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

"His Highness is so kind, he must be willing to donate some silver to help the disaster victims."

As long as Chu Chouchi agrees to help the disaster victims, Zhang Jiali will not receive Shen Qinshou's help when he is desperate.

Not only does he distance himself from the female lead, but he also helps Chu Chouchi gain favor with the male lead!

Killing two birds with one stone! Absolutely perfect!

Shen Zhizhi was so happy that she forgot all about home, and couldn't help but chuckle softly as she thought about it.

Chu Chouchi looked her up and down, a playful glint in his eyes: "Why do you think I would grant your request?"

These past few times, his thoughts have been led astray by her, and for no apparent reason, he just wanted to tease her.

"Begging," the girl suddenly looked up, her eyes squinting upwards, and sweetly replied:

"Because His Highness is the very, very best person in the whole world!"

Chu Chouchi felt a lump in his throat. He lowered his eyes and stared at her in a daze. Her raven-feather-like eyelashes fluttered, and her almond-shaped eyes were as adorable as those of an innocent fawn.

For a moment, he was caught off guard and looked away.

"Ahem! I, Your Highness, agree!"

Having received the reply she wanted, Shen Zhizhi immediately poured him a drink in a flattering manner.

Inside the hall, the argument between the two was far from over. Zhang Jiali and Hua Pengtian each held their own opinion, making a huge fuss.

Some ministers who were already currying favor with the Hua family, seeing that the emperor's attitude seemed unwilling to part with the money to build the Qifu Palace, simply stirred up trouble on this matter.

Zhang Jiali's situation suddenly became a dilemma.

Seeing this, Hua Pengtian looked slightly pleased and continued with a cupped hand: "In the past two years, the warriors of the Great Chu have been fighting on the battlefield, facing constant internal and external troubles. Arranging the construction of the Prayer Palace to pray for the blessings of Heaven for the peace of our Great Chu is naturally of paramount importance."

"Snapped!"

Suddenly, something was flung forward rapidly, and Shen Zhizhi hadn't even seen what it was before.

Then they heard Hua Pengtian let out a heart-wrenching scream, and then he clutched his head and collapsed to the ground.

"Daddy!"

Hua Yulan was terrified and hurriedly bowed to help him up.

Shen Zhizhi looked up in surprise and saw Chu Chouchi beside her with dark eyes, speaking in a cold voice:

"General Hua, are you implying that Father Emperor has moral problems and has offended Heaven, which is why the Crown Prince has been plagued by internal and external troubles in recent years, and that the construction of the Prayer Palace is necessary to appease Heaven's wrath?"

A clear, crisp sound echoed throughout the hall, and in an instant, the noise ceased.

Shen Zhizhi's eyes were filled with admiration, and she almost wanted to clap her hands and cheer.

As expected of Chu Chouchi, he can accuse someone of 'insubordination' with just a few words.

Chu Shi, seated on the high seat, paused slightly. He looked over in disbelief, almost thinking he had misheard.

After all, he had watched the second son grow up since he was a child. This guy usually acted as if he didn't see anyone, so it was rare for him to speak up for him today.

Upon hearing this, Hua Yulan was filled with panic and hurriedly knelt down, protesting, "Second Prince! Father, Father did not mean that!"

"Oh? Is that so?" Chu Chouchi picked up his cup, his brows furrowed with innate arrogance. "Is Miss Hua implying that I am spouting nonsense and so muddle-headed that I cannot distinguish right from wrong?"

Chu Chouchi was aggressive and relentless, refusing to yield a single word, which sent shivers down one's spine.

The officials couldn't help but feel a chill for Hua Yulan.

"Your subject, your subject, your subject..." Hua Yulan had never seen such a scene before. Her delicate nose tingled, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Shen Zhizhi looked at Hua Yulan, who was sobbing softly in the hall, with sympathy, then glanced sideways at the instigator and sighed.

Look at this, a perfectly normal person, but with a mouth.

"Your Majesty! I had no such intention. I beg Your Majesty to see the truth!" Hua Pengtian, who had recovered his senses, knelt down hastily with his head covered in blood, looking heartbroken.

"Second Prince, you injured someone without permission during the palace banquet. You truly have no respect for others!"

Amidst the commotion, Empress Ming narrowed her eyes, glared angrily at Chu Chouchi, and rebuked him.

Chu Chouchi has always been arrogant and has never managed to cultivate good relationships with any of the ministers.

That's fine, because this way her Yan'er can easily rely on the Hua family's power to ascend the throne.

After pondering for a long time, she straightened her posture and said resolutely, "Your Majesty, General Hua has devoted himself to the court and made great contributions. It is truly disheartening that the Second Prince treats him this way."

"Snapped."

Chu Chouchi paused in his drinking motion, and slammed the wine cup on the table with a dull thud.

Shen Zhizhi subconsciously turned around and felt an endless chill suddenly emanating from his body. His face was now veiled, making it impossible to discern his features.

"Is it to serve the court wholeheartedly, or to serve the Empress?"

His voice was slightly louder, and the hidden meaning within was made undisguised, laid bare in a grand and dignified manner.

Everyone was shocked!

Isn't this subtly suggesting that the Empress is colluding with the Hua family in a conspiracy?

Empress Ming's hand trembled as she poured wine for Chu Shi, and her grip on the wine cup suddenly tightened.

Hua Pengtian was terrified and repeatedly kowtowed, crying out for justice.

Shen Zhizhi, who was watching the show from the side, clicked her tongue twice.

As expected, a big shot is a big shot; he has the right to be arrogant, showing no mercy to so many ministers and their families present.

If it weren't for Chu Chouchi's deep foresight and the countless Jingwei he had cultivated, his unbridled nature would have been enough to kill him ten thousand times over.

"Enough!" Chu Shi interrupted, annoyed, after drinking the wine he had just poured. "General Hua has always been loyal to the court, which is obvious to all. The second son is still young and a bit mischievous, so he likes to make jokes. General Hua, please don't take offense."

Although his words carried an apology, his tone left no room for argument.

The intention to protect her was obvious.

Hua Pengtian and Empress Ming were so angry at this obvious attempt to protect her that their mouths twisted in pain, and they almost vomited blood.

But what can be done?

The emperor was incompetent and foolish, unable to govern the country effectively, and doted on the second prince, allowing him to act recklessly.

Even though he was furious, Hua Pengtian had no choice but to grit his teeth and swallow his anger, and respectfully kowtowed, "Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress!"

After the farce ended, Chu Shi turned his gaze to Chu Chouchi, who was sitting below, and laughed loudly, "Second brother, what is your opinion on the matter of the Qifu Palace and the disaster victims?"

Seeing that the Crown Prince had asked the key question, Shen Zhizhi turned her head and looked at him expectantly.

Feeling her intense gaze, Chu Chouchi lazily propped his chin up and replied, "I eat the king's food and share his worries. Since the national treasury is empty, and General Hua insists on building that so-called Prayer Palace."

Then let all civil and military officials donate some silver or stored grain. In this way, the Qifu Palace can be built, and disaster relief funds will also be secured—a win-win situation.

Upon hearing this, a sigh rippled through the hall.

The officials were all annoyed that Hua Pengtian had bothered to bring up the Prayer Palace. If he hadn't insisted on building it, they wouldn't be forced to donate money now.

Hua Pengtian's face turned ashen.

The Second Prince's words are pushing him into the eye of the storm. Now, countless ministers will surely hold a grudge against him.