Chapter 188: Testifying
Early the next morning, Zhang Pandi returned from outside, handed the newly purchased eggs to Chunni, and jogged to the backyard to find Su Yaoguang, who was trimming flowers in the courtyard.
"Yaoguang, something happened."
Su Yaoguang dreaded hearing those three words the most now.
"Second Aunt, what happened?" Su Yaoguang noticed that Zhang Pandi didn’t seem too tense, thinking it shouldn’t be anything too serious, otherwise, she wouldn’t be so calm.
"That young master from Jinle Square is being wanted by the government!" Zhang Pandi said, "Seems like he committed murder."
Su Yaoguang was startled: "Who did he kill?"
"I don’t know either, just heard the government is looking for him. I thought since he’s hiding here, what if the government thinks we’re harboring a criminal and we get implicated?"
Su Yaoguang said, "I’ll go ask him. Second Aunt, don’t worry. Even if he did commit murder, we’re unaware of it, Lord Chen wouldn’t arrest someone indiscriminately."
"If he did murder someone, and you ask him, wouldn’t he kill you too?"
Su Yaoguang picked up a stone from the ground, clenched it in her hand, and when she opened her palm again, the stone had turned to powder.
"Can he do that?"
Zhang Pandi chuckled: "Indeed, our Yaoguang is more formidable than men. But you still have to be careful."
"I know."
Su Yaoguang headed to the guest room, knocked on the door, and asked, "Can I come in?"
"Please, come in."
Su Yaoguang raised an eyebrow at this awkward phrase.
How rare! The young master actually used the word ’please’, seems like saving him last night wasn’t in vain.
Su Yaoguang pushed the door open.
Cui Rong was already awake, but he was just sitting on the bed, not moving.
"Since you’re awake, why not go home?" Su Yaoguang sat on a nearby chair, observing Cui Rong’s expression, "You didn’t commit murder, right?"
Cui Rong stared straight at her: "What nonsense are you talking about?"
"You didn’t kill anyone?" Su Yaoguang asked.
Cui Rong, looking grim: "Of course not. Why would I go around killing people? I’ve never even killed a fish, let alone a person."
"If so, then why is the government looking for you, saying you committed murder?" Su Yaoguang asked.
"Who died? Whom did I kill?"
"I don’t know. My Second Aunt went out to buy groceries and heard the government is looking for you, claiming you murdered someone. If you don’t show up soon, the government might issue a warrant for your arrest."
Cui Rong hastily got out of the bed.
In his hurry, he disturbed his wound. The already bandaged wound started bleeding again.
"Don’t move around. I’ll go find Jing’er."
"No need, I’ll just re-bandage it myself." Cui Rong replied with a pale face, "You saved me, I’m not ungrateful. I’ll remember this favor."
"You’re injured like this, should I send someone to escort you home?"
Cui Rong coldly chuckled, "You’re afraid I’ll escape, aren’t you? Don’t worry, I didn’t kill anyone, there’s no need to flee. Besides, it’s one thing to escape, but disgracing the Cui family is another level."
Su Yaoguang retorted, "Ungrateful, can’t be bothered with you."
"Um... thank you." Cui Rong turned his head. "You should leave, I need to re-bandage my wound."
Su Yaoguang came out from Cui Rong’s room and just reached the front courtyard when she saw Chief Qian leading a search party inquiring about Cui Rong’s whereabouts in the shop.
"Chief Qian, a word, please."
Chief Qian followed Su Yaoguang to a corner: "Boss Su, what’s the matter?"
Su Yaoguang lowered her voice, "What did Young Master Cui do?"
"Last night, Purchasing Envoy Gong was found dead. People from the theatrical troupe said they saw Young Master Cui with four purchasing envoys attending a performance. The other envoys left early, leaving only Young Master Cui and Purchasing Envoy Gong. They had a quarrel, and after that, Young Master Cui was missing, and someone found Purchasing Envoy Gong dead in a box room."
"Young Master Cui shouldn’t be capable of something so drastic. Isn’t this a misunderstanding?"
"Whether it’s a misunderstanding or not, we can’t be the judges. It depends on the evidence. For now, he’s the most suspicious, so we need to find him first."
"He’s in our home," Su Yaoguang said. "I brought him back last night."
"Ah?" Chief Qian looked at her in surprise.
Su Yaoguang briefly recounted how she brought back Cui Rong and his condition at the time.
"That’s all I know. As for the rest, you need to investigate. I asked him just now, and he said he didn’t kill anyone. But he’s injured, and is re-bandaging his wound. Once he’s done, he should be able to cooperate with your investigation."
"If you need to testify, would you be willing to come forward?"
"Yes, I can attest to what I saw."
"Boss Su, you’re straightforward." Chief Qian said, "As far as I know, the young master from Jinle Square is temperamental and not easy to get along with, and there’s some bad blood between your Taoyao Square and him. In this situation, you still chose to shelter him, proving your heart is more generous than most men. I’d like to be friends with you."
Su Yaoguang took a bottle of face cream from a nearby shelf and handed it to Chief Qian, "Brother Qian is a straightforward person, and I enjoy making friends with straightforward people. This is for your wife; it’s not something rare, but if she likes it, I’ll give her a discount next time."
Cui Rong happened to come out, saw Chief Qian and Su Yaoguang talking, and slowly walked over, "I didn’t kill anyone. I’m willing to cooperate with your investigation, let’s go!"
Chief Qian took Cui Rong away.
The store attendants were talking about Purchasing Envoy Gong’s death at the theatrical troupe.
"It was really gruesome, hands and feet were severed, and his tongue was cut out. If it weren’t for deep hatred, no one would be this cruel."
"That young gentleman named Cui doesn’t have the guts. I don’t think it was him. But, someone saw Purchasing Envoy Gong getting handsy with him, so maybe that young master suffered a lot too. No matter how rich the Cui family is, what good is it if a eunuch in the palace harbors ill intentions for their heir? Alas, merchants are lowly, being an official is better."
In the afternoon, Chief Qian approached again, this time to ask her to testify.
She needed to confirm the time when she met Cui Rong, and that he never left the Su home afterward. From the sound of it, the time of Purchasing Envoy Gong’s death coincided with when Su Yaoguang met Cui Rong. As long as Su Yaoguang testified for Cui Rong, it could clear his suspicion.
Su Yaoguang went to the court to make an alibi for Cui Rong.
When Su Yaoguang appeared, Cui Rong’s expression was especially complicated. He clearly didn’t expect Su Yaoguang to agree to appear in court, as it was a hassle for her.
Not only did Su Yaoguang appear in court, but she also meticulously detailed the time she met Cui Rong and his condition at that time.
Though the murderer was not found, Su Yaoguang’s testimony was enough to prove Cui Rong was not the killer. When Cui Rong was released on the spot, the Shopkeeper of the Cui family wanted to invite Su Yaoguang for a meal in thanks.
"No need." Su Yaoguang said, "Though your young master is temporarily cleared of suspicion, until the murderer is found, it will still affect his reputation. You should handle this matter well to avoid further complications."