Chapter Text
Three events happened in quick succession during the coldest winter of Shen Yuan’s (second) young life.
1. Shen Yuan was pushed into a cold pond.
A six year-old Shen Yuan babbled about the pros and cons of the Flesh Rendering Butterfly Koi that lived within the Qiu Estate pond. His older brother listened attentively while feigning interest in conversing with a young Qiu Haitang. As he listened to the child point out the difference in color patterns, his response time to her began to lag a noticeable degree.
Qiu Haitang, in a fit of childish jealousy over her fiancé’s split attention, shoved Shen Yuan face first into the ice covered pond. Shen Jiu yanked Qiu Haitang out of the way to dive in after him. His roughened grip on her collar happened to slightly fray her outer robe embroidery.
It was a barely noticeable offense. However, the Young Mistress scolded the soaking wet boys as they surfaced from the water. Shen Jiu blatantly ignored the repeated calls of “Stop right now! I’m going to tell A-Luo!” as he rushed his unconscious brother back to their joint quarters. This small incident would snowball into the second event.
2. Shen Yuan’s older brother burned down the Qiu Mansion.
Young Master Qiu came upon his beloved yet disgruntled little sister. Orders were swiftly given. Shen Yuan was delirious with fever when his brother was dragged from his bedside into the Young Master’s study. The door was barred.
The sun had eventually set and the night was eerily somber. Shen Yuan’s brain was busy being bombarded by images of fluorescent blue screens, black hair and blood, so much blood until Shen Jiu violently shook him awake. Shen Yuan couldn’t remain focused on his brother’s face when everything was splattered in crimson. When did his brother get a sword? His head was splitting apart at the seams.
“We’re leaving.”
The heat and acrid smoke had made it to the slave quarters. So had the screams. Shen Jiu strapped his sick brother to his back and took off into the night. Shen Yuan could barely protest. He could hardly keep his head up.
Memories flooded the child’s brain, unlocking information from another life. And while experience makes one wiser, inside the brain of a six-year old, it simply made one confused and nauseous.
If Shen Yuan was coherent, he would realize no one will be waiting this time to capitalize on the tragedy. The man called Wu Yanzi, who flirted with the Shen brothers’ freedom, said he would return in a week. That was two days ago.
The boys will have to stow away in the woods for the night. Try not to die of hypothermia. Put enough distance between themselves and a public execution in the morning. Shen Jiu will have to drag his hysterical brother (“You’re going to die! We’re going to die!”) through back alleys until a warm red light at the base of a familiar mountain let them in.
Shen Jiu will attend the Cang Qiong Mountain Sect disciple exams and leave Shen Yuan behind as collateral. He will spend his second childhood practicing the breathing techniques taught by Jiu-ge and aiding the Jiejies as an errand boy.
Liu Qingge will eventually break down the brothel’s hidden entrance to slide tackle his brother (“You’ll ruin your cultivation, you fiend!”) and twelve year old Shen Yuan will knock him out with a large pot to the back of the head (“It was an accident, Gege! I thought he was an angry drunk!”).
After rumors flood the sect of the newest Head Disciple Shen Qingqiu’s nighttime activities, Yue Qingyuan will follow him down the mountain. He will track his Shidi’s qi signature to a second story window and burst in to stop anything untoward.
Only to discover a very much alive Shen Yuan and receive a drink to the face from the surprised courtesan next to him (“This can’t keep happening, Jiu-ge! Do they skip over teaching manners at your Sect?”).
Their debts to the Warm Red Pavilion will be anonymously paid off (“I know that guilty bastard did it, Yuan-er. It is nothing of note.”) Shen Yuan will be brought to Qing Jing Peak after passing the exam a year later than his age mates. His brother will become Peak Lord soon after. He will dodge the nepotism allegations by shoving the Head Disciple title onto its rightful owner, Ming Fan. But that will come later. Right now, Shen Yuan knew one thing clearly.
3. Shen Yuan realized he was in the world’s worst harem game.