Time Travel: He is My Dad!

The water is spilled and the undercurrent is surging

Princess Shen stood at the window of her study, her gaze piercing the mist towards the distant palace walls, but her heart was already surging with turbulent waves. The situation before her was gradually getting out of control, and she knew that she was already at the center of an irreversible vortex.

Li Xuwen's betrayal, the turmoil at the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce, and Prince Zhao's machinations intertwine into an invisible web, trapping her firmly within. Every slightest disturbance will determine her future. And it all seems to be controlled by an invisible hand, silently yet threateningly.

Her mind raced, and in just a few minutes, Princess Shen had mapped out her next plan with incredible clarity. She knew the most important thing now wasn't to directly confront Prince Zhao, but to completely eliminate that mysterious force. Only by finding the mastermind behind the scenes could she regain control of the entire chess game.

She gently put down the scroll in her hand, turned around and said to Eunuch Li who was serving behind her, "Go and make arrangements immediately and gather those who can be used. We have an important meeting tonight."

Eunuch Li immediately understood what Princess Shen meant and nodded in agreement, "Yes, Princess, I will arrange it right away."

-

As night fell, the palace remained as normal, lanterns flickering and people hurried along. But Princess Shen's heart was filled with a deep abyss. She knew the game had reached a critical juncture. She had to find a way out of this endless power struggle.

She weaved through the palace's dense corridors, silently entering a hidden passage. This passage was a secret passage she had reserved for herself, known only to a select few. Tonight, she would meet with those who shared her reluctance to be controlled and possessed powerful backgrounds. These individuals had once been the power she had amassed within the palace—deeply scheming, ruthless, and each with their own agenda and plans, and Princess Shen intended to exploit this to seize control.

She arrived at an unknown secret room. The guards at the door immediately retreated respectfully upon seeing her. Princess Shen pushed the door open and entered the room, where several people were already waiting. She glanced around, her gaze fixed on the man sitting in the center—Jiang Shaozong, a key figure she had never fully trusted but had to work with.

Jiang Shaozong, the emperor's nephew, possesses immense power and powerful influence. He may be complex and ruthless, but Princess Shen knows his ambitions are the same as hers—their partnership is only temporary, their shared goal: to reclaim the lost power from Prince Zhao.

"Mr. Jiang, we finally meet." Princess Shen walked to the table and said lightly.

Jiang Shaozong's lips curled up slightly, with a hint of amusement in his eyes: "Princess Shen, I heard that you've been a little uneasy lately. Even the people behind you are starting to get restless?"

Princess Shen smiled slightly and whispered, "All power struggles ultimately boil down to one word—trust. You trust me, and I trust you. Since we are allies, there's no need to bring up these insignificant past events."

Her voice was calm, yet it held a veil of threat. She knew that Jiang Shaozong's interests were tied to hers, and that if their partnership ended, they would become each other's greatest rivals. However, right now, she had no choice.

"Your Highness is right," Jiang Shaozong smiled faintly. "But I heard that your situation isn't looking good. Prince Zhao seems to be beginning to doubt your actions, and the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce is preparing a counterattack because your people have been purged. Do you feel that you've completely lost the initiative?"

Princess Shen's expression remained unchanged, but she was secretly wary. Although Jiang Shaozong was her ally, she didn't fully understand his intentions. The hint in his words seemed to be testing her, trying to force her to compromise in this unfavorable situation.

"Prince Zhao's suspicion is not enough to shake me." Princess Shen said in a deep voice, "However, the power behind it is the problem I really need to solve."

Jiang Shaozong's eyes flickered slightly, as if he was a little surprised that Princess Shen was so calm. He turned his gaze to the guards beside him and said, "You can leave now."

"Yes." The guards retreated, and the atmosphere in the secret room became even more oppressive. Jiang Shaozong's eyes never left Princess Shen. He sneered, "Princess, what exactly do you mean by that power you're talking about? Do you know that this situation is no longer something you can control alone?"

Princess Shen didn't respond immediately, but gently twirled the brocade pouch in her hand. She had already thought of a way to not only escape Prince Zhao's predicament but also to wipe out that mysterious force. What she needed was time, and time was her greatest weapon.

"That power may not be as strong as you imagine." Princess Shen finally spoke, her voice cold, "It's just that you haven't realized the true face of the force behind it. If I said that the source of that power has been lurking under our noses for years, would you believe it?"

Jiang Shaozong frowned slightly, as if he didn't quite understand what she meant: "What do you mean?"

Princess Shen's eyes grew deep as she spoke slowly, "Do you think that Prince Zhao is simply a schemer, and that the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce is merely a commercial organization? Actually... the source of everything is already within the royal family. That power was secretly manipulated by the forces behind my former husband, the Emperor."

Jiang Shaozong looked at her in shock: "You mean, the emperor?"

Princess Shen chuckled, a hint of coldness flashing in her eyes. "I've said before, this game is not just a struggle for power, it's also a struggle for life and death. If you trust me, join me and completely eliminate all the forces in this game. Otherwise, every one of us will be buried in this storm."

-

Outside the palace, the night grew increasingly silent. Princess Shen emerged from her secret chamber, her heart swirling with turmoil. She knew she was facing not only Prince Zhao and the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce, but even more than Jiang Shaozong and the forces within the palace. What she was uncovering might reveal an even deeper, unfathomable darkness beneath the entire imperial court.

As she walked toward the palace's rear hall, she pondered her next steps. She must uncover this thick fog, uncover the true manipulator behind the scenes, and fully grasp her own destiny. This process might be filled with bloodshed and sacrifice, but she was ready.

"All this has just begun." A cold light flashed in Princess Shen's eyes, and she whispered to herself.

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Chapter 77: Bloody Trick, Another Move on the Chessboard