Chapter 108: Chapter 108

"Host, are you really decided on this?"

"In this era, having only a daughter will make life difficult for both you and the child. When the girl marries, she won't even have brothers to support her..."

The system hesitated.

Truthfully, it still thought twins would be better...

After swallowing the exchanged pill, An Ning remained unmoved by her dog system's words:

"You know perfectly well how unfriendly this era is toward daughters. Given that, why would I give her a brother?"

"Just so she can scramble for scraps that fall from her brother's feet?"

With such favorable circumstances now, isn't being unique better? Why give that up?

An Ning smiled wryly to herself.

In this era, fraternal twins might seem extremely auspicious, but whether in terms of attention or actual future resources, the daughter wouldn't receive even one-tenth of what her brother gets.

Even during important ceremonies like the Third Day Bath, first birthday, or annual birthdays, the focus would never be on her...

To those in power, her very existence would merely serve to highlight her brother's importance.

Given such universally accepted, vastly unequal treatment, what are the chances of raising a child with healthy self-esteem?

Before bringing a child into this world, shouldn't you consider what you can actually offer them?

Frankly, if not for her accumulated experience through multiple lifetimes and the system mall as backup, An Ning would rather fail her mission than bring a daughter into this terrible era.

The act of childbirth alone was terrifying enough.

Glancing at her worried canine system, An Ning said dismissively:

"Top-tier talent and beauty, undivided parental attention and education, being the sole recipient of her parents' affection—who wouldn't want these? Isn't this far better than giving her a brother and constantly telling her 'he's your support'?"

At the very least... in this household, her daughter would never have to compromise for anyone or any benefit.

And no matter how much time passes, even after marriage, her parents' home would always remain her true home—not some strange woman's residence...

How tragic would it be to become a mere "guest" in the place where you grew up?

Others might accept this, but her child absolutely would not.

"But... but host, aren't you worried they might adopt a son from another branch of the family later?"

"Wouldn't you end up living at others' mercy then?"

The system ventured timidly.

Taking a sip of warm milk tea, An Ning truly wasn't concerned about this.

After years of observation, she understood her nominal husband's temperament perfectly—adopting someone else's son? Impossible!

Not even a nephew would do!

That simply wasn't something Aisin Gioro Yintang would ever consider.

At worst, after his death, the imperial family might assign someone to inherit the title and estate for political reasons.

But by then, she'd likely be gone anyway.

Her husband neither indulged in women nor overworked himself. In fact, to prove himself to his princess consort, he religiously spent over an hour practicing martial arts every single morning.

Having taken his pulse before, An Ning estimated he'd easily live into his late sixties barring accidents.

By then, their daughter would be a grandmother herself.

Why worry so far ahead?

"Speaking of which, system, instead of fretting about that, shouldn't you confirm whether the pregnancy timing being different means we'll get the same soul as last time?"

"Oh that? Don't worry host, our Quick Transmigration Bureau handles these cases often. As long as the parents remain the same and the timing isn't drastically off, the reincarnating soul won't change."

Having received confirmation, An Ning nodded and closed her eyes to rest.

"Host, do you have some obsession with only children or something?" it muttered.

This time, An Ning didn't respond.

At dawn, Yintang returned from his usual martial practice to find his princess consort conspicuously absent—not just from breakfast, but entirely missing.

Glancing at the brightening sky, the Ninth Prince clicked his tongue but said nothing, having grown accustomed to his wife's habits. After a light snack, he headed to the front courtyard.

Yet by nearly noon, An Ning still hadn't stirred. Worse, her normally rosy complexion had turned alarmingly pale. Her maids, led by the panicked Chun Xing, hastily summoned the house physician.

In all these years, their mistress had never even caught a minor cold.

This sudden illness terrified them.

When the news reached Yintang in the front courtyard, he couldn't believe it—his wife? Sick?

Before his eunuch Xiao Xizi could react, the prince was already striding toward the main residence, where the flustered physician was being practically dragged in by a frantic Chun Xing.

After an agonizingly long pulse reading that left the old doctor sweating profusely yet unable to diagnose anything, Yintang—noting his wife's frightening pallor—grew uncharacteristically impatient. He immediately ordered Xiao Xizi to fetch an imperial physician while glaring at the trembling doctor.

As imperial nobility holding power of life and death over his household, his mere gaze made the physician break into fresh sweat. Finally, the old man stammered:

"Your Highness... the pulse suggests pregnancy, but it's strangely faint and intermittent..."

"Pregnant?" Yintang's initial joy vanished at the word "faint."

Remembering his robust wife—who'd once kicked him hard enough to bruise—he snapped:

"Faint? You incompetent fool! You know her constitution—how could she suddenly weaken?"

Especially while pregnant!

Unless... something sinister was afoot in the household.

Just as Yintang began mentally accusing his forgotten concubines of foul play, he caught the physician's oddly complicated expression.

Wait... pregnant... child...

Realization dawned, and his face changed dramatically.