Chapter 35 Exculpation

"This morning, someone reported to the town government that four people were found in the alley. The deceased was Li Mao. According to the inspection, he was stabbed three times in the throat with a sharp weapon. He must have died the day before yesterday. However, Pei Xiucai should also know this person."

Pei Xiucai nodded in response.

"Oh, so that's how it is. If it was the day before yesterday, then this girl is not a murder suspect."

After hearing these words, Chen Shiyi was stunned in disbelief.

Captain Yuan looked gloomy.

"Why?"

Pei Xiucai said slowly and calmly.

"The day before yesterday, everyone on Changning Street was there, and this girl had also been there the entire time. She left after noon the day before yesterday to buy food. I went with her to buy herbs for my mother, so she didn't have time to kill anyone."

"Moreover, the deceased Li Mao had violently assaulted the girl a few days ago, causing her serious injuries. He had to stay in Changning Street every day to make a living. Everyone in Changning Street can testify to this."

"Li Mao was killed by a sharp weapon, and his throat was stabbed three times, which means the weapon was small, so it must have been a dagger. Daggers are rare iron tools in the town, so how could they be owned by a woman who was busy making a living?"

"Besides, she is a weak woman who was beaten by Li Mao without any chance to fight back. How can she kill a man who is several times stronger than her? I'm afraid she wouldn't even dare to kill a chicken."

As soon as Pei Xiucai finished speaking, everyone who was watching the excitement responded.

"Yes, how could the Chen family girl kill someone?"

"Pei Xiucai is a scholar, he is right."

"Didn't Mr. Pei have an argument with Miss Chen? Why did he testify for her? I guess it was definitely not Miss Chen who killed Li Mao."

Captain Yuan glanced at the people around him with a fierce look, and the scene suddenly became silent.

Pei Xiucai stood neither humbly nor arrogantly, and spoke hurriedly to Chen Shiyi, who seemed to be stunned by the shock.

"Miss, what is your name? If you have any grievances, please speak up. Captain Yuan will help you."

Captain Yuan laughed when he heard this.

"Mr. Pei, you are really a pedantic scholar. You can argue for someone's guilt without even knowing his name. It seems that this suspect can be ruled out today."

He made a gesture, and the bailiff behind him quickly released the hands that were restraining Chen Shiyi. The moment he let go, Chen Shiyi's legs staggered and he could not stand steadily.

As he led his men away, he patted Pei Xiucai on the shoulder.

"Leave these things to me in the future."

Having said that, he left without looking back.

After the excitement, everyone dispersed and Changning Street returned to its former bustling state.

Chen Shiyi said softly.

"Thank you."

Pei Xiucai had already returned to his seat and did not respond after hearing Chen Shiyi's thanks.

After noon, Pei Xiucai went to the pharmacy to get medicine for his old mother.

Chen Shiyi quickly put down what he was doing, said something to Aunt Zhao, and followed Pei Xiucai.

She followed him and talked.

"Thank you, scholar."

"How can I repay you?"

"Thank you for covering up for me."

Pei Xiucai seemed not to hear what Chen Shiyi said, or he didn't want to talk to Chen Shiyi at all.

Halfway through the walk, he stood up, turned his head, and looked very impatient.

"Stay away from me."

Having said that, he took another step forward.

Chen Shiyi seemed not to hear Pei Xiucai's words of disgust and continued to follow him closely.

When he stopped outside a dilapidated courtyard, he spoke to Chen Shiyi in a cold voice.

"What I said was not for you. I'm home now. Please do as you please."

He opened the door and walked in. Just as he was about to close the door, Chen Shiyi squeezed in through the crack in the door.

He looked very angry.

"How can you enter someone's home without their permission?"

Chen Shiyi waved his hands quickly.

"Don't get me wrong, I just want to ask, how can I repay you?"

"I've told you before, I'm not talking for your sake, and I don't want you to repay me, so please leave as soon as possible."

Chen Shiyi said hurriedly.

"I know that I don't have the qualifications for you to speak for me, but I am the direct beneficiary. No matter who you are doing it for, I would feel uneasy if I didn't express any gratitude."

Suddenly, a faint sound came from the room.

"Luo'er, is there a visitor at home?"

When Pei Xiucai heard the noise inside, he ignored Chen Shiyi and walked straight into the room.

"mother…"

Chen Shiyi followed Pei Xiucai into the room. The furnishings in the room were very simple. Except for the blue brick walls, everything else was similar to the Fengming Courtyard. There was a simple paulownia lacquer wardrobe, a column washbasin stand, a large carved bed, and a worn yellow and white gauze curtain, through which a person's figure could be vaguely seen.

Behind Pei Xiucai, Chen Shiyi poked his head to the side and saw the man's face. He couldn't help but sigh.

This is so beautiful! It's simply stunning!

I have always heard people outside talk about the scholar's frail old mother. In my impression, the words "old mother" have nothing to do with the country and the city.

But the one in front of him, although she was wearing a wooden hairpin and plain clothes, had a brilliant temperament, graceful as water, with a pair of beautiful eyes that sparkled, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated, with the corners of her mouth raised, gentle and graceful. Even though she was sick and lying on the bed, the broken walls and old things in the room all seemed noble and elegant because of her presence.

"Is this girl Luo'er's friend?"

When Chen Shiyi heard the elegant voice, he woke up quickly and knelt down on his knees towards the scholar's mother.

"Pei Xiucai is my savior, and I came here to express my gratitude."

Mother Pei quickly raised her hand and motioned for Eleven to stand up.

"Hurry up, kid. There's no need to be so polite."

Chen Shiyi kowtowed to Pei's mother and quickly stood up.

Mother Pei smiled gently.

"Luo'er just did what he was supposed to do."

Pei Xiucai said this in a cold voice.

"Now that you have said your thanks, please leave."

After saying this, he no longer paid attention to Chen Shiyi and turned to talk to Pei's mother.

"Mom, do you want to change the mattress? I'll call the aunt next door over."

Mother Pei nodded in agreement.

Chen Shiyi said hurriedly.

"I can. I can change the mattress. I can do anything."

She looked at Pei's mother with hopeful eyes, hoping that she would agree.

Pei Xiucai seemed unmoved. He wanted to walk out of the room, and pulled Chen Shiyi's arm to make her leave.

"Luo'er, don't be rude." Mother Pei turned and smiled at Chen Shiyi. "Then I'll trouble you, young lady."

Pei Xiucai picked up two buckets and went outside to fetch water. Chen Shiyi found replacement bedding under the command of Pei's mother.

"Aunt, my last name is Chen, and my given name is Eleven. You can just call me Eleven from now on."

"Welcome to the deep rosy clouds in the morning, roll up your sleeves and dye the flowers, it's a good name."

Chen Shiyi smiled shyly.

"Aunt, the name in your poem is particularly beautiful, but that is not my name. When I was born, my father disliked me because I was a girl and did not give me a name. I was born on the eleventh day of the lunar year, and he kept calling me that, and it gradually became my name."

Pei's mother said apologetically.

"I'm sorry, I..."

"Aunt, we poor kids are all like this, but I like your two lines of poetry, can you give them to me?"

Mother Pei smiled with relief.

"Of course you can. I'll let Luo'er write it to you later."

Chen Shiyi removed the quilt covering Pei's mother, and an indescribable smell swept over her. She touched the quilt and found it was completely wet.