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

The bathroom was filled with steam and felt warm as spring.

Shen Yan was kneeling by the bathtub, his palms covered in fine foam, and he was stroking Carlandel's protruding belly with extreme care.

The smooth curves shimmered with a soft pearly luster under the water's glow, and her long, icy blue hair clung damply to her neck.

The female insect closed her eyes, a languid smile playing on her lips, completely relaxed as she enjoyed the male's service.

The constant temperature system creates the most comfortable environment, with a quiet and peaceful atmosphere.

"bite--"

A crisp notification sound broke the silence.

Private insect terminal from Calander.

The male paused for a moment, quickly rinsed the soap off his hands, took a towel and carefully wrapped it around Karandel before checking the information.

When he saw that the sender was Seewo Locke and the three words "Help me," a serious look appeared on his gentle face.

"A powerful ruler?"

Karandal opened his eyes and keenly sensed the change in the other person.

Shen Yan handed over the terminal.

After seeing the content on the screen, Karandal's icy blue eyes widened slightly.

"Locke?"

The female insect was somewhat surprised. Her relationship with this colleague wasn't particularly good; they had even disagreed on certain ideas. How could the other person...?

"He's in trouble."

Karandal frowned, a bad feeling creeping into his heart.

Because she was at home resting during her pregnancy, she didn't concern herself with anything related to the military except for work, so naturally she didn't know what had happened to Locke.

"My lord, wait for me."

He took his portable computer, quickly connected to the military's internal unclassified public opinion monitoring system, and sent a brief inquiry to his adjutant.

He initially thought it was just a routine work dispute or pressure from his family, but as the fragmented information gradually came together, he discovered that things were far more complicated than he had imagined.

[Lanjing Palace Video], [Malicious Editing], [Network-wide Stigmatization], [Husband-Slave Humiliation], [Family Betrayal].

Every word felt like a heavy hammer blow to his heart.

Karandal's face paled little by little, and his fingers gripping the quantum computer tightened slightly.

They are colleagues, and also competitors.

But as a female soldier who climbed up the ranks step by step through military merit, he knew better than anyone how much effort a female insect had to put in to gain a foothold in her current position.

Locke may have been cunning and had deep ties with the nobility, but his abilities and military achievements were undeniable.

Now, they are being driven to their deaths in such a filthy and undignified manner.

This is not just directed at Locke; it's more like a show of contempt and a warning to all female soldiers who try to control their own destiny.

An unnamed fire burned in his chest, and frost gathered in his icy blue eyes.

What hurt the insect even more was that Locke's current predicament vaguely stirred up his own unbearable memories.

He had once been humiliated and abandoned, struggling in despair...

The coldness and helplessness of being abandoned by the whole world, which I still don't want to think about, is now clearly emerging because of Locke's situation.

Pregnancy makes one's emotions sensitive, and this mixture of anger, a chilling sense of sympathy, and the pain of having past wounds touched made his breathing quicken.

Shen Yan had been watching his expression closely, and upon seeing this, he immediately pulled him into his arms, patting his wife's back reassuringly with his large hand.

"Lanlan?"

Karandal buried his face in Shen Yan's warm chest, took a few deep breaths, and tried to calm his surging emotions.

When he looked up again, the coldness in his eyes hadn't faded, but there was now a touch of cold determination.

"A mighty ruler..."

His voice was gentle, with a barely perceptible tremor, but his tone left no room for argument:

"Help him."

He gripped Shen Yan's collar tightly, his icy blue eyes staring straight at him: "I saw it."

"They...they're going to completely destroy Locke. By the dirtiest means."

She paused, then lowered her voice, trembling slightly as she recalled the past: "I have also experienced despair... I know what that feels like."

"and……"

He pursed his lips, and his words became calm and clear again:

"We're not close friends. Since he asked for help, he must be desperate."

Shen Yan lowered his head and kissed the top of Kalandel's head, which smelled fresh. Instead of looking at the terminal immediately, he pulled him closer to his chest.

His deep voice, tinged with a hint of amusement, gently soothed the female insect's nerves, which were taut with anger and memories.

"Fool, even if you don't speak up, I can't just stand by and do nothing about this."

He loosened his embrace slightly, looking down into his wife's icy blue eyes, still damp with moisture and a hint of anger. His fingertips gently traced her warm cheek, his voice gentle yet resolute:

"Have you forgotten? The day I brought Locke out of Lanjing Palace, I said, 'You decide where you go from here.'"

"Now that he has made his choice and intends to break free of his shackles, isn't it only natural to lend a hand when he asks for help?"

Karandal's eyelashes trembled slightly. Yes, the lord had already made his stance clear.

He leaned against Shen Yan's chest, responded, and his tense body completely relaxed.

Shen Yan picked up the now-silent terminal, his fingertips quickly swiping across the screen to reply to Locke with a concise message:

"Coordinates. Current situation."

While waiting for a reply, he didn't idle around.

With one arm around Karandel, she picked up a dry, fluffy towel from the side with the other and skillfully and gently dried his still-dripping long hair.

Locke's reply came very quickly; the message that popped up on the screen conveyed obvious urgency and weakness:

[Specific coordinates and location information].

"His mental strength is on the verge of collapse, he is under intense surveillance, and he cannot leave on his own."

The message is very short.

But the phrases "mental strength on the verge of collapse" and "intensive surveillance" are enough to depict his precarious situation.

After reading it, Shen Yan's face remained expressionless, but his eyes became more profound.

He quickly replied with two words:

"Wait."

It was straightforward and decisive, without any unnecessary comfort or questions, yet it carried an unquestionable promise.

Shen Yan didn't delay at all, but his priority was still the comfort and safety of Carlandel.

"Lanlan, the situation outside is uncertain and there might be risks. Why don't you stay home and wait for me?"

"I promise to bring Locke back safely."

Karandal shook his head firmly, his icy blue eyes showing no sign of backing down.

He grasped Shen Yan's hand, his tone gentle yet unwavering: "I'll go with you. I'm a general, not that fragile."

Seeing the unwavering determination in his wife's eyes, Shen Yan knew that persuasion was useless.

She sighed softly to herself and compromised, "Okay, but you must stay close to me. Tell me immediately if you feel unwell, and don't try to be strong."

"Okay."

The female insect obediently agreed.

Shen Yan then began to take action.

He carefully selected items for Karandal from the dazzling array of clothes in the wardrobe, making sure they were comfortable and warm, not too tight around the stomach, and made of soft material suitable for travel.

In the end, I chose a loose and soft light gray cashmere maternity suit and patiently helped my wife put on the clothes, just like taking care of a child.

Carefully adjust the collar and cuffs to ensure a comfortable and snug fit.

Before leaving the house, Xiongzi naturally squatted down, took his wife's fair ankles, and carefully helped her put on soft socks and shoes.

Karandal's cheeks flushed slightly, but she did not refuse. She simply looked down at the male lord's focused profile, her heart filled with sweetness.

After putting on his shoes, Shen Yan stood up and tightly wrapped the female insect's warm hand in his own large hand.

"Let's go."