Time Travel: He is My Dad!

Chapter 129

Before the Storm

Tensions grew within the palace and beyond. Princess Shen's plans began to unfold. Though she hadn't yet made any direct moves, her every action garnered intense attention from those around her. The palace's intrigues and machinations, every shift, swirled like an unfathomable vortex, swallowing up those who strayed.

Under Princess Shen's "bait" scheme, the forces behind the Third Prince and the noble families began to take action. In this vast political chess game, all participants were forced to tread cautiously. Princess Shen did not rush to escalate the situation, but patiently waited for the right moment. She knew that the eve of a storm was often the most dangerous moment, and also the moment when she had the greatest opportunity to demonstrate her true power.

As night fell, the palace lights gradually dimmed, but within Princess Shen's chambers, everything remained brightly lit. She sat at a carved wooden desk, her gaze piercing the moonlight outside the window, seemingly contemplating her next steps. Her heart remained calm; the current situation presented her with the perfect opportunity to enter the center of power.

"Feng Jing, have you found out the contents of the letters sent to the third prince?" she asked in a low voice.

Feng Jing replied respectfully, "Princess, rest assured. I have thoroughly investigated. Most of the correspondence in that batch of letters was between the Third Prince and external forces, concerning plans for the dynasty's future and some intentions for political cooperation. The Third Prince doesn't fully understand the details of these external forces, but he is working hard to win them over, hoping to disrupt the existing structure within the palace."

Princess Shen nodded slightly, a cold glint in her eyes. She knew that while the Third Prince was intent on consolidating his power, he was too eager for quick success and lacked the foresight to forge ahead. Such a chess player was destined to struggle to maintain his composure amidst the complexities of court struggle. Conversely, she, with enduring patience and foresight, was quietly accumulating strength, preparing for a decisive turnaround.

"Feng Jing, go and make some arrangements. A special gift needs to be delivered to the residence of a certain important figure tomorrow night." Princess Shen spoke slowly, her tone still calm and resolute.

Feng Jing understood and immediately nodded in response: "Don't worry, Princess, I will arrange it myself."

Every decision she made seemed calculated, each one designed to tilt the balance of power in her favor. She never underestimated any of her rivals in the court, nor her own wisdom and strategy. She understood that these seemingly insignificant actions were the key to disrupting existing situations and reshaping the landscape.

The coming of the storm

The Third Prince's residence was exceptionally bustling tonight. To garner more support, he had convened a grand banquet, inviting numerous nobles, officials, and representatives of important external forces. Standing at the center of the banquet, a beaming smile played upon his face. His eyes gleamed with shrewdness and ambition as he faced the toasts and flattery of the numerous guests.

He knew clearly that his current position was precarious. The Crown Prince was seriously ill, and most of the forces in the palace were watching. He had to seize every opportunity to quickly build connections and consolidate his support base.

However, Princess Shen had already laid out her plan in secret. Her plan had quietly begun to take effect and would soon enter its final stage.

Just as the atmosphere at the banquet reached its climax, the Third Prince's men suddenly rushed in and whispered something to him. The Third Prince's expression changed slightly, then returned to normal, with the same unchanging smile on his face.

He signaled his men to pass the message to the guests at the banquet, then turned and walked towards the study in the distance. Inside the study, Feng Jing was already waiting there.

"The 'gift' arranged by the princess has been delivered." Feng Jing reported in a low voice.

The Third Prince's heart was shaken, and he put down the wine glass in his hand and asked, "Who sent it?"

Feng Jing replied calmly, "Princess Shen."

The Third Prince frowned slightly. Though he tried hard to control his emotions, the alertness in his eyes was evident. Although he was wary of Princess Shen, he didn't consider her the greatest threat. It now seemed clear that Princess Shen wasn't going to be a mere spectator in this power struggle.

"What should we do?" asked the third prince calmly.

Feng Jing's lips curled up slightly, his eyes deep. "Your Highness, Princess Shen has begun to take action. It seems she doesn't intend to give up this opportunity. Moreover, her methods are probably far beyond our ability to deal with easily."

The Third Prince sighed softly, a complicated look in his eyes: "In that case, we have to make preparations early."

Princess Shen's "gift" wasn't just an object; it was a complex signal, a sign of her impending offensive. Unbeknownst to the Third Prince, this gift concealed a storm about to erupt. And this storm would completely reshape the power dynamics at court.

Emerge from a cocoon into a butterfly

Princess Shen did not directly participate in the fight at the banquet. She continued to observe from the shadows, calmly waiting for the situation to change. Every move she made was to stand at the top of the entire palace at the final critical moment.

She knew a storm was brewing. The Third Prince, the noble families, external forces—everyone had become pawns on her chessboard. She wasn't in a rush to capture each piece, but rather, she patiently bided her time, waiting until the situation was completely under her control before launching another fatal blow.

Princess Shen's smile deepened, a clear goal already in her mind. The moment of emerging from the cocoon and becoming a butterfly had finally arrived.

The power struggle in the palace is like a carefully woven web. Who can escape from it, and who will be trapped in it? Princess Shen's eyes are more determined. Only she can make it to the end in this struggle.

She is ready.

Chapter 130: Awakening from a Dream