The system forced me to blow up the female lead's fishpond.

Hearing the noise, the people who had been watching the show timidly from a distance quickly leaned out, their fear fading slightly.

"Lord Zhang?" Shen Zhizhi looked up, her eyes shining brightly.

Zhang Jiali walked steadily, as if strolling leisurely forward. His gaze fell on Shen Zhizhi sitting on the ground, and then he looked slightly surprised.

He walked slowly closer, bent down, and a perfect smile curved his lips. "Miss Shen, why are you sitting on the ground? Shall I help you up?"

"No need, no need." Shen Zhizhi chuckled awkwardly twice and shifted awkwardly to the side. "Standing is tiring too, let's rest for a bit."

Zhang Jiali was taken aback, then burst out laughing, his white teeth gleaming. "So that's how it is. Miss Shen is quite... unpretentious."

The last four characters have a long, drawn-out tone, conveying a profound meaning.

Niu Hulu, a man of few words and unconcerned with trivial matters, silently swallowed his bitterness.

It's all Chu Tu's fault for that lousy bone-softening powder, making her lose face in front of her crush again, sob sob sob.

Seeing the refined demeanor of the young man in the plain robe, and hearing Shen Zhizhi address him as Lord Zhang, Xiao Hang immediately knew that the person before him was the one he was looking for.

He stepped forward, lifted his green robe, and knelt before Zhang Jiali. His eyes were firm as he looked up. “Your Excellency, my name is Xiao Hang. Today I am here to file a complaint against someone.”

Zhang Jiali frowned slightly when he saw him perform such a grand ceremony.

Then, to everyone's astonishment, the young man standing in the warm sunlight lifted his plain robe and knelt on one knee in front of Xiao Hang.

Zhang Jiali gently supported Xiao Hang with both hands.

This action clearly shows that he was unwilling to accept his kneeling.

Shen Zhizhi's fangirl heart was ignited once again. Zhang Jiali was just like that; even though he held a high position, he still treated ordinary people the same.

Xiao Hang looked at him with surprise, "Lord Zhang? You..."

Amid Xiao Hang's shocked expression, Zhang Jiali's thin lips curved slightly, his eyes like a gentle stream, conveying a sense of tenderness.

“Young Master Xiao, Jiali is just like you, merely an ordinary person. You do not need to bow so deeply to me.”

These words, spoken with sincerity and genuine emotion, moved those surrounding him to tears as they raised their hands to shield their eyes.

Xiao Hang's eyes reddened as he stared at Zhang Jiali, who was kneeling before him, his heart filled with turbulent emotions.

He finally understood why the people of Nanliyue Star City loved the young man before him so much.

Under the warm midday sun, the man in blue knelt on both knees, while the young man in white robes in front of him had a very faint smile on his lips. He spoke softly and gently, without the slightest impatience between his brows, like an immortal who had not eaten the food of mortals.

Hearing the sobbing around him, and glancing at the girl at his feet, her eyes glazed over as she stared blankly ahead, Chu Tu, extremely annoyed, shouted forward:

"If you two are going to perform a wedding ceremony, please choose an auspicious day as soon as possible, and don't block people's way here."

The beautiful scene was shattered by Chu Tu's words.

The crowd frowned in dissatisfaction, secretly thinking that the Third Prince was no match for Lord Zhang, but they dared not speak out of turn.

"Don't you dare tarnish Lord Zhang's reputation!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Hang's anger, which had subsided, surged back up, and he glared at Chu Tu.

Anyway, he came here today without ever expecting to leave alive.

He only wanted to avenge his father and was unwilling to know the truth, but he was forced to live on because of his status as a prince.

If that's true, how will he face his father and the ancestors of the Xiao family when he passes away?

Zhang Jiali was not angry at all, and the smile on his lips did not disappear in the slightest. He simply turned his head and nodded to Chu Tu, "What the Third Prince said is very true. It was my fault."

He gave Xiao Hang, who was about to argue on his behalf, a reassuring smile, and then helped him up.

Once the two had steadied themselves, Zhang Jiali's eyes flickered slightly. "Young Master Xiao, what grievance do you have? And whom do you wish to accuse?"

Xiao Hang's lips trembled as he pointed his index finger fiercely at Chu Tu and said, "This humble subject wants to accuse the Third Prince of harming my father, causing him to die from poisoning."

"What evidence does Young Master Xiao have?" Zhang Jiali paused upon hearing this, his eyes filled with astonishment. "Do you know that such slander against a prince is a serious crime?"

Xiao Hang lowered his hands, clenched his fists, feeling exhausted and desperate.

He looked up again, his expression filled with grief, "Plum blossom poison, that's plum blossom poison! Only the Third Prince in the whole world knows how to concoct this poison. If it wasn't him, then who else could it be?!"

Zhang Jiali's eyes gradually changed. He turned around and stared at Chu Tu. The faint smile on his lips vanished in an instant.

Chu Tu glanced coldly at Zhang Jiali's scrutinizing gaze, and snorted, "What? Even if I killed Xiao Guang, so what? Does Lord Zhang think he can imprison me in the imperial prison?"

"Your Majesty, I dare not." Zhang Jiali lowered his eyes, stepped forward and bowed. "This matter has not yet reached the stage of decision. May I ask Your Highness to accompany me back to the Dali Temple to inquire about it? In this way, Your Highness's innocence can be cleared."

"Oh? Back to the Dali Temple? To inquire?"

Chu Tu's narrow, almond-shaped eyes gleamed with coldness, his words dripping with provocation, "No need. I confess my guilt, and I will poison him. What can you do to me then?"

Shen Zhizhi:? ? ?

No! This madman must be seriously ill, right? Who would admit to something they didn't do?

Xiao Hang's expression grew increasingly grim, enraged by Chu Tu's words. He picked up his sword, filled with righteous indignation, and said, "Lord Zhang, you must not get involved in this matter, nor do you need to argue with him anymore. Even if I die today, I will drag him down with me."

Chu Tu sneered repeatedly, his sleeves fluttering slightly, clearly also harboring murderous intent.

Shen Zhizhi was quite frightened by this scene. She tried to get up, but her body was too weak to exert any strength.

She could only slowly raise her hand, her voice weak but full of strength, "Lord Zhang, this matter was not done by the Third Prince; there is a misunderstanding."

Zhang Jiali's eyes held a hint of doubt.

Seeing his gaze, Shen Zhizhi hurriedly continued, "Young Master Xiao's father was poisoned on the third day of the fourth month, which was the Third Prince's birthday. He was quite drunk then, how could he have poisoned someone?"

Chu Tu moved his lips, watching her fight for the truth for him, and after a long pause, he finally managed to utter a sentence:

"Mind your own business, humph."

A hint of surprise flickered in Zhang Jiali's eyes. He stared at Chu Tu thoughtfully for a long while before turning his gaze to Xiao Hang, whose neck was flushed red with anger.

"Young Master Xiao, was your father truly poisoned by evil people on the third day of the fourth month?"

Xiao Hang's forehead veins bulged as he nodded with difficulty, "Yes, the coroner's estimate is that he died at 11 PM."

Zhang Jiali understood, and a slight smile appeared on his lips. "Young Master Xiao, if that's the case, you've misunderstood the Third Prince."

"What do you mean by that, Lord Zhang?" Xiao Hang looked up in astonishment.

Zhang Jiali's eyes were clear as water, and he smiled humbly. "On the Third Prince's birthday, I was invited to a banquet to celebrate his birthday. The Third Prince indeed had no opportunity to make a move. Moreover, His Highness should not wish to see blood on his birthday."

In the Great Chu Kingdom, it is absolutely forbidden to shed blood on one's birthday; it is an extremely ominous occasion, bringing misfortune to both the individual and their mother.