Before the old lady could answer, E'lan hurriedly said, "Now that Brother Kang is infatuated with you, he'll believe whatever you say! How could you bring this up! I think even a beautiful face can't hide your fickle and promiscuous nature!"
"You! Princess Elan, I have no grudge against you, why are you insulting me like this?" Yan Ning struggled, trying to break free from the two maids' grasp. However, the Manchus were a nomadic people, and although life in the capital was comfortable and they did not have to work all day, they were also physically strong, and Yan Ning's hands were firmly held in their grasp.
"You yourself said that I have no grudge against you. I am only thinking of Brother Kang and do not want Brother Kang's reputation to be ruined by you!" E'lan's anger erupted when she thought of how Fukang'an treated Yan Ning.
"Mother, you must think this through! If we wrong the lady, we'll ruin her wedding night! This is something a woman values most. If the General returns, how will we explain it to him? Yan Ning is the General's most beloved! Let's wait until he returns to discuss this!" Xi Ying, having gleaned the situation from their conversation, spoke softly. Yan Ning looked at Xi Ying gratefully. She had suffered so much, and it was always Xi Ying who pleaded for her. With ancient medical technology so backward, although she didn't know what they intended to do to her, Yan Ning sensed that not only would her reputation be tarnished, but her body would also be subjected to all sorts of torture. Unconsciously, she struggled even more fiercely.
"Enough! Granny Li, hurry up and go!" As soon as Xi Ying mentioned Fukang'an, the old lady knew that once he returned, she would not only be unable to examine Yan Ning's body, but he would also gloss over the matter.
"Mother, since we're going to have an examination, let Xiying supervise it in your place! After all, she's the future wife of the General's family; we can't let the servants humiliate her!" Xiying looked at Yanning with concern and pleaded with the old lady. The old lady thought for a moment. Xiying and Yanning were on opposing sides, so she wouldn't help her deceive her. And the midwife was found by Granny Li, so she wouldn't wrongly accuse Yanning. "Alright! You can go then!"
Xi Ying took Yan Ning's hand and patiently guided her, "Although doing this is humiliating, it will prove your innocence! If you don't do this, even if the general believes you, how will you stand in this mansion? How will you bear the gossip behind your back?" Seeing that Yan Ning was still stubbornly refusing to move, Xi Ying comforted her again, "I will tell the midwife that you must not be harmed!"
Yan Ning glanced at the prim and proper old lady and the expectant E Lan, knowing she couldn't escape this predicament. She thought to herself, even if Fu Kang'an believed her, the old lady wouldn't. Was she really going to watch them turn against each other? In this ancient world, this was probably the only way to prove her innocence. Yan Ning stopped struggling and let Xi Ying help her out of the main room. Seeing Xi Ying there, the three old women, including Li Mama, stopped following Yan Ning and turned back to serve the old lady.
As soon as Xi Ying and Yan Ning left the main room, Hai Tang saw that Yan Ning looked unwell and quickly went to serve her. "Go find Zhao Xing and tell the general to come to the Peony Hall as soon as possible!" Xi Ying instructed Hai Tang in a voice that only the three of them could hear. Upon hearing this, Yan Ning was even more grateful to Xi Ying.
"I'll go too!" Seeing them enter the east wing, E'lan, fearing Xi Ying's soft heart might ruin things, quickly got up from her chair, ready to follow. "Sit down! What are you doing, a young girl who's inexperienced in such matters!" The old lady, fearing E'lan might cause trouble, ordered her to wait with her in the main room. E'lan gave her personal maid, Lingdang, a wink, and Lingdang quietly withdrew.
Xi Ying helped Yan Ning into the inner room and gestured for Xia'er to bring Lingdang in. Lingdang entered the outer room and whispered to the midwife, "Regardless of whether Yan Ning is innocent or not, there's only one outcome!" As she spoke, Lingdang took out a silver note from her light blue sleeve and slipped it into the midwife's hand. The midwife was stunned when she saw the thousand on it, then overjoyed. This amount of money was more than she could earn in a lifetime of delivering babies! She hurriedly nodded and bowed, saying, "Don't worry, Miss, I will definitely make you satisfied!"
The midwife's eyes were filled with greed mixed with ruthlessness as she walked towards the inner room, where she met Xi Ying, who was coming out. "Do what the girl who gave you the silver notes asked you to do, or the Fucha family will not let you off the hook!" The midwife nodded hurriedly in agreement, but when she looked at Xi Ying, she only saw a worried expression under her gorgeous hairpins.
Yan Ning saw the midwife and two nannies carrying in some instruments. The midday sun shone in, but it couldn't hide the cold glint of the instruments. Her body instinctively shrank back, hiding at the far end of the bed. Behind the crimson bed curtains, the two nannies put down the instruments and began tearing at her clothes. Yan Ning didn't know that ancient physical examinations were done this way, and she resisted with all her might. "Get away! Don't touch me!" Yan Ning's fierce resistance was nothing out of the ordinary to these experienced nannies. Soon, the two nannies grabbed Yan Ning's wrists and pressed her onto the carved wooden bed.
Seeing the expressions on Xi Ying and Yan Ning's faces, Hai Tang knew that something big had happened. Taking advantage of the fact that everyone in the Peony Hall was focused on the east wing, she ran to the front yard to find Zhao Xing.
Haitang searched the entire front yard but couldn't find Zhao Xing. She asked a guard on the way, who told her that Zhao Xing was about to leave for the military camp and should be near the side gate. Haitang hurriedly ran towards the side gate. "Steward Zhao!" she called out, stopping Zhao Xing who was about to leave. Zhao Xing looked at the panting maid Haitang and said impatiently, "Come back and tell me what's wrong. I'm in a hurry to deliver something to the general!" With that, he mounted his horse and prepared to leave.
"Quick! Go find the general and bring him back to save the lady!" Haitang shouted.
Upon hearing that Yan Ning was in trouble, Zhao Xing immediately jumped off his horse, grasped Hai Tang's shoulders, and asked anxiously, "What's wrong, Madam?" Hai Tang blushed at Zhao Xing's closeness and whispered, "This servant doesn't know either! It was Concubine Ying who sent me to find you."
When Zhao Xing heard that Xi Ying had sent him, he knew it was no small matter. He released Haitang, jumped onto his horse, and quickly rode towards the military camp. Haitang watched Zhao Xing's departing figure, feeling a strange sense of loss. Shaking her head, she wiped the sweat from her brow and hurried back to the Peony Hall.
Upon hearing that Yan Ning was in trouble, Fukang'an dropped the military treatise he was holding and rushed towards the Fucha residence. Amidst billowing dust, Fukang'an dismounted, tossed the reins to Zhao Xing, and galloped towards the Peony Hall.
"Greetings, General!" The servants in the courtyard all knelt before Fukang'an. Fukang'an paid them no heed, grabbing a servant beside him and demanding, "Where is Madam?" "Madam…"
No!
The servants watched as large beads of sweat dripped down Fukang'an's forehead. Before they could answer, Yan Ning's screams, filled with terror and despair, came from the east wing.
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