Chapter 1138 - 1140 A Correct Guess_1
"Madam speaks wrongly, for I was once in charge of selecting the ladies of Mianyang, and naturally, I have some abilities of my own. If I couldn’t even diagnose this matter, why on earth would you have called upon me?"
Indeed, as the midwife said, she did possess some skills. Normally, such a matter is indeed difficult to examine, and even if she examined it, she could only determine when the virginity of a lady of Great Yue had been breached.
It was quite a coincidence that Principal Clerk Zhou was not an affectionate man. After his affair with Cao Lingling last night, he did not arrange for her to be cleaned, and moreover, did not wash himself before getting up. Cao Lingling, after waking up, was initially shy, and then was stunned by Principal Clerk Zhou, and for quite a while, did not think of this matter.
As for the midwife, she had once received guidance from a master of her lineage, and could discern the age of semen stains left in a person’s body based on the minute changes in color.
Because being able to examine such matters is not well-regarded, on top of the fact that midwives in ancient times were not respected, she remains unmarried even now.
"Nonsense, impossible, how could you discover even this?" Madam Zhou still refused to believe it. This whole situation was indeed quite absurd.
"Madam Zhou is not a healer, so how would you know what’s possible and what’s not? Not only do I know when this lady was last involved, but I also know that it was her first time last night, close to the end of 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.," said the midwife earnestly. "If Madam Zhou does not believe it, you can go home and try it yourself, and have me put it to the test!"
"Rubbish!" The midwife’s words were indeed quite bold, infuriating Madam Zhou who slammed the table, "How dare a mere midwife be so insolent?"
"Why is Madam Zhou so agitated?" Yang Chuxia spoke up at this moment, "The midwife hasn’t said anything incorrect, has she? If you doubt the midwife’s examination, then go home and put it to the test yourself. If you’re not willing to do so, then shut your mouth. And Madam Zhou, your attitude seems to suggest that you’re quite dissatisfied with the notion that Cao Lingling has not had relations with my husband, don’t you?"
"To speak the truth, I had thought that Principal Clerk Zhou and my husband, being colleagues, would maintain some semblance of face towards each other. But you insist on implicating my husband in this affair, forcing me to say a few words. Cao Lingling left our house last night after 9 p.m., and subsequently, it was your Principal Clerk Zhou who took her home. She spent the entire night in your Zhou Family residence, where anything might easily have happened. Moreover, you were not at home last night, so how could you know the truth of these matters? Furthermore, the midwife said that her last indiscretion was early between 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m., a time when she was at your house. Madam Zhou, don’t blame my family for the conduct that clearly involves your Principal Clerk Zhou, after having played with Cao Lingling, you bring her here to lay the blame on us!"
Well then, Yang Chuxia’s words guessed the intentions of Cao Lingling and Madam Zhou precisely—the conversation they had in the Zhou Family house was indeed about how to pin this affair on Ye Zi’an. Cao Lingling did not want to be with Principal Clerk Zhou, and Madam Zhou was naturally happy to help rid herself of the trouble.
"Sheer nonsense!" With the situation called out by Yang Chuxia, Madam Zhou grew increasingly unsettled.
And faced with her reaction, the scale within the hearts of those present began to tip.
Indeed, this woman had spent the night in your home, who knows what might have happened? Besides, this midwife is a very famous one in the county town, and it’s said that she’s particularly adept at treating women’s ailments.
And why would your Principal Clerk Zhou bring her into the residence so late at night, especially when the lady of the house was not present?