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

The stars are bright and the moon is clear; the night is cool and still. The moon, obscured by dark clouds, flows down.

In the quiet alley, the three walked side by side, as still as water.

"Your Highness, today's events were Shen Chao's fault. Please forgive me." Shen Chao lazily lifted his eyelids, his words full of respect, but without a trace of remorse.

Sure enough, as soon as she finished speaking, Shen Zhizhi felt a chill run down her spine.

She couldn't help but glance at Chu Chouchi, only to see his calm expression and slightly raised phoenix eyes. "General Shen has been on the battlefield for many years and is impulsive. I, Your Highness, will naturally not hold it against you."

This remark was a sarcastic jab at Shen Chao, calling him a brute.

Shen Chao was not annoyed by this and remained expressionless. "However, Shen Chao still wants to remind Your Highness that your third sister is not yet married. Please do not lay hands on her, as it is against propriety."

"Oh? General Shen is talking about how to get physical?" Chu Chouchi chuckled softly, his voice lazy and indifferent.

Before Shen Chao could answer, Chu Chouchi reached out and pulled the person beside him into his arms.

"Ahhh!"

Shen Zhizhi stumbled and leaned against him. When she looked up, she saw a smile flash across his eyes. He asked slowly, as if pondering, "General Shen, is that what you mean by getting physical?"

Shen Chao's cold eyes darkened, and he was about to draw the sharp sword from his waist.

"Hey! Big brother! We're home!"

Fearing that the two might start fighting at the slightest disagreement, Shen Zhizhi quickly broke free from Chu Chouchi's embrace and playfully stepped forward to grab Shen Chao's wrist as he drew his sword.

While pulling Shen Chao along, she didn't forget to turn back and comfort him, "Second Prince, please rest early today. See you outside the city tomorrow."

"What?!" Shen Chao's narrow eyes narrowed, revealing a dangerous aura. "You're going to the outskirts of the city with him tomorrow? What are you going to do there? You're not allowed to go tomorrow, do you hear me... Ah!"

Before he could finish rambling, Shen Zhizhi raised her hand and smacked him on the back of the head. "Shut up!"

Although there isn't much description of Shen Chao in the original text, it's clear from the lines that he's not a chatterbox, much less a sister-complex character. The plot is really going off track.

The person standing still had long since abandoned their playful and lazy demeanor; their noble phoenix eyes lowered, their gaze darkening with a hint of sorrow.

What should he do with her?

......

"Big brother, you're back..."

As soon as she entered the mansion, Shen Qinshou came in with a smile, but her smile froze on her face when her eyes fell on Shen Zhizhi next to Shen Chao.

His gaze shifted downwards, and when he saw Shen Zhizhi with her older brother's arm around her, he was struck dumb.

What's going on? My elder brother is never close to anyone, so why is he so close to Shen Zhizhi? Could it be that that bitch Shen Zhizhi complained to him?

Shen Qinshou suppressed her anxiety, forced a smile, and said with concern, "Third sister, where did you go yesterday? I searched for you everywhere."

Staring at the fake kindness on Shen Qinshou's face, Shen Zhizhi almost wanted to roll her eyes.

She has absolutely no liking for this female lead now. Relying on the pampering of the Prime Minister's family, she has developed such a personality since childhood. In public, she is a considerate and gentle legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister's family, but in private, she is a petty and mean-spirited tyrant.

But what can be done? No matter how bad Shen Qinshou is, she is still the author's favorite daughter, the main female lead in the original story, with golden fingers and protagonist halo stacked up.

Shen Zhizhi sneered and retorted without any attempt to hide her anger: "Sister, there's no need to worry. But how is your abdominal injury? Have you seen a doctor?"

Shen Qinshou's face turned ashen. Thinking of the kick she received yesterday, she realized that it had really hurt her badly, and the pain still lingered.

"What injury?" Shen Chao, who had been listening from the side, was completely confused. He glanced at Shen Qinshou and frowned. "You're injured?"

"Ah, this—"

Shen Zhizhi glanced at Shen Qinshou, who was almost biting her lower lip until it bled, and deliberately dragged out her tone in a mysterious manner.

As expected, Shen Qinshou stepped forward and interrupted her loudly, "Ah, brother, it's nothing. I just tripped and fell yesterday. It's nothing serious."

"You fell yesterday, not because you ate too much?" Shen Chao asked, his face full of suspicion.

Thinking of Shen Qinshou clutching her stomach yesterday, her face contorted in pain, she certainly didn't look like she had eaten too much.

Shen Qinshou pursed her lips, "My brother has just returned to the city after a long journey. I didn't want him to worry, so I made up an excuse. Besides, it was just a minor injury, and I'm much better today."

Hearing Shen Qinshou's explanation, Shen Zhizhi almost burst out laughing.

She tilted her head slightly, with an air of arrogance: "Sister, you'd better be careful in the future, don't overeat again."

Shen Qinshou's chest heaved violently, feeling as if her seven orifices were filled with rage. She gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, almost crushing it, but still had a faint smile on her face. "Third sister, don't worry, it's just a minor injury."

Shen Zhizhi held back her laughter. Seeing her embarrassed expression, she felt extremely pleased and stuck out her tongue at her triumphantly.

Seeing this, Shen Qinshou was so angry she wanted to tear her mouth apart, but with Shen Chao still nearby, she had to swallow her anger and grit her teeth.

"Brother, Ah Shou has gone back to her room first."

Shen Chao nodded, "Yes, if it still hurts, remember to have a doctor take a look."

“Ah Shou understands.”

Shen Qinshou turned around, her smile vanishing instantly, replaced by a sinister expression.

Shen Zhizhi, let's see how long you can remain arrogant!

-

The next day, the sun was still lingering in the clouds, casting a faint red glow.

Shen Zhizhi got up early and went out to head to the porridge stall, but was caught red-handed by Shen Chao, who was blocking her way outside the mansion.

"Where are you going?"

Shen Zhizhi was so frightened that all her sleepiness vanished. She turned her head and saw Shen Chao standing there, his eyes blazing as he stared intently at her.

"Haha, elder brother, there are many disaster victims outside the city. As citizens of the Great Chu Kingdom, we should do our part for them." Shen Zhizhi said with a smile.

Shen Chao gazed at her for a moment, then stepped forward. "Zhizhi, do you have feelings for the Second Prince?"

Since yesterday, he had Shi Ling investigate and learned that the Second Prince was infamous in the Great Chu Kingdom for his ruthlessness and cruelty. Anyone who crossed him would suffer. He did not want his third sister to go into the lion's den.

"Huh?" Shen Zhizhi looked up in surprise, and seeing her older brother's embarrassed expression, she realized that he must have misunderstood something.

She hurriedly waved her hand, "No, elder brother, you misunderstood. I had no such intentions towards the Second Prince."

No matter how outstanding the men in this world are, they are nothing more than a bunch of words to her. She is a living, breathing person, so how could she possibly develop feelings for words?

Shen Chao stared at her, and seeing that her almond-shaped eyes were clear and she made no attempt to hide anything, he breathed a sigh of relief.

He looked up, about to give some instructions, when he saw Shi Ling rushing over:

"Young Master, something terrible has happened! There's been trouble at the soup kitchen outside the city."

Shen Chao frowned deeply: "Something went wrong? How could something go wrong when the Second Prince personally oversaw the distribution of porridge?"

Before Shen Chao could ask any further questions, a gust of wind swept past her, and the petite figure quickly ran towards the city gates.

"Let's go, make sure to protect the Third Miss."

Shen Chao looked at Shen Zhizhi, who was running away and almost disappeared in the distance, and gave her instructions.

"Yes."