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

After she asked him this, Chu Chouchi remembered the purpose of his visit today.

He slowly suppressed his smile, his eyes filled with guilt, and after a long pause, he finally said, "Tomorrow, Father will issue an imperial decree to betroth you to Gong Muze."

This news struck Shen Zhizhi like a bombshell, leaving her completely stunned.

She remained silent for a while, then took a step and headed towards the Prime Minister's residence.

Chu Chouchi, with his sharp eyes, grabbed her wrist, his eyes filled with surprise, "Where are you going?"

Shen Zhizhi was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. Although he restricted her movements, she moved around in place as if the wind was blowing through her feet.

"Run away from the marriage? The Emperor has already issued an imperial decree to grant us this marriage. Is there any way I can avoid it?"

Shen Zhizhi was completely panicked at this moment.

This Gong Muze is really persistent, isn't he determined to kill her?

She'll hide for a while, and once the main storyline has strayed too far from her plans and a warning is issued, she'll think of a way to change her face using ancient rouge and return under an assumed name.

If she doesn't run away now and just sits and waits to die, once she gets into the bridal sedan chair and leaves Nanliyue Star City, let alone Gong Muze, Gong Muyan alone will torment her to no end.

She was doomed either way, so she had to take a gamble.

Thinking it over, she looked up at Chu Chouchi and said resolutely, "Your Highness, could you lend me a hand and let me escape for a few days? Once this matter has passed, I will return."

Chu Chouchi lowered his eyes, a glint of light appearing in his dark pupils. "Shen Zhizhi, trust me. If it's something you don't want to do, even if it's an imperial decree, I will never make you suffer injustice."

In the boundless night, only the fragrance of pear blossoms filled the air, and those simple words brought Shen Zhizhi a sense of peace.

Trust was a feeling she had never experienced in her previous life.

In the past, she could only bear everything on her own because there was no one who could help her.

What she fought so hard for wasn't for money, nor for fame or fortune, but simply for—

Alive.

In that era when I had no family, I tried my best to survive.

"Shen Zhizhi, I have never broken my promise to you." Seeing her mood suddenly turn somber, Chu Chouchi assumed she didn't believe him and his tone became hurried and uneasy.

After a long pause, seeing that she still looked listless, a sense of disappointment welled up in his eyes.

He reached out and pressed her shoulders down, lowered his eyes slightly, and whispered coaxingly, "If you don't believe me, I will take you away from Nanliyue Star City tomorrow..."

"Your subject believes."

A gentle night breeze blew, and before he could finish speaking, the girl who had been silent for a long time suddenly spoke.

Chu Chouchi's body trembled, and his eyes flashed slightly.

Shen Zhizhi looked up, her eyes curving slightly, her almond-shaped eyes seemingly holding a thousand stars, dazzling and radiant.

"This humble woman believes in His Highness the Second Prince; she has always believed in him."

……

In the secluded depths of the Imperial Garden, the moonlight, like water, spills onto the clear pond, creating shimmering ripples.

Shen Qinshou held a white jade fan in her hand, swaying it gently, as if trying to conceal the surging undercurrents in her heart.

She bowed slightly, her eyes flashing with resentment. "Your Majesty, I don't know what kind of sorcery Shen Zhizhi has cast on the two princes. Now even the Third Prince ignores my words and even speaks up in defense of her."

Empress Ming sat upright on the carved stone bench, her expression unchanged, but her eyes revealed a sharp glint.

Although she had lived in the deep palace for a long time, she had heard some rumors.

It is said that the Second Prince had an unusual relationship with the illegitimate daughter of the Shen family. The Second Prince even changed his personality for her, causing a number of ministers to turn against him.

If the Third Prince is also captivated by her, then Yan'er's path to becoming the Crown Prince will become even more difficult.

They thought Shen Qinshou could be a valuable pawn, but alas, she was so incompetent that she couldn't even defeat a concubine's daughter.

She wasn't unfamiliar with Shen Zhizhi, but she had never seen such potential in her past. It was just that she had been in the deep palace for so many years, yet she had still misjudged her.

But things had come to this point, and there was no turning back. She had no choice but to lend Shen Qinshou a hand, first expelling Shen Zhizhi from Nanliyue Star City, and then having Shen Qinshou use her methods to lure Chu Chouchi and Chu Tu back.

“Ah Shou need not worry.”

Empress Ming returned to her senses, looked up at Shen Qinshou, and said with feigned reassurance, "Tomorrow the Emperor will issue an edict to betroth Shen Zhizhi to the Crown Prince of Han Palace. Once the imperial edict is issued, are you worried that she will refuse to go on her wedding day?"

Shen Qinshou lowered her eyes, her dark eyes becoming even more fierce and gloomy. "This Shen Zhizhi has repeatedly ruined my plans. If I don't teach her a lesson before she gets on the bridal sedan chair, I won't be able to quell the hatred in my heart."

Sensing the resentment in Shen Qinshou's words, Empress Ming raised an eyebrow and spoke softly, yet with a chilling undertone.

“Ah Shou probably doesn’t know that the Crown Prince of Han Palace Kingdom has already asked the Emperor for a decree to summon Shen Zhizhi to the palace to learn Han Palace Kingdom etiquette.”

Shen Qinshou was slightly taken aback, but after understanding the meaning behind Empress Ming's words, she was secretly delighted.

Since it was said by the Crown Prince of Han Palace himself, he must want to embarrass Shen Zhizhi tomorrow. Moreover, there is Princess Mu Yan in the palace who hates her to the bone. If Shen Zhizhi enters the palace tomorrow, she will probably suffer a lot.

Shen Qinshou was secretly excited when the image of that figure in black robes suddenly flashed through her mind, causing her to frown.

Seeing her sudden change in expression, Empress Ming raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's wrong? Does A-Shou have any questions?"

Shen Qinshou came to her senses, a cold and sharp glint flashing in her eyes. "If the Second Prince finds out that Shen Zhizhi is going to the palace to learn etiquette tomorrow, he will definitely come to investigate. With the Second Prince around, it will be difficult to make her suffer."

"A-Shou, in this palace, you must know how to be flexible in everything." Empress Ming curled her lips coolly, a ruthless glint in her eyes. "Do you know where the place in the palace is for learning etiquette?"

Shen Qinshou looked surprised. After exchanging a glance with Empress Ming for a moment, she lowered her eyes and said humbly, "I am foolish and do not understand Your Majesty's meaning."

Empress Ming smiled, her slender fingers gently twirling the vibrant peony beside her. "The place in the palace where etiquette is learned is the 'Palace Etiquette Hall.' If I were to go elsewhere, how would the Second Prince find me?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Qinshou's eyes lit up, her chest heaving with excitement, her voice filled with ecstatic joy, "This plan is brilliant! Your Majesty the Empress truly deserves to be the mother of the nation. I, A-Shou, will definitely learn from Your Majesty in the future, and I hope Your Majesty will not hesitate to give me your guidance."

Empress Ming was delighted by her praise, and the corners of her lips turned up slightly. "She is just a concubine's daughter. I couldn't touch her in the Prime Minister's residence. But once she enters the harem, I can still trip her up and make her suffer."

A cold, dark glint flashed in Shen Qinshou's eyes. She raised her eyebrows slightly and said, "With Her Majesty the Empress's help, there will surely be a good show to watch tomorrow."

"Alright, it's late, and I'm tired too."

Empress Ming slowly rose to her feet, and Shen Qinshou hurriedly stepped forward to gently support her outstretched hand. The two then slowly walked towards the path in the Imperial Garden.

Beneath the calm surface, undercurrents are quietly brewing.