Who understands? The aloof female ruler always flirts without even realizing it.

For the next few months, the surface of the Imperial Capital remained in a state of near-stagnant calm, like the suffocating stillness before a storm.

The area in front of the palace was like a stagnant pool, no longer stirred by any waves.

The father and son, Dei and Anvich, have completely disappeared from the public eye, rarely venturing out and even rarely appearing at the usual court celebrations.

This unusually low profile is particularly unusual.

Meanwhile, a piece of intelligence began to circulate quietly within high-level circles.

His Majesty Salio's body is deteriorating at an alarming rate.

At first, he simply stopped summoning female concubines and needed to lean on soft pillows when discussing matters.

But soon, the situation took a sharp turn for the worse.

The emperor, who once had sharp eyes and a booming voice, now spends long periods in a coma, with only a handful of days when he is awake.

His complexion was no longer healthy and rosy, but instead covered with a deathly gray. He spoke with a weak breath and often fell asleep before finishing a sentence.

Top doctors were at a loss, and countless rare drugs disappeared without a trace, ultimately leading to only a weak and ineffective conclusion:

"His Majesty has been diagnosed with a terminal illness..."

In Shen Yan's view, all of this was full of strange coincidences.

He clearly remembered that just a few months ago, His Majesty the Emperor was radiant and full of energy.

How could such a powerful spirit and physique collapse to this state in such a short time, like a piece of rotten wood with its roots removed?

This was no ordinary illness, but a meticulously planned insect infestation. The physicians must have known about the emperor's condition; they had probably been bribed long ago...

It is almost certain that Dei and Anvis were the masterminds behind it all.

Unable to contain their ambition, they began to clear the last obstacles on their path to the pinnacle of power.

Once Salio dies, a power vacuum will emerge at the heart of the empire, and if something were to happen to the child in Kalandal's womb...

Therefore, it would be a matter of course for Anvis to inherit the throne.

Thinking of this, a chill crept into Shen Yan's heart.

But he had little sympathy for the old emperor’s near death. If it weren’t for Salio’s coercion and indifference back then, how could Kalandel and his mother have suffered such torment?

In a way, this is even a belated retribution.

However, this does not mean he can let his guard down.

They quietly raised the security level of the villa to the highest level.

The number of visible guards has doubled, while hidden agents and surveillance networks have intertwined to form a comprehensive and inescapable net.

All those entering and leaving, whether insects or animals, must undergo several rigorous checks. Even the air circulation system has been equipped with a military-grade biochemical detection module.

He has transformed this villa into an iron fortress to protect his beloved.

Because Karandal's due date is approaching.

The female's abdomen swelled up high, and her movements became increasingly clumsy and slow.

Shen Yan suppressed all his anxiety and murderous intent deep in his heart. In front of his wife, he always appeared calm and gentle as a mountain.

It was as if the turbulent waves of the outside world had nothing to do with him.

But he knew perfectly well that if Dey wanted to make a move, the period around Karandal's delivery would be the most dangerous and perfect opportunity.

That was Lanlan's most vulnerable and unguarded moment.

A storm is brewing, and an invisible pressure permeates the air.

Despite the gloom, the villa stubbornly exudes the warmth of home.

Karandal's belly grew bigger and bigger each day, becoming round and plump. His once slender waistline had completely disappeared, and even turning around was done with a somewhat clumsy and slow pace.

This made Shen Yan very distressed; it practically became her partner's personal armrest and mobile chair.

As soon as the female ruler showed the slightest intention to get up, his hand would steadily reach out and carefully help her up.

When walking, she would follow closely beside him, protecting him from any bumps or falls.

"My lord, I just wanted to get a glass of water."

Kalandel looked at the tense-looking lord with a helpless expression, but the corners of his lips involuntarily turned up slightly, and his heart felt as if it were being enveloped by a warm current.

"Don't move, I'll do it."

Shen Yan immediately pressed down on his shoulder, her movements gentle yet leaving no room for refusal. She turned and strode quickly toward the water dispenser, returning shortly with a glass of warm water.

She carefully inserted a straw into the rim of the cup and held it to his lips: "Drink slowly, be careful not to choke, or your stomach will hurt."

During her late pregnancy, Karandal was particularly sensitive to heat, and even when the indoor temperature control system was working well, she often felt stuffy and unbearable.

The male then placed a deck chair in the courtyard, covered with thick cushions.

The afternoon sunlight was cut into dappled spots by the branches and leaves, and a gentle breeze carried the fresh scent of flowers and grass.

Shen Yan sat on a low stool next to the recliner, one hand tightly clasped with Karandel's fingers, the other hand choosing today's prenatal education program.

Her gaze, like the gentlest moonlight, lingered on her partner's sleeping face, which had become even more serene and tender due to the nourishment of pregnancy, as if she could never get enough of looking at her.

The worms inside her belly would often wriggle about restlessly, and a burst of strong, intense fetal movements made Karandel frown slightly, instinctively stroking his belly with his hand.

At such times, Shen Yan would feel a surge of anger.

He immediately moved closer, carefully avoiding the pressure, and gently pressed his cheek against his wife's bulging belly, whispering a threat to the bastard inside:

"Hey! You little brat inside, did you hear me?"

"Go easy on him! Can't you see your father-in-law isn't feeling well?"

"If you keep doing this, not only will you be weaned and starved when you get out, you'll also get a spanking!!!"

This is his beloved partner, how could he let this brat bully her?!