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

"Huh?" Shen Zhizhi raised the back of her hand, glanced at the scratch the size of a fingernail, and vaguely recalled it.

She was too nervous to feel any pain; she must have been accidentally cut by the sword while struggling.

She smiled and waved her hand dismissively, "It's nothing, just a minor injury, I won't die!"

Chu Chouchi pursed his lips, his eyes filled with complex emotions: "You were injured for my sake. If you want any rare treasures, you can come to the palace storeroom to choose them."

A priceless treasure?!

Shen Zhizhi's eyes lit up. That was a treasure of the Prince's mansion. If it were sold in the 21st century, the money earned would be enough to last eighteen lifetimes.

[Host, this is the world of the book; you can't take anything with you.]

Ya Dan, seeing her host's money-grubbing nature, cruelly shattered her beautiful dream.

[Shen Zhizhi: I really thank you for throwing cold water on my enthusiasm.]

Shen Zhizhi twitched her lips, recalling the plot of the original text, and fell into deep thought.

Chu Chouchi was quite generous. She remembered that when Shen Qinshou first cooked for Chu Chouchi, she accidentally cut herself with a knife and clung to him crying for a long time.

This made Chu Chouchi, who was obsessed with love, feel extremely guilty. That very day, he opened the storeroom in his mansion and gave her many rare treasures, which finally brought a smile back to Shen Qinshou's face.

It's a pity that Chu Chouchi never imagined that all those rare treasures would become his lover's dowry, but unfortunately, he wasn't the groom.

What infuriates readers most is that when Zhang Jiali was recruiting soldiers and faced financial difficulties, Shen Qinshou did not hesitate to pawn all the treasures given to her by Chu Chouchi.

The treasures he gave with all his love ultimately became the sharp blade that drove him to his death.

Shen Zhizhi sighed deeply.

A simp, a simp, simp until he has nothing left.

“I don’t need these,” Shen Zhizhi shook her head.

"I keep my word. Since I said I was willing to give it to you, I will not go back on my word." Chu Chouchi paused, raised his eyes to meet her gaze, and spoke with a firm tone.

He naturally wouldn't believe me if I said no.

Whenever he delivered the treasures he wanted to give to A-Shou to the Prime Minister's residence, her envious gaze almost pierced through the treasures.

Shen Zhizhi blinked, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

She still felt sorry for this infatuated villain. Although his love was a bit morbid, the root of it all was that the scumbag Shen Qinshou had forced him into this state.

If she hadn't given him so much hope, he wouldn't have vented his resentment on the male lead, nor would he have fallen so deeply into this situation that he couldn't extricate himself.

"Your Highness does not need any reward. I only hope that Your Highness will not open the treasury and give away treasures so easily. You should plan a way out for yourself."

The ending of this book may not be able to be changed, but if he stops interfering in the relationship between the male and female protagonists, he might be able to carve out a way for himself to survive when Zhang Jiali ascends the throne.

After all, he was the most capable character in the original story to compete with the male protagonist for the position of crown prince.

“You…” Chu Chouchi’s pupils contracted sharply upon hearing her advice.

He never imagined that, despite how much she envied Ah Shou for receiving such a treasure, she would refuse to give it to him for the sake of his future.

[Congratulations, host! Chu Chouchi's corruption value -1]

Shen Zhizhi was flattered to hear Ya Dan's voice.

Tonight's harvest was unexpectedly great; it seems that completing the mission is just around the corner!

She was secretly delighted, and seeing this, she immediately seized the opportunity, controlled her facial expression, and knelt down with a thud, prostrating herself on the ground: "It was my fault! Please punish me, Your Highness!"

"What wrong have you done? Get up." Chu Chouchi rubbed his temples, completely bewildered by this sudden admission of wrongdoing.

"I am sorry, Your Highness. If I had known I was injured, I would have hidden the wound and not let Your Highness find out."

Seeing the sorrow and regret in her tone, Chu Chouchi asked with surprise, "Why?"

"This humble woman does not want Your Highness to feel guilty," Shen Zhizhi said, pretending to cover her wound. Her restrained appearance was heartbreaking.

Chu Chouchi's mind went blank for a moment. Did she actually think that making him feel guilty meant she had done something wrong?

Ah Shou would always come to complain all day whenever he was injured, making him feel that he owed her too much and always wanted to do everything he could to be good to her.

But is there really anyone in this world who would choose to hide everything they've done for him out of fear that he would feel guilty?

[Ya Dan sends congratulatory message; Chu Chou Chi's sycophantic value -1]

Shen Zhizhi was overjoyed and lowered her head to hide the corners of her lips that she couldn't help but smile.

Wow, this kid got it! He must have taken it to heart. Now he must think she's a kind and understanding girl.

Shen Qinshou, is it? Today she dared to push her out to take the knife for her. I'll see if she doesn't turn that lousy fishpond upside down!

Shen Zhizhi cleared her throat and pressed her advantage, saying, "Let alone suffering a tiny injury for the person I love, even if I lose my life, when I'm on the verge of death, I'm just afraid that no one will ever protect him like I have in this lifetime."

"!!!"

Chu Chouchi was stunned.

Such a direct expression of love made his heart skip a beat.

His burning gaze shifted to her profile, and he felt as if he had been struck in the chest, a tingling sensation coursing through his body like an electric current.

[Congratulations, host! Chu Chouchi's corruption value -1]

The notification sound from Ya Dan was like a wake-up call for Shen Zhizhi.

She got it!

Clearing his "simp value" only requires letting Chu Chouchi gradually understand the true feeling of 'being loved,' and then comparing this feeling with Shen Qinshou's attitude towards him.

As for clearing her "darkening" value, let her redemption literature return to her life and give him an overflowing maternal love.

"Ahem, get up."

Chu Chouchi turned his head to the side, his voice slightly low and hoarse: "Since you said it would last for a year, then you can stay in the Prince's mansion for this year. I will find a comfortable courtyard for you to stay in."

"Oh, okay, thank you, Your Highness—"

Shen Zhizhi spoke faster than she thought. The next second, after understanding his words, she took a big step back in surprise and doubt, her eyes wide as if she had seen a ghost.

"Your Highness, what did you say?"

"..." Chu Chouchi remained silent and strode forward. "Since you didn't hear it, then forget it. Pretend I didn't say anything."

"Hey! I heard it! I heard it! I heard it!"

After realizing what was happening, Shen Zhizhi quickly darted out and followed in his footsteps.

She excitedly poked her head out and held up four fingers to swear, "Your Highness! From now on, I will serve you with all my heart and soul, even unto death. If you make me defecate, I will absolutely not urinate."

"?" Chu Chouchi's eye twitched.

"Uh, that's right. From now on, Your Highness can call on me for anything, even if it's just to wake me up in the middle of the night to count the stars and the moon!"

Chu Chouchi raised an eyebrow, and still gave a cool "hmm".

[Congratulations, host, Chu Chouchi's corruption value has decreased by 1.]

Shen Zhizhi secretly looked up at him. The night wind lifted his dark hair, and Shen Zhizhi could clearly see the blush rising on the tips of his ears.

The contrast made Shen Zhizhi laugh.

On the surface, he's a cold and aloof second prince, but in reality, he's quite innocent.

She only said a few nice words and his blackening value dropped. No wonder he was so easily fooled by Shen Qinshou.

"Your Highness, you are the best person I've ever met, so kind and gentle..."

Chu Chouchi glanced sideways at the chattering girl beside him, who was overjoyed.

He didn't like noise, but for some reason, her noise tonight didn't bother him.

As night fell, their shadows overlapped.