Xiaoxiao.

Chapter 195 became the scapegoat?

The once-spirited Ling Sheng always walked with his head held high and chest out, striding confidently through the bustling streets.

At this time, pedestrians on both sides of the road would always turn their heads and cast envious glances at him.

The elders would seize the opportunity to grab their younger relatives, point to Ling Sheng's figure, and begin to preach about how they should be as outstanding as Ling Sheng.

However, the situation has now changed dramatically.

Although passersby still whispered among themselves as he passed by, the look in their eyes no longer held any envy; instead, it was filled with deep hatred and even resentment.

The feeling of being hated by everyone was like a thorn in Ling Sheng's back, making him extremely uncomfortable, and the anger in his heart burned fiercely!

In Ling Sheng's view, no matter how horrific the "clearing" that night was, or how many people died or were injured, it had little to do with him.

Although he was also one of the perpetrators, he was truly filled with remorse, and all of this was done on the orders of the lord.

I have been strictly following the orders from beginning to end, and have not overstepped any boundaries.

Even with the order to "clear the area," he was merely faithfully relaying the lord's command.

As a subordinate, what's wrong with following the instructions of your superiors?

These ignorant civilians are utterly foolish!

Seeing the cold gazes of the crowd, Ling Sheng was filled with anger.

What angered him even more were the rumors that could ruin his reputation or even kill him, claiming he was merely following orders.

However, he was falsely accused of being a peerless demon who sacrificed his own people to prove himself to the lord.

In those comments, he not only acted arbitrarily, but also paved the way for himself with the blood of his compatriots in order to establish his authority as the supreme leader.

In all honesty, the position of Grand Commander was personally bestowed upon him by the Ancestor.

Those orders were all issued by the lord himself, so how come they've all become decisions he made on his own?

Filled with resentment and confusion, Ling Sheng continued to move forward with heavy steps.

When he arrived at the guard post, which was specially set up for the guards of the Zhu Guo Palace to rest and change shifts, and saw the reactions of his colleagues, his original anger turned into endless fear.

His colleagues, who used to swarm around him and fawn over him whenever they saw him, now all ignored his arrival without exception.

Not only that, but even when he takes the initiative to greet someone, he is completely ignored.

What terrified him even more was that the respect that used to fill the eyes of the people looking at him was gone, replaced by only cold indifference.

At this moment, he finally realized that he had been abandoned, not only by the masses who were unaware of the truth, but even by his comrades who had been with him day and night. At this moment, they all chose to sever ties with him.

These people's sudden break finally made him realize the seriousness of the situation.

If those uninformed people were misled, then these colleagues in front of me are doing it intentionally.

They were the parties involved that night, and it can be said that their attitudes directly determined the fate of Ling Sheng.

In Ling Sheng's vision, as long as his colleagues could truthfully explain the facts, these rampant rumors would not harm him in the slightest.

It was precisely for this reason that even when he saw the hateful gazes all over the streets, he did not lose his last hope.

But when his colleagues glared at him with the same hatred, he panicked completely.

He finally understood the look in his father's eyes as he was leaving. Ling Qi had long anticipated the reaction of Ling Sheng's colleagues.

Ironically, Ling Sheng, who is in the thick of it all, still can't see through it.

This is only natural, since among all kinds of relationships, the bond between soldiers is arguably the strongest and most reliable.

However, there is a prerequisite: everything is negotiable as long as the other party's life is not involved.

However, the clearing out of the area that night clearly angered the public.

If the guards were still standing with Ling Sheng at this moment, the result would inevitably be that they would all die without a burial place.

So, whether to stand with everyone or firmly support him, the outcome is obvious.

Having figured this out, Ling Sheng was finally afraid. He wanted to explain, but who would listen to him now?

"Yes, find the Ancestor. The Ancestor will definitely help me."

Just as he was placing all his hopes on Zhu Xian, Zhu Xian's imperial edict arrived.

He dared not delay in the slightest and hurriedly followed the attendant, running all the way to where the patriarch was.

When he finally stood before Zhu Xian and his gaze fell upon that familiar and kind face, all the emotions in his heart surged forth like a flood bursting its banks, and he could no longer suppress them.

His legs suddenly gave way, and he collapsed to his knees with a thud, tears streaming down his face as he sobbed uncontrollably.

The waiter standing nearby was completely stunned by his sudden action, staring wide-eyed and frozen in place, not knowing what to do for a moment.

Fortunately, Zhu Xian did not show much dissatisfaction with his loss of composure; she simply waved her hand slightly, signaling him to step back.

The attendant, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon, respectfully withdrew from the hall and gently closed the door, leaving only the two of them inside the Zhu Guo Hall.

Ling Sheng's heart-wrenching cries echoed continuously in the empty hall, sounding exceptionally tragic and clear.

Surprisingly, the usually stern Zhu Xian did not speak up to stop Ling Sheng, nor did he go forward to comfort the heartbroken Ling Sheng.

He sat there quietly, expressionless, watching Ling Sheng below the stage, who was crying his heart out.

He seemed like an outsider, his eyes showing not even the slightest emotional fluctuation.

Time passed minute by minute, as if a century had passed.

Finally, Ling Sheng poured out all the grievances and injustices she had suffered over the past few days through a torrent of tears.

After the torrent of tears gradually subsided, Ling Sheng's emotions calmed down, and she slowly recovered from her extreme grief.

"Ling Sheng has been disrespectful before the Ancestor, and deserves to die a thousand deaths. I beg the Ancestor to punish me severely!"

Ling Sheng sobbed as he spoke, his body trembling involuntarily from fear and sobbing.

He lowered his head, not daring to look directly at the majestic ancestor before him—Zhu Xian.

At this moment, Zhu Xian also stared intently at Ling Sheng, who was gradually recovering. In his deep eyes, a rare and subtle trace of care was revealed.

Yes, it's the kind of heartfelt, unreserved love that elders have for younger generations.

However, such warm emotions seem so out of place, even extremely strange, when they appear in Zhu Xian, who is known for his cold-bloodedness, ruthlessness, and selfishness.

But all of this actually happened.

"What? Do you feel you've suffered a great injustice? Is that why you're so heartbroken?"

When Ling Sheng heard the ancestor speak these words with such care, he had finally managed to stop crying, but in an instant, his tears flowed again like a burst dam, falling like pearls from a broken string.

"Ancestor, I was merely faithfully relaying your orders! But... but why does everyone regard me as a vicious and heinous criminal? What did I do wrong?"

Ling Sheng cried out in a hoarse voice, complaining bitterly.

Faced with Ling Sheng's heartbroken state, Zhu Xian showed no anger whatsoever. On the contrary, he unexpectedly became kind and amiable, a stark contrast to his usual cold and ruthless demeanor.

Zhu Xian then said to Ling Sheng earnestly, "My child, in this world, are so-called right and wrong really that important? In other words, do you really think your personal feelings are that important?"