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

The rage in Shen Yan's chest almost materialized into a raging inferno, burning these hypocritical scoundrels before him to ashes.

How dare they threaten him with Calander!

Those cold regulations and so-called imperial interests were utter bullshit to him! He couldn't wait to use his mental power to make these guys know the price of offending him.

But the remaining rationality, like a cold chain, tightened around his impulsive throat.

No.

We can't gamble with Calander's future, we can't gamble with their marriage.

Since the empire could say something like "cancel the marriage relationship," it must have made ample preparations.

A head-on confrontation will only put his wife in a more difficult situation, and she may even be accused of a more serious crime.

A profound sense of powerlessness and rage overwhelmed him, almost tearing his heart apart. He clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white, barely managing to suppress the urge to destroy everything.

Taking a deep breath, when she looked up again, the anger on her face had subsided, replaced by a seemingly resigned, weary calm.

Reach out.

He took the candidate list, which seemed to be burning hot, and casually swiped his fingertips across it a few times, without even focusing his gaze on any of the names.

"……I see."

His voice was somewhat hoarse, carrying a dullness of forced submission.

"I will...follow the rules. But..."

He raised his eyes, and a cold, unyielding light still lingered deep within his dark pupils.

"I need time."

"Half a month is too tight, at least a month is needed."

"And ultimately, the choice of whom to select must be made by myself."

A gleam of triumphant excitement flashed in the eyes of the leading female insect, and her smile became more genuine:

"Of course, Your Excellency."

"The Empire respects your wishes. As long as you are willing to take this step, we can extend the timeframe appropriately."

"Well then... I look forward to your good news."

Having achieved their goal, they did not linger, bowed respectfully, and quickly departed.

In the empty living room, Shen Yan stood alone for a long time, the list in his hand crumpled into a ball. He suddenly slammed the ball of paper onto the ground, as if that would shatter this nauseating coercion.

He cannot sit idly by and wait for his death.

Almost immediately, he used his highest privileges as an SSS-level male insect to connect with his female and male fathers through an extremely secretive encrypted channel that was difficult even for the Empire's regular surveillance to track.

When the figures of the two parent insects appeared on the screen, Shen Yan cut straight to the point without exchanging pleasantries, his voice extremely low, filled with unprecedented solemnity and grievance:

"Female father, male father, the Imperial Propagation Management Committee came knocking today."

He briefly outlined the threats and ultimatums, especially the parts concerning Karandal's military rank and the potential dissolution of their marriage.

In the video, Tosses's face instantly darkened, and his father also frowned.

"This is outrageous!"

"They're using Calander's military rank and our marriage as leverage, so I have no choice but to outwardly compromise. But I will never allow any insects to interfere in our relationship..."

He took a deep breath and revealed his bold and risky plan:

"Female father, male father, I need your help to use all reliable connections and channels to forge a medical report that Karandal is pregnant."

"It needs to be realistic enough to pass the Empire's strictest censorship."

Toses' pupils contracted slightly: "Yan Yan, do you know how dangerous this is? If we're discovered, the consequences will be unimaginable. Forging a pregnancy report is a serious crime!"

"I know!"

Shen Yan's voice carried a resolute determination, as if he had nothing to lose.

"But this is the only way to buy time right now! You know that Kalandall has an old injury to his reproductive cavity, and we... never really expected to have our own child."

"Pretend to be pregnant to stabilize the empire."

"Afterwards, I will find a way to go to the most remote, desolate planet, find a newborn insect offspring that was abandoned, bring it back, and claim it as our child."

He paused, his tone carrying a barely perceptible hint of weariness and ruthlessness:

"This is a delaying tactic. We'll wait until things calm down before slowly devising other plans."

"But now, we must get through this difficult time first."

"Kalandel... he cannot lose his military post, and our marriage must not be broken up."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the communication line, then Tosses finally nodded heavily:

"...Okay. I'll forge a pregnancy test report."

"But Yan Yan, you must be extremely careful. The Empire is exceptionally strict about reproduction and will definitely monitor you closely."

"I see."

Shen Yan cut off the communication, but the weight in his heart didn't lift; instead, it felt even heavier. He knew he was walking a tightrope, and one wrong step would mean utter ruin.

But the biggest hidden danger lies in...

He couldn't tell his wife about this plan.

To prevent the female insects from engaging in extreme behavior, the Empire installed surveillance devices on their dwellings and even on Kalandar.

And so, from that day on, Shen Yan began his performance.

On the surface, he complied with the Empire's arrangements and began dating the "genetically superior and physically healthy" females on the list.

He mostly chose people with relatively mild personalities who weren't too radical, and he also tried to choose public places where it was not easy to have intimate contact.

Before each trip out, Shen Yan could see Karandal's icy blue eyes, which were trying hard to remain calm.

What it contained was an unfathomable sadness and unease, as well as a sliver of trust that he had forcibly suppressed and was on the verge of collapse.

My heart felt like it was being fried in a pan of oil.

He could only hold his wife tightly, repeating in her ear again and again in the most resolute tone, as if etched into her soul:

"I love you, my wife."

"I only love you, and there will be no third party between us."

"Just bear with it a little longer. I'll take care of it, and everything will be resolved. I promise you."

"Trust me, trust my loyalty in relationships."

The words echoed in the room, which was likely filled with listening devices; they were sincere, but seemed hollow and powerless because they could not reveal the truth.

All that could be seen was Karandal's body trembling slightly in his arms, and that soft sound:

"……Um."

The female soldier remained outwardly docile and proper.

He would prepare everything for Shen Yan when he returned from his date, and silently help him get rid of the unfamiliar scent on his body.

She strives to play the role of a perfect, sensible, and trouble-free female ruler, locking all her surging emotions deep inside.

But Wuchong was unaware that during those long periods when Shen Yan was away, as he faced the empty room and the omnipresent surveillance alone, the darkness within him was growing wildly.

The silence seemed to have gained weight and sound, roaring in his ears, making it hard for him to breathe, yet it was also terrifyingly deadly.

He kept telling himself to believe in the powerful leader, that the powerful leader loved him, and that the powerful leader must have unspeakable difficulties.

The pressure from the empire, the fear of losing his military post, the self-reproach for not being able to produce offspring for his powerful ruler…

These are heavy enough.

However, the most deadly thing is that every time the male returns, there is still a faint scent of pheromones belonging to other female insects on his body, even after being treated with special cleaning agents.

The taste was like a series of poisoned needles, precisely piercing his nerves, tormenting them day and night.

Reason, in its struggle against growing unease and possessiveness, is gradually losing ground and falling behind.

Sometimes he would stand in front of the huge dressing mirror, looking at his increasingly rounded waist and breasts, and a feeling of sharp self-loathing and overwhelming panic would spread through him.

Is it because I'm not good enough?

Is it because this body is not only unable to bear offspring, but its appearance has also begun to lose its attractiveness, becoming bloated and ugly?

That's why powerful rulers...

No, no, the lord said he liked her...

He said it felt nice to hug something soft...

But why did he still go to see those female insects?

Those young, healthy female insects with perfect fertility and perhaps more aesthetically pleasing physiques?

Was it... that the lord finally grew tired of his uselessness? Were those comforting words, those embraces, just... out of duty and pity?

This constant self-doubt and denial, like a slow poison, eroded his spirit.

A multitude of negative emotions intertwined, forming a massive, suffocating web that trapped him firmly in the abyss of despair.

He felt himself becoming out of control.