The World Only has men [BL!] [Editing] [Hiatus]

70: The Man Was Kind But He Was Not Good

So, here it is:
 
 
Huan’s young face was a mask of sorrow. Even though he knew why his daddy made such a request, it was still painful to hear the words. He couldn’t help but feel resentful inside as well. Unconsciously, he clenched his fist and his mouth trembled open to speak but no words came out for a moment. He drew in a deep breath, unclenched his fist, and pasted a smile on his face.
 
“Daddy, we should be going home now,” he said. No one could tell from his voice or his manner that he had overheard Xiao Si’s rare words.
 
When the two were alone in the carriage, Huan asked the question burning in his heart.

"Daddy, did I do good today? Are you happy now that you and Gege are reunited?"

Xiao Si looked at him then smiled and nodded with a gentle smile. This didn't make Huan feel any better. He couldn’t help but feel even more resentful that his daddy favored Meng Yao so much but could barely even look at him.

"Daddy, now that I’ve helped you and Gege to reunite, do you think you could love me too?” The smile on Huan’s face couldn’t mask the desperate hope in his eyes.

Xiao Si looked at him blankly. His lips parted slightly but then he closed his mouth tightly. Xiao Si sighed and shook his head slightly. He took no joy in breaking the boy’s heart but he saw Chong Lin in the boy’s face and couldn’t bring himself to feel any warmth towards him. Huan looked away and blinked back tears. When he looked back, his smile was still in place. He hid his disappointment deep in his heart.
 

Meng Yao smiled at Jia Yi who had fallen asleep at the tea table. As he gently picked Jia Yi up, he let out a slight moan of protest but he didn’t wake up. Meng Yao chuckled softly and kissed his temple as he carried his pregnant wife to the bed. He carefully covered Jia Yi with a quilt and then crawled under the quilt himself to lie next to his wife and hug him tenderly.

"I love you, Jia Yi," he whispered tenderly in the other man’s ear.

Two days passed since the visit and Huan was burning with impatience. He felt the need to get to the bottom of things for himself. His daddy had left today to the imperial palace and now it was his opportunity to speak with his father privately. Huan felt it was unfair to just hear his daddy’s opinion without giving his father a chance to defend himself.

General Feng looked up from the documents on his desk at the sudden entrance of his son and smiled.

"Ah, A'Huan, you’re here! Is there a problem or do you want to go somewhere?" Chong Lin asked with a warm smile.

Huan only went opposite to his father then sat down on his legs and rested his hands on his thighs. The expression on his face was stern and solemn and Chong Lin’s smile faded as he realized Huan had something bothering him. Even so, he was shocked when Huan spoke again.

"Father, tell me: Did you lead Liang Huan and Dage (editor note: older brother) to jump off a cliff?" Huan asked his question directly and his disapproval was clear to see.

Chong Lin closed the scroll in his hands. His eyes blinked shut as an expression of pain, with the barest trace of guilt, flashed over his face so fast that Huan wasn’t quite sure he had actually seen it. When Chong Lin reopened his eyes, his expression was bland, revealing nothing of his thoughts or feelings.

"So your daddy told you," he said, his voice cold and unfeeling.

Huan was shocked. His father didn’t even try to deny or justify his actions!

"Father why?” he asked, all of his disbelief and disappointment clear in his voice. “I know you love daddy – don't you? How could you do that just because –"

"It was not because of Xiao Si!" Chong Lin banged the table with his hand in irritation. "Hmph! That man – always thinking everything is about him. I almost forgot how narcissistic he is."

Huan was silent for a while. He swallowed in an effort to moisten his dry mouth.

"If it wasn't because of daddy, then why?" He asked hesitantly.

"Isn't it obvious? It’s because of Liang Huan!" Chong Lin snarled with an expression of unrelenting hatred.

Huan still didn't understand. Didn't his father do those things because he was madly in love with his father? If not for love then… why?

General Feng leaned back slightly with an irritated snort as he observed his son's confusion.
 
"Well, you've made a wise decision to hear both sides of the story, Huan," Chong Lin praised even as he grumbled.

Huan looked up at him bewildered by the conflict between his father’s words and tone of voice.

"You've heard all the good things about the minister and his deeds, right? Xiao Si filled your head with how outstanding he was. He has filled your head with how intelligent, wise, and what a faithful man he was."

Chong Lin got up and from desk then walked around in the office to a shelf that was filled with scrolls.

"Liang Huan was a God to many. In the eyes of the blind, he was a kind man but I knew his true nature – I always did…" Chong Lin's voice was low and hoarse and filled with sorrow.

"Why?” the man cried out as Liang Huan’s men pinned him down. “Aren’t we brothers in arms? You drank with us, laughed and cried with us – was it all just lies?"

Liang Huan took a slow step towards the man. He stared at him and then stooped down to grab him by his ear. He looked straight into his eyes with pure indifference, not seeming to notice the battered and bruised face.

"Honestly speaking, yes, I've never cared about you people. My loyalty lies with my emperor. All of you are bugs that that can be crushed underfoot at any moment. As soon as you betrayed the Emperor for our enemy, you should have expected me to deal with you.”
 
The lack of emotion in Liang Huan’s face and voice was somehow more frightening than if he had yelled and screamed. Chong Lin, standing quietly to one side, watched Liang Huan as he drew his sword to sever the head of the general himself.
 
Edited by Relendria