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

Shen Zhizhi was carried on his shoulder, with Chu Tu beneath him moving at breakneck speed. She felt as if her whole body was about to be shaken apart, and she managed to speak with difficulty:

"Wait, wait, Third Prince, wait, I, I'm going to throw up, I can't take it anymore!"

After a moment of silence, Chu Tu suddenly stopped, put her down from his shoulder, and said impatiently, "It's so noisy."

"I can't take it if you carry me like this!"

As soon as Shen Zhizhi stepped onto the ground, she felt dizzy and almost stumbled and fell.

What Chu Tu did was absolutely inhuman. Couldn't he have sent a carriage to take her back?

"..."

After a long pause, he reached out and lifted Shen Zhizhi up again like a chick, letting her sit on his arm.

Chu Tu's arms were broad and strong, while she was petite and didn't feel uncomfortable sitting on his arms.

Shen Zhizhi couldn't help but secretly glance at Chu Tu. The boy's features were perfectly sculpted, and the setting sun in the distance made him look unexpectedly handsome.

At first glance, his profile does resemble Chu Chouchi's; no wonder they share the same father.

"What are you looking at!"

While Shen Zhizhi was still infatuated with his beauty, Chu Tu suddenly turned his head and looked at her bright eyes with disdain.

This sound completely snapped Shen Zhizhi back to reality. She pouted and couldn't help but mutter, "Tsk, who wants to look at him? He's not even as pleasing to the eye as your second brother..."

Chu Tu's eyes turned cold. "Shen Zhizhi, it seems you don't want to go back. Then you can stay here for the night."

Sensing danger, Shen Zhizhi immediately backed down, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. "Your Highness, I didn't say anything."

Chu Tu was so startled by the sudden chokehold that he almost stumbled, but he managed to steady himself in time to avoid falling.

The pair of jade-like hands wrapped around his neck weren't using any force, but for some reason, the soft touch made him feel uneasy all over.

He gritted his teeth and turned his head fiercely, "Let go!"

"I do not!"

Letting her go is out of the question. She's been poisoned with musculoskeletal drugs. If we leave her here, what if human traffickers pick her up and take her as their wife?

And then there's that idiot Liao, who said he'd be her bodyguard, but all he did all day was eat meat buns and didn't do a single real job.

"Shen Zhizhi, if you don't let go, I'll leave you here to fend for yourself," Chu Tu threatened coldly.

Shen Zhizhi trembled, quickly let go, and obediently sat on his arm as if nothing had happened.

Chu Tu glanced at her, recalling the scene of her rushing to him without hesitation, and felt a lump of cotton stuck in his chest, feeling extremely annoyed.

After holding back for a while, he turned around and said with dissatisfaction, "Why did you stand in front of me just now? Do you think I would let that fool hurt me? You were just meddling in other people's business."

Shen Zhizhi:? ? ?

No, is she asking you a question, brother?

She shielded him from a sword, and not only was he not moved or his "darkening value" reduced, he even blamed her for meddling.

[Host, bear with it, bear with it, bearing with it is better for your health.]

Ya Dan intervened and comforted her in time, which finally suppressed Shen Zhizhi's resentment.

"Hehe, yes, yes, I won't dare to do it again next time."

Suppressing her displeasure, she pulled out a talisman from her sleeve and waved it in front of Chu Tu with a grin, "Look, Third Prince, this talisman is really effective. I just bought it, and if you are in danger, I will appear to shield you from the sword."

Chu Tu glanced at the talisman she was holding in her hand with disdain, and did not intend to reach out and take it.

Shen Zhizhi, quick-witted and agile, swiftly stuffed the talisman into his arms, and before he could get angry, she smiled and said, "Consider this a thank-you gift for the clothes that His Highness the Third Prince sent today."

Chu Tu lowered his eyes, and the girl's smiling face so close to his made him feel dazed for a moment.

He forced down his unfathomable emotions, quickened his pace, and muttered something slightly irritating.

"Who cares about this broken talisman? I'll throw it away when we get back."

"Third Prince! How could you say such things in front of the spirit talisman? We should have a sense of awe and respect for it."

"Humph."

The setting sun cast its rays from ahead, gradually elongating their shadows.

-

Upon arriving at the Prime Minister's residence, they spotted Shen Qinshou returning in her carriage from afar. The coachman, as always, knelt on the ground, bowing his head and waiting for her to disembark.

As Shen Qinshou lifted the curtain and was about to step onto the coachman's horse, she caught a glimpse of Chu Tu standing in front of the Prime Minister's residence, with Shen Zhizhi on his arm.

Shen Qinshou's expression changed drastically, but she didn't forget to maintain her persona, and called out to the coachman in a sweet voice, "Uncle Liu, please help me down from the horse."

Uncle Liu, who was bowing his head to the ground, was not surprised. He got up without any hesitation.

Having served this second young lady for so long, he had long been aware of her two-faced nature.

When there are outsiders around, the second young lady is always so gentle and amiable, but when no one is around, she changes her tune and will either beat or scold him.

"Brother Tu, why are you with your sister—"

After getting off the carriage, Shen Qinshou went straight to Chu Tu. Her almond-shaped eyes were misty, and she was biting her lower lip, looking extremely pitiful.

"A-Shou, let me explain." Chu Tu frowned when he saw Shen Qin-Shou's appearance and quickly threw Shen Zhi-Zhi, who was watching the show with glee, to the ground.

Fortunately, the effects of the cartilage-softening powder on Shen Zhizhi's body had worn off somewhat. The moment she landed, she nimbly grabbed the stone pillar beside her, which helped her regain her balance.

Shen Qinshou bit her lip, her eyes brimming with tears as she stared at Chu Tu, then covered her face and ran towards the mansion.

"Ah Shou!"

Chu Tu was startled and quickly followed.

Shen Zhizhi clung to the stone pillar, her toes still feeling a little weak. She could only tentatively shout into the open space, "Blood Liao!"

whoosh-

Carrying the aroma of steamed buns, Xue Liao nimbly landed in front of her, still holding a meat bun in his left hand, and raised his head to reveal his small sharp teeth, "Master!"

Shen Zhizhi got angry when she saw his idiotic appearance. "Damn you, I was almost stabbed to death by that broken sword today, and you didn't even come out to save me!"

"Master, as a secret guard, I don't reveal myself easily." Xue Liao swallowed the meat bun he had finished chewing and then smiled, "If I hadn't been able to dodge that sword back then, I would have definitely taken action and prevented anything from happening to you."

Shen Zhizhi rolled her eyes and didn't say anything more.

All the bodyguards seem to be like that; they always have to show off at the critical moment.

"Okay, okay, help me back to the courtyard first. The effects of this bone-softening powder really last a long time." Shen Zhizhi muttered, placing her hand on Xue Liao's arm as he helped her walk towards the courtyard.

Xue Liao stuffed the remaining half of the bun into his pocket, and as if he had thought of something, he turned his head and said, "Master, the Second Prince just sent a message by carrier pigeon, asking you to accompany him to the palace banquet tomorrow."

"Attending a banquet at the palace?" Shen Zhizhi choked.

Xue Liao grinned, "The princess and crown prince of the Han Palace Kingdom will be coming here tomorrow. It is said that they want to arrange a marriage here."

Han Palace Kingdom?

The original text does mention this worldview briefly.