Chapter 40: She Is Still a Virgin!

The sachet was tossed onto the floor, emitting only a faint sound. Yet, in the unnervingly quiet palace hall, it was heard with crystal clarity.

Madam Chen and Ji Zehai exchanged a glance, both reading the same triumph and excitement in the other’s eyes. Under these circumstances, how could Shen Ningyuan possibly escape? They were determined to have this wretched woman ruined and cast out of the Ji family in disgrace.

"Young Madam Ji, won't you pick it up and take a look? There is a kite embroidered on the lower left corner of this sachet," Empress He Yunshu remarked, slouching against her chair with a mocking smile as she looked at Shen Ningyuan. "If this Empress remembers correctly, you are the only noble lady in the entire capital whose name bears the character for 'kite'."

Shen Ningyuan remained motionless, her gaze lowered, her expression unreadable. Seeing this, everyone assumed she was feeling guilty. The triumph on the faces of Madam Chen and Ji Zehai deepened.

Song Yan'er, unable to fathom Shen Ningyuan’s thoughts, stepped forward and picked up the sachet. Upon seeing the kite embroidery, she gasped in shock and hurried toward Shen Ningyuan. "Yu'er, is this... truly yours?" she asked hesitantly.

Shen Ningyuan glanced down at the embroidery and nodded faintly. "It is."

Seeing her admit it, Madam Chen and Ji Zehai were so delighted they nearly cried out on the spot. Song Yan'er’s face fell. She leaned close to Shen Ningyuan and whispered with concern, "Yu'er, why are you so foolish? If you had simply refused to admit it, no one could have proven this sachet belonged to you!"

Shen Ningyuan looked up, giving Song Yan'er a reassuring look. "Sister-in-law, do not worry. Nothing will happen." Seeing her unwavering certainty, Song Yan'er had no choice but to fall silent.

Lin Shu seized the opportunity to shout at Shen Ningyuan, "Yu'er, you finally admit it! Why have you refused to even look at me since I entered? Did you not say that you cared nothing for status or rank and only wanted to be with me?"

Only then did Shen Ningyuan turn her gaze directly toward Lin Shu. "I merely admitted the sachet is mine. I did not admit to having an illicit affair with you. Why are you so worked up?"

Lin Shu’s expression shifted, and he shouted again, "Yu'er, you are carrying my child! How can you deny our relationship?"

Madam Chen pointed a trembling finger at Shen Ningyuan, her face twisted with malice. "Speak! When did this happen between you and this rogue?"

"There is no smoke without fire. The rumors of you carrying a bastard by another man behind my son’s back have spread far and wide. Now that the witnesses and evidence are right in front of you, you still refuse to admit it!"

Turning to Nanny Ming, Madam Chen commanded in a low, sharp voice, "Nanny Ming, you are the head servant in the Young Madam's quarters and know her daily affairs better than anyone. Tell us everything you have seen and heard!"

Singled out so suddenly, Nanny Ming shrank back, but she braced herself and walked forward, falling to her knees with a thud. Empress He Yunshu turned her gaze upon the woman. "You are the head servant in the Young Madam's residence?"

Nanny Ming lowered her head. "Yes, Your Majesty."

"Madam Ji claims you personally witnessed the Young Madam bringing this adulterer into her quarters for illicit acts. Is this true?"

"It is..." Nanny Ming looked up abruptly, stealing a glance at Shen Ningyuan, but ultimately nodded. "Old servant... old servant truly witnessed the Young Madam bringing Lin Shu into her chambers. On the most frequent occasion, she called for water three times in a single night."

"Then why did you not report this to Madam Ji?" the Empress asked.

Trembling, Nanny Ming replied, "Your Majesty, my contract of service is still in the Young Madam’s hands. She used it to threaten me. I dared not speak of it and could only conceal the truth for her." She bowed her head until it struck the floor, her voice quivering. "This old servant is guilty!"

Watching Nanny Ming, Shen Ningyuan’s voice turned cold. "Nanny Ming, you have been in my residence for a year, and I have treated you well. When your daughter, Little Bean, was dying of consumption, it was I who sent her to the medical clinic to save her life. The subsequent medical expenses were also paid by me."

Nanny Ming’s shoulders shook, yet she did not look up. "Young Madam, I... I do not know what you are talking about."

Seeing this, Shen Ningyuan said no more. Words were useless.

As Shen Ningyuan remained silent, Nanny Ming continued, "Your Majesty, I dare not hide the truth of her adultery with Lin Shu!" She emphasized, "Furthermore, as far as I know, she has not had her monthly courses for two full months..."

Nanny Ming did not finish her sentence, but everyone present understood her implication. Song Yan'er, gripped by anxiety, could not help but clutch Shen Ningyuan’s hand. Shen Ningyuan did not react, allowing her to hold on.

Seeing her fail to refute the claims, the Empress assumed she had resigned herself to her fate. "Young Madam Ji, what else do you have to say?"

Shen Ningyuan lifted her eyes to meet the Empress’s gaze. "Your Majesty, I have much to say. Are you willing to grant me the opportunity to speak?"

Stung by the directness of her gaze, the Empress felt a trace of displeasure. "The evidence is conclusive. Further words are useless."

Shen Ningyuan smiled, her tone remaining calm and steady. "The laws of our land dictate that even when accused, one must be granted the chance to defend themselves, so that no innocent person is wronged."

The Empress’s face darkened. "What is it you wish to say?"

Shen Ningyuan smiled faintly. "I believe that as the head of the six palaces and a paragon of motherhood for the world, Your Majesty would not disregard our laws and deny me—the accused—a chance to explain myself."

The Empress fell silent.

"Sharp-tongued!" the Empress muttered under her breath before forcing a composed expression. "Very well, I shall grant you the chance to defend yourself."

"I thank Your Majesty," Shen Ningyuan said with a nod. She walked toward Lin Shu and asked in a low voice, "You claim that I am already carrying your child?"

Lin Shu shouted firmly, "That is right! You are carrying my seed in your womb!"

"Good."

Shen Ningyuan nodded, then turned and stood over Nanny Ming, looking down at her coldly. "Nanny Ming, you just said you saw me commit adultery with Lin Shu multiple times and that I threatened you with your service contract?"

Nanny Ming shivered, but she lifted her head to stare up at Shen Ningyuan. After a moment, she gritted her teeth and shouted, "That is right!"

"I see."

Shen Ningyuan turned and walked toward Madam Chen. Her inexplicable actions left everyone in the hall bewildered, unsure of what she was trying to achieve. Even Song Yan'er looked on with a confused expression.

When Shen Ningyuan reached her, Madam Chen felt a sudden chill at the sight of the smile on her face. Recalling how Shen Ningyuan had slapped Ji Yunhuan, Madam Chen could not help but step back. "What... what are you doing?"

Shen Ningyuan remained smiling. "Mother-in-law, do not worry. I am merely asking you a question."

"What question?" Madam Chen asked, still wary.

"Have you concluded that I have betrayed Yunchuan and am carrying another man's child?" Shen Ningyuan asked.

Madam Chen nodded firmly. "That is right! You have finally admitted it!"

"Yet, my belly is flat. Does this look like a pregnancy to you?"

"Hmph! Yunchuan has not even been buried yet! The Shen family brought you back precisely because they feared your scandalous deeds would be exposed, and they had your child aborted overnight!" Madam Chen gritted her teeth, her small, dark eyes glaring at Shen Ningyuan as if she wished to tear a piece of flesh from her.

Shen Ningyuan said nothing. She simply glanced at Madam Chen, turned, and walked back to the center of the hall. Standing straight, she looked up at Empress He Yunshu. "Your Majesty, my defense is concluded."

The Empress’s face sank, and she rebuked coldly, "Shen Ningyuan, are you mocking me? You asked each of them a single question; how is that a defense?"

"Because their answers were nothing but nonsense," Shen Ningyuan replied calmly.

Seeing her remain so composed at the brink of death, the Empress felt a surge of rage. She stood up, pointed at Shen Ningyuan, and her voice rose to a shrill pitch. "How can you prove it?!"

Shen Ningyuan parted her lips slightly. "Because, Your Majesty, I am still a virgin."