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

A moment later, he reached out and gently tucked a stray hair behind her ear.

"Water, moon, flowers, nothing but illusions."

Zhang Jiali's eyes held a deep meaning, and the corners of his lips curled up. "Miss Shen, you should trust yourself more than others, and never harbor any illusions about being wary of others. You should be careful not to trust others too easily and fall into a trap."

Zhang Jiali was so close, meeting her warm, deep eyes, that Shen Zhizhi's heart pounded and her breathing became slightly rapid. She was completely unaware of his strange behavior.

She calmed herself down and pondered for a moment, carefully considering the meaning behind his words.

She looked up after a moment, her eyes crinkling as she smiled at him with a hint of smugness, "I understand, Lord Zhang, you're trying to tell me that one should always be wary of others, right?"

Zhang Jiali just smiled and said nothing more.

"Yes! I will remember Lord Zhang's words."

Shen Zhizhi grinned and replied, but as for how much she remembered, she probably didn't even know herself.

Now, all she could see was Zhang Jiali's jade-like face, and she didn't care about anything else.

Staring at her smug expression, Zhang Jiali suddenly chuckled.

He straightened up, slightly lifted his eyelids to gaze at the cold moon high in the sky, then turned his head and asked with concern, "It's late, Miss Shen. Shall I escort you back?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Zhizhi quickly mimicked Xi Shi clutching her heart, her eyes instantly lighting up.

"Alright! Alright! Then I'll trouble you, Lord Zhang!"

Shen Zhizhi ran to his side almost without hesitation, staring at him obediently with her thick eyebrows and big eyes, nodding repeatedly.

Zhang Jiali paused for a moment, a slight smile appearing on his brows. After a long while, he sighed and said, "It seems that Miss Shen did not take what I said tonight to heart."

His voice trailed off with a hint of a smile, its tone clean and gentle, like a babbling brook flowing into one's heart.

Shen Zhizhi blushed deeply at his words and awkwardly twisted her index finger in front of her.

She kicked at the pebbles under her feet and stammered an explanation: "Lord Zhang is an upright man, renowned throughout the city. Although Zhizhi is raised in seclusion, she has still heard of him. Don't all the people of Nanliyue Star City trust Lord Zhang?"

What's more, she has the script in her hands, and she already knows the character settings of everyone in the book, whether they are human or ghost.

"So be it, all people in this world are like this."

Zhang Jiali dusted off his white robe, raised his eyes and smiled calmly, his tone carrying an unfathomable depth:

"One cannot learn from a mistake, Miss Shen, what do you think?"

"what?"

Shen Zhizhi looked up suddenly, her eyes filled with surprise.

Before she could understand what he meant, and just as she was about to say something...

But then the young man standing under the pear tree, his white robe fluttering slightly, strolled away with an air of nonchalant elegance.

Immediately following was his deep, steady voice, like the shattering of Kunlun jade, carried on the wind:

"It's late, Miss Shen. I'll escort you home."

......

Outside the Prime Minister's residence.

The two walked side by side down the street, Shen Zhizhi smiling broadly as she chatted on and on about interesting things.

Zhang Jiali occasionally smiled slightly and made a few comments when she mentioned something amusing, which made Shen Zhizhi smile even more, and her eyes shone even brighter than the stars in the night sky.

Before long, they arrived at the Prime Minister's residence.

"Miss Shen, we've arrived." Zhang Jiali stopped and turned to look.

Shen Zhizhi was taken aback upon hearing this, and glanced at the vermilion gate outside the mansion with a hint of annoyance. Sure enough, the time spent with her idol was always exceptionally short.

Even though he was reluctant, he could only nod knowingly, "Lord Zhang, please wait for me a moment. I will go to the manor to have someone prepare a carriage to take you back."

“No need. It’s late, and they must all be resting now. I appreciate Miss Shen’s kindness.” Zhang Jiali took a half step back and smiled faintly.

"But......"

As they were speaking, the sound of robes rustling came from somewhere, and before they could see who it was, they heard a roar.

"Where did you go off to play again? Why are you only coming back now?"

Shen Chao?!

Shen Zhizhi shrank her neck, feeling a sense of panic, as if she had been caught daydreaming by the teacher in class, for some reason.

She moved stiffly, turned her head with a forced smile, and chuckled as she met Shen Chao's angry eyes. "Big brother, it's you. You're still up so late? Staying up late is bad for you, it'll give you wrinkles."

Shen Chaocai wasn't buying it. He took two steps forward and pinched her small, delicate nose. "You've gotten quite bold, daring to go out so late all alone. What if something happens?"

"Ouch, ouch, ouch, big brother! I'm fine outside, but if something happens to me while I'm with you, I'll be unjustly killed."

With a pained expression, Shen Zhizhi reached up to Shen Chao's arm, trying to pull his hand off her nose.

Shen Chao sneered, "Heh, so you know what pain is? Will you dare to go out in the middle of the night again?"

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare." Shen Zhizhi pouted and blinked her eyes pitifully. "Besides, I'm fine. Lord Shaoqing specially brought me back."

"Lord Shaoqing?" Shen Chao released his grip, took a step back, and glanced behind his younger sister before finally seeing the young man hidden there.

The young man had a pine-like posture, delicate features, and a simple white robe could not conceal his upright character.

"General Shen." Zhang Jiali took a step forward, bowed slightly, and respectfully greeted him.

Shen Chao stared at him for a moment, as if he hadn't figured something out. After a long pause, he finally asked, "Have I met you before, Lord Shaoqing?"

Zhang Jiali remained silent for a moment, then moved slightly and said calmly, "A few years ago, in the bamboo forest outside the city, I was almost framed by villains, but was fortunately rescued by General Shen."

Shen Chao was taken aback, and as if he had just thought of this, a look of approval flashed across his eyes.

He remembered it very clearly. At that time, the boy was only a young boy who had just started to grow up. He was beaten and covered in wounds by the people of the county government, but his uprightness and determination were not diminished at all. He kept talking about the laws of the Great Heir Apparent.

"So it was you." Shen Chao's brows relaxed, and he smiled. "After years of hard study, Lord Zhang has finally lived up to expectations and entered the court as an official."

Zhang Jiali smiled slightly, lowered his head and looked down, "If it weren't for General Shen's rescue that day, I'm afraid I would have been unable to escape death."

Shen Zhizhi, who overheard the conversation between the two, was slightly taken aback. Indeed, there was a brief mention in the text of Shen Chao saving Zhang Jiali.

At that time, Zhang Jiali was only about fourteen years old. He was almost beaten to death for trying to save a girl that the county magistrate wanted to abduct. Fortunately, Shen Chao happened to pass by and saved him.

It turns out that fate had its own design. Shen Chao, as Shen Qinshou's elder brother and the Protector General, was also an old acquaintance of Zhang Jiali.

This gives Zhang Jiali's battle for the throne an even greater advantage.

Shen Zhizhi sighed deeply, secretly marveling at the sight.

As expected of the author's favorite son, he's got all the halo and cheat codes stacked up.

"It was nothing, just a small favor," Shen Chaohao waved his hand dismissively.

"In that case, I won't bother you any longer. I'll take my leave now, and I'll definitely come to visit you with generous gifts in the future." Zhang Jiali subtly curled the corners of his lips, his tone sincere.