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

Tosses did not speak immediately, his gaze lingering on the other person's exquisite and beautiful face.

His expression was complicated.

He remained silent for a long time, so long that Karandal almost thought he would not receive an answer, before finally speaking, his voice even lower than before:

"Many things don't necessarily require knowing the reason."

This answer completely shut down the female insect's further questioning. He could clearly sense the complexity in the female father's words and knew that he would not get the answer he wanted.

"alright."

Shen Jiyun walked over at the opportune moment, gently took her partner's arm, and winked at Karandel: "You can't go wrong by listening to your parents. Go back quickly, it's getting late."

……

The hovercar smoothly blended into the night sky of the capital.

The car was unusually quiet. Karandal sat upright, his icy blue eyes gazing out the window, seemingly calm but his mind churning with thoughts.

The parting words of advice to "stay away from the royal family" were like a pebble thrown into a lake, creating ripples of doubt in his heart.

Although he did not understand the deeper meaning, out of absolute trust in the Speaker of Parliament and his unwillingness to cause trouble, he chose to keep this admonition in mind.

Listen to the advice.

What truly unsettled the insect was something else entirely.

The seemingly casual remark from his father, Shen Jiyun, "We don't restrict you to having three servants or four slaves at home," haunted his mind like a ghost.

Although Shen Yan had said that he would only have him and that he believed in the male ruler's promise, these words were like a tiny thorn that precisely pierced the softest and most insecure place in his heart.

Having experienced warmth that one once dared not hope for, one becomes even more afraid of losing it.

The attitude of the powerful ruler is the sole source of his sense of security. Any factor that might shake this exclusivity, even just a verbal mention, will involuntarily make him tense up.

The sudden warm touch on the back of his hand interrupted his thoughts.

Slightly startled, she turned her head and met Shen Yan's dark eyes, which were filled with concern.

"You've been distracted ever since we came out," Xiongzi said softly, his fingertips gently stroking the back of his hand.

"Is she thinking about her father's reminder? Don't worry too much about it, just take things one step at a time."

Karandal gripped his hand back, his grip unconsciously tightening.

Seemingly considering his words, he remained silent for a moment, his eyes filled with confusion and a hint of unspoken worry.

"I have remembered my father's warning. But... three servants and four slaves..."

He paused, then continued with some difficulty, "I believe your promise, but hearing those words still makes me lose control..."

"I'll go crazy if you abandon me..."

Before he finished speaking, Shen Yan understood completely. A trace of regret flashed across his eyes. Shen Jiyun had only mentioned it casually, and he hadn't noticed Karandel's reaction in time. He hadn't expected that it would make his wife so insecure.

What female insects care about is never the ethereal royal family, but the lover who is within reach, and the unquestionable uniqueness of this relationship.

Any possible divergence, even if it exists only in theory or words, would make him uneasy.

My heart felt like it was being gently gripped by something.

She didn't laugh at his sensitivity, nor did she think he was making a mountain out of a molehill. Instead, she felt a pang of heartache because he valued her so much.

"fool."

With a sigh, Shen Yan gripped his hand tightly, conveying her feelings with unwavering strength:

"Look at me, Lanlan."

Karandal obediently looked into those deep black eyes.

"I'm saying this one last time."

"What female servants and slaves have nothing to do with our little family. I only want you, and you are all I have. Now, and forever."

"You are my only queen."

The resounding promise, like sunlight piercing through the haze, gradually dispelled the doubts and unease in Karandal's eyes.

Seeing the unreserved sincerity and love in the eyes of the powerful ruler, the heart that had been hanging in suspense finally settled down.

"Um."

She closed her eyes, rested her head on Shen Yan's lap, and pretended to sleep, feeling the tender affection that belonged only to him.

The hovercar continued to drive quietly through the night, but the atmosphere inside had changed. The previous somber mood had been replaced by a silent intimacy and peace of mind.

……

Two full months have passed since that banquet.

Time has not erased the traces left by the farce at Lanjing Palace; instead, it has lurked beneath the glamorous surface like a slowly taking effect poison.

Locke was unable to conceive.

That night, he took the preventative medication and birth control pills that Shen Yan had bought.

Then it suddenly dawned on me that after taking the medicine, what was the point of all the humiliation I had suffered all night?

I induced vomiting, but the medication still seemed to work.

Because of Xiongzi's words of advice to break away from the family, Junci has been struggling in a vortex of hesitation and entanglement. The mental constraints and control she has been under for decades cannot be changed quickly with just a few words.

He maintained his perfect lieutenant general demeanor, his uniform impeccably tailored and his manners impeccable, with his usual aloof smile between his brows.

Only you know that something is quietly changing from the inside out.

Persistent insomnia, difficulty concentrating, and an already precarious mental state teetering on the brink of collapse all point to an undeniable fact:

His body, this "precision instrument" that the family had carefully tuned and maintained, malfunctioned.

His premonition was confirmed by the family doctor's diagnosis.

Looking at the conclusions on the screen that read "Severe mental disorder" and "Signs of temporary failure of the reproductive system," Locke's golden eyes showed no panic, only a cold and clear understanding.

The doctor's cautious warning still rings in my ears:

"...Immediate rest and treatment are necessary; attempting conception carries extremely high risks and could lead to irreversible damage..."

"Irreversible damage..."

He scoffed inwardly.

Would a family care if a tool is damaged? What they care about is whether the tool can complete its intended task.

Sure enough, when he presented the diagnostic report to the patriarch as a "statement of the situation," he was met with the expected thunderous rage.

"waste!"

The report was slammed to the ground, and the patriarch's face was so dark it seemed to drip ink.

"I've already been very tolerant of you."

"How much resources has your family poured into you? Is this how you repay them? Your value, your responsibility, is to produce the best heir!"

"Don't tell me it's just a sign of exhaustion. Even if you're truly ruined, you still need to leave a bloodline for the family before you become completely useless. Don't be like your useless father!"

A useless female father?

This long-unheard, contemptuous word, like a cold needle, pierced the deepest part of Locke's heart unexpectedly, arousing sharp pain.

Didn't the female father die of illness?

Concealing the emotions that surged in his eyes, he remained upright and steadfast, despite his inner doubts.

He could not, and would not, show any weakness in front of his powerful father.

The family has issued the "ultimate mission".

The object of his affections was an elderly but powerful Grand Duke who had not attended the banquet at Lanjing Palace two months prior, but had heard about Locke's scandalous affairs from other males afterward.

He immediately became extremely eager and contacted the Locke family, hoping they could send him a female soldier to play with.

The family readily agreed.

This time the command was simple and direct:

Before being played with to excess, conceive a child.