Shui Family Ancestral Hall.
Shui Xingqiu knelt on the cushion, keeping calm.
Tuoba Shan had originally planned to confine him in the palace, but after the Shui family repeatedly petitioned him, he released him and ordered him to reflect on his mistakes behind closed doors.
However, although Shui Xingqiu was under house arrest, he had sufficient confidence that he would be released today.
Those people want him dead, but it's not that easy.
He has come this far not by luck, but by his painstaking planning.
Shui Xingqiu looked up at the tablets of the many ancestors of the Shui family placed on the altar. These were the inheritance of the Shui family from generation to generation.
With such a powerful background, even if Tuoba Shan wanted to tear him into pieces, he would have to think twice.
Finally, hurried footsteps were heard outside, and Shui Xingqiu's lips curled up into a confident smile.
But the next moment, his smile froze on his face.
"Master! The king summons you to the palace!" The servant came in hurriedly, but the message he conveyed was not what Shui Xingqiu expected.
Shui Xingqiu vaguely felt that something was not right.
According to the previous plan, after many court officials argued endlessly today, Tuoba Shan should have ordered the lifting of his house arrest.
It would be enough to just send an imperial edict, why would he be summoned into the palace?
"Got it. I'll go right away."
Shui Xingqiu slowly stood up. Having consumed very little water and dry food for several days, he became increasingly thin, as if he would fall over if the wind blew.
But only in this way can he demonstrate his sincerity in confessing his sins.
Along the way, countless guesses flashed through Shui Xingqiu's mind. He also tried several times to get something out of the palace servants who came to "invite" him, but unfortunately the other party was very tight-lipped and his inquiries were fruitless, so Shui Xingqiu simply gave up.
In this way, we arrived at the main hall.
Tuoba Shan sat at the top, with the ministers on both sides.
"The head of the Shui family has arrived—"
For a moment, everyone's eyes turned back and focused on Shui Xingqiu.
Shui Xingqiu's uneasiness became increasingly clear, but he remained expressionless as he stepped forward and saluted.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
Tuoba Shan looked down at him coldly.
wrong.
Something must be wrong.
Shui Xingqiu lowered his head. He had been to this place countless times, but never before had it been like this—tense, serious, and cold!
What exactly happened?
He had clearly made arrangements, uniting all the families—
"Shui Xingqiu, here's a letter I don't quite understand. How about you explain it to me?"
As Tuoba Shan was speaking, a palace maid had already delivered a letter to Shui Xingqiu.
He couldn't help but look at it.
Shui Xingqiu was completely puzzled, but he didn't dare to ask any more questions, so he could only reply, "Yes."
After saying that, he took it with both hands and opened the letter.
But when he saw the words on it, his expression changed drastically!
He raised his head suddenly, his voice trembling slightly with shock, anger, and fear. "Your Majesty! Where did this letter come from?"
Tuoba Shan narrowed his eyes and said, "You don't have to worry about these things. Just explain every word to me."
Every word was calm and peaceful, but it was like a heavy stone pressing on Shui Xingqiu's heart!
Just because...
This is a secret letter of complaint!
The higher-ups had actually accused him of treason, saying he'd teamed up with the Fourth Prince, Xiao Chenglin! He'd used poison to secure the throne for the Fourth Prince. After his success, the Fourth Prince promised to help Shui Xingqiu further defeat the other Nanhu clans, eliminating numerous threats and even... helping him advance further!
"Ridiculous!" Shui Xingqiu's forehead veins bulged. "Someone is deliberately framing me! Your Majesty! I am loyal to the Southern Hu, as heaven and earth bear witness! How could I commit such a crime of treason?!"
As he spoke, he looked at the letter again and again, trying to decipher the handwriting, but unfortunately he couldn't.
However, every word on it was like a sharp sword stabbing at him!
Tuoba Shan remained silent.
Suddenly, a minister on the side sneered and mocked.
"False accusation? Master Shui, do you dare to say that you really have nothing to do with Xiao Chenglin? It is said that their third princess died from a poisonous insect!"
Shui Xingqiu was suddenly speechless.
He and Xiao Chenglin did have contact, but his purpose was definitely not what was said in the letter!
"That's right! The officials who came to the capital with us all said that when the Shui family leader was in the capital, he left early and returned late every day, and even delayed Prince Su's illness. This is clearly your first time there. If you didn't have acquaintances, how could you be out every day? Who knows what you are busy with?"
"Why would you have such close contact with their princess and prince?"
"Hmph, it was you who single-handedly instigated Prince Su in the first place. Later, after Prince Su died, you contrived every possible means to persuade His Majesty to dispatch troops, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of soldiers at Pingshui Bay! Shui Xingqiu! With all this going on, do you dare to say—you have no selfish motives?!"
"He could even kill his own family, so why should it be surprising that he would kill others?"
"Shui Xingqiu was abandoned since childhood and has suffered immensely. He harbors deep resentment! He's capable of anything! Shui Xingqiu, could it be that you still intend to harm the monarch?!"
Countless accusations came one after another, and even those who originally wanted to speak up for Shui Xingqiu kept their mouths shut.
"I--!"
Shui Xingqiu looked around and found that he had nothing to refute!
He did have contact with Xiao Chenglin, and he did help Xiao Chenglin, but not for something like this!
Tuoba Shan looked at him coldly, murderous intent already evident in his heart.
He questioned coldly, word by word.
"Since I ascended the throne, I have always treated the Shui family with kindness. I had no idea that you had harbored ulterior motives!"
The flow of water in autumn is like falling into an ice cave.
——Who wants to harm him?!
…
Crossing the state.
At the training ground, Princess Qinyang finished her training, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and walked towards Xun Cheng beside her.
"It looks like your leg has gotten much better?" Princess Qinyang raised an eyebrow. "It seems this trip to the capital was not in vain."
Xun Cheng smiled and nodded, "Yeah. I've come all this way, I have to do something."
Long Jiu just came back, looking slightly excited, "Master, water..."
Only when he saw Princess Qinyang standing beside him did he fall silent.
Princess Qinyang had excellent hearing and heard the word he said.
"But is there any news from Nanhu?" she asked in a crisp voice.
After spending so much time with Xun Cheng, she was used to him always getting the news first, so she was not surprised at this time.
Long Jiu glanced at Xun Cheng, who nodded frankly, "That should be the case. If I'm not mistaken, the Shui family should have made some moves today. After all, Shui Xingqiu has been imprisoned for quite some time."
"real?"
Princess Qinyang blinked, then suddenly leaned forward and moved closer to Xun Cheng.
"Hey, has anyone ever told you that you look a bit like Shui Xingqiu?" (End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
