Qi Jianyuan was dead, and Qi Xuansu had been the first to discover his body. Even though the Acting Palace Master had already made his judgment and the culprit’s corpse had also been found, rumors still spread.0

Some suspected that Qi Xuansu was involved, as it was well-known that he and Qi Jianyuan held personal grudges. The two had even fought openly by Xingye Lake, their duel witnessed by many during the Zhongyuan Festival.0

The deceased female instructor was labeled a cultist from a secret society, but no concrete evidence had been publicly disclosed. Or rather, if there was evidence, it had not been revealed for various reasons.0

Thus, rumors claiming that this was a crime of passion emerged, and the stories were quite vivid. It was said that Qi Jianyuan and the female instructor were lovers. Having reached marriageable age and being older, the female instructor was eager to settle down, while Qi Jianyuan, with his bright future and youthful ambition, was unwilling to marry so soon.1

She allegedly pressured him repeatedly about this matter. This meeting had been to discuss marriage. However, their conversation took a turn for the worse. In a fit of rage, the two...0