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

[Host, host, wake up!]

Ya Dan stared at the blank screen, calling out to Shen Zhizhi several times without getting her awake. She paced back and forth nervously.

After a moment of deep thought, it closed its eyes and shouted: "Host! Wake up! You're going to lose three million!"

"Holy crap! Who the hell touched my three million?!"

Shen Zhizhi's eyes snapped open, and she sat up with a swift motion.

Ya Dan: ...

Although Ya Dan was utterly speechless, she breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing her awake and hurriedly reminded her: [Host, be careful, your life is in danger.]

Life-threatening?

Shen Zhizhi's eyelids twitched, and she was about to speak when she looked around and froze after seeing the scene in front of her.

Isn't this the Tu Prince's Mansion? How did she get here?

She remembered waiting for Chu Chouchi on the street just now, then smelled a strange fragrance, and then lost consciousness.

Seeing that she was awake, the person at the table slowly sipped his tea, raised an eyebrow at her expressionlessly, and said, "Awake? That makes things easier."

Following the sound, Shen Zhizhi slowly moved her gaze upwards and saw Chu Tu sitting proudly above, the sable fur on his shoulders dancing wildly in the wind, and the red mole under his eye alluring.

Shen Zhizhi belatedly realized the truth.

Wow! She was kidnapped by that brat Chu Tu? So that strange fragrance was a sleeping potion?

Shen Zhizhi was filled with regret; she shouldn't have had that brain fart and thought of Chu Tu at the lantern market.

Now look what happened, which passing King Yama just sent her to see him.

Seeing that she remained silent, Chu Tu lowered his eyes, slowly stood up, and walked to her. "You..."

Shen Zhizhi's eyelashes trembled slightly. Before he could finish speaking, she looked up, feigning ignorance and shyness, and said, "Your Highness, it's late at night, and the dew is heavy. Are you going to watch the snow and the moon with me and talk about poetry and philosophy?"

Chu Tu glanced at her, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes. "Is it so hard for you to recognize what I've done? Can't you tell you're being held hostage?"

"Uh... Your Highness is quite frank, haha." Shen Zhizhi rolled her eyes, utterly puzzled.

As a cannon fodder character in the original story, where did she get so much screen time? She was constantly being besieged or kidnapped. Was it easy for her?

"Considering your deep affection for me, I will grant you a more dignified death today." Chu Tu raised his chin slightly and pointed to the items laid out on the table. "Choose one: white silk, poisoned wine, or a dagger."

He intended to let her off the hook, but Ah Shou had suffered too much injustice at her hands, so he naturally couldn't just sit idly by.

Shen Zhizhi glanced at the 'three-piece set of death warrants' on the table and almost laughed out of anger.

She should be grateful that he allowed her to choose how she died before she passed away?

Shen Zhizhi suppressed her overwhelming resentment, bit her lower lip lightly, and her eyes welled up with tears as she looked up. "Your Highness, I have not appeared before you these past few days, nor have I been in your way. So, may Your Highness tell me why I must die?"

Chu Tu narrowed his eyes, his constricted pupils revealing a cold killing intent. "A-Shou is kind-hearted. She only wanted to go outside the city to provide disaster relief and distribute porridge, but you drove her out, causing her to cry endlessly. Aren't all these things enough to warrant your death sentence?"

Shen Zhizhi lowered her head, her bright eyes suddenly flashing with anger.

Damn! She knew it!

Shen Qinshou, this sea queen, really can't take a joke. She runs to complain at the drop of a hat. Even elementary school kids don't play this game anymore, okay?

[Host! What should we do? What should we do? Judging from this situation, Chu Tu is definitely going to kill you today.] Ya Dan was anxious and restless, just like an ant on a hot pan.

Shen Zhizhi gritted her teeth, inwardly scoffing: [Shen Qinshou just wants to see me die, doesn't she? Fine! I'll live on, I'll make her furious!]

She took a deep breath, trying her best to suppress her anger, and prepared to gather her emotions.

The next second, her eyelashes trembled slightly, and her voice was moist as she said, "Third Prince, if it weren't for you, why would I do such a thing? Why, why will you never believe me?"

Chu Tu suddenly turned his head and met a pair of misty, watery eyes, like a deep pool, staring at him helplessly.

Shen Zhizhi's eyes were slightly red, as if she had suffered a huge blow. She took a few steps back heavily, her breathing rapid: "These past few days, the Second Prince has been at the porridge distribution shed for disaster relief. You also know that the Second Prince's feelings for my sister are not pure."

But I am but a lowly concubine's daughter, how could I dare to drive the Second Prince away? Left with no other choice, I could only send my elder sister away.

A flicker of hesitation crossed Chu Tu's eyes, and his lips twitched slightly, as if he wanted to say something.

Shen Zhizhi glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. When she saw him lower his eyes in thought, she quickly put her finger in her mouth, moistened it, and dabbed it under her eyes to create a tear stain.

Ya Dan, with a shocked expression: Host, you have a bit of a disgusting side to you.

Then, the girl turned to the side, trembling slightly as she cried, "Your Highness loves my sister. I always remember this and dare not have any covetous thoughts. I only want to silently protect my sister for Your Highness so that she can eventually become your wife."

"..." Chu Tu pursed his lips, remained silent, and seemed to have tiny sparkles in his eyes.

"Your Highness's only wish is for you to have a happy and healthy future, but what about Your Highness... ha."

She laughed self-deprecatingly, her eyes filled with intense disappointment, her pearly teeth biting her lips until they turned white.

Then, Lang Lang staggered to his feet and walked to the table. Staring at the small medicine pot, he picked it up with trembling hands: "This poison must have been made by His Highness the Third Prince, right?"

Chu Tu looked up at her, a strange emotion surging within him, and he tried his best to restrain himself from being soft-hearted.

But then she pried open the cork, and with tears in her eyes, tilted her head and smiled at him.

"If I drink it today, will Your Highness remember me when you make poison in the future? Even a little bit? Your Highness, I will take my leave. This will be my last retreat."

Chu Tu: !!!

Shen Zhizhi slowly picked up the medicine pot, tilted her head back as if to drink it—

"enough!"

With a sharp shout, Chu Tu lowered his eyelids and spoke in a low voice.

Shen Zhizhi pretended to look on with feigned grief.

"I will let you go." He looked away and said softly, "But this is only once. If you see my brother bothering A-Shou again in the future, just come and tell me. Don't make A-Shou sad again."

Ya Dan, who had taken in every detail, didn't hesitate to applaud and cheer:

[Host, that's brilliant, absolutely brilliant.]

A barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of Shen Zhizhi's mouth.

Pshaw, it's just green tea.

Even more lethal than a "green tea" girl is a "bitter green tea" girl who cherishes you in her heart, goes crazy for you, and bangs her head against a wall for you, yet asks for nothing in return.

Shen Zhizhi was secretly overjoyed, but on her face she still looked wronged and bowed with a trembling body.

"Yes, I understand."

Just as Shen Zhizhi was feeling smug and thought she had everything under control, a figure that terrified her entered her field of vision.

"Your Highness, the city's accounts have been checked. Is there anything else you require?"

The Wind Chief respectfully cupped his hands in greeting.

Shen Zhizhi trembled violently and couldn't help but shiver.

Holy crap! ...

The person who chased Chu Chouchi last time was actually Chu Tu's subordinate?

This damn world really doesn't want her to have a way out, does it?