The silver handed over by Liao Shi was white and shiny, which was in sharp contrast with her hands that had been worked for many years.

When the leader saw this, he squinted his eyes first, and then said with a smile, “Your silver is very clean, not like the usual black ones.”

“Liao Shi loves to be clean. She really can’t see these things, let alone the silver. Yes, even a penny of copper coins is washed and polished by her.” Gui Shi praised from the side.

Liao Shi was a little embarrassed by the praise, “It’s just that I can’t see dirty things, and I’m used to it.”

“I see.” The man pursed his lips, “The courtyard is in a good location and the place is spacious. Aunt Liao lives alone?”

“Just now, didn’t I mention that Liao Meizi and her son, Ren Xiucai, used to live here together? Ren Xiucai studied diligently and had talent. He passed the county-level examination and will be taking the imperial examination next year.”

Yes, “Liao Shi” can be used instead of “Liao Meizi.” Here’s the adjusted sentence:

“Originally, Ren Xiucai was filial. With the monthly stipend from the government plus the money he earned from copying books, he could provide Liao Shi with a considerable amount of money. Liao Shi didn’t need to work. However, she thought about the expenses Ren Xiucai would have for his future examinations and wanted to earn some extra money, which could be considered her way of showing her care for her child.”

“In this way…” The man nodded, “No wonder Aunt Liao has so much money. It turns out that she has a sensible and filial child, but it is a pity.”

These words were a bit inexplicable, and Gui Shi was a little startled.

Liao Shi was also stunned for a moment.

“Aunt Liao knows Zhang Huaihua, right?” the man asked with squinted eyes.

Liao Shi paused for a moment, then opened her mouth to answer, “I know her. She lives in the alley next door. She used to be a shāobǐng seller, but because she was young and ignorant, she made a mistake…”

“Does Aunt Liao know Shen Cang and Meng Dahai?” “The man interrupted Liao Shi.

“No, I don’t know them.” Liao Shi denied it.

Her tone was a bit urgent, and even her face showed a bit of panic.

“You really don’t know them?” The man took out the sign from his waist, “To be honest, I am not the steward of some village in the west of the city, but the chief arrester of the county government. I came here on the orders of the county magistrate to investigate the case. Now that it is on your head, you’d better tell the truth obediently.”

“The civilian woman really doesn’t know Shen Cang and Meng Dahai.”

Liao Shi’s face turned as white as paper; “As a common woman, I have always been law-abiding and kept to myself, living a simple life. I live alone and usually only go out to buy groceries and occasionally chat with neighbors. How could I know such ruffians?”

“I never mentioned what these two individuals do for a living. How did you know they are ruffians? Since you don’t know them, how can you say they behave recklessly in their daily lives?”

As soon as the arrester’s questioning words came out, Liao Shi’s legs were shaking so much that she could not stand, and she collapsed, sitting on the ground.

“If you won’t drink the toast, you’ll drink the penalty wine. When you get to the yamen, it won’t be as easy to tell the truth!” The constable waved his hand. “Take her away!”

A few plainclothes constables hurried forward behind him and lifted the stunned Liao Shi, who was as still as a statue, dragging her towards the yamen.

The catcher followed behind.

Gui Shi was left in a daze, and it took her a while to come to her senses and stumbled back to her home.

The news that Liao Shi was taken away by the Yamen spread throughout the alley within half a day.

“Why was Aunt Liao taken away by the Yamen when she is so good?”

“I heard from Aunt Gui that when the Yamen went there, they asked Aunt Liao if she knew Zhang Huaihua, Shen Cang, and Meng Dahai.”

“Isn’t Zhang Huaihua the one who poisoned the food at the Su Jia? And aren’t Shen Cang and Meng Dahai the ones who tried to abduct Miss Su but mistakenly abducted Qingkui instead and ended up being beaten into pigs?”

“If that’s the case, I heard that these three people all said that someone else gave them money to instruct them to do what they did. Could it be that the person who instigated them was Aunt Liao?”

“No, Aunt Liao usually looks kind and calm. Why did she want to be so cruel to Miss Su?”

“That’s right, I haven’t heard of any quarrels between Aunt Liao and Miss Su. How can these two people who are so incompatible with each other also have grudges?”

“Everything is unpredictable. Maybe there is something we don’t know.”

“Hey, I’m just thinking, Auntie Liao’s son, Ren Jianbo, isn’t young anymore, and he hasn’t married yet. And Auntie Liao seems to hold a grudge against Miss Su. Could it be because Ren Jianbo has feelings for Miss Su, but Auntie Liao disapproves, and that’s why…”

“Auntie Liao must have lost her mind. Miss Su is not only beautiful, but she also has money. She’s quite skilled in business. I heard that the tavern Miss Su acquired will be opening next month. It’s hard to find a daughter-in-law like her even if you search with a lantern. Why would she reject her?”

“That is to say, she is not satisfied!”

“Hey hey hey, don’t just make assumptions. I’ve never seen Ren Xiucai talking to Miss Su, and neither of them has visited each other’s homes. They’re both young people who haven’t settled their marriage yet. Don’t let rumors ruin their marriage prospects. That would be your fault.”

“Yes, yes, you can’t talk nonsense…”

Such words reached Su Yujin’s ears in the evening.

Su Yujin was not surprised that Liao Shi was arrested.

As for why she was not surprised, she herself was not very clear.

Maybe it was because Liao Shi’s eyes were wrong when she came to borrow the rolling pin that day?

On the second day, someone came from the Yamen, saying that they were trying Liao Shi’s case, and asked Su Yujin, the person involved, to come to the Yamen to witness.

The case proceeded according to the procedures of the yamen at that time. County magistrate Ye Yongwang questioned the parties involved, while someone recorded their testimonies. Both sides signed and stamped their statements, and then Ye Yongwang issued the final judgment.

Because Liao Shi was imprisoned the night before and was briefly questioned, she confessed to instigating Zhang Huaihua, Shen Cang, and Meng Dahai to target Su Yujin.

When asked for the reason, she said that she once had a daughter who died in infancy, and Su Yujin looked slightly similar to her.

When she thought that her daughter died early and could not survive in this world, but Su Yujin could live such a relaxed and comfortable life, her heart was filled with hatred. She felt that it was Su Yujin who had taken away her daughter’s life, so she wanted Su Yujin ruined and even wanted to drive her out of Qinghe County.

This reason seemed far-fetched to Ye Yongwang.

But no matter how he tortured her, Liao Shi’s reply was still the same and nothing else.

Moreover, Liao Shi had confessed her crime at this time, and Ye Yongwang also summoned Shen Cang and Meng Dahai, who were still in prison at this time. Hearing her voice, the two of them identified Liao Shi as the woman. As for whether this was the reason, it remained to be seen. It was not that important.

After Ye Yongwang hesitated for a moment, he patted the gavel at hand and said, “Dismissed!”

“Thank you, Lord Ye, for upholding justice for the women of the people.” Su Yujin knelt down and saluted.

The news that Liao Shi ordered someone to commit a murder and was sentenced to exile once again spread throughout the alley, and even throughout Qinghe County in the next few days.

(end of this chapter)

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