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

Xue Liao held a meat bun in each hand, still chewing on uncooked meat filling, and replied in a muffled voice:

"What's the matter?"

Shen Zhizhi was speechless for a moment.

Putting aside the fact that there are so many people here, she is about to reveal his identity as a bodyguard. Couldn't he at least behave better?

Other families' bodyguards carry swords at their waists, and when their masters call them, they come with swords drawn, exuding an air of elegance and unparalleled charm.

And what about her bodyguards?

With a meat bun in his left hand and a meat bun in his right, judging from the bulging shape of his arms, they were most likely meat buns.

Shen Zhizhi's lips twitched, and she rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on. "Fine, fine, go play by yourself."

Upon seeing Xue Liao, Shen Qinshou cried out in surprise, her emotions running high. She turned to Shen Chao and pointed, "Brother, it's him! He's the one who entered Third Sister's room last night!"

Xue Liao paused, his hand still holding the steamed bun, his face full of questions.

Shen Zhizhi raised an eyebrow, crossed her arms, and gazed at Shen Qinshou with a smile: "Second sister, did you see clearly? Was it really him last night?"

"Even if he's burned to ashes, I won't mistake him." Shen Qinshou glanced at her coldly, a hint of sarcasm and smugness in her eyes.

Ha, that idiot Shen Zhizhi, she didn't even let him leave, and called him out in front of so many people, she's so stupid.

Shen Chao paused for a moment, then looked up and glanced at Xue Liao.

This person was agile; although he was all around, he hadn't noticed a thing, so he must be a bodyguard.

With a suspicion forming in his mind, Shen Chao glanced at the slightly smug Shen Qinshou with great annoyance.

He must have been incredibly bored to listen to her nonsense and rush over here in a panic, fearing that Zhizhi might actually be deceived by bad people.

Hearing her so certain tone, Shen Zhizhi was overjoyed and smiled, saying, "Xue Liao, tell them who arranged for you to be in my Zhiyun Pavilion."

Xue Liao swallowed the bun filling, met everyone's curious gazes, smacked his lips, and spoke in a nonchalant tone.

"Your subordinate is acting on His Highness's orders to secretly protect Miss Shen."

His calm words, tinged with coldness, struck the hearts of everyone in the courtyard with a heavy blow.

Shen Qinshou stared wide-eyed in disbelief, her eyelashes trembling slightly, and shook her head violently, "How, how is this possible!"

Even she, the Second Prince did not send any secret guards to protect her. What virtue or ability does Shen Zhizhi possess to make the Second Prince so considerate of her in just a few days?

She told herself it wasn't true, but Shen Zhizhi's firm gaze and indifferent attitude made it seem as if if she uttered another slanderous word, she would immediately summon the Second Prince for a confrontation.

"Big brother! She..."

Shen Qinshou gritted her teeth in anger, about to say something more, but was stopped by Shen Chao.

"A-Shou, that's enough." Shen Chao frowned and scolded her with displeasure.

The authoritative voice forced Shen Qinshou to swallow her words. She bit her lower lip, her eyes brimming with jealousy.

Shen Chao had a terrible headache. He estimated the time and realized it was time for court.

He stepped forward and took out something tied with a lotus leaf from his pocket, saying, "Zhizhi, this is the most popular pastry among the people of the city. I was busy yesterday and forgot to give it to you."

"Thank you, big brother!" Shen Zhizhi chuckled and took the pastry.

Seeing that she was not affected by today's events, Shen Chao breathed a sigh of relief. "Then I'll go to court first and bring you something delicious when I get back."

"Okay! Take care, brother!"

Shen Chao affectionately pinched her nose, then turned and glared at Shen Qinshou, who was standing there, almost driven mad with jealousy, and said coldly, "If there's nothing else, don't come to Zhiyun Pavilion again."

After saying that, he turned and walked out of the courtyard without looking back.

Shen Zhizhi happily ate the pastries, and seeing Shen Qinshou's disheveled appearance was incredibly satisfying.

She shook her head smugly, "What's wrong? Second sister's scheme failed, she must be furious, right?"

Shen Qinshou nearly bit her lower lip until she looked up abruptly.

Seeing that Shen Chao had left, she no longer maintained that gentle expression, but put on a vicious face, glaring fiercely at Shen Zhizhi.

"Shen Zhizhi! You bitch!"

[Congratulations, host! Chu Tu's sycophantic value has plummeted. The final value for the host is -85.]

The sudden notification sound in her mind startled Shen Zhizhi so much that she almost choked on the pastry in her mouth.

Huh? What did I just say?

Chu Tu's "simp value" has decreased? Decreased?!

Shen Zhizhi glanced at the courtyard gate without making a sound. Although her figure was hidden behind the wall, the mink fur that was exposed was very eye-catching.

A smile curved her lips.

This mink coat guy has arrived at just the right time.

Shen Zhizhi's eyes darted around, and she changed the subject, looking up with great sorrow, "Second sister, the reason I returned home late last night was naturally because the Third Prince's palace was on fire, and I happened to be passing by."

Shen Qinshou sneered, showing neither surprise nor concern. "Heh, so what?"

[Congratulations, host! Chu Tu's sycophantic value has plummeted to -80 in the host's statistics.]

Shen Zhizhi was so happy she almost jumped up.

Hey, it's like finding a needle in a haystack, only to have it come to you effortlessly.

Despite her amusement, she maintained a sorrowful and bewildered expression. "His Highness the Third Prince is deeply devoted to you, yet you don't even ask if he was injured when his palace caught fire yesterday?"

Shen Qinshou was so angry about today's events that she lost all reason and naturally wouldn't notice Shen Zhizhi's strange behavior.

Her eyes were red, her hands gripping the hem of her clothes tightly, and she roared, her eyes brimming with jealousy:

"What does this have to do with me? Shen Zhizhi, don't think that just because your elder brother protects you, you can be so arrogant. I am still the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister's mansion. You are just a concubine's daughter. Even if you marry a prince, you are not worthy to be the principal wife. You are only worthy to be a concubine."

[Congratulations, host! Chu Tu's sycophantic value has dropped sharply, now standing at -60.]

Shen Zhizhi's lips curled up sharply. It was the first time in her life that she had been scolded, but she was not annoyed.

Shen Qinshou had always presented a gentle and kind image to Chu Tu, so her aggressive and vicious words made Chu Tu feel uneasy.

Moreover, Shen Qinshou didn't even bother to ask about his safety, which naturally disappointed him thoroughly.

Shen Qinshou stared at the smile on her lips, feeling inexplicably annoyed. She rushed over like a madwoman.

"Shen Zhizhi! What makes you think you can compete with me!" With that, she raised her hand to strike him down.

Xue Liao's eyes turned cold as he, with a steamed bun in his mouth, prepared to make a move.

With the sound of robes fluttering, Shen Qinshou felt a force from behind restraining her wrist, rendering her unable to move.

She turned her head fiercely to glare at him, but suddenly froze, her lips trembling, unsure of how to react.

Chu Tu stared at the lingering malice in her eyes, his gaze slightly trembling.

He had seen that expression far too many times.

That was the expression that every concubine in the harem would show: sinister, vicious, and jealous, as if all the most terrifying words in the world were concentrated in their eyes, with no possibility of dissipation.

However, how could his Ah Shou, the kind-hearted Ah Shou since childhood, have such an expression?

Chu Tu frowned, clearing his mind of thoughts. When he tried to look more closely, he saw that the person in front of him had already had his eyes covered with misty tears, looking extremely pitiful.