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

Shen Yan's seemingly casual words were like a thunderclap, splitting the fog that had shrouded Karandel's heart.

He was very intelligent and instantly grasped the profound meaning behind the powerful ruler's words.

Her thoughts raced like lightning as the female insect quickly analyzed the situation before her.

The old emperor is old and frail, and the struggle for succession has long been an unspoken undercurrent among the empire's high command.

Although the emperor had four sons, including himself, they were all female.

The original arena for the struggle for the throne belonged only to those three princes who grew up amidst the palace intrigues.

The reason why the Empress Dowager Dei resorted to extreme measures to get rid of Calandall was because she was afraid of him.

The other side feared that if this legitimate prince, who had been living abroad, returned, it would make Anvishi's path to the throne even more difficult.

However, times have changed.

The creature now growing inside him is the first and only male insect offspring with royal blood.

More importantly, combining the top genes of both himself and Shen Yan, Zai Zai is destined to possess extraordinary talent and potential that will attract the attention of insects.

Inheriting the throne would be legitimate and even popular choice.

For the royal family, which has few offspring and places great importance on the continuation of bloodlines, the value and significance of this unborn child already surpasses that of any prince.

This perfectly explains why the old emperor was so eager to bring him back. Behind that seemingly ardent fatherly love, how much cold calculation and political maneuvering for the future was hidden?

Since the ruthless Empress Dowager Dei and the hypocritical Anvis both value that position so much...

Then he'll have to get involved.

For the father who was imprisoned and ultimately died tragically, for the guilt and helplessness that Marshal Hermann had carried for decades, and for the undeserved calamity he himself had endured on the brink of death...

This throne is not only something Calander wants to fight for, but also something he wants to rightfully and firmly hold in his hands for his unborn child.

All those who participated in or condoned that tragedy must pay the price.

Suddenly, her mind cleared, and the lingering pain in the female insect's icy blue eyes was replaced by a resolute determination.

He gazed deeply into Shen Yan's eyes and saw the same coldness and tacit understanding in those deep black eyes.

A silent battle has officially begun between them.

From that day on, Kalandall strategically adjusted his attitude when facing the Emperor.

They no longer maintained the initial clear distinction, but instead subtly revealed a hint of filial piety during the emperor's occasional caring summons.

When the other party talked about the future of the royal family, he would lower his eyes slightly, revealing a subtle emotion.

When receiving generous rewards, he would use a clear and natural tone to call out the "Great Father" that the emperor had long awaited.

This exclamation of "My father" acted as the most effective political lubricant, greatly pleasing the old emperor, who seemed to see the tremendous success of his appeasement strategy.

Because Karandal was pregnant, he did not summon her to his side very often, only occasionally showing their fatherly affection in semi-public settings.

The generous rewards made the insects take notice, and they even began to symbolically ask for the female insects' opinions on some non-core political matters.

In the Emperor's view, Calander had the powerful ruler Shen Yan, as well as the deeply entrenched power of the Council of Torses behind Shen Yan as its backing.

It also holds the hope for the future of the royal family, making it an excellent fulcrum for stabilizing royal power and continuing the bloodline.

The softening of the female insect completely tipped the scales in the emperor's mind.

Compared to the other three mediocre females who had not given birth to male offspring and whose maternal clans were complex and difficult to control, supporting Kalandel and the future royal grandson was clearly a more beneficial choice in the long run.

However, the couple, caught in the eye of the storm, never believed the emperor's hypocritical display of familial affection and remained extremely vigilant against the omnipresent hidden dangers within the palace.

Especially Prince Anvis, who always seemed indifferent to worldly affairs.

Even after her father-in-law, Dei, was effectively imprisoned for plotting against the imperial heir, she remained calm and collected in the insect-eating harem, without suffering much repercussions. Her cunning and forbearance should not be underestimated.

Shen Yan absolutely refused to believe that An Weixi would willingly admit defeat.

He and his female father had already laid down layers of protection, but they were still worried that Anvis might take the risk and harm Karandal and the baby.

For absolute security reasons, and in order to maintain the initiative, Xiongzi used his most secretive investigative network, directing his orders directly at Anweixi, demanding a thorough investigation into all of his backgrounds and recent movements.

The investigation, like peeling back layers of an onion, unexpectedly uncovered a conspiracy that had been deliberately concealed.

A detailed report was presented to Shen Yan.

The reason why the Imperial Procreation Committee intervened so actively in his marriage with Kalandel, repeatedly and forcefully pressuring him to accept female servants, was actually due to the secret manipulation of Anvis.

At the celebratory banquet held to honor Karandal's military achievements, Anvis immediately recognized the female soldier who bore a striking resemblance to the beautiful and melancholic Iris.

Karandal's sudden return, and the powerful ruler Shen Yan by his side, who had the Speaker of the Council as his backer, were like poisonous thorns piercing his heart.

It also aroused overwhelming jealousy and an unprecedented sense of crisis.

They feared that Kalandall would steal away the Emperor's already limited attention, and they were even more afraid that the vast resources behind the male son would be completely squandered on the female soldiers.

Unable to openly confront Shen Yan's power, they chose to corrupt and divide him from within.

He secretly contacted Maurice, an official in the Bureau of Management known for his greed and eagerness to curry favor with the royal family for promotion, promising him an enormous fortune that the insect could not refuse, along with illusory promises of future advancement.

Furthermore, he instructed Morris to cleverly utilize the imperial laws regarding the reproductive obligations of high-ranking male insects and the optimization of genes, constantly pressuring Shen Yan to recommend and insert as many female servants as possible.

In Anvich's distorted understanding, all male insects are fickle, merely lusting after new and beautiful creatures.

Shen Yan's current affection for Kalandel is merely a passing fancy.

As long as more young, healthy, and even more adept at pleasing male insects appear around him, the female lord's uniqueness and favor will naturally be quickly replaced.

In an attempt to undermine Karandel's position in Shen Yan's household, he was gradually reduced from a beloved queen to an insignificant, disgraced figurehead.

Despite knowing that this move would offend the powerful and influential Xiongzi, and was extremely risky.

But under the dual temptations of the pie in the sky painted by Anvis and the huge bribes within reach, the greed-blinded Morris ultimately chose to take the risk and brazenly act as the female insect's pawn.

They subjected Shen Yan and Karandal to one nauseating act of coercion and harassment after another.

Looking at the shocking investigation report in his hand, Shen Yan's face was so gloomy it could drip water, and his eyes were filled with cold killing intent and a trace of lingering fear.

What a clever Anvischie! What a beautiful violet wrapped in deadly poison!

It turns out that back then, this venomous snake was already lurking in the shadows, trying to use such despicable means to fundamentally undermine Calandall's happiness and support.

Looking back on that time, I remember the unease and forbearance beneath my wife's forced smile, and the hurt in her eyes after each of his dates when he returned from his charades...

Shen Yan's heart felt as if it were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, a mixture of sourness and pain.

This dirty old debt was etched firmly in his mind.

He will settle accounts with that father and son thoroughly, leaving no stone unturned, for both new and old grudges, including those of the Empress Dowager Dei.

The game of the throne has begun, and he, holding a powerful hand, will surely protect his wife and their unborn child, and win the final victory in this war without gunpowder.

Any insect that tries to harm his family will pay an unbearable price.