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

"Someone's here! Your Highness!"

Hearing the rustling sound of footsteps on grass in the distance, Shen Zhizhi was overjoyed and hid behind a tree even further.

Fearing that she would be exposed and discovered, she simply crawled right in front of Chu Chouchi, who happened to be squatting behind a tree.

As she squeezed in, she got so close to him that from a distance it looked as if he was embracing her.

Even through the clothes, her body temperature and natural fragrance made him blush and feel hot.

Chu Chouchi's breath caught in his throat, and he instinctively tried to move backward.

"Don't move! We'll be discovered!" she whispered.

The next moment, as if afraid that he would move again, two soft wrists gripped his waist, holding him tightly, and even pinched him as punishment.

"..." Chu Chouchi gasped.

He could have easily broken free with just a little effort, but for some reason, he stood there frozen, letting those hands do whatever they wanted.

The footsteps grew clearer, and as a bright flame came into view, the two men's conversation reached their ears.

"Miss, yesterday it was croton oil, are we really going to switch to this datura poison today?"

Xiao Tao followed Shen Qinshou shakily, carrying a lantern, glancing around every now and then, afraid that someone would discover what the two were about to do.

Frustrated, Shen Qinshou interrupted impatiently, "I thought this matter would escalate, but Shen Zhizhi calmed the disaster victims down with just a few words. It's infuriating! Since that's the case, we'll have to think of another way."

Chu Chouchi, who was still in a daze, paused when he heard the familiar voice. He looked up and seemed to be in disbelief at what he had just heard.

With just one glance, his phoenix eyes narrowed instantly, and his brows furrowed.

Xiao Tao nervously clutched the poison powder in her hand. "Miss, why don't we use more croton oil to make those disaster victims have more diarrhea? Is poisoning...?"

"Snapped!"

Before Xiao Tao could finish speaking, Shen Qinshou slapped her to silence.

"Stop talking nonsense! This is the Empress's order. If we don't obey, we might be the ones drinking the poison from the Datura one day!"

Xiao Tao felt extremely wronged after being slapped, and said, "Xiao Tao knows she was wrong."

Shen Qinshou looked displeased and impatiently pulled out the key from her sleeve and threw it at her, saying, "Go in, and hurry up."

"Yes, yes," Xiao Tao replied, and hurriedly stepped forward to unlock the door.

Shen Zhizhi watched all this quietly with eyes as clear as autumn water, a sarcastic smile playing on her lips.

Calling Shen Qinshou a "sea queen" is an underestimation of her. She wasn't described in the original work, but it's surprising that she actually colluded with the Empress behind the scenes.

Empress Ming gave birth to a son named Chu Yan, who was the sixth prince.

So the reason she poisoned him was because of Chu Yan? Did she want to discard Chu Chou Chi, this pawn?

[Congratulations, host, Chu Chouchi's sycophantic value has decreased by 30.]

Wow! That's a huge amount deducted at once?!

Shen Zhizhi's eyes suddenly lit up.

Earn a fortune!

Shen Zhizhi sighed inwardly, turned her head slightly, and glanced at Chu Chouchi out of the corner of her eye.

His eyes, already as deep as a pool, were now even more indistinct in the darkness, yet she could clearly feel his sharp, chilling aura spreading around her.

"Your Highness, getting angry is bad for your health, please bear with it." Shen Zhizhi gently patted his back twice to comfort him.

Chu Chouchi sneered, "Heh."

He had thought it might be the Empress, Chu Yan, or even Chu Tu, but he never imagined it would be Shen Qinshou.

He prided himself on how well he had treated her in the past, so why had she betrayed him like this?

[Congratulations, host, Chu Chouchi's favorability has decreased by 50.]

Ya Dan continued to report.

Shen Zhizhi was so excited that she wanted to jump three feet high on the spot.

Hahaha, it's collapsed! Shen Qinshou has been completely reduced to ruins this time.

Chu Chouchi's eyes were so deep they seemed to devour everything. His piercing gaze was like a torch as he stared intently at the pale blue figure directly in front of him.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him, as if a string in his mind had snapped!

[Chu Chouchi's character maintenance rate -50]

Ya Dan's report left Shen Zhizhi bewildered, and she tilted her head in confusion to ask.

【Character image maintenance? What is this?】

Ya Dan was in a great mood at the moment, and spoke slowly and gently with a smile:

[The host should know that every character in a book, whether a supporting character or a protagonist, needs their own character design as long as they appear in the text.]

Chu Chouchi's "simp" persona caused him to act like a fool when facing Shen Qinshou; this persona also required him to love the female lead.

Shen Zhizhi suddenly realized: [So, what I'm saying is that if Chu Chouchi's persona collapses, no matter how much Shen Qinshou tries to fool him, he won't be fooled anymore?]

【Yes host! 】

Shen Zhizhi's eyes crinkled, and she almost burst out laughing while covering her mouth.

Chu Chouchi lowered his gaze to the girl in his arms, and his thoughts suddenly became clear and enlightened.

So, were all the things she said at the Red King's Mansion true?

Shen Qinshou did indeed begin to have close contact with the young masters of the Zhang and Li families from that time onwards, without his knowledge.

Looking back now, many things are clearly traceable. When Shen Qinshou went out with him, she definitely did not like to go to bustling places, but always went to quiet riverside places. This was probably because she did not want her other lovers to know.

He was incredibly stupid; he didn't suspect anything at the time.

[Chu Chouchi's character design maintenance]

[Chu Chouchi's licking dog value -]

Ya Dan stared at the bar on the void screen in her consciousness, where the value of her admiring Chu Chou Chi plummeted and finally disappeared completely. She trembled with excitement.

[Host! Congratulations! From now on, Chu Chouchi has completely shed his simp persona!]

Shen Zhizhi almost wanted to cheer, and if there were a suona (a traditional Chinese wind instrument), she would even like to play a tune.

Chu Chouchi was filled with rage and wanted to get up.

"Second Prince, what are you doing?" Shen Zhizhi quickly grabbed his arm.

Although his "licking dog value" has been reduced to zero, his "darkening value" is still there. If he rushes out recklessly and kills Shen Qinshou with one palm, wouldn't her mission be completed in vain?

Chu Chou's phoenix eyes were cold and sharp. "In this life, what I despise most is those who deceive me."

"Your Highness, you can't kill her!" Shen Zhizhi explained with a forced smile: "Since she is acting on Empress Ming's orders, she is essentially an informant planted by Empress Ming next to you."

"Since they are spies planted here, why can't they be eliminated?" He scoffed, his dark, narrow eyes glaring at the two figures not far away like those of a jackal or a tiger.

"Your Highness, knowing yourself and your enemy will ensure victory in every battle. Even if we get rid of Shen Qinshou, there will be others in the future. We might as well turn the tables and go along with Empress Ming's wishes."

Shen Zhizhi glanced ahead with unease, then lowered her voice and continued, "It's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark."

Chu Chouchi slowly closed his eyes, seemingly lost in thought.

After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes, his dark pupils unfathomable.

"I'll do as you say."