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

After saying this, Yin Qinian's face darkened, and a murderous intent flashed in his eyes.

He suddenly waved his hand and said coldly, "Since you want to fight, then let's settle this today, in blood!"

However, Xue Zhi and Xue Liao stood there stunned, as if they had not heard what he said.

Blood's gaze fell first on the golden lock at Shen Zhizhi's waist. He stared for a long time, his sword trembling uncontrollably, the blade whistling mournfully in the wind and snow.

His thin lips trembled, and in an instant, a blood-curdling roar erupted:

"Young Master—!"

After roaring, ignoring Yin Qinian's astonished expression, he rushed into the depths of the snow like a madman.

At this moment, Xue Liao also seemed to be bound by some invisible force.

Upon seeing this, Yin Qinian's expression changed drastically, and he roared, "What are you waiting for? Make your move now!"

Xue Liao seemed not to hear, and slowly walked towards Shen Zhizhi with his sword, the tip of the sword leaving a trail in the snow.

Shen Zhizhi paused for a moment. Although she knew he would never harm her, she still instinctively stepped back.

Upon seeing this, Chu Chouchi's phoenix eyes turned cold. He leaped onto his horse and blocked Xue Liao's path, staring at him menacingly.

The moment the sword was pressed against the opponent's throat, Xue Liao suddenly knelt down, his armor clashing against the blue bricks under the snow with a metallic sound.

Amidst countless gazes, Xue Liao knelt on one knee before Shen Zhizhi, his right hand placed before his chest, his eyes flashing with a glint of light.

"The young master said before his death that this golden lock could summon the Seven Stars Society, and he would only give it to someone else on his deathbed. Now that Miss Shen has obtained the golden lock, the Seven Stars Society will only be loyal to Miss Shen from now on, and will follow Miss Shen's lead."

"On his deathbed?" Yin Qinian staggered, leaning against the plum tree, crimson sap seeping from between his fingers.

Snow clung to the withered branches, pelting his contorted face. His thin lips trembled slightly. "How could this be? How could Ali...?"

Xue Liao remained silent, kneeling motionless in the snow, his hand gripping the sword sheath trembling uncontrollably beneath his black cloak.

Shen Zhizhi suddenly felt the gold lock around her waist burning hot, and a cold wind swept past her eyes, almost bringing tears to her eyes again.

The white-clad youth seemed to reappear before her, protecting her once again.

Shen Zhizhi parted her thin lips slightly, suppressing the burning passion in her eyes. When she looked up, a touch of vermilion tinged the corners of her eyes.

"Yin Qinian, are you still not going to stop? You and the late emperor caused all the tragedies in Zhang Jiali's life. As a result, he exchanged his life for this imperial edict, and also for your defeat."

Yin Qinian's face instantly turned ashen, the white jade ring in his hand suddenly shattered, and his pupils shrank to needle size. "You're talking nonsense. How could Ali possibly die? He's so smart, how could he so easily give up his life?"

Although his voice carried the sound of shattering jade, it was as cold and hard as snow, shaking down the icicles hanging from the eaves.

Shen Zhizhi remained silent, merely gazing at him with a disdainful smile, as if mocking his self-deception.

Irritated by the gaze, Yin Qinian drew his sword to strike, when suddenly a sound of tearing air and ripping cloth came—

The cone-shaped projectile struck the sword, the force of which numbed his entire right arm. The sword crashed to the ground and became deeply embedded in the snow.

Yin Qinian frowned and looked up.

The copper bells on the eaves rang without wind. Fang Yan came in against the light, and the vermilion color at the corner of his eyes flickered with the candlelight, like a shard of broken porcelain stained with blood.

Chu Chouchi remained tightly guarding Shen Zhizhi, his long sword gripped tightly in his hand, his eyes blazing, always on guard against Yin Qinian's counterattack.

Upon seeing the newcomer, Yin Qinian's eyes suddenly lit up with joy. "Ayan, you've come! That's wonderful! Now there's still hope for our restoration."

"Restore the country?" Fang Yan sneered and took half a step back. "After all that has happened, I have no face to mention this matter again, nor the strength to bear the burden of restoring the country."

Yin Qinian was taken aback and was about to continue speaking when Fang Yan sternly cut him off before he could finish his sentence.

“Master! How could you treat your aunt’s only biological child like this?! Do you know that you have trapped Ah Li for life with that letter that you claimed was left by your aunt?”

You treat him as a pawn, manipulating him at will in the game of power and strategy, but you forget that he is also a flesh-and-blood person with his own emotions and desires.

Ali was different from other children from a young age. He was burdened with heavy responsibilities and was already miserable. You even used the Soul-Devouring Gu to control him!

How can your aunt rest in peace after all this treatment of him?!

Yin Qinian was momentarily dazed, speechless after being confronted by Fang Yan's words.

His body swayed slightly, an unnatural twitch flashed across his face, and his fingertips dug deeply into his palms. "I did all this for the sake of restoring the kingdom, for the sake of the Princess. Ali has a mission on his shoulders, he should understand..."

"Mission?" Fang Yan laughed angrily. "Your so-called mission is nothing but satisfying your own selfish desires!"

Upon hearing this, Yin Qinian seemed to have been stepped on and shouted angrily, "Insolence! What selfish motives would your teacher have?!"

Fang Yan's thin lips trembled as she took half a step forward, veins bulging on her forehead from anger. "You mistreat Ali only because he is the flesh and blood of your aunt and your beloved. Twenty years of burning jealousy have turned your envy into hatred, and you vent your anger and resentment on Ali. That is your selfishness."

Yin Qinian swayed, as if Fang Yan's words had struck a nerve.

He staggered a few steps, his facial muscles contorted, his heart filled with a mixture of shame, anger, and rage, which nearly drove him to madness.

Yin Qinian composed himself, a ruthless glint in his eyes: "As the son of the eldest princess, it is Ali's destiny to sacrifice himself for the cause of restoring the kingdom."

Fang Yan stared at the man before her, blinded by his obsession, her eyes filled with sorrow. "Master, will my aunt really be happy if you do that?"

All my aunt wanted was for Ali to be safe and happy, but you ruined his life with your own hands. Now that Ali is gone, don't you understand?

Yin Qinian closed his eyes, the corners of his eyes turning red with resentment.

He had been with He'er since childhood. As the personal physician of the eldest princess, he outwardly adhered to the etiquette between ruler and subject, but in private addressed her by her childhood name.

Over the years, the childhood friendship gradually blossomed into a hidden affection.

On the day the country fell, he watched with bloodshot eyes as she was captured by the enemy's iron cavalry, and he did everything in his power to rescue her from the palace.

When the Invincible Pavilion was able to gain a foothold, he sneaked into the palace to find her, only to find her chatting happily with the Crown Prince, and even pregnant with his child.

After questioning her, he saw her as if struck by lightning, and only then did he understand.

It turns out that she fell in love with the enemy who destroyed her country without knowing Chu Shi's identity.

The pain of unrequited love was like strong liquor, fermenting and burning his heart over the years.

Later on, whenever Ah Li saw the spirit of Chu Shi floating in his eyes, old grudges and new resentments would surge up uncontrollably.

Therefore, even when Ah Li was in a high fever and delirious as a child, he still stood in front of his bed, coldly ordering him to continue his studies as usual, not allowing him to rest for even a moment.

Only when the moonlight streamed through the windowpane, and he saw the silhouette of Ah Li curled up on the sickbed and the overlapping image of He'er in her childhood, could he not suppress his pity.