Hearing this, Shen Que's heart sank and he sighed silently.

Pei Ji was stunned.

Carolina: "Your marriage is followed by a suspension, so you've taken quite a long vacation... I think the Fourth Fleet has held up just fine without you. They've fought well in recent battles against space pirates."

Pei Ji said in a deep voice: "The commanders of the Fourth Fleet are all very outstanding."

"Indeed." Carolina said quietly, "Your subordinates are so outstanding that it makes you, the admiral, seem a little less outstanding."

The palace was dead silent.

Wen Ti leaned close to Jiang Jianyue's ear and asked, "What's the matter? Did General Pei offend His Majesty?"

Jiang Jianyue glanced at Pei Ji and remained silent.

Pei Ji lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty is right."

Carolina: "Oh? Do you think I taught you a lesson now? Who was it that accused me of taking his Omega over the phone earlier?"

Pei Ji swallowed and said, "...I made a mistake."

Carolina looked down at him.

"These past few days I've been seeing a comment on the Star Network saying that you never bow to anyone and don't even take the Queen seriously. Is that right, Pei Ji?"

Cold sweat broke out.

At this time, Pei Ji had been kneeling for more than three times as long as the others.

He opened his mouth and was about to say something.

But Shen Que took a step forward and knelt on one knee beside him.

"Your Majesty, there are many rumors on the Starnet. Don't take them seriously."

Carolina looked at Shen Que, and the corner of her mouth twitched, “Really?”

Chen Que raised his cold eyes and said, "If you feel upset, I can arrange for the Tree of Life headquarters to clear up these rumors."

"No need."

Carolina snorted.

"I can still tell the difference between truth and falsehood. But pay attention to your image on the Star Network, Pei Ji. A First-Class General, isn't it embarrassing to have people fabricate rumors about you every day?"

Pei Ji responded and was hesitating whether to continue kneeling when he felt a warm touch on his arm. Chen Que pulled him up from the ground with force.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty." Shen Que said to Carolina.

Carolina's expression grew even colder, and after a few pleasantries, she let them leave.

Then he said to Shen Que, "You stay first."

Shen Que was stunned, glanced at Pei Ji, and motioned him to go first.

Pei Ji hesitated for a moment, his eyes lingering on Shen Que for a long time, and finally left with Jiang Jianyue and Wen Ti.

Only a solemn and upright figure remained in the palace.

After the three of them walked out of the palace, Carolina dismissed the attendants and left only Shen Que.

She propped up her head, glanced at Chen Que who kept glancing towards the door, and said unhappily, "What are you looking at? Are you feeling bad?"

Shen Que paused.

Carolina thought that with her calm personality, she would remain silent, or at most reply with a "no".

But Shen Que withdrew his gaze from the door and turned back to the throne, his ears slightly red as he uttered a faint "hmm".