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

Shen Zhizhi was taken aback. Seeing Zhang Jiali speak so frankly about this matter, she quickly turned to look around.

Seeing that the crowd did not react in any particular way, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Indeed, the people of Nanliyue Star City have long held Zhang Jiali in their hearts, so what if he attends a banquet? It won't shake his image in the slightest.

Upon hearing Zhang Jiali's words, Xiao Hang's pupils trembled violently, and he stood there stunned.

Seeing his reaction, Zhang Jiali felt a pang of pity. "If Young Master Xiao still has doubts, I—"

Before Zhang Jiali could finish speaking, Xiao Hang interrupted him, "Lord Zhang, there's no need to say anything more. This humble subject understands."

He took two steps back, bowed deeply to Zhang Jiali, and said, "Xiao Hang is doomed to die today. Before I die, I only ask that Lord Zhang find the real culprit for me."

After speaking, he gripped the longsword tightly with both hands, slowly knelt down, straightened his back, and offered the sharp blade to Chu Tu with both hands.

Xiao Hang looked up and stared straight ahead, his expression calm and his tone firm, "This humble subject, Xiao Hang, has misunderstood His Highness the Third Prince, a crime that cannot be forgiven. This head of mine will be handed over to His Highness today."

Chu Tu stared coldly at Xiao Hang, who was kneeling at his feet, and said, "He's not someone who's afraid of death."

“Xiao Hang has never been afraid of death.” He lowered his head slightly, his tone tinged with apology. “What happened today was due to my ignorance and lack of foresight.”

Zhang Jiali's plain robe fluttered as he stood in the light and shadow, slightly bending down, his lips parted as if he were about to say something.

Chu Tu naturally knew that he was trying to plead for someone again. A cold smile played on his lips as he stroked the mink fur on his shoulder and looked down at him condescendingly.

"Lord Zhang, you are most familiar with the laws governing the Crown Prince. Do you know how to punish the crimes of slandering the royal family and assassinating a prince?"

Zhang Jiali was slightly taken aback, paused for a moment, and then gently parted his lips, "Kill without mercy."

"Knowing this, do you still want to persuade me?" Chu Tu's eyes were cold and sharp as he stared at Zhang Jiali with arrogance.

Shen Zhizhi was practically going crazy, her heart filled with contradictions and anxiety.

When Zhang Jiali sought justice for the common people, he most often used the laws of the Great Chu to suppress those high-ranking officials. If he were to plead for Xiao Hang today, wouldn't he be shooting himself in the foot?

Given the circumstances, he certainly cannot ask for it back today.

Shen Zhizhi was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, pacing back and forth.

Zhang Jiali fell silent, lowering his eyes. "Third Prince, could you spare his life for now? Once the real culprit is found, and Young Master Xiao knows who his father's killer is, then we can execute him on the spot?"

"I...don't...want." Chu Tu gritted his teeth, each word spoken with absolute clarity, filled with endless coldness and determination, leaving no room for compromise.

Seeing that Chu Tu was about to take the sword from Xiao Hang's hand, Shen Zhizhi rushed over and grabbed Chu Tu's robe tightly.

“Your Highness, Young Master Xiao’s filial piety is truly touching. If he hadn’t been misled by villains, how could he have dared to attempt to assassinate Your Highness with a sword? Please forgive him, Your Highness, for the sake of his grief over losing his father.”

Damn it! If something happens to Xiao Hang, won't the storyline fall apart again?

Zhang Jiali is already missing a Blood Liao member by his side, so Xiao Hang is determined to bring Zhang Jiali under his command to prevent any further mistakes.

Moreover, if Chu Tu really killed someone in the street, even if he had a valid reason, it would still let the people of Nanliyue Star City see his brutal nature and terrify them.

If that's the case, why would he still be a sunny, cheerful guy, and why would he lower his "darkening" value?

Chu Tu frowned, staring intently at Shen Zhizhi. "He attempted to assassinate me in public. If I forgive him, won't everyone in Nanliyue Star City be able to assassinate me?"

It must be said that Chu Tu's words are absolutely correct.

If he were to release Xiao Hang so easily, and someone with ulterior motives were to use it against him, then Nanliyue Star City would likely descend into chaos.

Shen Zhizhi nervously clutched the hem of his robe, the gold-embroidered auspicious pattern crumpled from her grip.

Suddenly, a story that had been written in the original text flashed through my mind.

She pursed her lips, her tone full of probing, "Third Prince, since Young Master Xiao is determined to die, could we let him try the bed of iron nails?"

After these words were spoken, the surroundings fell silent.

In the Great Chu Kingdom, there is only one way to spare someone from the death penalty for a serious crime, and that is—

Bed of rolling iron nails.

However, this method was extremely cruel, and eight or nine out of ten people who got off the bed of nails did not survive the next day due to the numerous wounds.

Therefore, some people would rather die than suffer this torment.

Chu Tu raised an eyebrow, his narrow, almond-shaped eyes gleaming with starlight. “In recent years, no one in the Great Chu Kingdom has ever gotten off a bed of iron nails alive. Rather than suffer this torment, it would be better to end it with a sword.”

"Young Master Xiao, what do you think?" Shen Zhizhi released her grip on Chu Tu's robe and looked at Xiao Hang expectantly.

Anyone else might die after getting off the bed of nails, but Xiao Hang, as Zhang Jiali's future right-hand man, she believed he would be protected by the protagonist's aura.

Xiao Hang stared at Shen Zhizhi in astonishment, then lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment before firmly saying, "In order to see the villains caught with my own eyes, Xiao Hang is willing to give it a try."

Shen Zhizhi was overjoyed.

As expected of a member of the main characters, he speaks with such domineering confidence.

She raised her eyes to gaze at Chu Tu, her eyebrows curving slightly. "Third Prince, since that's the case, let Lord Zhang take Xiao Hang away and we'll re-interrogate him on another day, shall we?"

Chu Tu glared at her with eyes like knives, and sneered, "A pointless move."

Although his tone was cold and aloof, he did not refuse.

Shen Zhizhi was overjoyed and immediately winked at Xiao Hang, "His Highness the Third Prince has agreed, Young Master Xiao, why don't you quickly express your gratitude?"

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Xiao Hang was still in shock and couldn't figure it out. He could only write a thank-you note in a daze.

Chu Tu scoffed coldly.

His gaze lowered, and he turned to leave.

Suddenly, he seemed to remember something, stopped and turned around.

He strode up to Shen Zhizhi, grabbed her arm, and pulled her up from the ground.

Caught off guard, Shen Zhizhi felt a wave of dizziness and her body began to spin uncontrollably. When she regained her senses, she realized that Chu Tu was carrying her on his shoulder.

"Third Prince?!" she exclaimed.

Chu Tu frowned and glanced at her with displeasure. "If I hadn't forgotten the antidote for the bone-softening powder, I wouldn't have cared whether you lived or died."

"..." Shen Zhizhi was speechless.

Chu Tu lowered his eyes, casually staring at Zhang Jiali, who looked surprised. "Lord Zhang, keep a close eye on Xiao Hang. In a few days, I will personally interrogate him."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jiali's mind cleared, and after a moment of contemplation, he slowly said, "Your Majesty, I understand."

Being carried on everyone's shoulders in front of everyone, Shen Zhizhi felt utterly humiliated. With a bitter expression, she waved to Zhang Jiali and said, "Lord Zhang, I'll be going now."

Zhang Jiali stood there, elegant as an immortal, with clear eyes and an unbelievably gentle demeanor.

Suddenly, he tilted his head, a faint smile appearing in his eyes. He glanced at Xiao Hang and silently said to her:

Ms. Shen, thank you.