Chapter 041: Identification in Public
As soon as the words fell, the Pepper Room was in an uproar.
"What did you say?"
"impossible!"
"how so?"
"How is it possible that you are still a virgin?"
Exclamations came one after another, and everyone's surprised eyes were fixed on Shen Ningyuan.
Especially Chen, after being stunned for a moment, she let out a deafening scream, "Chen Ningyuan, you have been married to my son for a year, how could you still be a virgin?"
After she finished speaking, Chen seemed to realize something and slowly lowered her voice, "Could it be that nothing happened between you and Yunchuan on your wedding night a year ago?"
Shen Ningyuan smiled even more brightly, "Mother-in-law is really smart. Nothing really happened between my husband and me on our wedding night a year ago."
"Why?" Chen was puzzled.
Shen Ningyuan sneered in her heart: Because your son promised Cui Mingzhu that he would remain chaste for her.
But she said softly, "Because on our wedding night, my husband was ordered to go to war. He was afraid that I would mess around with other men after he left, so he didn't touch me and kept my virginity. This way, if I am still a virgin when he comes back, it proves that I have not betrayed him."
At the end of the story, Shen Ningyuan even lowered her head in embarrassment, with the shy attitude of a girl.
"Is it really so?" Chen was still in a daze. "But that night, we clearly heard the sound of water all night long..."
Chen Ningyuan sneered in his heart again: That is your good son and his sweetheart, cuddling to death in the study room separated by a wall.
That night, in order to prevent her from hearing any noise, Ji Yunchuan also fed her enough sleeping pills, so she slept very soundly.
He slept until noon the next day, and was punished by Chen for being lazy, sleepy, and disrespectful to her parents-in-law, so she was forced to kneel in the sun and hold tea cups for an hour.
Thinking of this, Shen Ningyuan restrained her smile, "Then maybe, mother-in-law heard it wrong."
"How could I have heard it wrong?"
Chen wanted to explain, but Ji Zehai touched her hard and interrupted her in a deep voice: "If you heard it wrong, you heard it wrong. There is no need to delve into this matter."
Seeing Ji Zehai's serious expression, Chen finally reacted.
The truth of the wedding night concerns the reputation of the Ji family. If she says the wrong thing, it may bring a bad impact to the Ji family.
Realizing this, Chen immediately shut his mouth.
Seeing the couple's reactions, He Yunshu probably guessed something.
There must have been some unspeakable secrets behind Ji Yunchuan and Shen Ningyuan’s wedding night a year ago.
She was somewhat interested in this matter.
Once today's matter is settled, she can send someone to investigate.
But right now, the most important thing is to deal with Shen Ningyuan first!
While thinking, He Yunshu glanced at Shen Ningyuan, with a hint of coldness in her eyes.
He said in a deep voice: "Chen Ningyuan, what you just said can only prove that you and Ji Yunchuan did not sleep together, but it cannot prove that you did not have an affair with other men. Whether you are a virgin or not remains to be considered."
"Your Majesty, I can verify my identity and accept the examination of the palace maid."
"Chen Ningyuan!" He Yunshu's face changed instantly, and she looked at Chen Ningyuan as if she was looking at a madman, "Do you know what this means?"
Chen and Ji Zehai also looked at Shen Ningyuan in panic.
If Shen Ningyuan verifies her identity, it will prove her innocence.
The Ji family was falsely accused of deceiving the emperor.
This is going to lead to death!
At this time, the two of them kept praying in their hearts, and Shen Ningyuan quickly regretted it.
However, the opposite happened.
Shen Ningyuan raised her eyes and looked at He Yunshu, her tone calm but firm, "Your Majesty, I certainly know what this means."
"But as long as I can prove my innocence and wash away this dirty water, I am willing to do so."
“…”
He Yunshu was speechless for a moment.
Looking at Shen Ningyuan's determined eyes, she seemed to recall the scene ten years ago when she was scolded and cried by Cui Jin.
Ten years ago, when she faced Cui Jin, she was just like she is now facing Shen Ningyuan, with her mouth open and unable to utter a word.
Thinking of this, He Yunshu felt a strong sense of frustration.
Finally, He Yunshu waved her hand and said lazily: "In my opinion, let's forget about verifying her identity!"
"There has never been such a precedent in the palace. If the matter gets out of hand and spreads out, the people will laugh at it."
Upon hearing this, Ji Zehai and Chen's faces showed joy.
Without verification of her identity, Shen Ningyuan would not be able to prove her innocence.
By then, won’t they be able to throw dirty water at will?
Shen Ningyuan obviously thought of this.
She raised her head and looked at He Yunshu with burning eyes. "If I don't verify my identity, how can I prove my innocence? Should I let others arbitrarily frame me and throw dirty water on me?"
"A fly never bites an egg without cracks. If you really think there is nothing wrong at all, this dirty water won't be thrown on your head!"
Shen Ningyuan bit her lip and retorted, "If you want to accuse someone of something, you can always find a pretext!"
"Chen Ningyuan, are you the queen, or am I the queen?" He Yunshu's face turned completely cold. "Even if I don't let you test it, what can you do to me?"
Hearing this, He Yunshu was determined not to let Shen Ningyuan prove her innocence.
Song Yan'er was so nervous that she quietly reached out her hand, circled Shen Ningyuan's palm, and whispered: "Yuan'er, this matter still needs to be considered in the long run. Why don't we suffer a loss first and go back to discuss countermeasures with our parents?"
"No." Shen Ningyuan rejected Song Yaner's proposal without thinking.
"Today we cede a city, tomorrow we cede a city, and in the end, there will be no city left."
If she gives in today, she will have no chance in the future!
Daughter of the Shen family, you can’t retreat!
Thinking of this, Shen Ningyuan took two steps forward.
She raised her voice and said, "Your Majesty, as the head of the six palaces, you are in charge of all the injustices that women face in the world. Are you sure you want to abuse your power for personal gain and not give me a chance to prove my innocence?"
"If Your Majesty is unwilling, I request to see Your Majesty right now and ask Your Majesty to give me a chance to prove my innocence!"
His attitude was neither humble nor arrogant, and his voice was clear and powerful.
He Yunshu clenched her fists, “Chen Ningyuan, you dare to use your majesty to pressure me!”
Shen Ningyuan fought back, "I just want to be cleared of all charges!"
He Yunshu gritted her teeth and asked coldly, "Is your innocence so important?"
"Of course it's important, more important than my life!"
Shen Ningyuan's voice was not loud, but firm and powerful.
“Snap! Snap! Snap!”
As soon as Shen Ningyuan finished speaking, there was a sudden applause from outside the hall.
He Yunshu's expression changed instantly, and she stared coldly outside the hall, "Who is making trouble outside the Pepper Room?"
The person outside the palace did not answer. A voice approached from far away, saying to herself: "It is rare for a woman to regard innocence as her life. It would be fine if the Queen did not reward her, but why do you despise this?"
"Empress Ying?"
He Yunshu's face darkened slightly and she glanced at Song Yaner coldly.
Song Yan'er was also stunned and turned around in disbelief.
When I saw a woman in gorgeous purple clothes, looking graceful and elegant, stepping over the threshold and walking into the Pepper Room.
The corners of Song Yaner's eyes were filled with bitterness.
But I held back my tears.
"Sister, sister?" Song Yaner opened her mouth and uttered a clear "sister".
She hasn't called her sister for many years.
Seeing her own sister, Song Ying'er did not respond, but bowed to He Yunshu first.
"Your Majesty, I greet the Queen."
"At this point, you actually know the rules." He Yunshu snorted coldly.
After Song Ying'er finished her greetings, she stood up and looked at He Yunshu, following her words with a smile and said, "It is because I know the rules that I want to advise my sister to give Madam Ji Shao a chance to prove her innocence."
He Yunshu raised her eyebrows and said in a cool voice, "Give me a reason."
Song Ying'er smiled, her voice soft, "To be honest, I just came from His Majesty, and I heard a general idea of what happened today. I just want to ask you a question, sister. Have you really never thought about why His Majesty would let you handle this matter?"
While speaking, Song Ying'er glanced at Shen Ningyuan calmly.
He Yunshu was not a fool. She immediately guessed what Song Ying'er meant and her expression changed instantly.
Obviously, He Yunshu also guessed the emperor's thoughts.
He immediately clenched his hands and ordered the palace servant beside him in a cold voice, "Call two chamber maids over to verify the identity of Madam Ji!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
