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

The sun was setting in the west, and a pale moon hung in the sky.

Shen Zhizhi sat to the side, glancing at the disaster victims who had fallen into a deep sleep after being comforted by Zhang Jiali, and couldn't help but purse her lips.

Fortunately, the poison on the victims was not a highly toxic substance, but rather croton seeds that cause diarrhea. This suggests that the person who poisoned them was definitely not Chu Tu.

But if it's Shen Qinshou, what would her purpose be in doing this?

Shen Qinshou is an ambitious and insatiable man.

She schemed and plotted among the princes, hoping one day to rise to the position of the emperor, second only to the emperor in the harem.

Logically speaking, Chu Chou Chi was one of her bargaining chips in order to become the Crown Princess. So, by poisoning the soup kitchen, wasn't she essentially harming Chu Chou Chi?

In a daze, a cold touch suddenly covered her forehead, startling Shen Zhizhi so much that she almost jumped up.

When she came to her senses, she saw a white robe fluttering in front of her. Zhang Jiali sat down beside her. "Miss Shen, this is an ice pack that I found. Please apply it."

He paused for a moment, then reached out and took the ice pack, smiling, "Thank you, Lord Zhang."

“Today, Miss Shen shielded me from public anger; it is I who should be grateful to Miss Shen,” Zhang Jiali said with a smile.

Shen Zhizhi pressed the ice pack to her forehead, her eyes filled with frustration. "Those disaster victims are really something. They took their anger out on you before the matter was even fully investigated."

Zhang Jiali stared at her, only smiling, without saying a word.

Unaware of the danger, Shen Zhizhi continued, "Lord Zhang, please don't be anxious. I will definitely ask the Second Prince to investigate this matter thoroughly and ensure that Lord Zhang is not wronged without cause."

“I’m afraid even His Highness the Second Prince would find it difficult to make a decision on this matter.” Zhang Jiali lowered his gaze, thought for a moment, and then said, “The person who poisoned the people did not intend to harm the disaster victims, but they must have had the intention to frame them.”

The struggle for power in the imperial court is nothing new. This frame-up is simply an attempt to prevent the Second Prince from winning over the hearts of the people.

Shen Zhizhi was well aware of this.

But if Shen Qinshou really did this, then she must seize this opportunity to expose her true colors.

The poisoning has been neutralized, and the victims are safe and sound. The plan failed, and the person who poisoned the victims will certainly not give up.

Thinking of this, she hurriedly stood up, returned the ice pack, and said, "Lord Zhang, I suddenly remembered something, so I'll take my leave now."

After saying that, he left in a hurry.

Zhang Jiali watched her departing figure, his eyes gleaming for a moment before he looked away.

Shen Zhizhi rushed to the Chiwang Mansion without stopping. Since the day she saw that His Highness's attitude towards her was not as bad as rumored, the guards outside the mansion did not stop her when they saw her. Shen Zhizhi arrived without any obstacles.

Upon learning that Chu Chouchi was in the study, and recalling the hidden weapon from that day, she became cautious.

She raised her hand and knocked on the door. "Your Highness, I have something to ask of you."

After a moment of silence in the study, Chu Chouchi's cold voice rang out: "It's getting late. May I ask what business Miss Shen has with me?"

"Your Highness, I—"

Before the words had even finished, a cold, clear voice rang out again.

"If Miss Shen's concern is about poisoning, then please leave."

Hearing him refer to her as "Miss Shen" over and over again, Shen Zhizhi felt incredibly awkward.

Has Chu Chouchi taken the wrong medicine today?

[Host, allow me a bold idea: could Chu Chouchi be jealous?]

Ya Dan's speculation gave Shen Zhizhi goosebumps. She chuckled inwardly, "Hehehe, don't joke around, I'm so cold."

Seeing that he was reluctant to open the door, she lost her patience, pushed the door open, and strode inside.

As soon as she entered the room, she was met with a pair of aloof and cold eyes. When their eyes met, they were filled with anger.

Chu Chouchi's tone was tinged with displeasure, "This prince did not allow you to enter!"

"Your Highness, today's matter is truly of great importance." Shen Zhizhi gracefully stepped forward, grabbed his wrist, and dragged him towards the door.

Even though she had pulled him with all her might, he didn't budge an inch.

Shen Zhizhi was filled with remorse, suppressing her doubts, and looked apologetic:

"Your Highness, it's all my fault, no matter what. I'll invite you to dinner another day to express my apology. That would be a better time. Please don't be childish with me now, okay?"

Although he didn't know what kind of explosive this guy had taken, as long as he could catch Shen Qinshou in the act today and let Chu Chouchi see what kind of person she really was, he would be one step closer to his mission objective.

Chu Chouchi paused, then lowered his head.

His eyes were filled with the girl's bright, star-like gaze, her eyes brimming with urgency and pleading. For some inexplicable reason, he couldn't bear to be angry with her.

He cleared his mind and feigned indifference, "Alright, tell me what it is."

"Your Highness, please come with me."

......

The two walked through the bustling city and came to a path overgrown with weeds and intertwined tree branches. Upon closer inspection, they could spot a thatched cottage hidden among the bushes.

Chu Chouchi was puzzled, his eyes filled with confusion. "This is where disaster relief grain is stored. What are you doing bringing me here?"

Shen Zhizhi surveyed her surroundings, found a sturdy tree under which she could see the condition of the wooden house and also conceal the two of them, and then angrily raised her eyes.

"Your Highness, such a mishap has occurred during the porridge distribution and disaster relief efforts, causing great resentment among the victims. We must give them an explanation."

Chu Chou's red eyes were cold and clear, but her words reignited his anger that had just subsided.

"Heh, Miss Shen is quite concerned about this matter. If you want to quell the public anger for Lord Zhang, why don't you go and ask him to keep you company?"

Shen Zhizhi was stunned and looked up.

What's going on? She talks about this, but he keeps talking about that.

How could she not want to bring Zhang Jiali along?

The problem is that he's the male lead, destined to marry the female lead, so he can't bear to see her in such a shameful state.

But Chu Chouchi is different. As a fish in the female lead's pond, it's a good thing for him to realize his mistake early and get out of the sea of ​​suffering as soon as possible.

"Your Highness, I had no other intentions. I just wanted you to see who plotted to frame you."

Chu Chouchi, who was about to get up and leave, stopped in his tracks because of these words.

He glanced at her and saw her displeased expression, a warm feeling spreading through his heart. "Is that all?"

"Yes," she said firmly.

Chu Chouchi remained silent for a moment, then realized that she was not investigating the truth for Zhang Jiali's sake, but because of him, and her anger immediately dissipated.

In fact, he never took this kind of framing seriously, and he disdained such attempts to win people's hearts. The disaster relief and porridge distribution were merely in response to her request.

There are many princes in the palace, and their schemes to win his favor are all underhanded. However, as long as they do not cross his bottom line, he does not bother to get entangled with them.

Seeing that his expression had softened slightly, Shen Zhizhi leaned closer and whispered, "Your Highness, they failed to make a big fuss about this today, but they certainly won't let it go. I think someone will come to drug you again tonight."

"Ah."

Chu Chou's red eyes remained calm as he stared at the peeking little head, a slight, imperceptible smile playing on his lips.

Fine, since she wants to play, I'll play along with her.