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

The guard looked slightly displeased at this.

Although the girl was beautiful, she was extremely difficult to deal with. She kept shouting that she was the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister's family and that if they were not allowed to enter, she would tear them to pieces.

Upon hearing this, a glint appeared in Zhang Jiali's eyes. He nodded slightly and then eagerly strode towards the door.

"It is an honor for these people that our second young lady is willing to come here to help, yet you dare to stop her? You are truly blind!"

Before the long legs had even stepped out of the threshold, a sharp, shrill female voice could be heard, its tone filled with intense mockery.

Zhang Jiali paused slightly, his gentle eyes suddenly lowered, a barely perceptible glint of darkness flashing across them.

...It wasn't her.

"Why haven't they come out yet? Have you gone to report it? I'm getting so frustrated by the heat here, do you want me to die of heatstroke?"

Outside the door, Shen Qinshou stood arrogantly, her cold expression fixed on the guard who stood guard at the door, unwilling to budge an inch, her heart filled with resentment.

These past few days, she showed the gold lock to her father, who confirmed that it was the gold lock that the late Empress used to carry with her.

The incident of the stillborn child more than a decade ago must have been a scheme orchestrated by various factions within the harem.

Her father had told her to hold onto this auspicious gift tightly, because if he were to regain his status one day, the court would likely be thrown into turmoil.

The people turned against their own side, and the officials bowed their heads in submission.

Hearing the shouts outside the door, a fleeting coldness flashed in Zhang Jiali's eyes as he stepped forward.

Just as Shen Qinshou was about to shout again, she saw the young man in the plain robe approaching gracefully, and immediately fell silent, her arrogant demeanor completely gone.

She took small, quick steps forward, her starry eyes sparkling with joy, "Lord Zhang."

"Miss Shen?" Zhang Jiali smiled faintly, but there was no smile in his eyes. Instead, his eyes were dark and unsettling, making people feel uneasy for no reason.

Shen Qinshou was preoccupied with how to get closer to her, so she didn't notice this and continued to smile brightly.

"Today, I heard that after Lord Zhang took over the plague, the plague in the city has subsided considerably. I have come to congratulate Lord Zhang." Shen Qinshou lowered her eyes, her eyelashes fluttering, which was particularly captivating. "Lord Zhang has done his best, and I admire him."

Zhang Jiali smiled, his smile as gentle as ever under the warm sun, yet it still sent a chill down one's spine.

As Shen Qinshou moved closer and closer, Zhang Jiali lowered his eyes and took a half step back. "Thank you, Miss Shen. I did nothing. It was all thanks to the imperial physicians and the legendary doctors from the martial arts world that the plague was completely eradicated."

Shen Qinshou noticed the distance Zhang Jiali had created between them, and her lips curled up slightly, showing no anger at the situation.

Ah, it's not like she hasn't encountered such people before. In the past, those scholarly gentlemen were all like this, initially keeping their distance from her.

But when she was alone with him and tried to seduce him, he still couldn't control himself.

Father said that Zhang Jiali is honest and upright, fearless of power, and has never frequented brothels. He must be a true gentleman.

She loves to drag people like that into a swamp of desire, making them feel they absolutely must marry her!

Zhang Jiali glanced at the smug and confident smile on her lips, a flash of undisguised sarcasm crossing his eyes.

After a moment, he lowered his eyes slightly, his tone respectful yet distant, "Miss Shen, what brings you here to see me?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Qinshou reached into her sleeve and pulled out an exquisite sachet, handing it to him. "When Lord Zhang bumped into my daughter that day, he dropped something, and I have put it in this sachet."

Zhang Jiali's brows furrowed, and he visibly panicked.

Seeing his reaction, Shen Qinshou quickly stepped forward and lowered her voice, "Lord Zhang, there's no need to be nervous. Only my father and I know about this matter. No one else knows. You can rest assured, Lord Zhang."

After saying that, she smiled and handed him the sachet in her hand.

Zhang Jiali reached out and took the sachet, his jade-like fingertips caressing the delicate embroidery on it. He suddenly lowered his eyes and said softly, "Thank you, Miss Shen, for keeping my secret."

“Of course, Lord Zhang must have his reasons for concealing this matter, and I will not make a fuss about it.” Shen Qinshou placed her hands at her lower abdomen, gave a dignified bow, and was humble and gentle.

Zhang Jiali suppressed the dark look in his eyes and curled his lips into a cold smile, "This sachet is exquisitely crafted. Did Miss Shen make it herself?"

Shen Qinshou looked up and was caught off guard when she met his warm eyes. In an instant, pink blush spread like the sunset, and she blushed deeply.

How could she have overlooked such a talented and handsome man in Nanliyue Star City?

Once his status is restored, he will not only be a prince, but also a legitimate prince, making the position of crown prince a sure thing for him.

Thinking of this, the smile in Shen Qinshou's eyes grew even stronger.

She looked up at Zhang Jiali with a shy smile, her eyes full of affection, "Yes, this item must be extremely important to you, Lord Zhang. You can put it in a sachet and hang it on your waist so that you won't lose it."

Zhang Jiali nodded, his tone indifferent, "Thank you, Miss Shen."

Seeing that he accepted it, Shen Qinshou's heart trembled slightly, and she lowered her eyes shyly, "Lord Zhang, there's no need to be so polite. Just call me A-Shou from now on. I won't stand on ceremony with you either. May I call you by your name from now on...?"

"Miss Shen, I still have matters to attend to. Perhaps we can talk another day?"

Before she could finish speaking, Zhang Jiali glanced behind him, his brows furrowing slightly, and gave Shen Qinshou a slightly apologetic smile.

Shen Qinshou bit her lip, suppressing her dissatisfaction, and nudged Xiao Tao, who was grinning foolishly at Zhang Jiali, with her elbow.

Xiao Tao's mind cleared, and after receiving Shen Qinshou's hint, she immediately raised her head and said arrogantly, "How can you be so ungrateful? Our young lady came here specifically to return a lost item, and you can't even spare a little time?"

"Xiao Tao! Don't be rude!" Shen Qinshou gave Xiao Tao a reproachful look, then turned to Zhang Jiali and bowed. "Lord Zhang, I've spoiled her a lot. Please forgive me."

Zhang Jiali was slightly taken aback, then lowered his brows and smiled, "It was my fault, but the disaster victims are not yet settled, and I really dare not leave so easily."

Seeing that there was no anger in his eyes, but rather that he was apologizing so sincerely, Xiao Tao lowered her eyes in embarrassment, looking slightly at a loss.

She raised her eyes unhappily and secretly glared at Shen Qinshou, who was pretending to be magnanimous beside her. Every time she did something bad, she would push the blame onto her while she maintained her magnanimity. It was really infuriating.

"Lord Zhang, why don't you come to the manor tonight? My father was deeply moved when he heard that Lord Zhang had worked so hard for the people of the city, and he would like to host a banquet in his honor."

Shen Qinshou, oblivious to Xiao Tao's displeasure, smiled faintly and asked Zhang Jiali.

Zhang Jiali hesitated for a moment, then said somewhat reluctantly, "How could I trouble Prime Minister Shen to host a banquet?"

"So what?" Shen Qinshou smiled and said, "If Lord Zhang hadn't come, Father would probably have been sad."

Zhang Jiali lowered his eyes slightly, then chuckled, "In that case, I'll trouble Prime Minister Shen."