Chapter 436: Chapter 436

"Daydreaming? Zoning out?"

What does that have to do with anything?

However, the system propped its little head up and thought for a while before suddenly widening its eyes. "Now that you mention it, host, it really does!"

"Host, do you think this person might also have a system?"

The dog was genuinely curious this time. After all, aside from the first few worlds where it could still obtain the original worldlines, now, unless a task was completed, even the system couldn't learn the specific details.

But seeing its host , the system quickly reacted: "So, this is why you've only been talking to me at night when you close your eyes or when you're about to sleep these past few days?"

"You actually don't need to do that. Weren't you pretty good at multitasking before, host?" Others usually couldn't tell anyway.

Ignoring the system's chattering, in the darkness, An Ning pondered the look in that person's eyes that day on her own.

First: There was no hatred, nor overly strong personal emotions. Compared to those, there was actually more strangeness, and a weird sense of things being out of control.

Frequent daydreaming, a high probability of possessing a system, dressing in a way that deliberately imitates the original body, no... or rather, this is deliberately catering to the current emperor's preferences.

And the facts have also proven that the current emperor indeed has a particular fondness for this type. It's just that this person's attire is clearly not as natural and effortless as the original body's. Even so, it's enough to stand out among a group of beauties with impressive backgrounds and outstanding looks.

Of course, it's also possible that the other party is genuinely clever and can match the current emperor's taste. However, based on the current situation, this possibility isn't very high.

According to the information the system relayed, the current emperor's interest in this one is clearly more physical. It seems like favor, but the genuine care is probably less than half.

Otherwise, she wouldn't still be just a concubine, even after becoming pregnant now—the only concubine in the palace to conceive in three years, something so precious.

Based on all of the above, An Ning actually already had some guesses about this person in her heart.

Now then, glancing at Xie Huai sleeping soundly beside her, who was still subconsciously clinging tightly to her even in his sleep, An Ning couldn't help but stroke her chin in the darkness.

It seems this hard mode isn't something that can't be challenged.

The next day, after the usual intimate relations, An Ning skillfully rolled over and got off, opened the system store, and, taking advantage of the cover of getting up to drink water later, a pill slid extremely smoothly down her throat.

At the same time, in the palace at night, a seed was silently breaking through the soil, quickly taking root and sprouting, transforming into slender vines that slowly extended towards the eaves.

The hall was quiet at night. In the darkness, only a few drops of transparent liquid quickly fell from above, landing precisely in the charcoal brazier not far away. Accompanied by the burning charcoal, it rapidly evaporated towards the inner chamber...

Early the next morning, not only was An Ning, who had slept soundly until daybreak, exceptionally energetic, but Concubine Yu in the Si Pin Xuan, who had just woken up, also didn't feel the slightest discomfort.

As usual, she had the system check all the items she was about to use. After confirming they were safe, Murong Qing then used them with peace of mind.

After repeatedly confirming that the other party truly hadn't noticed, as if a weight had been lifted from her mind, An Ning only had the system monitor occasionally in the following days and didn't do anything else unnecessary.

However, after this incident, An Ning had a rough estimate of the other party's system capabilities in her heart.

At the very least, regarding the specially cultivated poisonous strain she used, or rather, because it had entered the body early while the rest had already evaporated, this system clearly hadn't detected anything amiss.

After confirming this point, An Ning quickly set her mind at ease.

It was the system, watching day after day pass, seeing that the other party's body seemed to have no discomfort whatsoever, and even the fetus in her womb was fine, remaining quite active until May, that couldn't help but ask in confusion:

"Host, what exactly did you give her?"

Why? Wasn't it basically confirmed that she's an enemy? Wouldn't it be better to just kill her directly?

What answered it was its host's clearly puzzled expression: "Kill her? Why kill her directly? Don't you think this person is actually very useful?"

No longer paying attention to the system's slightly bewildered little gaze, An Ning soon closed her eyes contentedly.

Just ask, for an emperor, isn't a palace consort with unique traits and a sufficiently ruthless heart a great blessing?

Thinking of the miserable fates of the original body's sisters in her previous life, An Ning couldn't help but snort coldly.

Whether it's a blessing or not is another matter. After repeatedly confirming and knowing that the other party's hand couldn't reach outside the palace for the time being, An Ning no longer paid excessive attention. Besides, she really couldn't spare too much mental energy right now.

Calculating the time, it had been over a month since taking the pill that day, and An Ning appropriately showed some signs of dizziness and discomfort.

"What's wrong, A-Ning?"

Sure enough, the moment An Ning slightly furrowed her brows, Xie Huai beside her immediately reacted, his expression, unsurprisingly, carrying a hint of nervousness.

Without another word, he immediately ordered the maids to bring the imperial physician from the residence.

Because Duke Xie's health was poor, there was almost always an imperial physician stationed at the residence. Even so, supporting his clearly unwell wife, Xie Huai's face couldn't help but show worry.

You have to understand, unlike him, Xie Huai was well aware of how robust his A-Ning's health had been lately. Not to mention... ahem... she wouldn't even catch a common cold normally.

This was the first time he had seen her face look so pale and frail.

The more he thought about it, the more uneasy Xie Huai felt in his heart. Even though An Ning repeatedly explained it was just dizziness, Xie Huai tightly held her with one arm while constantly urging the maids and servants.

However, a quarter of an hour later, after repeated diagnoses, the imperial physician's words left everyone dumbfounded.

"What did you say? Pregnant?"

And it's my daughter-in-law?

Having just returned to the residence, she heard such "peculiar" news. Even the Grand Princess, who had fought on battlefields for years, was genuinely stunned for a moment.

It wasn't excessive joy, but rather an instinctive disbelief.

No other reason. Although the Late Emperor was incompetent and had been suppressed by the imperial clan and court ministers earlier, he was, after all, the emperor of a nation. Once he acted, he showed absolutely no mercy, even if this person was his daughter's only child in this life. What's more, this daughter had nearly died nine times over while resisting foreign enemies earlier in life, and had even lost the chance to become a mother again forever because of it.

That day, the moment the cold poison toxin was extracted, the imperial physician had subtly hinted that the young master's hopes for offspring in the future were likely slim.

That's why the Grand Princess was especially shocked now.

However, after the shock came immense joy. As for suspecting her daughter-in-law of wrongdoing, the Grand Princess really didn't go that far.

This is the Princess's Manor. Not to mention, with her daughter-in-law's intelligence, how desperate would she have to be to do such a foolish thing? Also, these two had been in the residence all this time, practically inseparable every day, sticking together almost without parting. Unless her daughter-in-law was a monster, how could she possibly be in two places at once?

After all, she was someone who had seen big scenes. After a brief moment of astonishment, the Grand Princess quickly regained her composure. Her gaze paused for a moment on the visitor's clearly apprehensive face, and her eyes immediately sharpened: "How is the Young Madam?"

Sure enough, as soon as she finished speaking, that person's face grew even more uneasy. "Reporting to Your Highness, the im... imperial physician said... said the Young Madam should best rest in bed recently."

Needing bed rest after just over a month?

Thinking of her son's physical condition, the Grand Princess's heart immediately sank.