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

Shen Zhizhi was practically going crazy!

She knew, of course, that the puppet emperor, who held only a title, was incapable of imprisoning Chu Chouchi.

The problem is, these ministers can't die!

"Your Highness, please, just let them go." Shen Zhizhi's almond-shaped eyes were misty, and her tone was somewhat coquettish.

Seeing her coquettish expression, Chu Chouchi's lips trembled slightly, and his ear tips burned.

He turned to the side, took two steps forward, concealing the panic in his eyes, and said, "Fine, since you've said so, then spare their lives."

As soon as he said this, Chu Chouchi frowned in annoyance.

In the past, how could he have let these damned people go again and again?

Why is he finding it increasingly difficult to resist her requests?

"Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Your Highness!"

Having survived such a calamity, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and immediately kowtowed to express their gratitude.

Zhang Jiali lowered his eyes, outwardly agreeing, but his mind wandered elsewhere.

The Second Prince's attitude towards her was truly unusual.

"Oh! Second Brother, isn't it a bit inappropriate to make all the officials kneel here and kowtow so early in the morning?"

A loud, familiar voice broke the deathly silence in the courtyard.

As their footsteps drew closer, Chu Tu, accompanied by Shen Qinshou, who was dressed in formal attire, strolled through the crowd.

She still wore that extravagant, decadent attire, with a flamboyant and eye-catching mink shawl draped over her shoulders.

Shen Zhizhi rolled her eyes.

Tsk, here comes that mink-fur guy again.

Chu Chouchi's brows furrowed, his impatience for Chu Chouchi's arrival undisguised. "Since when has it become my place to tell my third brother what to do?"

"I wouldn't dare," Chu Tu replied lazily and perfunctorily.

Shen Zhizhi looked up and saw Chu Tu walking slowly towards her. Their eyes met midway, and Chu Tu's gaze held a hint of mockery.

He sneered, his words full of mockery: "Tsk, Second Brother really likes you, giving you such a precious antidote."

Shen Zhizhi laughed in anger; she quickly realized that he was probably referring to the poison on the banknotes from that day.

I really want to punch this nouveau riche and make him cry.

Seeing her gritted teeth, Chu Chouchi couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

She's like a little cat with its claws outstretched.

Shen Zhizhi slightly curled the corners of her mouth, about to speak, when she heard an arrogant voice coming from above.

"This prince has no need for timid people around him. If there is anyone he doesn't like, he can speak up for them. The Red Prince's Mansion is no less powerful than him."

Shen Zhizhi raised her eyelids and stared at Chu Chouchi with suspicion.

What does he mean by that? Does it mean he'll stand up for her?

Chu Chou raised an eyebrow slightly and gave her a barely perceptible smile.

These words caused the onlookers to start whispering again.

"This prime minister is truly blessed. His legitimate daughter is invited to a palace banquet with the Third Prince, and his concubine's daughter is so well protected by the Second Prince."

"Yes, could the future Crown Princess be the daughter of the Prime Minister's family?"

"Yes, yes, I just don't know if it will be the legitimate daughter or the illegitimate daughter..."

……

As the discussions reached her ears, Shen Qinshou clenched her fists tightly under her sleeves.

Shen Zhizhi? The Crown Princess?

She's just a concubine's daughter, what right does she have to compete with her for the position of Crown Princess? It's absolutely laughable!

I never imagined that her usual timid and submissive demeanor was all an act; in just a few days, she had completely bewitched the Second Prince.

Thinking back to the humiliation she suffered at the Red Prince's mansion yesterday, she felt an even stronger urge to tear her to pieces!

"Brother Qiu Chi, the Emperor is hosting a banquet today. Let's not spoil the atmosphere, or it will be bad if the Emperor sees us like this."

Shen Qinshou suppressed the gloom swirling in her eyes, took two steps forward, and gave Chu Chouchi a sweet smile.

She didn't believe Shen Zhizhi had such power to make the Second Prince, who had been in love with her for so long, fall for someone else.

The Second Prince must have been jealous when he saw her and the Third Prince attending the banquet together, so he deliberately supported Shen Zhizhi to get her attention, right?

It's a classic case of playing hard to get!

She knew this move better than anyone else.

Just as Shen Qinshou was about to get closer, Shen Zhizhi's alarm bells rang, and she quickly stepped in front of Chu Chouchi to block him.

Here we go again! This little green tea b*tch is about to flirt with everyone in public again!

Seeing her defensive stance, Shen Qinshou's smile froze. "What's wrong, Third Sister?"

"It's okay, the sun won't shine there." Shen Zhizhi made up a lie without batting an eye.

"..."

Chu Chouchi glanced sideways at the smug girl in front of him who was overjoyed for blocking Shen Qinshou, and curled his lips slightly.

Shen Qinshou glanced at the spot where she had just been. It was under the shade of a tree, so there was no sun there.

Upon learning that she was disrupting her plans again, Shen Qinshou lowered her eyes, her nails digging into her palms, her expression icy.

That bitch! She'll make her regret it one day!

She looked up again, the sharpness in her eyes gone, her eyes slightly red, giving her a pitiful appearance, her voice trembling with tears, "Brother Qiu Chi..."

Before Chu Chouchi could speak, Shen Zhizhi couldn't help but retort, "Stop calling me 'brother' all the time. What? Are you trying to lay eggs like the hen next door?"

"You...!" Shen Qinshou almost broke down. She took a deep breath and gritted her teeth to swallow the anger surging in her heart.

She took two steps back, tears streaming down her face, and sobbed softly, "Third sister, why are you so hostile towards your older sister?"

Looking at her affected smile, Shen Zhizhi wished she could pick up a handful of dirt from the ground and stuff it into her mouth.

Ha, they've just met her and they're already putting her in the line of fire. Who's really hostile to whom?

"Shen Zhizhi, if you dare to bully A-Shou again, I will not let you off."

Seeing his beloved being bullied, Chu Tu stepped forward to protect Shen Qinshou, his face dark and clearly displeased.

Shen Zhizhi simply couldn't be bothered to pay him any attention.

It's as if he would let her off the hook if she didn't bully Shen Qinshou.

but……

Shen Zhizhi smiled slyly and asked with feigned confusion, "The Third Prince is really good to my sister. The red string you hung at the Marriage Temple last time, was it for the Third Prince?"

Shen Zhizhi glanced at Chu Chouchi out of the corner of her eye and saw that his eyes had darkened and his brows and eyes were covered with a thick layer of frost.

She curled her lips into a smug smile.

Hehe, there are two fish here, let's see how you win now.

Shen Qinshou's face turned pale. She couldn't admit it, nor could she deny it. She stood there stunned for a moment, speechless.

Damn it! How did Shen Zhizhi find out about this?

That day, she happened to meet the second young master of the Zhang family. Since she had nothing to do, she followed him to the Temple of Marriage.

I never expected her to see us like this!

"Ah! Isn't that so?" Shen Zhizhi covered her mouth, feigning surprise, as if she had said something wrong. "Or does my sister have someone else she likes?"

As the number two sycophant, Chu Tu was naturally very interested in Shen Qinshou's answer. He lowered his eyes and stared at Shen Qinshou, seeking an answer.

"I...I..." Shen Qinshou choked up, stammering.

Just when Shen Zhizhi was certain that Haihou was about to crash and burn, she turned around and glanced shyly at Chu Tu, then turned back to look at Chu Chouchi with affection.

She then covered her face, stomped her foot, and ran away shyly.

Chu Tu was stunned for a while before he came to his senses and grinned foolishly as he chased after him.

???

Shen Zhizhi was completely dumbfounded: [Are you crazy? This is actually possible?!]