Her face, revealed from beneath messy, long hair, was still delicate despite the slap print and red marks from being pinched.
Her eyes were as clear as the vast sky, seemingly without end.
"Miss Ning An, I saw it with my own eyes..."
An Ning interrupted Yang Xueling, "Seeing is not always believing. Esteemed Madam, I have never engaged in any illicit affairs with the Third Young Master. The Third Young Master is a man of high moral character. Though I reside in a brothel, I maintain my integrity."
"You're lying, I clearly saw..."
"If you don't believe me, you can have someone from the Shen family conduct an examination, esteemed Madam Shen."
Yang Xueling was stunned. She looked at the girl before her, her gaze so clear and unyielding. A strange unease settled in her heart. Could she be telling the truth?
Was she still a virgin?
After a moment of thought, Madam Shen said, "Li Mei, send someone to fetch a female physician."
The customs of Huangze were liberal. During the reign of the previous Empress of Huangze, women were permitted to practice medicine and treat women for discreet ailments.
The female physician was soon summoned. Madam Shen pointed to An Ning, "I'll trouble the physician to examine her."
The physician nodded, "Miss, please come with me."
Madam Shen remained silent. Madam Shen watched Yang Xueling, her brows etched with disappointment.
This was supposed to be a brilliant move, but it had been ruined.
If Miss Ning An was found to be still pure, Yang Xueling would likely never again gain the esteemed Madam's favor.
Yang Xueling refused to believe that a woman living in a brothel could maintain her virginity.
An incense stick later, the physician emerged and approached Madam Shen. "Esteemed Madam, this young lady is indeed a virgin."
Yang Xueling stared in astonishment, shaking her head. "How... how is that possible? Did you make a mistake?"
She couldn't believe that a woman from a brothel would remain a virgin.
The physician glanced at Yang Xueling. "If Miss doesn't believe it, you can invite another female physician to conduct the examination. The result will be the same."
As Yang Xueling was about to speak, Madam Shen gave her a look, and she reluctantly fell silent.
Madam Shen nodded, "Thank you, physician."
"You are too kind, esteemed Madam. If there's nothing else, I shall take my leave!" The physician departed.
"Li Mei, escort the physician," Madam Shen instructed.
Madam Shen looked at An Ning and asked, "What exactly happened? Will you tell me now?"
An Ning sobbed, "The Third Young Master hadn't eaten for three days. I wanted to bring him something, but guards were at the entrance, and they wouldn't let me in, so I jumped in from the back. The Third Young Master saw me and severely reprimanded me, saying I was being reckless and told me to leave. Just as I was about to go, I saw the cousin-in-law entering the ancestral hall..."
"You... you're lying. I clearly saw your clothes were torn, and you admitted it then," Yang Xueling said urgently.
"Admitted what? Wasn't it the cousin-in-law who threatened me?"
Yang Xueling was furious. "Threatened you? What did I threaten you with?"
"Didn't the cousin-in-law say I wasn't worthy of the Third Young Master? That she, the cousin-in-law, should be the rightful wife, and that I should know my place, or face consequences?"
"You... you're spouting nonsense..." Yang Xueling was so angry she was trembling. When had she ever said such a thing?
"Wasn't that slap on my face delivered by the cousin-in-law?"
"Nonsense, cousin, that slap was taken by cousin for you," Yang Xueling said, trembling with rage.
Seeing the corner of the girl's mouth subtly curve upwards, she felt a premonition of disaster.
Indeed, Madam Shen was the first to stand up and ask her, "You... you hit Yun Xuan?"
"I... I was just saying that..." Yang Xueling attempted to defend herself.
Madam Shen frowned. Madam Shen spoke, "Who was accompanying the cousin-in-law at the time?"
Madam Shen's gaze deepened, and she said coldly, "Li Xia, who was attending to the cousin-in-law?"
Li Xia bowed. "It was Li Qiao."
"Call her here," Madam Shen said coldly.
Li Qiao soon arrived. Madam Shen said coldly, "Tell us what happened in the ancestral hall just now."
Li Qiao dared not conceal anything and recounted the events, concluding by saying that Yang Xueling had raised her hand to strike Miss Ning An, and the Third Young Master had stepped in to block it.
Madam Shen took a deep breath. "You may go."
Li Qiao withdrew. Madam Shen looked at Yang Xueling with even greater disappointment. "Xueling, do you have anything else to say?"
Yang Xueling slumped to the ground. Li Qiao's account was true, yet not entirely true.
Li Qiao had downplayed the words An Ning had spoken, but had detailed the slap Yang Xueling had delivered.
"Madam Yang, Xueling is your niece, and it is not convenient for me to say too much. However, if there is a next time, I dare not keep such a person by Yun Xuan's side. You... do as you see fit." Madam Shen finished speaking and waved them away.
After Madam Shen bowed, she ordered Li Xia to help Yang Xueling away.
An Ning was also about to withdraw when Madam Shen suddenly said, "You stay. The rest of you may leave."
Only Madam Shen and she remained in the room.
"Esteemed Madam, thank you!" An Ning said.
Madam Shen raised her eyes. "You are fortunate today to be a virgin. Otherwise, I would not have kept you. You know your fate."
An Ning smiled. "Of course, I know."
"This step you took was very dangerous. One wrong move, and the entire game is lost."
"Yes, but I am confident," An Ning replied.
Madam Shen looked at her, her gaze filled with scrutiny. "You do not seem like a woman of the brothel."
An Ning did not shy away. "I am indeed not. I was framed and forced into a brothel. Fortunately, the Third Young Master saved me."
Madam Shen gazed into the distance. "You entered the Shen family to repay a debt of gratitude, and to provide cover for Yun Xuan. Yun Xuan was not in the ancestral hall before."
An Ning was startled, not expecting Madam Shen to have figured this out.
"Esteemed Madam is wise." An Ning genuinely admired the old lady's intelligence.
"The Shen family has endured for a century, resented by many. Countless people wish to see the Shen family fall. I am old and can no longer bear such burdens. If Yun Xuan wishes to act, let him do so boldly and without hesitation!" Madam Shen's gaze gradually dimmed.
"Esteemed Madam, who do you believe is the one within this household?" An Ning asked.
Madam Shen was silent for a long time before replying, "I do not know."
"Esteemed Madam, I met the Second Young Master," An Ning suddenly said.
Madam Shen narrowed her eyes. "What did he say to you?"
At that moment, Li Mei's voice was heard from outside. "Esteemed Madam, Concubine Feng and the Second Young Master request an audience!"
"Let them in!" Madam Shen said, then looked at An Ning. "You go inside and wait."
An Ning nodded and walked into the inner chamber, sitting down. From here, she could see everything that was happening outside.
Soon, Concubine Feng entered, followed by Shen Yun Xiu.
Concubine Feng smiled excitedly. "Esteemed Madam, I have joyous news to report to you!"
Madam Shen raised her eyes and looked at Concubine Feng coldly. "What news?"