The powerful leader was tough on the outside but soft on the inside; the aloof major general fell fo

Ashel thought in a daze.

How could he dare to harm a male insect? Only when his mental energy goes berserk and he becomes a madman without the ability to think would he disregard the consequences.

It was rare for Cen Li to say so much in front of him, just to defend a female servant.

But upon closer listening, there's nothing wrong with what he said.

Duke Jolai was taken aback, and the words he uttered were somewhat weak and feeble: "Mihai's actions were indeed inappropriate, but female insects can never be compared to male insects, no matter what."

……

Upon hearing this, all the female insects, including General Derek, fell silent.

Duke Jolai's words were correct, at least to the insect's ears.

The atmosphere was oppressive.

Without responding, Duke Jolai looked at Cen Li's expressionless face, sighed, and finally conceded, "You can handle your own affairs. I won't interfere anymore."

Yolai realized that he had been biased by Mihalyu's few words, and it would be wrong for him to take sides with either of the two insect offspring, so he simply let them resolve the matter themselves.

but,

Duke Jolai looked at Cen Li, his voice heavy, implying a warning: "The Imperial Inspectorate will find out about this sooner or later. They don't care who's right or wrong; as long as you harm a male insect, you're making an enemy of them."

"Ash will probably be arrested tomorrow."

Duke Jolai turned his gaze to Ashir, his expression meaningful.

Ash's heart tightened; he knew perfectly well that what Duke Jolai said was true.

He suppressed his emotions and looked directly into Duke Jolai's eyes: "If that day ever comes, I will accept the Empire's just punishment and will not implicate the sovereign."

Duke Jolai gave a cold, forced smile: "That's for the best."

A fair punishment?

In a place where every rule and regulation favors the male, how can there be any fairness or justice?

Doesn't Ashleigh find it ridiculous when he says that?

Cen Li frowned and glanced at the "self-righteous" female soldier, wanting to dig into her brain to see what was inside. Did she still pin her hopes on the Empire's so-called "justice"?

Does he know?

Once he's imprisoned, all sorts of charges will be leveled against him, and whether he'll even get out alive is another matter entirely.

After Duke Jolai left, Derek looked at Cenli with a look that seemed both reproachful and gratified.

"You should be glad that your father is still open-minded and didn't pursue your rude offense."

Cen Li disagreed with General Derek's words, believing that he was not wrong, but that the social system was too distorted.

Of course, Cen Li, a mere insect, could not possibly contend with this vast social system.

Derek didn't blame Cen Li. After saying the previous sentence seriously, he suddenly smiled, his expression showing a sense of wistfulness, like a bug in his house coming to life.

"Only now do I truly realize that you've grown up. You're even protecting your female servant now. You've unusually offered so many explanations today, just to excuse Ashir's mental outburst that injured Mihaly?"

Upon hearing this, Cen Li met Derek's teasing gaze and wondered what all this was all about.

Perhaps it was an emergency reaction of having his inner thoughts exposed but not wanting to admit it, but Cen Li opened his mouth.

Before he could utter a single syllable, Derek spoke as if he had anticipated it: "Don't tell me it's because you dislike Mihalyu."

Cen Li:......

The words stuck in his throat, neither coming out nor coming down.

Cen Li glanced at Ash's reaction. The female insect didn't have any special expression on her face, but when Cen Li looked over, she quickly glanced at him.

Cen Li:?

Ash quickly averted his gaze, so fast that he almost thought it was his imagination.

So, what exactly was Ashley's reaction?

Cen Li couldn't glean anything from Ash's calm face. Seeing that Derek was very confident in his judgment, nothing Cen Li said would have much effect at this moment.

But in the end, Cen Li still said, "Father, you are overthinking it. I will not deliberately protect anyone."

"It's just that Mikhail's repeated provocations are truly despicable."

Derek agreed with what was said next. He didn't discuss Ash's matter with Cen Li thoroughly, because the little bug also needed its own privacy and space as it grew up.

Derek only needs to offer advice or help when Cenli encounters trouble.

"Your father was right when he left; you should think about how to deal with the trouble that will follow."

"Unless Mihalyu forgives Ashir, all that awaits him is a pair of shackles from prison."

Derek knew all too well how difficult it was to get a male insect to forgive a female that had almost killed him.

The probability is almost zero.

Even if the fault lies with the male insect...

Oh no, the male insects don't think they've done anything wrong.

Cen Li also knew that Miha was unlikely to take the initiative to "forgive" Asher, and he had not yet figured out a solution to this matter.

His blank expression appeared to others as a troublesome look.

Ash's gaze swept past Admiral Derek's departing figure, then settled on Cen Li with a puzzled expression.

Is the powerful ruler finding the situation difficult?

What does a powerful ruler need to make things difficult for?

Why not just hand him over? The final outcome will only be one thing anyway...

Ash's eyes and brows were clouded with negativity.

He couldn't think of any other solution.

There was no choice left for the female insects...

The atmosphere around the insect was so heavy that it could hardly breathe.

Cen Li couldn't read the female soldier's thoughts either, and he frowned.

"What are you thinking about?"

The lord's voice entered Ash's ears, and Ash snapped out of his reverie, shaking his head in denial: "It's nothing, my lord."

Cen Li chuckled. Of course there was nothing wrong. If female insects could write on their faces, their faces would be covered in the words, "I have something to say, but I'm keeping it to myself."

Ashleigh lied and then felt uneasy about it.

But he was even more afraid of being seen through by the male ruler and being seen as a liar. He desperately wanted to get rid of this unbearable feeling, so he awkwardly changed the subject.

"Thank you so much for your help."

They channeled his mental energy, preventing him from actually killing Mihaly...

For the lord, this might have been just a casual gesture, but it did help Ash.

He was grateful.

Cen Li was about to say, "I didn't help you," when he remembered his mission, and the words that were rolling on his tongue turned into:

"So how should you thank me?"

If I let him hug me again, will it increase my humiliation level?

Cen Li's gaze lingered on Ash'er's slender waist, and he actually seriously considered the feasibility of it.

Ashel didn't notice the conflicted look in the lord's eyes.

He was stumped by Cen Li's question. What kind of gratitude did the powerful lord want? What did he want him to do, or what price did he need to pay?

Cen Li said slowly, "Is this just empty talk? Major General, I don't see any sincerity in you. Please show some real action."

Ash was silent for a moment, then obediently said, "What does the Lord want me to do? I will do my best to satisfy you, as long as it is within my power."

Anyway, today might be the last time he and Cen Li speak face to face.

Ash thought that even if the lord made some unreasonable request, he might just agree to it.