Old partner one scolded is free of blame (10)
I believe the answer is:
exonerated
'free of blame' is the definition.
(to exonerate is to free from blame)
'old partner one scolded' is the wordplay.
'old partner' becomes 'ex' (an ex-partner).
'scolded' becomes 'rated' (rate can mean to scold harshly).
'ex'+'one'+'rated'='EXONERATED'
'is' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for exonerated that I've seen before include "justified?" , "Acquitted" .)