Time Travel: He is My Dad!

Chapter 112: Deep Waters of Intrigue

Deep Waters of Intrigue

Princess Shen's palace maneuvering was like a sophisticated machine, every detail meticulously planned and every step carefully planned. Her goal was not only to secure a place within the inner sanctum, but also to propel herself to an unparalleled position. While she had established a superficial partnership with the Crown Prince, she knew he was far more than her enemy within the palace.

The Third Prince remained her greatest threat. Intelligent and profound, he had long since realized that Princess Shen was no match for him. Furthermore, Princess Shen knew that the Third Prince wielded a complex network of influence, encompassing numerous important officials within the court and marriages with other courtiers. His ambition to unify the empire was almost obvious. To her, the Third Prince's threat came not from his own power but from the entire power structure he represented.

Just as Princess Shen was considering how to further distance herself from the Third Prince, unexpected news arrived from outside the palace—the Third Prince had secretly sent someone to contact her. The person was a former subordinate of Princess Shen and a close confidant of the Shen Palace.

"Princess, the Third Prince has passed on a message through me," the confidant reported in a low voice, his expression solemn. "He said that if Princess is willing to cooperate with him, he can provide you with strong support and help you control everything in the palace."

Princess Shen raised her brows, a sneer flashing in her eyes. The Third Prince had indeed not let her go, attempting to win her over through this partnership. But she knew it was merely bait, a trap to test her loyalty. If she accepted the Third Prince's proposal, it would mean she would forever lose her dominant position in this power game.

"What conditions did the Third Prince offer?" Princess Shen asked calmly.

A hint of hesitation flashed in the confidant's eyes. "He said that if the princess is willing to surrender, he can not only provide you with resources that the prince cannot give you, but also help you seize everything in the palace at the critical moment."

"Resources?" Princess Shen sneered, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes. "Does he think I would covet such superficial benefits?"

The confidant bowed his head slightly, "Princess, how do you plan to deal with this?"

Princess Shen took a deep breath and slowly sat back on the couch, a cold light flashing in her eyes: "Since he wants to cooperate with me, he should know that my cooperation is not so easy to obtain."

She stood up and slowly walked to the window, gazing out at the palace garden that seemed like an endless abyss. The palace's profusion of flowers concealed countless undercurrents.

"I will personally meet the Third Prince," she whispered. "If he truly wishes to form an alliance with me, he must pay the corresponding price. And I will only choose the method that best controls the situation."

The confidant nodded and withdrew. Princess Shen already had a plan in mind. The Third Prince's test was just a game, and she would respond in another way.

-

Three days later, Princess Shen traveled alone to the Third Prince's palace. He had already prepared everything for her, and his words were respectful, yet subtly condescending. She sneered inwardly. If he truly wanted to cooperate with her, why would he be so contrived? However, she remained polite, sitting quietly with a smile on her face.

The Third Prince's eyes flickered as he picked up his teacup and smiled gently, "The Princess has come to visit me personally today. I wonder what advice you have for me?"

"I came here for no other reason." Princess Shen smiled slightly, her eyes meeting his without a trace of fear in them. "I just heard that the Third Prince was willing to cooperate with me, so I wanted to come and find out."

The Third Prince raised an eyebrow, a playful smile on his face. "The Princess is indeed different and speaks her mind. In that case, I will no longer hold back and speak frankly. If the Princess is willing to join forces with me, the Crown Prince's power will no longer be a threat. We can even join forces to fight for a higher position."

Princess Shen gently stirred the teacup in her hand, her eyes deep. "What the Third Prince said is not without reason, but I do not trust anyone easily. Cooperation must be based on mutual trust. If the Third Prince truly wants to cooperate with me, he should know that trust is more important than any other conditions."

A complex emotion flashed across the Third Prince's eyes, as if he was assessing Princess Shen's attitude. Her words were sharp, yet gentle, and on the surface, she didn't show any overt hostility. However, her calm gaze and unyielding attitude made the Third Prince feel a little threatened.

"Your Highness is indeed resourceful. In that case, let's get straight to the point. If your Highness is willing to accept the terms of cooperation, I can offer you unlimited support." Before the Third Prince finished speaking, a resolute glint flashed in his eyes. "But the conditions are very simple. If you can help me suppress the Crown Prince, then the battle for the throne will become our common goal."

Princess Shen's heart stirred. The Third Prince's offer wasn't simple, but it wasn't entirely without merit. She spoke slowly, "The battle for the throne isn't decided overnight. I, Princess Shen, am not someone who will blindly follow someone based on mere verbal promises. If the Third Prince can offer me genuine, substantive support, I might consider it."

The Third Prince's eyes lit up, evidently feeling a glimmer of hope at Princess Shen's words. He didn't rush to reply, but instead smiled and said, "I've long heard of your intelligence. So, let's start with the concrete details and proceed step by step."

Princess Shen secretly calculated that she didn't intend to give in to the Third Prince easily, but she knew that if she could temporarily utilize his resources, it would be an option. However, she had to be more cautious and ensure that she could always maintain the initiative in her cooperation with the Third Prince.

"In that case, let's get started." Princess Shen said calmly with a smile on her face, but her eyes were filled with unfathomable light.

-

As Princess Shen's apparent partnership with the Third Prince gradually unfolded, she began to lay out her own strategy within the palace. No longer relying solely on the Crown Prince's support, she cleverly coaxed several key figures into her sphere of influence. She was in no rush to reveal her true intentions, patiently awaiting the most opportune moment.

Every power struggle in the palace is a bottomless quagmire. Princess Shen knows that to stand out, she must navigate this chaos with ease, maintaining her composure while being ready to respond to unexpected events.

She understood that the true winner did not rely solely on strength and means, but was able to turn all variables into his own advantages in a complex situation.

You said:

Chapter 113: Undercurrent