Hou Ye's palm heart is a black lotus

Chapter 807 A Capital Offense (First Update)
Shui Family Ancestral Hall.

Shui Xingqiu knelt on the futon, his expression calm.

Tuoba Shan had originally intended to confine him in the palace, but after the Shui family repeatedly petitioned him, he released him and ordered him to stay here and reflect on his mistakes.

However, despite being under house arrest, Shui Xingqiu is confident that he will be released today.

Those people want him dead? Not so easy.

He got to where he is today not by luck, but by his painstaking planning.

Shui Xingqiu looked up at the many ancestral tablets of the Shui family placed on the altar, which were the inheritance of the Shui family for generations.

With such a powerful foundation, even if Tuoba Shan wanted to tear him to pieces, he would have to think twice.

Finally, hurried footsteps came from outside, and Shui Xingqiu's lips curled into a confident smile.

But the next moment, his smile froze on his face.

"Master! The King summons you to the palace!" A servant rushed in, but the message he conveyed was not what Shui Xingqiu had expected.

Shui Xingqiu sensed that something was amiss.

According to the previous plan, after the many court officials argued endlessly today, Tuoba Shan should have ordered the lifting of his confinement.

Why summon him to the palace when all that is needed is an imperial edict?
"I know, I'll go right away."

Shui Xingqiu slowly stood up. For several days, he had only consumed very little water and dry food each day, and his figure had become increasingly thin, as if he would be blown away by the wind.

Only in this way can his sincerity in admitting his guilt be demonstrated.

Along the way, countless guesses flashed through Shui Xingqiu's mind. He also tried several times to get some information from the palace servants who came to "invite" him, but they were tight-lipped and he couldn't get any information, so he simply gave up.

And so they made their way to the main hall of the palace.

Tuoba Shan sat at the head of the table, with his ministers lined up on either side.

"Master Shui has arrived—"

In an instant, everyone turned around and focused their attention on Shui Xingqiu.

Shui Xingqiu's unease grew clearer, but he remained outwardly calm and stepped forward to bow.

"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 felt so tense, serious, and cold!
What exactly happened?
He had clearly made arrangements, uniting everyone—

"Shui Xingqiu, here is a letter that I don't quite understand. Why don't you explain it to me?"

As Tuoba Shan spoke, a palace servant delivered a letter to Shui Xingqiu.

He couldn't afford not to look.

Shui Xingqiu was puzzled, but dared not ask any further questions, and could only reply, "Yes."

After saying that, he took the letter with both hands and opened it.

But when he saw the words on it, his expression changed drastically!
He looked up abruptly, his voice trembling slightly with shock, anger, and fear. "Your Majesty! Where...where did this letter come from?"

Tuoba Shan narrowed his eyes. "You don't need to worry about these things. Just explain them to me word by word."

Each word, though seemingly calm, weighed heavily on Shui Xingqiu's heart like a thousand-pound stone!

Because... this is a confidential whistleblower letter!
The authorities have accused him of treason and collusion with the enemy, claiming that he had joined forces with the Fourth Prince, Xiao Chenglin! He used his Gu poison technique to help the Fourth Prince seize the throne. In return, the Fourth Prince would help Shui Xingqiu further eliminate other powerful families in the Southern Barbarian lands, removing many threats, and even... help him advance even further!
"Absurd!" Veins bulged on Shui Xingqiu's forehead. "This is a deliberate frame-up! Your Majesty! I am utterly loyal to the Southern Hu, as Heaven and Earth can attest! How could I have committed such a treasonous crime!?"

As he spoke, he looked at the letter repeatedly, trying to decipher the handwriting, but unfortunately he couldn't.

Every word on it felt like a sharp sword piercing him!

Tuoba Shan remained silent.

Suddenly, a courtier sneered and mocked.

"Slander? Patriarch Shui, do you dare say you really have no connection whatsoever with that Xiao Chenglin? It's said that their Third Princess died from Gu poison!"

Shui Xingqiu was speechless.

He did have dealings with Xiao Chenglin, but his purpose was definitely not what was stated in the letter!

“That’s right! The officials who came to the capital with you all said that when the Shui family head was in the capital, he went out early and returned late every day, which even delayed Prince Su’s illness. You are clearly going for the first time. If you didn’t have someone you knew, why would you go out every day? Who knows what you’re busy with?”

"Why would you have such close contact with their princess and prince out of the blue?"

"Hmph, it was you who instigated Prince Su back then, and after Prince Su died, you tried every means to persuade His Majesty to send troops, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of soldiers at Ping Shui Bay! Shui Xingqiu! After all this, do you dare to say—you had no selfish motives!?"

"He can wipe out his own family, so what's so strange about him killing other people ruthlessly?"

“Shui Xingqiu was abandoned at a young age and suffered a lot, harboring deep resentment! He's capable of anything! Shui Xingqiu, do you perhaps intend to harm the king?!”

Countless accusations came pouring in, and even those who originally wanted to speak up for Shui Xingqiu all kept their mouths shut.

"I--!"

Shui Xingqiu looked around and found himself speechless!
He did have contact with Xiao Chenglin, and he did help Xiao Chenglin, but it wasn't for this reason!

Tuoba Shan stared at him coldly, his killing intent already evident in his heart.

He questioned her coldly, word by word.

"Since I ascended the throne, I have always treated the Shui family well, yet I was unaware that you harbored treacherous intentions!"

Shui Xingqiu felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

Who exactly wants to harm him?!

……

Duzhou.

After finishing her training at the training ground, Princess Qinyang wiped the fine sweat from her forehead and walked towards Xun Cheng, who was standing to the side.

"It seems your leg is much better?" Princess Qinyang raised an eyebrow. "It seems your trip to the capital wasn't in vain."

Xun Cheng smiled and nodded, "Yes. We've come all this way, we should do something about it."

Long Jiu returned just then, his expression subtly excited, "Young Master, water..."

Upon seeing Princess Qinyang standing to the side, he fell silent.

Princess Qinyang, however, had exceptional hearing and heard the word he uttered.

"But is there news from Nanhu again?" she asked in a clear voice.

Having spent a long time with Xun Cheng, she had become accustomed to him always getting the news first, so she wasn't surprised at this moment.

Long Jiu glanced at Xun Cheng, who nodded frankly, "Probably. 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."

"Really?"

Princess Qinyang blinked, then suddenly leaned forward, getting close to Xun Cheng.
"Hey, has anyone ever told you that you look a bit like Shui Xingqiu?"