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

With her back to him, Shen Zhizhi rolled her eyes at the night sky and asked without turning her head, "Does Your Highness have anything else to say?"

Chu Chouchi pursed his lips, looked down at her dark forehead, and although she didn't shake him off, her tone was distant.

A strange sense of loss welled up in his chest, and he couldn't help but tighten his grip on her.

Shen Zhizhi felt the hand behind her tightening its grip, and in the struggle, she gasped in pain.

What is Chu Chouchi up to now? Could it be that he wants more than just to get rid of her; he also wants to kill her to end it all?

The thought of this possibility made Shen Zhizhi tremble, and her voice became hoarse with fear: "Your Highness, I know I am not likable, and I will stay away from you in the future."

As Chu Chouchi listened to her voice, imagining her pretty face now streaked with tears, he felt a tightness in his chest for some reason.

"Your Highness, this is the last time we will meet."

After saying that, Shen Zhizhi slipped away.

She moved with lightning speed, not daring to stop for a moment, and almost fell over while running so fast.

"..."

Chu Chouchi gazed at the girl in front of him, who was so deeply traumatized that she could barely walk, and his heart was filled with emotion.

Was she truly so deeply hurt that she uttered words like "we'll never meet again"?

Once out of sight, Shen Zhizhi kicked the pebbles on the ground in frustration. "What kind of drug did Shen Qinshou give them? They all seem to lose their minds when they see her."

[Host, this is normal. The author wrote this story to highlight the female lead's irresistible charm, so the villains won't have any intelligence in front of her.]

Shen Zhizhi rolled her eyes again.

However, she didn't want to consider whether the villains were intelligent or not; all she wanted to know was how to get Chu Tu to take her in.

The bustling market was teeming with people.

Shen Zhizhi suddenly stopped in her tracks, catching a glimpse of a figure out of the corner of her eye.

There was an elderly blind man holding a simple white cloth banner with only two words on it: "Fortune telling".

She pondered for a moment, then her eyes suddenly lit up.

"There is a way!"

With her thoughts in mind, Shen Zhizhi unknowingly arrived at the Tu Wang Mansion.

She looked up at the magnificent, imposing, bright red lacquered gate, then at the two lions outside the palace.

While other people's stone lions are made of stone, Chu Tu's are different; the two lions at his entrance are made of the finest Hetian jade.

Shen Zhizhi resisted the urge to touch it, and once again marveled at how Chu Tu's wealth was truly not to be underestimated.

"Do not linger in front of the Prince Tu's Mansion!"

Seeing that Shen Zhizhi showed no intention of leaving, the two guards standing outside the door quickly stepped forward with their swords drawn.

"Please trouble the two guards to inform His Highness that Miss Shen Zhizhi, the third young lady of the Prime Minister's residence, has important business to discuss with His Highness." Shen Zhizhi smiled, trying to appear confident.

Although Chu Tu might not actually see her, she still needed to maintain appearances. If she acted subserviently, the two security guards might just kick her out.

The two gatekeepers looked at each other, unsure of what to do.

The Third Prince did have contact with the Prime Minister's residence, but it was only with the Second Miss of the Prime Minister's family. They seemed to have never heard the Third Prince mention the Third Miss.

"Go and inform them," the guard on the left said.

Even though the Third Prince didn't mention it, she is still the Third Miss of the Prime Minister's Mansion, so it's best to be prudent and not offend her.

The guard on the right nodded and turned to enter the mansion.

Inside the study, Chu Tu's eyes were dark, and his slender fingertips landed on the golden nanmu wood table, one stroke after another, in a dull and rhythmic manner.

The words she spoke to him in the palace today, and her sorrowful and heavy expression, did not seem like something she could fake.

Could it be——

Did she truly love him deeply?

While I was still lost in thought, a male voice suddenly came from outside the study.

"Your Highness."

Chu Tu averted his gaze from his fingertips, lowered his eyes, and then looked up to ask, "What is it?"

The doorman who went to report to the study bowed and spoke respectfully.

"Your Highness, the Third Miss of the Prime Minister's Residence requests an audience."

Chu Tu frowned, his usually calm expression suddenly showing a hint of panic. He hurriedly asked, "Shen Zhizhi? What's she doing here?"

He glanced sideways at the intricately carved window frame; the cold moon hung high outside, it was already night.

So late at night, how dare she, a woman, disregard her reputation and come here?

If people found out, she would be criticized in countless ways.

"The Third Miss said she has something very important to tell His Highness the Third Prince," the gatekeeper replied.

He paused, then asked again, "If Your Highness does not wish to see me, perhaps I should inquire about the matter before making a decision?"

Chu Tu paused for a moment, then pondered for a long time.

Suddenly, as if struck by a sudden thought, a cold smile appeared on his lips, and his sharp gaze became even colder in the candlelight.

Without needing to ask further, he knew what important thing she wanted to tell him.

After all, what could a lone man and woman do in the middle of the night? It's just that kind of thing, isn't it?

I never imagined she could be so shameless. In order to win his favor, she actually wanted to climb into his bed right now.

The guard stood there for a while, and seeing that His Highness inside the study had not yet spoken, he had no choice but to ask again, "Third Prince, may Miss Shen be allowed to come in?"

Chu Tu lowered his eyes, picked up the wine in his cup and drank it all in one gulp. "Tell her that I am not receiving guests today, and to let her go back."

"Yes," the gatekeeper replied, turning and leaving.

Shen Zhizhi, who was waiting outside the mansion, paced back and forth. When she saw the gatekeeper who had gone to report arrive, she immediately went to greet him.

"Brother Guard, the Third Prince—"

Before he could finish speaking, the gatekeeper waved his hand dismissively and said, "His Highness the Third Prince said he is not receiving guests today. Miss Shen, please leave."

Sure enough, as expected.

Shen Zhizhi frowned, then put on a serious expression. "I really came here to save your Third Prince. Your Third Prince is in danger."

"Hmph, what danger could the Tu Prince's Mansion possibly pose?"

The two guards looked impatient. To them, Shen Zhizhi's behavior was simply a way of trying to see the Third Prince.

As for why he came to see me in the middle of the night, anyone with eyes can tell.

Countless people want to get into the Third Prince's bed, but the Third Prince is devoted to one woman; in all this time, he has only brought the Second Miss of the Prime Minister's Mansion into his residence.

As the younger sister of the second young lady, Shen Zhizhi's behavior is truly shameless and astonishing.

Thinking of this, the disdain in the eyes of the two guards became even more obvious.

Shen Zhizhi's eyes flickered slightly, and a sly smile appeared on her face.

Hmph, they won't let her in? She has plenty of ways to get in.

She smiled nonchalantly and said, "Alright, since His Highness the Third Prince is unwilling to see anyone today, I will come another day."

After saying that, she took a few steps forward.

Just as the two guards were about to return to their posts, they suddenly heard a sharp scream!

"what--!"

The two guards exchanged a glance and hurriedly followed.