discarded pawn in his hands, you must do as I say. Your next choice will determine whether you can survive."

Princess Shen's heart tightened. The letter didn't mention the specific identity, but it was clear that this force wasn't Prince Zhao or the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce, but rather some even more unfathomable power. A flash of alarm flashed through her mind; this power was no longer within her control.

Princess Shen took a deep breath and was silent for a moment. Then she turned and walked to Li Xuwen's side, whispering coldly, "There are so many things you don't understand." She looked at the fear in his eyes and suddenly revealed a hint of sneer. "You are still too young, Li Xuwen. You will never understand the true rules of this world."

She waved her hand, and several of her trusted followers dragged Li Xuwen out, leaving him to struggle feebly. A moment later, silence returned to the warehouse. Princess Shen's brow furrowed, her suspicions still lingering.

-

Within the palace, Prince Zhao's forces have gradually gained control of most of the power. With the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce in turmoil, Prince Zhao has accelerated his efforts to close the net. Princess Shen realizes her situation is becoming increasingly dire, and she must find a solution quickly to remain invincible in this chess game.

She suddenly realized that her relationship with Prince Zhao, though complicated, was not completely hostile. What she relied on was her strong backing—and this backing might be her only hope of escaping her predicament.

She turned and walked towards the study. A map had already been spread out on the table. The dense markings on the map clearly showed every chess move she had made. Her plans had never failed, but the current situation was much more complicated than she had imagined.

"I've eliminated Li Xuwen, but the person behind him is the most formidable enemy." Princess Shen muttered to herself, her eyes deep. "What I need to do now is not to confront Prince Zhao head-on, but to find the true identity of the force behind the scenes."

She gently stroked the map on the table, a sharp glint in her eyes. She knew this struggle was no longer just a battle for power, but a game of life and death. And there was no turning back for her.

"I want to make this game even more exciting." Princess Shen smiled gently, with a hint of cold determination in her smile.

-

Undercurrents surge within the palace, and the situation remains uncertain. Princess Shen's next move will determine the entire outcome of the game, and she finally realizes that this power struggle isn't just about Prince Zhao, the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce, and herself. A more powerful shadowy force is quietly unfolding.

She knew very well that every step she took was full of uncertainty, and the real challenges were far more than the people and things in front of her.

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Chapter 76: The damage is done, the undercurrent surges