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

Shen Zhizhi rolled her eyes, her tone full of teasing: "I'm sorry, sister, His Highness the Second already agreed yesterday that I can stay in the mansion."

"What?!" Shen Qinshou almost lost her composure.

After her initial surprise, she put on an innocent look and stared at Chu Chou Chi, her voice full of grievance: "Brother Chou Chi, are you still upset that I didn't come to save you last night?"

"I didn't..."

Seeing that Chu Chouchi was about to explain, Shen Zhizhi immediately interrupted.

"Since you are so worried about His Highness that you can't sleep all night, why don't you come and find him? Why would you rather stay up all night than come here?"

This question made Chu Chouchi stop his reprimanding words. He lowered his eyes to look at Shen Qinshou, clearly wanting to get the answer from her as well.

"I...I..." Shen Qinshou never expected her to ask this question, and her mind raced as she tried to come up with a plausible reason.

Shen Zhizhi didn't give her a chance to think, launching a barrage of attacks, each sentence a gem.

"Or did you stay up so late, sister, and go out with someone else? Did you have a secret rendezvous so late that you couldn't keep an eye on the Second Prince?"

When her secret was exposed, Shen Qinshou's face visibly turned a liverish color.

"How could you slander me like this, sister? Father sent people to search the alleys but couldn't find her by then, and it was already very late. Even though I was extremely worried, I am still a young lady. How could I enter the Second Prince's residence in the middle of the night?"

She bit her lip, trembling with anger, and looked up with teary eyes: "Does Brother Qiu Chi also think of A-Shou this way?"

After hearing her explanation, Chu Chouchi's heart softened, and he leaned down to comfort her, but was violently pushed away.

"Is that so? Even if he can't come to confirm it himself, he can still send a servant to inquire about the Second Prince's situation, right?"

Shen Zhizhi subtly distanced herself from the two, giving Chu Chouchi a disappointed look.

That silly goose!

No wonder she had him completely under her thumb; she convinced him with just a few words.

"..." Chu Chouchi was bewildered by her glare, but he had to admit that what she said made sense.

Last night, Ah Shou could have easily sent someone over to inform her and offer her condolences, but she did nothing.

Shen Qinshou was speechless after being rebuked. She turned her head down and clenched her fists fiercely.

Damn it! That bitch Shen Zhizhi!

When did you become so eloquent?!

"Brother Qiu Chi..." After thinking for a long time, she still turned her gaze to the man beside her with red eyes.

Shen Zhizhi naturally knew what she wanted to do, and quickly stepped forward to block her view of pleading for help.

She laughed wildly and triumphantly: "Sister, you don't love the Second Prince at all, do you? Shouldn't you reconsider your relationship?"

Seeing that she had repeatedly ruined her plans, Shen Qinshou knew that asking for help would be fruitless, and was filled with anger: "What nonsense are you talking about? My favorite person is Brother Qiu Chi!"

Shen Zhizhi reacted as if she had heard a joke, but that was exactly what she was waiting for!

She looked Shen Qinshou up and down with a sarcastic gaze and sneered, "Is that so? In that case, the Second Prince was just saying that he would seek the Emperor's blessing for a marriage in a few days. I wonder if you would be willing, sister?"

"Wh-what? An imperial marriage?" Shen Qinshou was stunned.

In the original text, Chu Chouchi and other potential suitors repeatedly asked Shen Qinshou if they could ask the Emperor to grant them a marriage.

In order to avoid any mishaps, Shen Qinshou always made excuses to refuse.

What's baffling is that these reasons have never been questioned; these love-struck villains have absolutely no doubt about Shen Qinshou.

Shen Zhizhi turned her head and winked at Chu Chouchi to signal him to cooperate, "Second Prince, we were just talking about this, right?"

She bet that Chu Chouchi, being so love-struck, would definitely want to know Shen Qinshou's answer!

Chu Chouchi paused for a moment, looked into her clear, doe-like eyes, and nodded as if possessed.

"Ah."

Shen Qinshou suddenly felt like half the sky had collapsed, but having been a sea queen who had freely moved among men over the years, she had always handled this kind of sudden situation with ease.

She quickly came up with a reason in her mind, looked up and said innocently, "Of course I'm willing, but, but Father can't bear to part with me, and I also want to be filial to him for a few more years."

Shen Zhizhi had a 'I knew it' expression on her face. As expected of a little green tea, her reason was absolutely flawless.

On the one hand, it highlights her filial piety, and on the other hand, it dispels any suspicion that she doesn't want to get married.

However, the higher the level, the harder she will make him fall.

Shen Zhizhi said with concern, "Sister, there's no need to worry. The Second Prince's love for you is as clear as day. After you marry the Prince, you can return to the Prime Minister's residence every day to meet with Father."

"Sister, how could you say such a ridiculous thing?"

Shen Qinshou was stunned by her shocking remarks and immediately reprimanded her with a stern face: "As the saying goes, a married woman follows her husband wherever he goes, and a married daughter is like water spilled out. How can she keep running back to her parents' home after getting married?"

"Second Prince, it's one thing for her to call you a chicken, but she also called you a dog." Shen Zhizhi turned her head expressionlessly, remaining calm and composed.

"Shen Zhizhi!" Chu Chouchi was absolutely furious with her.

"Hehe, just kidding." Shen Zhizhi smiled ingratiatingly, maintaining her composure.

After all, don’t hit the smiling person with your hand.

She silently shrank back, glancing at Shen Qinshou, who was trembling with anger, and continued, "The Second Prince certainly won't care about these things. My sister is doing this to fulfill her filial duty, and Father will surely be happy to see her. Besides, under the Emperor's nose in the Great Chu Kingdom, who would dare to gossip?"

"You...you..." Shen Qinshou bit her lip, her small face turning red, but she couldn't utter a single word.

Shen Zhizhi subconsciously glanced at Chu Chouchi.

Mr. Dian, it's so obvious now, shouldn't you wake up?

Disappointment flashed across Chu Chouchi's eyes after he had remained silent for a long time. Even if he was stupid, he could see the clue.

Ah Shou had no intention of marrying him at all.

He had never doubted her sincerity towards him.

But now it seems that Ah Shou may not love him as much as he thought.

On the contrary, it was her...

Chu Chouchi's dark, deep eyes surged with unspoken emotions as they were fixed on the smug girl's face.

The warm morning sun peeked through the latticed wooden window, climbing onto her cheeks and casting dappled light and shadow on the plum blossoms, creating a beautiful scene.

What a nice view!

His heart skipped a beat, and he lowered his eyes in a panic.

[Congratulations, host! Chu Chouchi's sycophantic value -20]

Shen Zhizhi's eyes lit up in disbelief.

[Shen Zhizhi: Are you sure? You deducted twenty points this time?]

Ya Dan was equally excited: 【Yes! Keep up the good work, host!】

Shen Zhizhi silently raised her finger and made a "V" sign, feeling for the first time that Ya Dan's voice was so beautiful.

Compared to Shen Zhizhi's ecstatic joy, Shen Qinshou was not in such a good mood.

She stomped her foot in anger and shoved Shen Zhizhi away.

She reached out and pulled Chu Chouchi's hand, her eyes brimming with grievance, her voice sweet and coquettish: "Brother Chouchi, don't listen to her nonsense, I'm willing to marry you, I..."

In the past, Chu Chouchi would have softened if she had acted coquettishly like this, but now, listening to her explanation, he only felt a headache coming on.

He interrupted, "That's enough, stop talking."