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

Meanwhile, in the front hall, the standoff between Chu Chouchi and his group continued.

Yin Qinian trembled with shock at Chu Chouchi's words, and an ominous premonition enveloped him from all around, as if to engulf him completely.

Yes, a few days ago, Ali said that Chu Chouchi had returned to the city, so he sent Fang Yan to lead a group of Invincible Pavilion guards out of the city to intercept him on the way.

He'd been too busy these past few days to think about the lack of messages from Fang Yan.

Now, Chu Chouchi has entered the city and stormed into the palace without losing a single soldier.

Where exactly did his Invincible Pavilion's secret guards go? What happened in the past few days in areas beyond his control?

"Where's Fang Yan?!"

Thinking of this, a fierce glint flashed in Yin Qinian's eyes as he stared at Chu Chouchi, whose eyes were full of sarcasm, and unconsciously clenched his fists.

The sword at Chu Chou's waist gleamed coldly in the dim light.

Upon hearing Yin Qinian's question, he stroked his sword, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Why don't you take a guess?

His voice was deep and resonant, echoing softly in the quiet night, carrying a hint of provocation.

Yin Qinian stood opposite him, and even in the dim light, his disheveled anger was hard to conceal.

His expression suddenly turned cold, his gaze like a poisoned arrow piercing straight at Chu Chou Chi, "If you dare to lay a hand on him, you will not leave this palace today!"

Upon hearing this, Chu Chouchi's phoenix eyes suddenly sharpened, a cold glint flashing in them before he let out a disdainful laugh.

Just as he was about to retort, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind him.

"I'm afraid that you'll be the one who can't leave the palace today."

Yin Qinian's pupils shrank sharply from the sound, as if an invisible hand had gripped his throat tightly, and his breath caught in his throat.

His gaze unconsciously swept over the figure that emerged from behind Chu Chouchi.

In just a moment, his gaze was fixed on him, unable to look away, and he froze on the spot.

Qu Yuanye walked step by step to Chu Chouchi's side, raised his eyebrows slightly, and stared intently at Yin Qinian, who was standing there in shock.

When Yin Qinian confirmed who the visitor was, his body trembled uncontrollably, and his lips trembled uncontrollably, "You clearly, you clearly..."

It was as if something was blocking his throat; the words he hadn't spoken were swirling on his tongue, but he just couldn't get them out.

Upon seeing this, Qu Yuanye curled his lips into a sarcastic smile, his disdain for Yin Qinian evident in his expression. "No need for you to worry. I still have decades to live."

Yin Qinian was only stunned for a moment before quickly regaining his composure. "I clearly checked Ah Li's pulse to see if he was poisoned, so why..."

Years of experience in political maneuvering made him quickly understand everything.

I'm afraid this was all planned by his good apprentice.

Qu Yuanye stared at Yin Qinian's face, which had turned completely purple with anger, and felt extremely smug.

He raised his eyebrows and said sarcastically, "Everyone says that a disciple is not necessarily inferior to his master, and a master is not necessarily more virtuous than his disciple. Now I finally understand that."

As he listened to Qu Yuanye's words, Yin Qinian's gaze grew even colder, as if it were a frozen pool or an ice cellar, ready to freeze everything around him.

He clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white from the force, and the anger in his heart almost consumed him.

Qu Yuanye also found this uninteresting. He took half a step forward, still wearing that ambiguous smile on his face, and said, "There are many medicines in this world that can suppress toxins in the body, and I happen to have refined many of them."

His voice was calm and unhurried, yet it stirred up a storm in Yin Qinian's heart.

"So, the poison in Ali's body hasn't been cured?" Yin Qinian's voice was low and hoarse, with a hint of barely concealed panic.

Upon hearing this, Qu Yuanye merely raised an eyebrow, a gesture that seemed to acknowledge everything.

Yin Qinian trembled with rage. He abruptly flung his sleeve and said, "Since A-Li can't bring himself to do it, then I will make the decision for him! Don't forget, even without the Invincible Pavilion, there is still the Seven Star Society. Do you really think you can turn the world upside down?"

Qu Yuanye remained calm and composed, raising an eyebrow and smiling at him. "After all this time, you still don't understand your disciple? If he truly wanted the position of Crown Prince, would we have entered this palace so easily?"

Upon hearing this, Yin Qinian froze instantly, as if his limbs and bones had been frozen, and he didn't know how to react.

────

After finishing cooking the porridge, Shen Zhizhi ladled out a bowl and went outside.

As Shen Zhizhi gazed at the figure beneath the plum blossoms, she suddenly felt the scalding bowl of porridge in her palm weigh as heavy as a thousand pounds.

The snow on the boy's shoulders was already three inches thick, but he seemed oblivious to it. He didn't even open the paper umbrella that had been held up beside him; it just drooped there.

Her thin wrist trembled in the cold wind as she pulled the thread.

His face was even paler than when she had gone to cook the porridge.

"The eldest prince!"

Seeing his appearance, Shen Zhizhi felt extremely distressed. She quickly stepped forward and opened the oil-paper umbrella, saying angrily, "Your Highness, the snow is so heavy, you will catch a cold."

Zhang Jiali gazed at her intently, without saying a word.

He lowered his dark eyes, watching her brush the snow off his shoulder, feeling the worry in her furrowed brows, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

After looking at him for a while, he suddenly opened his mouth and said, "Miss Shen, please forgive me."

Shen Zhizhi's hand trembled as she patted the snow off him. She clearly didn't know what he was talking about, but her heart ached uncontrollably.

"My life is too short... I cannot do as you wish..."

"In the next life, find me sooner and teach me how to fly kites and fight crickets..."

"The art of manipulating people's hearts, the art of playing chess, are simply too exhausting..."

"In my next life, I will not study..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Jiali suddenly covered his mouth and coughed violently, the sound of a broken bellows coming from his throat.

Shen Zhizhi hurriedly went to help him, only to see a line of crimson blood winding down between his fingers, blooming into a dazzling red plum blossom on the snow.

His fingers were colder than snowflakes, and his wrist bones were as brittle as withered branches that would break at the slightest touch in the cold wind.

Zhang Jiali looked down at the scarlet mark on his fingertips and suddenly chuckled softly.

Shen Zhizhi's eyes burned, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

What has she forgotten...?

Why...why is she so sad...?

The boy's blood-stained fingertips touched the corner of her eye, the scent of frost mixed with the smell of blood filling her nostrils. "Don't cry. When you remember, you'll probably say that crying for me was the least worthwhile thing."

Shen Zhizhi wiped away her tears, and fearing that he would get cold, she quickly brought the porridge to his lips, "Have some porridge first, to warm yourself up."

Zhang Jiali took the porridge and was about to open his mouth when he suddenly coughed violently and fell against the plum tree, the snow on the branches falling and soaking into the porridge.

"I'll get you another bowl! Wait a minute!"

Shen Zhizhi hurriedly reached for a bowl to serve more, but he pressed her hand down.

"No need, stay with me a little longer."

After saying that, he fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a gold lock, the pendant making a clear, ringing sound when it was struck.

Shen Zhizhi looked closely and immediately knew what it was.

This gold lock was the only thing his mother left him, and it was also an important item for him when he later reunited with his family.

“This should have been given to you long ago.” Zhang Jiali smiled and placed it in her palm. “This is the most important thing in my life, and I am now entrusting it to you. I hope that in the future, you will not hold such a grudge against me if you remember this.”