Chapter Text
Shen Qingqiu waved his fan, as he sat in the main entertainment area, where the stage was being prepared.
Eight ladies stood with their hands raised, dressed in silk greens with jade crowns on their heads. Liu Rushi sat by the side, pretending she wasn't looking while dressed in men's clothes.
There were murmurs at her appearance.
The Eight Beauties of Qinhuai (though they were one down with Liu Rushi on stage) chittered and giggled around him, sitting close as one leaned in his ear and said, "Yuan-er will be performing. Please see how hard he has been practicing."
Shen Qingqiu nodded, as the music started and the eight women began to dance.
They danced to the music, delicate and practiced, with their sleeves swishing and their movements graceful.
Shen Qingqiu strained to find Shen Yuan, but the boy wasn't any of the eight dancing.
The music began to slow, before there were several chimes.
And then the eight women split and Liu Rushi moved away, just as the screen behind them rose, revealing another person, dressed in white and pale rose.
They had crimson wings painted on their eyelids, and a crown on their head, with their black hair tied up.
They twirled, dancing on their toes before they finished with the splits, and then stood up to start dancing again.
Shen Qingqiu's mouth dropped as he realized that it was Shen Yuan dancing.
Shen Yuan cast a meaningful look at Shen Qingqiu and then his sleeves snapped out, his palms releasing the bundled up cloth as the music stopped from its peaceful tunes to a more dramatic tune.
Shen Yuan twirled, and four men cartwheeled in, carrying drums.
Shen Yuan danced between them, with them spinning in circles around his moving form before one of the men picked him up and swung him in an elegant arch.
He twirled between each drum, before there were some acrobatics and then he was hoisted onto shoulders.
Shen Qingqiu could only gape.
Liu Rushi joined them, still in her gentlemanly attire.
One of the Eight Beauties smirked, and whispered behind a sleeve, "Beautiful, no?"
"Yes, he is." Shen Qingqiu said absently.
She snickered. "I meant the dance, my lord."
He resisted the urge to whap her on the head with his fan.
Shen Yuan moved and twisted as the men went back to the circle around him, kicking their legs and rolling on the ground in a mimicry of worship.
The other eight dancers from before came back, dancing behind him in a line, swaying.
It was going to be over soon.
The men stilled in a kowtow position as Shen Yuan finished the dance, spun widely and then flicked his arms out before lowering them slowly.
The music slowed to its earlier calm, and then the show ended with each dancer but Shen Yuan slowly and smoothly moving out.
Shen Yuan finished it with a twirl and then it was over.
Shen Yuan came back three minutes later, with a smile.
"How was it?"
The girls cooed and cheered as they showered praise over Shen Yuan's performance.
Shen Yuan smiled.
Up close, you could see the red wings that highlighted his peach blossom eyes.
He had thin plum blossoms drawn over his forehead, pink rouge over his cheekbones and over his brows and cheeks.
Little pieces of gold and jade flakes dotted each flower, making his face look like an exotic painting.
His lips were painted, red and like cherries.
Shen Qingqiu ignored the lust burning up in him at the sight of Shen Yuan, dressed in white and looking like a sweet maiden.
"Your performance was wonderful. You have learned a lot since the time I have been gone." He said in a uncaring tone.
But even with that, Shen Yuan beamed. "That's good! Maybe someday, I can dance more for you!"
Shen Qingqiu couldn't stop the awe in his face. He quickly masked it with his fan as the Eight Beauties of Qinhuai giggled.
Shen Yuan gave another cheerful smile, before another show began.
Shen Yuan sat besides him, their chairs close.
Shen Qingqiu mentally cursed.
Why was he so vulnerable?
Why did Shen Yuan bring his walls down so fast?
Shen Qingqiu made a noise and then snapped his fan shut.
"Shen Qingqiu, do you want some tanghulu? I'll ask for some if you want——"
"No need." He snapped.
Familiar with the acid that burned at his throat as he spat them out, he began the practiced sayings.
He hardened his heart.
"Why do you sit like that? Sit properly! Why do you look at this master so reverently? Have some shame!" He snarled.
Shen Yuan blinked, sitting up and fixing his hands in his lap.
He continued to stare in bewilderment.
Shen Qingqiu coldly looked at Shen Yuan.
Did that work?
He needed to create distance before Shen Yuan got too close to him.
Shen Yuan blinked again, then looked down at his knees.
"This one apologizes. He should've realized that a lowly one like this one shouldn't be talking to a Lord so casually." His voice had a sharp edge to it.
He made himself smaller, curling up on himself.
Guilt made him hesitate.
No, dammit!
Let him wallow in his pitiful feelings!
Don't let him get to you.
Shen Qingqiu sighed, and snapped open his fan. "I-I'm sorry.... I'm not feeling pleasant at the moment."
Shen Yuan picked up his head from his lowered position. His eyes were bright in anger.
"Yes," Shen Yuan agreed, "you're certainly not pleasant at this moment."
Shen Qingqiu leveled a glare at Shen Yuan, who glanced at him, held the stare, but then looked away.
Dammit, dammit, dammit, dammit!! Damn it all!
Why did he feel sympathy for him?
Why did he care?
He had planned to rid himself of Shen Yuan's presence!
'He's changing me.' He thought. 'I'm softening. I can't. I put up these walls for a reason.'
Shen Qingqiu stood up, huffing. "Xie Zan, I will be retiring. Send one of your best courtesans."
Shen Yuan bristled suddenly. "Eh? Why would you need to call another girl?"
"Oh?" Shen Qingqiu said in a mocking tone. "You think you can please this master?"
"I already have, haven't I?" Shen Yuan snarked.
Adorable.
That was what was racing through Shen Qingqiu's mind.
The tense atmosphere felt like it had intensified. Shen Yuan was challenging him, his gaze stern and judging.
Shen Yuan stood up as well, his chin raised defiantly at Shen Qingqiu's direction.
Xie Zan looked rather amused, though her calm facade was betrayed by the twitch of her fingers.
"Xie Zan." He spoke firmly without looking in her direction. "I will be the courtesan that will be entertaining Peak Lord Shen tonight."
"Well... I can't say no now, can I?"
"No."
Shen Yuan crossed his arms, and muttered something under his breath.
He picked up his things, brushing past Shen Qingqiu with a huff.
Shen Qingqiu moved into a bedroom, where he sat waiting for Shen Yuan. He busied himself with meditating before he heard the soft patterns of feet coming towards the door.
Shen Qingqiu hid his expression behind his fan as he watched Shen Yuan prepared the guqin.
Shen Yuan was quiet, his expression serene, his dainty fingers poised over his instrument until he was ready to play.
He plucked a string. Then three, then several as lovely music began to stream through the room.
Shen Qingqiu calmed. The same drowsy fog spread over his mind and he relaxed onto the bed, his bones feeling like mush.
Each note felt like a balm to his soul.
He drank in the music like a parched man drinking ambrosia.
Shen Qingqiu couldn't even tell you his name if you had asked him right now.
Shen Yuan finished the song and was shocked to find Shen Qingqiu, asleep on the bed.
Shen Qingqiu woke up to the smell of jian bing. Shen Yuan looked refreshed, and he opened the windows after placing the dish down.
"Are you feeling alright?" He asked.
"Better than yesterday." Shen Qingqiu answered, sitting up as he took note of his sleeping robes.
His throat was scratchy and rough with sleep. Shen Yuan silently handed him a glass of water, before putting his hands on his hips.
Shen Qingqiu is reminded of a wife.
Shen Yuan huffed, placing the dish into his lap. The warm food soaked Shen Qingqiu's leg with heat.
"Good. By gods, you were rude last night! I don't know what was happening, but I tried not to say anything. It's good you're feeling more like yourself now though." Shen Yuan said.
Did he assume Shen Qingqiu's self was kind?
How laughable.
Shen Qingqiu swallowed down the crepes. "Apologies."
Shen Yuan waved his hands.
"No need. You were probably just irritated. It's my fault for getting angry over you having a bad day."
After saying that however, Shen Yuan gave a small pout. "Though I thought my dance would've been sufficient enough to cheer you up...."
He glanced at him. "You did like it though, right?"
"I did." Shen Qingqiu answered.
He just woke up, give him a break!
This much cuteness will kill him!
Shen Qingqiu knew that yesterday, he acted irrationally.
This was the first time his heart had began to open up.
It was terrifying.
He didn't like it.
He didn't want to open up.
The last time he did, he trusted and was betrayed, left forgotten in the dirt like an old broken toy.
He never wanted to feel like that again.
Shen Yuan picked up his finished plate and said, "Well, it's si shi (a/n: that means 9 am), so if you have anything to do, you should do it now."
Shen Qingqiu gave a start, and then got out of bed. His clothes were put in a neat stack on a chair.
He dressed quickly as Shen Yuan left the room.
When he finally looked presentable, he left as well.
Shen Yuan was chatting with Li Xiangjun, who nodded and said something to him before they both bowed to him as he left.
Shen Qingqiu is struck with the sudden thought that Shen Yuan was becoming a courtesan.
Well, no matter.
Shen Qingqiu went back to his peak, and as he sat with the children, his lips curled in distaste.
He completed his two hours of teaching before he went around the peak to check up on the older students.
"Shifu! Shifu, I need help with this thing!"
"Shifu, Shifu, Mo Fan took all of the cultivation scrolls again!"
"Shifu, she won't tell me where we keep the extra items are!"
"Shifu, where do I put this?"
Shifu this, Shifu that, don't you children have brains?!
Shen Qingqiu maintained his uninterested and annoyed expression behind his beloved fan.
Without it, he'd probably go on a damn rampage!!
He turned when he sensed someone come.
Liu Qingge strode over to him, his eyes filled with hatred.
Shen Qingqiu wasn't much different either.
He forced a blank expression onto his face, though it was failing fast.
"Ah, Liu-shidi, what do you need from this shixong?" He said in a strained tone.
"Shen Qingqiu! Where have you been? You've been absent yesterday, and this morning, you weren't in your bed! Where have you been?" The brute roared.
'Filth.' Shen Qingqiu thought to himself, his fan moving lazily.
"Well, that's not any of your business, is it?"
"It is if you should be taking care of your sect!" The beast snapped. "Were you going to your damn brothels again? Always frolicking with women, you stain Cang Qiong Mountain's name!”
“Bai Zhan dogs like you should stop sticking your noses into other people’s business.” Shen Qingqiu snapped, his eyes hard. “And the fact that you knew I wasn’t in my bed could only mean you were watching me. What sick pervert does that?”
Liu Qingge grew flustered, struggling to find a retort.
Shen Qingqiu took advantage of that.
“Oh? Nothing to say? And to think you were so eager to throw around accusations.”
An ugly, lovely feeling bloomed inside of him.
He was winning and it was glorious.Qa
Shen Qingqiu could feel the moment Liu Qingge’s poor restraint snapped.
However, none of them were eager to be the first to take out their sword. Especially if it meant that the other would have a higher chance of being seen as ‘the victim’.
Their hands rested on the hilts of their sword, ready to fight before there was a loud shout.
“Enough!”
Yue Qingyuan had entered the scene.