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

After a busy day, Shen Zhizhi and Zhang Jiali drank some porridge and ate some steamed buns with the disaster victims, so they did not feel hungry. However, Chu Chouchi was starving all day.

He originally wanted to send someone to the inn to buy some good food, but Shen Zhizhi kept nagging him that at this critical juncture, they should share weal and woe with the people.

Staring at his sour face, Shen Zhizhi felt utterly helpless and had no choice but to pay for his meal out of her own pocket.

Inside Nanliyue Star City, many vendors had already packed up and gone home, except for one wonton stall that was still open.

The wonton shop is small, but it is decorated quite elegantly, with several wooden tables and chairs neatly arranged and several landscape paintings hanging on the walls.

The owner greeted customers with a smile, while his wife busied herself at the stove, the rising steam creating a misty, ethereal atmosphere.

Shen Zhizhi's eyes lit up suddenly. This wonton shop had been described in detail in the text. Before Zhang Jiali recognized the emperor, he was short of money and often brought Shen Qinshou here to eat wontons.

"Uncle! Two bowls of wontons, please!"

Shen Zhizhi's eyes shone brightly as she walked straight to the empty stool and sat down, followed by Chu Chouchi.

"Okay, sir, wait a moment."

Chu Chouchi stood in front of the table, not sitting down for a long time, his disdain in his eyes was not concealed at all.

He had been pampered in the palace since childhood, enjoying fine clothes and delicacies every day. Not only did he indulge in rare and exquisite foods, but even his clothes and belongings were of the highest quality. He had never eaten such low-class things before.

Seeing his face darken, Shen Zhizhi reached out and pulled him down, whispering, "Your Highness, the wontons are really delicious, why don't you try some?"

Chu Chouchi frowned, looking unwilling.

"Sir, two bowls of wontons are here."

As soon as the wontons were served, Shen Zhizhi couldn't wait to pick up a spoon, scoop one up, and put it in her mouth, the tender meat filling tantalizing her taste buds.

"So delicious!" Shen Zhizhi squinted her eyes in satisfaction.

I never expected to be able to eat wontons in a book. I'm grateful to the author for including a wonton stall in the story.

She's finally gotten to eat the same wontons as the male and female leads, right?

Shen Zhizhi turned her head, about to ask Chu Chouchi how it tasted, when she saw him holding a wooden spoon, stirring the wontons in the bowl, but he didn't seem to want to eat them.

The steam from the wontons rose, and Shen Zhizhi couldn't quite make out his face, but she was certain he wasn't in a good mood.

"It's really delicious, you should try it, young master."

As Shen Zhizhi spoke, she brought the wontons in the wooden spoon to his mouth.

Chu Chouchi lowered his eyes and saw that her eyes were bright and full of expectation. When she saw him looking at her, she brought the wooden spoon to his mouth again.

The smile that appeared on her lips was sweet but not cloying. "Young Master, please try it."

Chu Chouchi stared blankly at her, his rationality suddenly vanishing, his eyes surging with dark light, and for a moment he felt as if his whole body was on fire.

Shen Zhizhi tilted her head in surprise, then seemed to remember something after a long while, frowning in annoyance, "Ah, I forgot, this is my spoon, I'll change it..."

Before she could retract her arm, which was still raised in mid-air, Chu Chouchi restrained her and then fed her the wontons on the wooden spoon with his own hand.

Shen Zhizhi: "...!"

Shen Zhizhi looked as if she had seen a ghost, her almond-shaped eyes wide open.

He just used the spoon she used? Isn't this guy a germaphobe?

Chu Chouchi stared at her mouth, which she couldn't close for a long time, and then his lips curled up almost imperceptibly.

"It's pretty good, keep eating."

Chu Chou Chi Feng narrowed his eyes, released her wrist, and scooped up another wonton, savoring it slowly.

Shen Zhizhi nodded in astonishment, mechanically withdrew her hand, her mind blank, and didn't even think of changing the spoon.

Chu Chouchi stared at her, his smile deepening.

Meanwhile, inside the Phoenix Palace.

Empress Ming lay half-reclined on the couch, her eyes slightly narrowed, quietly enjoying the grapes that the palace maids were peeling for her.

"Your Majesty, the eldest daughter of the Shen family requests an audience." A palace maid walked gracefully in and bowed slightly.

"Oh? The eldest daughter of the Shen family?" Empress Ming chuckled, her eyes full of amusement. She raised her hand slightly, allowing the palace maid to help her up. "A distinguished guest has arrived. Please come in quickly."

"Yes."

After a while, Shen Qinshou walked in slowly from outside the palace and bowed.

"The Queen."

Empress Ming smiled slightly, stood up and helped her up, "You, there's no need for such formality in front of me. I am truly pleased to see you."

"Your Majesty, I have something to say to you." Shen Qinshou stood up and glanced around the hall with feigned difficulty.

"You may all leave," Empress Ming said, her smile fading.

All the palace maids withdrew, and before leaving, they closed the palace gates tightly.

"Has A-Shou made up her mind?" Empress Ming held her hand, her eyebrows lowered, and her eyes revealed a seductive charm.

She had long heard of this eldest daughter of the Shen family. It was said that she was very skilled and had managed to win over the Second Prince and the Third Prince, who were determined to marry no one but her.

If Shen Qinshou could be used by her, wouldn't that be equivalent to planting a spy between the two of them?

Thinking of this, Empress Ming's eyes shone even brighter, looking at her as if she were a hot commodity.

"Yes, Your Highness, I am willing to lend you a hand."

Shen Qinshou raised her eyes, her almond-shaped eyes calm as the sea, yet sharp enough to send chills down one's spine, like a wild beast lurking in the forest, never letting go once it has bitten its prey.

Empress Ming was slightly taken aback, but after realizing what was happening, the corners of her eyes curved slightly.

"Good! Good! With you saying that, I am relieved."

Empress Ming rose and paced back and forth. After a long while, she sighed deeply, "In this disaster relief effort, the Second Prince distributed porridge and provided relief. This kind of good deed to win the hearts of the people has fallen on his head. This is very bad for Yan'er."

Shen Qinshou gently helped Empress Ming to sit down on the soft couch, and smiled calmly, "Your Majesty, please don't be angry. Distributing porridge for disaster relief is a good thing, but if something goes wrong..."

"What brilliant plan does A-Shou have?" Empress Ming asked, her eyes filled with surprise.

Shen Qinshou smiled, took two steps forward, and whispered in Empress Ming's ear.

"If that's the case..."

Empress Ming listened quietly, her astonishment gradually fading, a hint of ruthlessness appearing in her eyes.

……

The streets were bustling with vagrants and vendors, as prosperous as ever. Shen Chao led Shi Ling through the bustling city, looking left and right, afraid of making the slightest mistake.

"I clearly saw her at the market yesterday, how could she not have returned all night?" Shen Chaojian frowned and quickened his pace.

Shi Ling paused for a moment, then spoke up to comfort her, "Young Master, don't worry. The Third Miss is agile and will definitely be alright."

Shen Chao remained silent, but his gaze, which was urgently scanning his surroundings, suddenly fixed on a certain spot.

Shi Ling looked in the direction he was looking, puzzled.

On the table in front of the third young lady was a bowl of steaming wontons, and a handsome man was sitting in front of her.

At that moment, the man actually reached out and grabbed the third young lady's fair wrist, and ignoring her astonished expression, forcibly put her wooden spoon into his mouth.

Shen Chao's eyes darkened, and after a long silence, he finally managed to utter, "You lecherous scoundrel."

Having said that, he quickened his pace, as if he were about to rush towards the stall.