Chapter 36

Yue Lingxiu had just arrived at Dou Mansion when he was invited to the area outside the front hall. He waited under the eaves gallery, and before long, Zhou Xianchen came out after receiving the news.

Yue Lingxiu thought Zhou Xianchen had some instructions, but the next moment, he saw another person following him—someone he had seen at the yamen. It was the heir of the Marquis Changqing’s household, now the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Cui Muzhi.

Yue Lingxiu saluted the two men, and Zhou Xianchen said, “Heir, this is our yamen’s forensic examiner, Yue Lingxiu, who determined Dou Yu’s cause of death.”

Cui Muzhi scrutinized Yue Lingxiu and said, “Your skills are excellent. We called you here today to ask you something—do you know about the concept of corpse stiffness after death?”

Upon hearing this, Yue Lingxiu respectfully answered, “I do, my lord. Corpse stiffness refers to the condition where the limbs and body become rigid after death—”

Cui Muzhi’s expression grew more solemn. “Speak in detail. When does this condition begin after death, and what factors can influence it? The more specific, the better.”

Yue Lingxiu didn’t know the reason behind the inquiry, but he dared not be careless. He cautiously began explaining, choosing his words with precision and speaking strictly to avoid displeasing the two gentlemen.

When he finished, Zhou Xianchen said, “Heir, it seems that the County Princess’s words earlier were correct.”

The mention of Qin Ying immediately made Yue Lingxiu perk up his ears. He observed that Cui Muzhi’s face darkened with growing intensity, his brows clouded. Cui Muzhi continued, “Even if her words are correct, she couldn’t have thought of them on her own.”

Zhou Xianchen hesitated and asked, “Could someone be guiding the County Princess behind the scenes?”

Cui Muzhi narrowed his eyes. “She’s been known for her unruly behavior in the past—even taking actors as her teachers. Is there anything she wouldn’t do? This time, she must have learned some investigative methods temporarily from someone. Instead of letting her make a show of herself before others, it might be more productive to find out if the person behind her is an official working in some yamen. If we identify this person, we might be able to make good use of them.”

Zhou Xianchen wasn’t like Cui Muzhi and didn’t dare probe into the County Princess’s private matters, so he awkwardly said, “But this is a private matter of the County Princess. As outsiders, it may not be appropriate for us to inquire too much. Besides, it is all for the sake of the case, and the County Princess indeed provided some help…”

Before Zhou Xianchen could finish speaking, Cui Muzhi said, “No need. This matter does not require Lord Zhou’s concern.”

Zhou Xianchen agreed outwardly, feeling a great sense of relief inwardly.

Listening to Cui Muzhi’s words, Yue Lingxiu recalled the scene where Qin Ying had taught him something that day. After thinking it over, he felt Qin Ying spoke of skills she already possessed rather than hastily learning and pretending to know. His lips moved slightly, and he wanted to defend Qin Ying with a few words. However, remembering Qin Ying’s instructions and his humble status, he ultimately didn’t dare to speak up.

At that moment, footsteps sounded from beyond the courtyard. Yue Lingxiu looked up and saw that Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying had returned.

Qin Ying immediately saw Yue Lingxiu too. Noticing that Cui Muzhi had indeed summoned Yue Lingxiu, her eyes revealed a trace of derision as she thought that if Cui Muzhi had so much time to watch her, he would be better off handling some tasks of the Ministry of Justice.

Xie Xinglan entered the house directly to report the investigation results, with Cui Muzhi and Zhou Xianchen heading inside to listen. Qin Ying stayed outside by the door and then walked to the eaves corridor to talk to Yue Lingxiu, asking, “Was it Lord Zhou who summoned you?”

Yue Lingxiu respectfully affirmed. Recalling what Cui Muzhi and Zhou Xianchen had said earlier, he quietly responded, “It seems they are verifying the rationale you mentioned about corpse stiffness to see if what you said is correct, and… also said that a skilled individual guides you. They wish to know who this person is.”

Qin Ying sighed and replied, “Never mind. Just answer whatever they ask.”

Yue Lingxiu naturally followed instructions. His lowly status made him accustomed to humility, but Qin Ying was the only one who didn’t treat him as inferior. The credit for identifying Dou Yu’s cause of death was entirely Qin Ying’s work. While Zhou Xianchen praised him greatly, Yue Lingxiu felt undeserving of such praise, especially since Qin Ying forbade him from revealing the truth. Silently, Yue Lingxiu stood beside Qin Ying, his gaze carrying a hint of gratitude.

Inside the hall, Xie Xinglan had already reported the investigation’s results. Dou Qiguang remarked, “Even so, it is still difficult to determine who harmed Yu’er.”

Xie Xinglan appeared thoughtful and quickly stated, “From this moment on, until Jinwu Guards uncover the truth, no one in residence shall take a single step outside the mansion—”

Such an order naturally sparked dissatisfaction among the Dou family. Dou Wenyun protested, “If you cannot find answers in three to five days, we may tolerate being confined for that long. But if it takes you a month or more, are we expected to remain in the mansion all that time?”

Xie Xinglan’s cold gaze swept across them. “Rest assured, it won’t take three to five days. Soon, you will all know who the true culprit is.”

With those words, he assigned Feng Xiao and Xie Yong to guard the mansion with the imperial guards and sent Xie Jian out. No one could guess his intentions. As he walked out, Qin Ying watched him in surprise. Xie Xinglan explained, “I’m leaving the mansion to investigate something. You stay here and wait.”

After speaking, he left. Qin Ying murmured, “What’s he going out to investigate now? Is he going to find Dou Ye and his son?”

Upon hearing the words “Dou Ye and his son,” Yue Lingxiu softly asked, “Is the County Princess referring to the fourth young master of the Dou family?”

Qin Ying turned her gaze to him. “Do you know him?”

Yue Lingxiu quickly shook his head. “I don’t know him personally, but I saw the fourth young master of the Dou family six months ago in a case…”

Qin Ying was a little surprised. “What case six months ago?”

Yue Lingxiu recalled, “It was a case of a girl who drowned herself in the river. The girl was a musician at Dou Family’s restaurant. She had been abandoned by her lover, jumped out of the second floor of the restaurant, and landed directly in the moat. She drowned there. At that time, some onlookers reported the incident, and it was Captain Zhao who brought me to the Dou Family’s restaurant to examine the body.”

Qin Ying frowned, raised her chin slightly, and signaled him to move further away. Once they reached the end of the eaves corridor, Qin Ying said, “Tell me about the situation that day.”

Yue Lingxiu promptly recalled in detail, “The girl’s name was Bihe. She was an orphan raised by a musician at the restaurant to become a performer. She was skilled in playing the zither and had an intimate relationship with a worker at the restaurant named Chang Nian. He had promised to marry her this spring, and the two had privately vowed to spend their lives together. But unexpectedly, Chang Nian’s mother looked down on performers and not only forbade him from marrying her but also made him quit his job at the restaurant and return home. Chang Nian left a letter and disappeared without saying goodbye. After reading the letter, Bihe was heartbroken and immediately jumped into the river.”

“I still remember that day. The girl jumped into the river in the morning, but Captain Zhao and I were handling other matters elsewhere. By the time we arrived at the restaurant, it was already evening. By then, her body had become stiff. After my examination, I found that she had indeed drowned. Captain Zhao also questioned witnesses in the building, and the case was thus closed. At the time of my examination, the Fourth Young Master of the Dou family was present. He’s the young proprietor of the restaurant, and since someone had died in the establishment, he personally came to oversee matters.”

Qin Ying’s pupils darkened slightly. “He was there while you were examining the body? What did you say at the time?”

Yue Lingxiu replied, “I mentioned that the girl’s abdomen was swollen, there was foam in her nose and mouth, and her conjunctiva showed signs of hemorrhaging—indicative of asphyxiation by drowning. At that time, her body had stiffened, and I also explained why it had become rigid.”

The more Qin Ying listened, the graver her expression became. When Yue Lingxiu finished his final sentence, her face sharpened with a sudden realization. Whatever crossed her mind, she immediately said to him, “Take me to the restaurant where the incident happened!”

Yue Lingxiu quickly responded in agreement. Qin Ying gave some instructions to Xie Yong, who stayed behind, and then left for the main gate with Shen Luo and Bai Yuan. Cui Muzhi and Zhou Xianchen had no idea what she was going to do, and seeing that Yue Lingxiu also followed along, they found it even stranger.

Zhou Xianchen hesitated and said, “Heir, it’s getting late. Should we return to the yamen?”

Cui Muzhi, his expression fluctuating, replied, “If Lord Zhou has duties to attend to, feel free to return to the yamen. I will stay here to see what they can uncover today.”

Hearing this, Zhou Xianchen could only force a laugh and say, “Then I will wait as well.”

While the two of them waited for news, Dou Qiguang also had no intention of resting. But by now, it was just past noon, and they ended up waiting until sunset. Xie Xinglan and Qin Ying were nowhere to be seen. Not to mention Cui Muzhi and Zhou Xianchen, even the Dou family members could no longer hold out.

Seeing Dou Qiguang struggling with his ailing body, Dou Wenyun said, “Father, your illness has not yet healed. You should rest in your room. When the news arrives, I will personally come to tell you—”

Dou Wenyuan also chimed in, “Yes, let me escort you back to your room, Father.”

Dou Wenyuan was about to call someone over, but Dou Qiguang interjected, “No need to trouble yourselves. If we don’t find out who plotted against Yu’er, I couldn’t sleep soundly even if I tried.”

As he spoke, his cloudy eyes swept over everyone in the room. When he looked at each person, it was as if he were judging whether they might be the true culprit behind Dou Yu’s murder. His gaze lingered particularly long on Dou Shuo and Dou Wenjia.

Dou Shuo sat upright and straight while Dou Wenjia’s expression remained utterly calm. The room was so silent that even the sound of a falling needle could be heard. Just as everyone else was holding their breath, a doorman rushed in from outside.

“Lord Xie has returned—”

The people in the room perked up immediately. Cui Muzhi and Zhou Xianchen also turned toward the doorway. Shortly after, Xie Xinglan strode in with the imperial guards. He entered the main hall of the Sijin Pavilion without a word, heading directly to the right-side alleyway. Before anyone could react, they heard Xie Xinglan and the imperial guards going upstairs.

The Dou family exchanged glances, and Dou Wenyuan asked suspiciously, “What is Lord Xie doing on the second floor?”

No one on the first floor could provide an answer. Upstairs, Xie Xinglan stood in an elegantly furnished tea room.

He pushed the two large lattice windows open, looking out at the scenery. Nearby, the floral grove was as brilliant as fiery clouds, while farther away, the bamboo grove appeared lush and verdant. Beyond the bamboo grove stood Hanguang Pavilion, where Dou Yu resided. Hanguang Pavilion faced south, and he was now directly facing the large window of its east wing.

Xie Xinglan surveyed the tea room. The room measured about ten square meters. In the center was a long tea table over a meter long, upon which a pristine Ru kiln celadon tea set sat without a speck of dust. High cabinets lined both walls. Xie Xinglan opened several of them casually. The southern cabinets were filled with tea sets and utensils, while the northern ones contained large cakes of tea leaves. Without saying a word, he meticulously searched every corner. When he reached the cabinet nearest the window lattice, his brows suddenly furrowed.

In the corner of the cabinet, amidst the fresh aroma of tea leaves, was a faintly pungent smell. When Xie Xinglan touched the area carefully, he found a tiny gray fragment the size of a sesame seed. Picking up the fragment, a cold glint flashed in his dark eyes.

After carefully storing the object, Xie Xinglan turned around and headed downstairs. While walking, he asked Xie Yong, “Where has the County Princess gone?”

As soon as he entered, he noticed Qin Ying was not present. He assumed that she might have gone to Hanguang Pavilion again. However, Xie Yong replied, “The County Princess went out with Bai Yuan and Shen Luo, as well as Coroner Yue from the Jingji Yamen.”

Xie Xinglan paused briefly, “Did she say what she would do?”

“No, she didn’t. Shortly after you left, the County Princess went out.”

The evening glow in the sky burned like fire, and it was already late. Where could Qin Ying have gone?

A shadow of gloom darkened Xie Xinglan’s face as he descended to the main hall. He then asked, “On the night of the twelfth, the Eldest Madam and Madam Wu had started preparing dinner with the servants early. Later, the Third and Fourth branches arrived. While waiting for the others, what were the people in the Sijin Pavilion doing?”

Xie Xinglan’s gaze swept over the room and landed directly on Dou Qiguang. Dou Qiguang pondered and said, “That night, when I arrived, they had just gotten here as well. Wenyao saw that I looked fatigued and came over to massage my shoulders. He also instructed Dou Huan and Dou Nan to show me the Scripture of the Medicine King they had copied earlier during the day…”

As Dou Qiguang spoke, Dou Wenyun sneered disdainfully from the side. Dou Qiguang paused briefly before continuing, “Dinner was already prepared, but a few people were still absent, so I wasn’t in a hurry to start. At that moment, Dou Ye noticed I wasn’t drinking the tea brought by the servants. Knowing I didn’t like the tea from that day, he said he would go upstairs to fetch some Dahongpao to brew a fresh cup for me. He—”

“How long did it take him to brew the tea?”

“Not long. There was no tea stove upstairs; he merely went up to get the tea. The tea room contains some high-quality tea, usually reserved for entertaining guests. Everyone knows that on occasion, they may take some for personal use without having to report to me, as long as they inform the servant on duty. He went up and came back in just a few moments. After that, Wenyao finished massaging my shoulders and went to the warm west pavilion. The fourth daughter-in-law was assisting with meal preparations while some of the younger generation went to the warm east pavilion. Wenbin and the third daughter-in-law remained seated and didn’t move.”

Xie Xinglan continued, “Did anyone else go to the second floor?”

Dou Qiguang shook his head, “Most likely not. After Dou Ye got the tea, he brewed it downstairs. I hadn’t even finished drinking that tea when we learned that Hanguang Pavilion had caught fire.”

After a brief pause, Xie Xinglan asked, “Were there guards on duty here during the day and evening?”

Dou Qiguang replied, “The door was kept closed. There would have been a servant on duty in the small room at the northwest corner. However, as the entire family only gathers here for dinner at night, there’s typically no one guarding this place during the day.”

Xie Xinglan then looked at Xie Yong, “Go find the servant and ask who visited the Sijin Pavilion during the day on the twelfth.”

Xie Yong acknowledged and left. Once he was gone, silence returned to the hall. Dou Qiguang couldn’t help but ask, “What has Lord Xie discovered? On the night of the fire, no one from the Sijin Pavilion left the building. Surely they couldn’t be suspects?”

Xie Xinglan remained tight-lipped, saying, “The claim that no one left the house might actually be a means for the murderer to mislead everyone.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xianchen glanced at Cui Muzhi. Sure enough, he saw Cui Muzhi closely watching Xie Xinglan as well.

Cui Muzhi asked, “So, have you identified the murderer?”

Xie Xinglan glanced at him, his face calm but unspeaking. Cui Muzhi felt slightly embarrassed but quickly composed himself. It had only been half a day; he refused to believe that Xie Xinglan had already found the murderer.

Not long after, Xie Yong returned. He leaned in to whisper a few words into Xie Xinglan’s ear. Xie Xinglan’s already dark gaze became even colder. The next moment, he signaled for Xie Yong to lean in again and instructed him on something further. Xie Yong’s eyes lit up, and he left with most of the guards, their lanterns resembling a fiery dragon as they headed toward the hall.

No one knew what Xie Xinglan had instructed Xie Yong to do. The group exchanged puzzled glances but refrained from asking. Xie Xinglan’s expression was one of stern aloofness, making it clear that he had no intention of revealing even a single word more.

At this moment, as nightfall begins, servants bring several bright lamps into the hall, making it as bright as day. Outside, however, the courtyard is dimly lit, and the lush trees sway in the night, adding an eerie and ghostly atmosphere. Xie Xinglan remains silent, his gaze fixed on the courtyard as if awaiting something.

The tension in the hall grows, spreading unease even among those with clear consciences. Yet, no one knows what Xie Xinglan is waiting for. After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, two figures finally emerge outside the courtyard. As they step into the yard, the crowd recognizes them as the father and son of the third branch of the family, Dou Wenbin and Dou Ye, who had been missing all day. Dou Wenbin walks quickly ahead while Dou Ye follows, his gaze subtly sweeping into the hall over Dou Wenbin’s shoulder.

Dou Wenbin speaks as he walks: “Today has been exceedingly busy. I apologize for the inconvenience caused to the honored officials. I heard from the gatekeeper that you need to ask further questions. Please feel free to ask anything. Ye’er and I will answer truthfully.”

As the two approach the corridor and are about to ascend the steps, Xie Xinglan, who has been standing silently in the hall, finally speaks. His voice is cold and commanding: “Seize them!”

Feng Xiao and Xie Jian, standing at the doorway, charge forward. Before Dou Wenbin and Dou Ye can react, they are restrained.

Shock fills the hall, and everyone rises in astonishment. Third Madam Jiang urgently asked, “What is the meaning of this, my lord?”

Dou Wenbin and Dou Ye, clearly pained by their rough treatment, protest. Dou Wenbin demands, “What is the meaning of this? Is it simply because we weren’t present in the residence today for questioning?”

Xie Xinglan steps out of the doorway and ascends the stairs. Standing tall, he glances at Dou Wenbin before turning his sharp gaze onto Dou Ye. “What is the meaning of this? That’s a question only he can answer—”

Dou Ye, a martial artist, stands straight despite his arms being pinned behind him, showing no sign of distress. He responds in confusion, “What is Lord Xie talking about? I don’t understand.”

Xie Xinglan’s gaze was as sharp as a blade. “You don’t understand? If you truly didn’t understand, then why did you deliberately break the bow that had been with you for years when you went hunting outside the city the day before yesterday?”

Dou Ye was momentarily stunned. “What broken bow?”

Seeing his reaction, Xie Xinglan’s tone became sharper. “That day, when we met you leaving the estate, you were clearly heading out to hunt. Yet when you returned, you came back empty-handed. At the time, I wasn’t aware that you had a bow you regularly used—until I led people to search your room. On the blank wall in the northern part of your western wing, I found the shadow of a curved bow.”

“If an item has been hung on a wall for many years, the area where it’s hung will naturally leave faint traces. I’ve already asked Pei Xi, and Pei Xi said your skills in archery and horseback riding are excellent. Yet on that hunting day, the bow that had been with you for many years inexplicably broke. You are an expert archer, capable of hitting a target from a hundred steps away, intimately familiar with bows and arrows. If the bow were so damaged that it broke as soon as it was drawn, how could you not have noticed?”

Xie Xinglan’s voice grew colder, carrying an imposing pressure. “You were guilty and trying to destroy the weapon that was used to set the fire.”

Dou Ye’s eyelids twitched, and the others in the room were equally baffled. Seeing her son being accused, Madam Jiang urgently interjected, “Lord Xie, Ye’er is a martial artist, and his archery and horseback riding skills are entirely normal. If the bow broke, then it broke. How could this be connected to a weapon used in arson? Are you suggesting that Ye’er plotted to harm Yu’er?”

Xie Xinglan stood outside the threshold as others also began to step out. Hearing Madam Jiang’s question, Xie Xinglan fixed his gaze on Dou Ye. “Even your mother knows you’re skilled with a bow and arrow, yet who would have thought you’d devise a way to use fire arrows to harm someone? On the night of the eleventh, you murdered Dou Yu. You knew that early the next morning, Zhishu would come to deliver breakfast. So, you returned to Hanguang Pavilion ahead of time, prepared the scene, hid inside, waited for Zhishu to leave, and then discarded Dou Yu’s breakfast—making it look like he had eaten it.”

“After returning to the courtyard, you slept for another half hour. By mid-morning, you rose with the servants, dined with your father, and then left the Dou residence. When you returned that evening, no one knew you had hidden a bow in the second-floor tea room.”

“I questioned the servant on duty that night. On the eleventh, after everyone had finished dinner and left, you returned, claiming you needed to fetch a fine tea cake from the second-floor tea room to gift someone. Given your frequent business dealings, the servant thought nothing of it. However, you wore a cloak to ward off the night chill—not to fetch tea, but to conceal the bow or crossbow you had hidden there earlier. After placing it in the tea room, you returned to your courtyard to rest. Once the servants were asleep, you took grape pastries to Dou Yu and poisoned him.”

Dou Ye listened to Xie Xinglan’s accusations, a mocking smile tugging at his tense face. “Is Lord Xie spinning tales? That night, I took the tea cake and gifted it to Manager Feng of Wan De Bank the next day. As for the bow or crossbow, it had indeed been damaged for some time. During the hunt, I encountered two deer and broke it with excessive force in my eagerness to compete.”

Dou Ye added bitterly, “I was quite upset at the time. Accidents happen—it wasn’t some meticulously planned scheme as you claim. Besides, using a bow or crossbow as a murder weapon is far-fetched.”

“That’s not far-fetched at all,” Xie Xinglan retorted coldly. “In the capital, where life is comfortable, few understand the power of fire arrows. But in the military, everyone knows their destructive potential. You, skilled in archery, can hit a target from a hundred paces on horseback. The tea room’s second-floor window faces the east wing of Hanguang Pavilion, separated by only a few dozen yards—a trivial distance for you.”

Xie Xinglan continued, his tone icy, “In the morning, you used a method to make Dou Yu appear alive, moving his incense burner to the east wing. His study was filled with lamps, and you spilled lamp oil on the floor. At night, all it took was a fire-tipped arrow to ignite the oil, with the heat from the incense burner fueling the flames. The fire spread uncontrollably.”

“You misled the servants by making Dou Yu’ stand,’ then used this remote fire-starting method to destroy the evidence. If not for County Princess Yunyang noticing discrepancies, Dou Yu’s death would have been ruled an accidental fire. You’re clever, but you still left a flaw.”

Dou Qiguang, supported by a steward, struck the ground with his cane in anguish. “Dou Ye, is what Lord Xie said true?”

Dou Ye’s expression turned cold. “Grandfather, do you believe an outsider over your own grandson? Lord Xie has said so much, but it’s all self-justification. Where is the evidence proving I harmed anyone? Am I to be accused simply for accidentally breaking my bow and taking a tea cake?”

Dou Qiguang, at a loss for words, turned to look at Xie Xinglan. At that moment, Xie Xinglan retrieved an item from his sleeve. “Your planning was meticulous, and you acted decisively, leaving little trace. But you weren’t careful enough. The tea cabinet where the tea cakes were stored, kept spotlessly clean by the servants, had a fragment of flint in the corner near the window. Whose flint could this be?”

Dou Ye’s straight posture stiffened slightly. Xie Xinglan continued, “In the military, fire arrows are made by wrapping arrowheads in cloth soaked with tung oil. You didn’t dare use the military method to start a fire, as a flaming arrow in flight would be too conspicuous. Yet, in that tea cabinet, there was a faint scent of tung oil. You only used a small amount, coupled with multiple pieces of flint, to ignite it. The arrowhead had just enough of a dim glow to go unnoticed as it flew by.”

Dou Ye’s voice tightened. “Even if flint was found, that doesn’t mean it’s mine. Lord Xie, are you framing me simply because you can’t find the real culprit?”

Xie Xinglan stared at him silently, and the others began to doubt as well, their eyes filled with uncertainty. However, just then, Xie Yong, returning hurriedly from Hanguang Pavilion, ran up the corridor.

His shoes and robes were covered in ash, his face smudged with soot, and his hands pitch black. In his palms, he held something. Before even reaching Xie Xinglan, he called out, “My lord, I found it! Just as you suspected, it wasn’t burned—”

Xie Yong, drenched in sweat, approached Xie Xinglan. Xie Xinglan glanced at his palm and picked up a thumb-sized, prismatic iron arrowhead. In a cold voice, he said, “If the flint wasn’t yours, then what about this arrowhead?”

Dou Ye’s pupils contracted, and his tightly pressed lips betrayed his inability to counter. Xie Xinglan narrowed his sharp eyes and continued, “I had suspected you might have used some other delayed technique, but I didn’t expect you to employ your greatest skill. However, you overlooked one thing: the bow you used requires arrowheads made of refined iron. An ordinary fire does not easily melt such arrowheads.”

Dou Ye clenched his jaw tightly but quickly responded, “Even if— even if I am the only one in this household skilled in martial arts, that doesn’t prove this belongs to me. Perhaps someone intentionally framed me! Besides… besides, I have no reason to harm Second Brother!”

“You do have a reason to harm him!”

Before Dou Ye could finish his words, Qin Ying’s voice echoed from beyond the courtyard. Her tone was cold and unwavering like she had been standing in the shadows for a long time. That area was unlit, and everyone had been so focused on Dou Ye that they hadn’t noticed her return. She strode into the courtyard, ignoring the astonished and uncertain gazes of those present. Fixing her eyes on Dou Ye, she said, “He knew you violated the family rules and started a disreputable business in the Dou family restaurant, so you had to kill him!”