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

Inside the Yangxin Hall.

Chu Shi stepped in slowly, and the maids were already waiting on the side. When they saw the emperor enter, they quickly presented him with a cup of freshly brewed Biluochun tea. The aroma of the tea rose and filled the quiet hall.

Eunuch Ma stepped forward, his face full of doubt. "Your Majesty, I truly cannot understand your actions in court today. You have already mentioned the matter of bestowing a marriage, yet you have not issued a decree. What is the reason for this?"

Chu Shi reached out and brought the teacup to his lips, took a small sip, and did not rush to answer.

He squinted, as if savoring the delicate fragrance between his lips and teeth, or perhaps reminiscing about the dramatic scene that unfolded in the imperial court.

“Eunuch Ma, you probably don’t understand the reason behind this.” After a moment, he put down his teacup and said with a smile, “If the decree were issued so easily, wouldn’t this play be rather dull? The real highlight is yet to come.”

Eunuch Ma was still completely bewildered. He bowed again, his posture becoming even more respectful. "Your Majesty, this old servant is dull-witted. Please enlighten me."

Chu Shi put down his teacup, making a slight clinking sound, and smiled as he gestured for Eunuch Ma to come closer.

Grandpa Ma hurriedly stepped forward and put his ear close.

Chu Shi lowered his voice and whispered a few words in Eunuch Ma's ear.

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Ma's eyes widened suddenly, and his lips parted slightly as if he wanted to say something, but he quickly stopped himself from speaking.

"This servant understands. Your Majesty is wise. This servant will go and do it immediately."

Having said that, he hurriedly withdrew, his figure quickly disappearing outside the palace gate.

Chu Shi curled his lips, picked up the teacup again, and his eyes revealed a hint of cunning, like a fox in control of the whole situation, quietly waiting for its prey to take the bait in the dark.

.....

Chu Tu was extremely focused on learning. Although the dumplings he made were all different shapes, some of them even quite strange, which made Shen Zhizhi smile, the two of them worked together and enjoyed it very much.

Half an incense stick later, a plate of dumplings was ready. Shen Zhizhi put the dumplings into a pot to cook, and the steaming dumplings were served on the table, emitting an enticing aroma.

"Third Prince, please try it." Shen Zhizhi's eyes lit up as she gazed at him with a faint smile.

Chu Tu looked down at the bowl of dumplings, paused for a moment, and then picked one up and put it in his mouth.

In an instant, that familiar taste from my memory spread across my tongue, and all the memories of the past surged in my heart like a tide.

For a fleeting moment, his eyes welled up with tears.

Seeing that his eyes were slightly red, Shen Zhizhi was taken aback and hurriedly took out a white handkerchief from her sleeve and handed it to him, "Third Prince?"

Chu Tu turned his head away, took a deep breath, and tried to suppress the turmoil in his heart. He stubbornly said, "I'm fine. It's just that the heat from the kitchen made my eyes water. These dumplings are quite delicious."

Shen Zhizhi knew he was putting on a brave face, but she didn't press him further and said softly, "I'm glad Your Highness likes these dumplings."

After eating dumplings, the two strolled side by side into the picturesque Imperial Garden to aid digestion.

Chu Tu's gaze inadvertently fell on the dumplings that Shen Zhizhi had wrapped in her hand.

The dumplings were all different shapes, some flat, some collapsed, some crooked, some twisted, and they were hardly aesthetically pleasing. One glance was enough to tell that they were all made by his own hands.

Chu Tu's ears instantly flushed red, and a hint of embarrassment flashed in his eyes. He coughed lightly and said, "These dumplings are so strangely made by me. Just throw them away and make some more later. Why take them with you..."

Shen Zhizhi blinked, looked down at the dumplings in her hand, her eyes full of smiles.

Bring these dumplings to Chu Chouchi and say that Chu Tu made them for him; it will surely make the relationship between the two brothers even more harmonious.

There was no estrangement between them to begin with, and if it weren't for Shen Qinshou, the two of them wouldn't have ended up killing each other.

When she leaves this world, at least she will have her siblings by her side, so the Second Prince will not be too lonely.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but chuckle and looked up at Chu Tu, "This is for the Second Prince, so that he can have a taste as well."

The joy in Chu Tu's eyes was like a cluster of flames, which vanished in an instant.

He paused slightly, his thin lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but the words caught in his throat.

After a moment, he could only pretend to be calm and continue walking forward without saying another word.

Shen Zhizhi was oblivious to Chu Tu's unusual behavior, and was happily thinking about her plan, secretly praising herself for being a genius.

As Chu Tu walked, he couldn't help but turn back to look at Shen Zhizhi. Seeing her face beaming with joy, a wave of emotion welled up in his chest.

His brow furrowed slightly, a hint of melancholy in his eyes, and after a long pause, he murmured:

"She cared so much about her second brother, and thought of him in everything she did..."

His voice was extremely soft, as if he were afraid of disturbing the tranquility of the Imperial Garden, or as if he were afraid of hearing the answer from her.

Shen Zhizhi didn't hear him clearly, so she took small steps forward, put her hands behind her back, tilted her head and leaned closer to look at him, "Third Prince, what did you just say?"

The delicate fragrance unique to young girls wafted over, causing Chu Tu's heart to tremble. He suddenly turned around and met her bright, shining eyes.

For some reason, his chest was pounding very fast, and he was so nervous that he didn't know what to do with his hands and feet.

"Shen Zhizhi!"

Suddenly, a voice called out from behind.

The voice clearly contained anger, like a cold winter wind, abruptly interrupting her thoughts.

"???"

Shen Zhizhi paused slightly and quickly turned her head to look. She saw Chu Chou standing in front of her, dressed in a black robe, his cold aura barely concealed.

Her phoenix eyes seemed to be filled with frost as she coldly glanced at Chu Tu, her displeasure about to overflow, as if it would turn into real anger at any moment.

Shen Zhizhi, however, was completely oblivious to the subtle atmosphere. Her eyes suddenly lit up, and upon seeing Chu Chouchi, she seemed to have discovered a new continent. She raised the strangely shaped bag of dumplings in her hand high and ran towards Chu Chouchi.

"Your Highness!"

Her voice was clear and melodious, filled with joy, and her smile was radiant and dazzling, like sunlight tearing through the gloom.

Chu Chouchi's gloomy expression softened slightly the moment he saw the girl running towards him.

As Shen Zhizhi ran, she called out, "Second Prince, Second Prince! Look what I brought you!"

Seeing his hurried pace, focused only on what he was holding and completely oblivious to his surroundings, Chu Chouchi couldn't help but take two steps forward with concern.

As expected, when she reached Chu Chouchi, Shen Zhizhi staggered and leaned forward.

Fortunately, Chu Chouchi reacted quickly, stretching out his long arm to steady her. "Why did you run so fast?"

Shen Zhizhi steadied herself, looked up and chuckled, waving her hand dismissively, "Second Prince, I'm just so happy. Look, these are dumplings that the Third Prince made himself, specially brought for you."

She presented the dumplings in her hand to Chu Chouchi as if they were a treasure, her eyes shining with anticipation, like a child waiting for praise.

Chu Tujing stared at this scene from behind, feeling as if countless needles were pricking her heart, a dense, tingling pain spreading through her.

In her heart, her second brother was still more important.

Perhaps, he shouldn't have had those extravagant hopes in the first place.