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two lonely souls at sunset

Summary:

“Who are you?” Luo Binghe asked coldly.

Shen Yuan wanted to bury himself in the dirt. He couldn’t have made a bigger fool of himself.

“I- This one is Shen Yuan, Lord Luo,” he hastily responded, dropping into a low bow to properly greet the emperor. Even after seven years in the palace, Shen Yuan still struggled with the formal speech of scholars and nobility.

“Shen…” Luo Binghe whispered.

Shen Yuan winced. Of course, Luo Binghe wouldn’t know who he was by name alone.

“This one is Lord Luo’s fifth husband,” Shen Yuan answered.

---
Or, Shen Yuan wants life to feel like an adventure, Luo Bingge wants someone to truly love him, and a magical road-trip will somehow solve both of their problems

Notes:

Binggeyuan Minibang!!

I'm so excited to finally share my Bingyuan fic! This is the first fic I've written for svsss fandom (the sv gotcha fics were published first, but this was the first one I wrote, lol). I had a wonderful time writing it, and Worm was so much fun to collab with (art at the end of the chapter!!)!

I hope you all enjoy! <3

Chapter 1: sun rises

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Sometimes Shen Yuan wished he could have what some of the other wives had: Lord Luo’s love and attention.

Shen Yuan huffed, kicking at a pebble in his path.

He wasn’t… you know, in love with Lord Luo or anything! Not at all. Their marriage wasn’t one of love. Lord Luo didn’t like men that way! Not once had Luo Binghe bedded any of his husbands.

No, the husbands – excluding Shen Yuan – were brought into the harem for political gain. There were only a few of them in total and each had brought with them a large swathe of land to remain subservient to the Emperor.

Shen Yuan had joined the harem over seven years ago, but even at twenty, it had been clear to Shen Yuan that Luo Binghe had only taken him in as a formality. They hadn’t even shared a meal together on the night of their wedding, as Luo Binghe had been called upon for business after they’d completed their bows. After that, Shen Yuan had been forgotten and pushed aside for newer wives to take his place.

He really couldn’t complain, though. It wasn’t a bad life. In the years since, Shen Yuan had lived comfortably, albeit stagnantly.

Nothing ever happened to the Emperor’s harem – except the occasional assassination attempt from a jealous or power-hungry wife, though anyone who messed with the order of the harem was dealt with severely. Those who dared to try never bothered to target the husbands.

Luo Binghe’s favored wives, Liu Mingyan, Ning Yingying, and Sha Hualing, were untouchable. Not only were they included in Luo Binghe’s state affairs, but they were also allowed to leave the palace whenever they wanted. If anyone tried to harm them in any way, Lord Luo didn’t bother investigating and instead let them deal with punishment as they saw fit.

They were the coolest. Not as amazing as Lord Luo, but still very cool.

Ning Yingying watched over palace and state affairs, wielding almost as much power as Lord Luo within the palace walls. Liu Mingyan was always off on a mission, tracking down rare medicines or battling wayward monsters. Sha Hualing’s everyday whereabouts were a mystery, but she was Lord Luo’s right hand general and was often sent out after anyone who opposed Lord Luo’s rule.

They probably had never had so much free time that they could reread an entire bestiary in a single sitting.

Shen Yuan let the kernel of jealousy wash over him and walked to the heart of the small, empty garden. 

He just wanted some adventure in his life. He wasn’t unhappy. As Luo Binghe’s fifth Husband and one-hundred-fourteenth spouse, he had access to the entire estate, was able to spend his time however he wanted, and was given a generous allowance, most of which he sent back to his family every month.

It was just that sometimes – only sometimes – Shen Yuan wanted to have the exact type of adventure that he’d read about Luo Binghe having. 

Being caught up in a search for a rare artifact or an impossible cure, running into the all-powerful emperor and teaming up to fight monsters and find a treasure. 

Or to meet in the middle of a battlefield and fight together to defeat the rebellion. And no, it didn’t matter that Shen Yuan barely knew how to fight. 

He’d even accept a pompous tale of political maneuvering and stealth with Luo Binghe. 

Fuck, he wanted anything other than his own sad tale of a sickly beauty. He wasn’t even beautiful, only sickly; just scrawny, bookworm Shen Yuan who wiggled his way into the harem.

Shen Yuan huffed. 

Not that any of it even mattered. Luo Binghe hardly even knew who Shen Yuan was.

Yet, as if simply thinking of the man brought him into existence, Shen Yuan spotted Luo Binghe storming through a corridor bordering the garden. 

Shen Yuan had to stop and admire him. Glimpses of the emperor like this were rare for Shen Yuan.

Luo Binghe was a busy man, and when he did have free time for his spouses, husbands like Shen Yuan were never called on.

Though, no one had been visited by Luo Binghe in a while.

From what Shen Yuan heard from other spouses, Luo Binghe had woken after a night of… activities with a few of the wives and had run out of the room, pushing off all the wives and rebuking their advances in a frenzy.

Then, he’d left for a few days, completely unreachable. No wives had been called on and no new wives had found their way to the palace. To be without dual cultivation for so long was unheard of for Lord Luo.

There were whispers of his uncharacteristic behavior and what it could mean.

Shen Yuan scoffed at the wives who lowered themselves to gossiping about their husband. It wasn’t unlike Luo Binghe at all to rush off on business, and who were they to question his actions?

Though, Shen Yuan would admit, it was comforting to finally see Luo Binghe in person after so many weeks of him being away from the palace.

As he watched Luo Binghe now, Shen Yuan couldn’t ignore the absolutely murderous aura radiating off of him.

Yet even the bitter snarl on Lord Luo’s face couldn’t detract from his overwhelming natural beauty. If anything, Shen Yuan thought, it gave the emperor a rugged, beastly sort of attractiveness.

Shen Yuan was so entranced by his husband that he hadn’t realized Luo Binghe was walking towards him until the man was only a few feet away.

Shen Yuan quickly moved out of the way, so as to not interfere with whatever important business Luo Binghe had, but in his haste, his heel caught on the back of his robes.

And he stumbled backwards into a hedge.

“Ooh,” he groaned.

The hedge had broken his fall, but at what cost. His back hurt from the impact, and there were a million sharp thorns from the plant poking into his arms and sides.

He moved to straighten his glasses, which had shifted off-kilter, though the movement only succeeded in driving more thorns into his side

As he processed the current state of his life, a blurry Emperor Luo appeared above his own. The aura of anger was still there, but it had been significantly dampened by confusion.

Shen Yuan felt his face flush and flailed to get out of the hedge. Unsurprisingly, it only made his situation worse.

“Stop,” Luo Binghe ordered, and Shen Yuan immediately stilled. 

Lord Luo grabbed the front of Shen Yuan’s robes and lifted him out of the hedge, as if he were a stray cat being picked up by the scruff of his neck. Shen Yuan was unceremoniously dropped to the ground, where he once again stumbled to find his footing.

This time, though, instead of falling back into a bush, Shen Yuan tipped forward into Luo Binghe.

Shen Yuan’s hands fell onto Lord Luo’s chest, one hand almost grazing the bare skin from Luo Binghe’s low hanging robes. Shen Yuan looked up and caught Luo Binghe’s gaze.

It was like looking at the sun; devastating, yet irresistible. His eyes as dark as the night sky and utterly captivating, his hair wildly luscious with curled locks framing his face, flawless skin and- oh.

Luo Binghe had stepped away from Shen Yuan, leaving him to fumble for a moment before he rightened himself.

“Who are you?” Luo Binghe asked coldly.

Shen Yuan wanted to bury himself in the dirt. He couldn’t have made a bigger fool of himself.

“I- This one is Shen Yuan, Lord Luo,” he hastily responded, dropping into a low bow to properly greet the emperor. Even after seven years in the palace, Shen Yuan still struggled with the formal speech of scholars and nobility.

“Shen…” Luo Binghe whispered.

Shen Yuan winced. Of course, Luo Binghe wouldn’t know who he was by name alone.

“This one is Lord Luo’s fifth husband,” Shen Yuan answered.

Rather than responding, Luo Binghe looked Shen Yuan over from head to toe. His gaze was sharp, lingering on Shen Yuan’s face, though it seemed he still couldn’t place Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan cleared his throat. It would be too embarrassing for both of them if Lord Luo had to ask who he was for a second time.

“Lord Luo saved this one from Six-Spotted Lung disease almost seven years ago,” Shen Yuan said. “As well as this one’s hometown. As repayment, this one’s family gave the emperor this one’s hand in marriage.”

“Where?”

Shen Yuan bit the inside of his cheek to keep from frowning. It was reasonable that Lord Luo didn’t remember him. Shen Yuan hadn’t actually spoken with the Emperor since their marriage day, and even during the wedding, they’d barely spoken. Still, it stung that he was so forgettable.

“Umm… this one is from Yunbei. It is a… small place near the Red Frost Mountains. It didn’t move much after the merging of the realms, which makes sense. It’s a fairly isolated area. Not many travelers.” Shen Yuan knew he was rambling, but he couldn’t stop himself. “We’re most commonly known for the Scorpion Bees. My family runs the largest colony in the area. They send your lordship shipments of honey every year for our anniversary. Though, I suppose it’s probably sent straight to the kitchens. Lord Luo has much more important things to deal with after all. This one-“

“Stop.”

Shen Yuan stopped talking.

“Do you have siblings?”

Shen Yuan blinked up at Luo Binghe. “Uh, yes. This one has two older brothers and a younger sister.”

A hungry look flashed across Luo Binghe’s face, and he took a step closer. “Your brothers, who are they?” Luo Binghe took another step, and his voice lowered dangerously. “What is your relation to the disgraced Peak Lord Shen Qingqiu?”

“What?” Shen Yuan squeaked.

Luo Binghe glared down at him, and Shen Yuan felt real fear for the first time since he’d almost died of illness.

He waved his hands in front of himself in negation. “Lord Luo, this one has no relation to Sh- to that man! Really! My older brothers are Shen Hong and Shen Jun. They help this one’s father with the honey trade! No- no one in this one’s family is a cultivator! This one only learned cultivation after he married into Lord Luo’s household. Truly!”

Shen Yuan’s fear-ridden response had a slow effect on Luo Binghe, though the emperor slowly stepped back again.

His gaze was clouded as he stared at Shen Yuan, and Shen Yuan had no idea what his husband was thinking.

He barely caught the half-whispered words from Luo Binghe, “Not the right one.”

“Umm…,” Shen Yuan began, at a loss for how to continue.

But before he could even try, Luo Binghe flicked his gaze away. “This lord has other obligations. See to yourself.”

Then he left.

Shen Yuan watched Luo Binghe, his husband, walk away from him, away from their second conversation in seven years of marriage.

He sighed, then winced as a thorn still stuck in his robes made an appearance.

“Fuck,” he grumbled, twisting around to pick one of the many bristles out.

 

=          =          =          =          =

 

Shen Yuan found Luo Binghe in the garden again only a few weeks later.

Given that he usually only saw his husband three times a year in passing, twice in a month was exceptional.

It was also a shock to find him again in Shen Yuan’s favorite gardens. No one came to these gardens.

They were in the far back of the castle, hidden behind the secondary kitchens and library annex. Shen Yuan had only found them after a few long months sorting through the books in the annex.

It had become his favorite place to read in peace.

Though he often saw servants from the kitchen and the occasional spouse or child who’d wandered off to explore, the garden itself wasn’t nice enough that people came back.

And yet, Luo Binghe sat on Shen Yuan’s bench.

A strange sense of courage overcame Shen Yuan. Perhaps being in his own territory made it feel easier to approach Luo Binghe, or perhaps because no one else was around. Whatever the reason, he called over.

“Lord Luo! This one is pleased to see you!”

Luo Binghe startled, looking up at the noise, and Shen Yuan blinked back equally in shock. No one surprised Luo Binghe.

Shen Yuan walked over, quickly sliding his books into the qiankun pouch in his sleeves. No one was technically allowed to take books out of the library, though one could only get in trouble if caught, so Shen Yuan often took the risk. He hoped Lord Luo hadn’t seen.

He should have hidden the books first, then called over, but he hadn’t been able to hold himself back.

Luo Binghe didn’t move from where he sat as Shen Yuan stopped in front of him. “Husband Shen, how are you today?”

The words were sweet, but Shen Yuan could hear the forced politeness in the tone. He’d clearly interrupted some sort of brooding session. The angry atmosphere was oppressive.

“This husband is doing well, Lord Luo. How are you?” Shen Yuan forced even more positivity back in his response, immediately regretting his choice to act before properly assessing the situation.

Shen Yuan’s efforts had no effect.

Luo Binghe simply nodded. “Well.”

Shen Yuan rocked on his heels, unsure what to do.

He assessed Luo Binghe, who, even with aggressive negativity surrounding him, looked as stunning as always. If Shen Yuan were a lesser man, he’d be jealous of the emperor for his incomparable beauty, but it wasn’t even a competition. In terms of attractiveness, there was simply Luo Binghe, then everyone else.

His robes were a midnight black so dark they almost shimmered blue and offered a vibrant contrast to his golden, fluffy hair, which was half pulled up in a way that perfectly accentuated his sharp cheekbones.

And, running down from his right temple, amidst the bouncy curls, lay a small, braided strand of hair.

“Oh,” Shen Yuan remarked. “Lord Luo’s hair is especially striking today.”

Luo Binghe barely glanced over at that.

Shen Yuan refused to let a lack of answer stop him, though. He’d already made a fool of himself once, why not do it again?

It’s not like chances to speak with his husband came around very often. He’d make the most of it, thank you very much.

“Would you like a matching braid on the other side?” Shen Yuan asked, tilting his head to check Luo Binghe’s left profile. “This one used to braid their Meimei’s hair all the time, so I’m- this one is quite good at it.”

Luo Binghe looked over at that, and Shen Yuan felt his chest tighten.

“This lord does not want another.”

Shen Yuan fought back his disappointment. “Of course, Lord Luo knows best. An asymmetrical style is also quite fashionable.” Luo Binghe turned away again, and Shen Yuan deflated. He forced a false cheeriness into his next words. “Well, if Lord Luo ever wants another or if he wants the current one redone, this one is willing to help!”

“That will not be necessary.”

“Ah, okay then. This one apologizes for his presumption.”

With confidence draining, Shen Yuan debated the easiest way to politely escape the conversation. Though with how little attention Luo Binghe was giving him, Shen Yuan could probably just walk away.

He weighed the pros and cons of the idea when Luo Binghe turned back to him.

“Why are you here?”

Shen Yuan blinked back. “What? Well, I- this one wanted to enjoy the sun today. The gardens are really qui-“

“No,” Luo Binghe cut him off. “Why are you at the palace? In this lord’s harem?”

Shen Yuan’s stomach dropped to the ground. “Wh-… Well…” No words came. Would Shen Yuan be the first spouse to be kicked out of the harem? Other spouses had died, but no one had left! Let alone been kicked out by Luo Binghe himself.

Luo Binghe watched him struggle for a moment before giving a long-suffering sigh.

“Husband Shen need not worry,” Luo Binghe said, easily calming Shen Yuan. “This lord wants to know why you have chosen to stay in the palace. Those in the harem are free to travel, within reason, and may request permission to return home. Very few of this lord’s wives are truly confined to the palace, and the ones that are must do so for their own safety. You said we have been married for seven years, yet this lord hardly remembers you. Why have you chosen to stay?”

Shen Yuan did his best to ignore Luo Binghe’s harsh words. He focused instead on the man himself, watching Luo Binghe’s expression soften ever so slightly in confusion as he asked the question.

Truly, the emperor was too cute!

He took a deep breath. “Well, I’ve always wanted a reason to leave home. Oh, this one has-“

“Please speak casually,” Luo Binghe cut in, waving a hand at Shen Yuan’s apologies. “This lord will not be offended.”

“Thank you, Lord Luo,” Shen Yuan bowed in thanks, mostly as an excuse to hide his reddened face. “This one… I clearly was not raised in any sort of prestige. My family are humble farmers, who’ve managed to be the best at what they do, but they’re still just farmers.”

Luo Binghe nodded, his attention fully on Shen Yuan now. 

“There is nothing wrong with humble origins. Is that why you’re here? Wealth? Power?”

“Ah!” Shen Yuan waved his hands, “No, Lord Luo. I wouldn’t dream of it. We might be farmers, but we’re the richest household in Yunbei!  Being in your lordship’s palace, eating delicious food every day, and having unlimited access to the library is a gift! That is all plenty for me.”

“So, you’re here for what I can provide?” Luo Binghe had leaned forward, staring intently.

“Well, no, not quite,” Shen Yuan answered. “I mean, I won’t lie, I’ve grown quite accustomed to my life as it is now. It would be difficult to live without these luxuries. But they’re not why I’m here or why I’ve never returned home. Even though,” Shen Yuan sighed, “I am well aware I hold no real value to the harem.”

“Then why?” Luo Binghe growled.

“I’m getting to it. Give me a moment.” Shen Yuan rolled his eyes in an automatic response after a lifetime of being a younger sibling, then stopped himself. Flustered, he lowered into a hasty bow, “Ah, please, once again forgive this one.”

Luo Binghe gave another resigned sigh. “It is forgiven.”

“Many thanks.” Shen Yuan straightened. He fiddled with the edge of his sleeves and avoided Luo Binghe’s gaze. “I was very sick as a child. You might not remember, but that’s why we married. A plague had overtaken my village, though it was a slow-killing disease that killed one in fifty. I was infected longer than most and lived most of my adolescence in a sickbed. I was useless. I could do very little except read and sleep.”

Shen Yuan dared a quick glance at Luo Binghe, who had returned to an impassive state.

He continued, “My family loved me dearly, and I them. But we were all waiting for me to die.” Shen Yuan took a deep breath. “After you saved me, I don’t think any of us knew what to do. I certainly didn’t. I’d never expected to live past twenty. I hadn’t learned any skills. I was weak. Useless. The rest of my family knew it, too. When you asked for compensation, it was an easy choice to offer myself up.”

Shen Yuan shrugged, finally lifting his head to acknowledge Luo Binghe fully. “So, that’s why I’m here. I wanted a life for myself without my family’s tired eyes watching. I wanted to try living for once, and what’s more exciting than joining the emperor’s harem?”

Luo Binghe watched him closely, though Shen Yuan had no idea what he was thinking.

Ah, Shen Yuan felt a twinge of regret. It was foolish to reminisce on the sob story of a pampered, sickly boy who wanted to see the world to a man who had clawed his way through hardship after hardship to unite the two realms. Shen Yuan probably sounded like a whiny child.

“How is it?” Luo Binghe asked, cutting off Shen Yuan’s internal misery. “Living?”

Shen Yuan blinked back at him, stunned for a moment by Luo Binghe’s genuine curiosity.

“Quite nice,” Shen Yuan braved a smile. The first trace of emotion slid across Luo Binghe’s face, but Shen Yuan couldn’t catch it. “It’s insipidly simple; not at all the adventure I daydreamed for myself while I waited for death. Yet, I love it.”

There was silence, and Shen Yuan waited.

“Then, this lord is glad,” Luo Binghe eventually said, rising to his feet.

Shen Yuan smiled up at his husband; this time brighter. “And this husband is eternally thankful towards Emperor Luo for giving him this opportunity.”

Luo Binghe’s gaze was heavy, though it didn’t hold the same anger Shen Yuan had sensed upon arriving.

Shen Yuan smiled a bit brighter at the thought. He’d made Luo Binghe happy. Well, happier. It still counted for something.

The emperor watched Shen Yuan for a moment longer, then turned away.

“This lord has much to do. Thanking Husband Shen for his time.”

“Oh, of course, always, anytime,” Shen Yuan pushed out. “This one thanks Lord Luo for… the conversation.”

Luo Binghe gave a curt nod and walked off.

Shen Yuan watched him disappear into the maze of the palace and then dropped onto the bench dramatically.

This meeting was certainly better than the last, even if it wasn’t at all the impression Shen Yuan had wanted to make on the emperor.

 

=          =          =          =          =

 

Life went on for Shen Yuan. Every day he went to the garden, and a small, unkillable piece of him hoped to see Lord Luo again.

Shen Yuan realized the foolishness of wanting to get closer to a man who barely spared him a glance, a man renowned for his murderous and aggressive tendencies, a man who had a wife for every day of the year.

But he was still the emperor! He was still the man who’d saved Shen Yuan’s life. He was still Shen Yuan’s husband.

Yet, almost two months after speaking with Luo Binghe, Shen Yuan hadn’t seen his husband again. After the first month, Shen Yuan had stopped looking around corners hoping for him. But well into the second month, he still thought about their conversation at least once a day.

It was common knowledge throughout the palace that Luo Binghe called on his wives less and less over the past months. He left on excursions more often and stayed away longer.

Some wives were grateful for the respite, which Shen Yuan scoffed at. What rightful spouse of Luo Binghe’s would ever be grateful for his absence?

Shen Yuan buried himself in his books and followed the same simple path that had been his life for the past seven years. 

A knock came at Shen Yuan’s door.

“Yuan-ge!”

He looked up from his desk, blinking away his daydreams of Lord Luo. A mess of papers were scattered across the desk in front of him, as he’d been cross-referencing contrasting entries on Scarlet River Trees in various field guides.

Shen Yuan closed his own revised flora and fauna compendium before answering. It was too embarrassing to admit to anyone that he was trying to develop his own reference books. Not when he was someone who had never even seen most of the things he wrote about.

It was a useless endeavor, but one that made him happy and whittled away the days.

“Come in!” he called back, shuffling the mess together into a haphazard pile.

The door cracked open, and Guo Haoyu stepped in, a smile wide on her face.

Guo Haoyu was Luo Binghe’s one hundred and thirteenth spouse, the wife directly before Shen Yuan. She’d been the youngest daughter of an errant demon lord and had fallen for Luo Binghe at first sight, begging her father to come to peace with the emperor so she could marry. Of course, things worked in her favor, and she’d joined the harem at seventeen, though she hadn’t officially married until her eighteenth birthday.

Three years younger than Shen Yuan, Guo Haoyu reminded him so much of his Meimei. She’d latched onto him his first day at the palace, and Shen Yuan hadn’t minded at all.

It was easy enough to make friends within the harem – so long as one avoided the power-hungry –, but Shen Yuan had found that Luo Binghe’s taste in women often didn’t overlap with Shen Yuan’s preferences for company.

Which wasn’t to say he didn’t have more friends within the harem. There was Li Xingmei who had taught Shen Yuan how to cook years ago, and they met at least once a week for tea. Huang Wei who enjoyed weiqi and often hunted Shen Yuan down to play a few rounds. Qi Shuai who shared Shen Yuan’s love for beasts, though she was more interested in hunting than studying, and had taught Shen Yuan the fundamentals of cultivation. And there was Chi Peng, Luo Binghe’s twenty-third wife, who had two children that Shen Yuan often tutored.

Guo Haoyu was by far Shen Yuan’s favorite, though.

He relaxed his stance over the mess of papers and notes upon realizing it was only her.

“Yu’er,” he smiled back, “what is it today?”

Guo Haoyu bounced into the room, tinkling with each step as her overabundance of jewelry clicked together. She waved two letters in the air, then dropped them onto the desk in front of Shen Yuan.

“Delivery!” she exclaimed. “Your family wrote you back!”

Shen Yuan ran a finger over one of the letters lightly. It’d been a few months since he’d heard from them. Guo Haoyu had been the only ones aware of the true extent of his worry.

“Finally,” Shen Yuan muttered, then turned to Guo Haoyu, “Thanks, Yu’er. Were you watching the mail room?”

She laughed, “Of course, I was.”

Shen Yuan snorted. Guo Haoyu commanded a third of her father’s army, surveilling a mail room was child’s play.

“Many thanks.”

“Anything for Yuan-ge,” she smiled. “I’ll be leaving soon. Third Wife Sha called on me to join her in stifling a rebellion in the west.”

Shen Yuan stood, “You’re fighting with Sha Hualing?”

Guo Haoyu’s smile was radiant. “She asked for me by name.”

“Yu’er, this is amazing.”

“I know.”

Shen Yuan felt immense pride for his friend. She fought hard to earn respect after joining the harem and make a name for herself. Being acknowledged by Sha Hualing in this way proved her efforts had not been in vain.

“Ahh,” Shen Yuan reached up to pinch one of Guo Haoyu’s cheeks. “My Yu’er is so grown up. Going off to fight in wars.”

Guo Haoyu swatted his hand away and grumbled, “This Meimei has been fighting since she was a child.”

Shen Yuan laughed, quickly attacking her other cheek, which she just as quickly countered.

“This old man is still proud,” Shen Yuan replied, deftly avoiding her claws, and set his hand on her head instead. He was careful not to mess with her intricate hairstyle. But this was a common act between the two of them, and Guo Haoyu leaned into the hand, accepting his head pats.

Something he used to do with Shen Xiu, his Meimei, had easily and accidentally been transferred to Guo Haoyu.

“Thank you, Yuan-ge,” Guo Haoyu responded softly. “This one will continue to make you proud.”

Shen Yuan gave one last pat and took his hand back, “I know you will.”

“We leave tomorrow, and I’m unsure how long we’ll be away.”

“Don’t worry about this old man. I can take care of myself well enough.”

Guo Haoyu frowned slightly at that. “I’ve already asked Wife Li to remind you to eat.”

“Yu’er,” Shen Yuan whined.

Guo Haoyu ignored him, “And Wife Qi will be by to help with your sword forms. You’re not allowed to hide away in the library the entire time I’m away.”

Shen Yuan grimaced. He’d lost track of a week’s worth of time in the annex one time and nobody let him forget it.

“Fine, fine, this Husband will listen to Wife Guo,” he sighed, letting his exasperation shine through.

Guo Haoyu ignored it, “Good.” She nodded again. “I’ll come back for dinner tonight, and we’ll celebrate. I need to prepare before then.”

“Of course, Yu’er.” He nodded to the door. “Go on. You have much to take care of.”

Guo Haoyu pouted but turned to leave anyway.

“Don’t forget, Yuan-ge,” she said, pointing a finger back at him, “Dinner tonight. Don’t get lost in a project.”

“I promise.”

With that, Guo Haoyu finally turned and walked off. Shen Yuan watched her leave and slumped back down onto his chair.

He was undeniably proud of his harem sister. The barest flash of jealousy fluttered in his chest, but it was useless to dwell on. Guo Haoyu had worked hard to earn respect and admiration, while Shen Yuan sat cooped up in the library all day.

For all that he’d proclaimed to Luo Binghe that he wanted to truly live, sometimes it felt like Shen Yuan was just finding ways to get through the days. He had never learned how to live. Maybe he never truly would.

Shen Yuan bit back the bitter thoughts and focused on the letters from his family instead.

One was from his Meimei, Shen Xiu, and the other from his Da-ge, Shen Hong.

Without any bias at all, Shen Yuan opened the letter from Shen Xiu first.

It was short, much shorter than anything else Shen Xiu had written, and Shen Yuan’s heart plummeted with each word.

San-ge, Shen Yuan,

I don’t know what Da-ge wrote; he was intent on not letting you worry, but you deserve to know. This is serious. Father is dying. You need to come home.

Shen Xiu

His mind was blank. The letter fell from his fingers back onto the desk.

Numbly, he reached for Shen Hong’s letter and ripped it open. It was also shorter than usual.

San-di, Shen Yuan,

How are you? Have you learned of any new beasts? Have you finally finished exploring the third library? Does Emperor Luo treat you well?

We miss you, as always. Home is as it is. This year has had a slight downturn of honey production with a disease killing a few of the hive-caves, though nothing so major as to be a concern.

It hasn’t helped that father hasn’t been well recently. We’re all picking up more work on the farm, so it’s been hard to write. We’re doing what we can for father and keeping him healthy. There is little reason to worry yourself over us.

Shen Hong

Shen Yuan sat in shock.

This was worse than any of the elaborate scenarios he’d thought up on his own for why his family hadn’t reached out recently.

Shen Yuan hadn’t seen his father in seven years, and now he was dying. And if it wasn’t for Xiu-mei, Shen Yuan might not have even realized. He’d spent so long trying to run away and live a new life that he’d neglected everything else. His family.

Shen Yuan gripped the letter tight, wrinkling the fragile paper.

He had to go. He had to go home.

Shen Yuan stood abruptly, knocking the already chaotic papers across the floor. It didn’t matter.

He shoved his personal bestiary and a field guide into a qiankun pouch, then scrambled across the room and flung open his wardrobe. A random selection of spare robes was thrown in, along with his old ratty boots from home, shoes he’d never needed within the marble-tiled palace.

Finally, he grabbed the grandiose sword leaning against his desk. Qi Shuai had gifted it to him when they started their lessons, though Shen Yuan had never once bothered to use it without her direction.

Without a backward glance, Shen Yuan tumbled out of his room and ran towards the hall for main wives.

He gained a few strange glances from servants and a singular ‘Shen Laoshi!’ from one of the children, but he didn’t stop until he was out of breath and panting in front of Ning Yingying’s room.

Though the First Wife was often found in the main library or grand hall, there were no delegations present today, and Shen Yuan had heard she liked to deal with routine paperwork in her own personal study. If she wasn’t here, he’d run to the library next.

He knocked on the door, loudly and unending.

He heard movement from within after a moment and slowed his assault on the door. He leaned closer to listen, uncaring what it would look like to anyone walking by.

Only a few moments of rustling passed before Shen Yuan heard footsteps walking towards the door. He pulled away quickly and did his best to appear calm and collected.

Shen Yuan had spoken with Ning Yingying a few times over the years. She’d been the wife to guide him through joining the harem, and she made herself available to everyone, though her duties often kept her busy.

She was lovely, and Shen Yuan couldn’t think of a better person to be Lord Luo’s First Wife.

A wave of relief crashed over Shen Yuan when Ning Yingying opened the door.

Ning Yingying was dressed in casual robes, and her hair was down. In any other circumstance, Shen Yuan would be mortified for interrupting her in such a state. She had clearly been relaxing, and he came to pester her with work!

In the current moment, though, Shen Yuan only felt a fleeting rush of embarrassment.

“Husband Shen,” Ning Yingying greeted, “What brings you here?”

“First Wife Ning,” Shen Yuan bowed in welcome for courtesy’s sake, then hastily rose to get to the important bit. “This one is here to request leave to visit home. To begin immediately! And to last for a few weeks. Maybe a few months. I- This one is not sure.”

Ning Yingying blinked back at him for a moment.

Shen Yuan didn’t know the protocol for this sort of thing. He’d never requested leave. He’d visited Guo Haoyu’s family in the demon realm once, but she’d been the one to organize the whole thing. Maybe he was supposed to submit a form or something?

“This one apologizes for the intrusion!” Shen Yuan added, hoping to salvage the situation. “This one doesn’t know the proper procedure for this. I just – this one just really needs leave to go back home. This one’s father is… dying.” Shen Yuan’s voice cracked slightly on the last word.

Ning Yingying placed a hand on his shoulder, looking him over with concern.

“Husband Shen, there is no need to worry. Of course, you can leave to visit. You only need to share the details with this wife.” She gave him a soft smile, then ducked back into her room with, “Please wait one moment.”

She returned quickly with a thick journal and brush in hand.

“We can complete this quickly,” she said with another smile, balancing the journal open in one hand. “Where is Husband Shen’s hometown?”

“Yunbei.”

“Alright,” she responded and wrote the name down, “That’s quite far. How do you plan to travel?”

“Ummm.” Shen Yuan hadn’t actually thought about it yet.

Ning Yingying looked up at him at that, once again with a hint of concern in her eyes.

Shen Yuan gave an awkward laugh. “Umm, probably by horse? This one can only fly for about a shichen at a time, which isn’t quite efficient. So, this one could loan a horse from the stables?”

“Alright,” Ning Yingying nodded along, though this time, she didn’t write anything down. “Do you know how to ride?”

“Uh, kind of?”

Ning Yingying stared back at him. “You don’t know how to ride?”

“Well, it can’t be that hard, right? This one has had a few lessons, and I’m sure I can figure it out. A carriage would take even longer than by horse, and it’ll already be almost a weeklong journey by horse!” Shen Yuan responded, desperation rising slightly with each word. “I don’t know how much longer my father has and it’s been so long since I last saw him. I need to be there.”

Ning Yingying had set the brush and journal down at some point while Shen Yuan was speaking. By the time he finished, she had grabbed his hands.

The point of contact was warm. Something already very fragile inside Shen Yuan became ready to burst.

“Husband Shen.” Her voice was soft, and she dropped formality. “This wife will help you get home. Do not worry. There is no question of whether or not you’ll get back, but we need to make sure you can travel safely. I cannot approve of you leaving on your own with a horse when you don’t even know how to ride.”

Shen Yuan began to speak but was cut off by a light squeeze on his hands.

“This wife will help,” Ning Yingying repeated. “There are other solutions. We’ll find another wife who would be willing to take the journey with you. Depending on who’s available, you might be able to fly together. Yunbei City is only a two day journey by sword.”

Shen Yuan let out a breath of tension. His body felt lighter. He wasn’t alone.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you, First Wife Ning.”

Ning Yingying’s soft smile brightened, and she gave his hands another comforting squeeze before letting go.

“Give this wife a moment to make herself presentable,” she said, “then we will find a travel companion.”

Shen Yuan nodded quickly. “Yes, of course, First Wife Ning. I’ll wai-“ Shen Yuan was cut off.

“No need.”

Luo Binghe stepped into the doorframe, shadowing Ning Yingying.

Lord Luo was only loosely dressed; his robes clearly only just thrown on and more of his chest on display than Shen Yuan had ever seen. Shen Yuan had to pull his eyes away from the lean, tan muscle. Luo Binghe’s fluffy hair was also untied and loose, just like the first wife’s.

Oh. Shen Yuan instantly reddened and averted his gaze from Luo Binghe entirely.

Shen Yuan hadn’t just interrupted Ning Yingying’s downtime. He’d interrupted the two of them. He interrupted Luo Binghe in the middle of dual cultivation.

Shen Yuan had frozen at the revelation but was shocked again into motion by Luo Binghe’s next words.

“I’ll take him.”

The words rattled around Shen Yuan’s head, though they made no sense.

He shot a quick glance towards Ning Yingying, and she looked just as confused.

Luo Binghe stood behind his wife with an easy confidence, unbothered by both of his spouses’ lack of response.

Though still reeling from the emotional whiplash, Shen Yuan recovered enough to speak. “Lord Luo, this one is confused.”

Luo Binghe shifted slightly and crossed his arms, which only further accentuated his chest. Ning Yingying seemed small and stiff in front of him.

“This lord has already told Husband Shen that he may drop formalities between us.”

The self-assured smile thrown at Shen Yuan from a half-dressed Luo Binghe forced him to blush again, and Ning Yingying turned a sharp eye back on him, as well.

Shen Yuan bowed his head in acknowledgement. “I must once again apologize, Lord Luo. But… I’m still confused. You will take me home?”

“Yes. Husband Shen is not confused at all,” Luo Binghe replied, a smirk teasing his lips.

“This wife assumes you heard the whole conversation, A’Luo,” Ning Yingying said. “Husband Shen will be in Yunbei for an unknown amount of time. It will be better if we can organize travel that will help him for his entire journey, there and back.”

Shen Yuan deflated with the reality. Of course, First Wife Ning was right.

Emperor Luo had much more important things to attend to. Why would he bother lowering himself to act as a ferry for a husband he barely knew?

“Many thanks for the offer, Lord Luo,” Shen Yuan added, giving Luo Binghe a forced smile. “Just hearing your concern is enough to ease part of my worry.”

Luo Binghe frowned slightly. Shen Yuan tracked the miniscule movement.

“Then let my care ease all of your worries,” he responded. “This lord has offered a solution and is well aware of all it entails.”

Luo Binghe stepped around Ning Yingying and moved into Shen Yuan’s space. He raised a hand to Shen Yuan’s chin and tipped Shen Yuan’s face up. Shen Yuan moved easily in tandem, his lips parting softly.

Luo Binghe’s eyes were warm.

“This lord will bring Husband Shen to his father and will accompany him for as long as he needs.”

A hint of smile flew across Luo Binghe’s lips as he spoke, and Shen Yuan’s mouth went dry.

Luo Binghe dropped his hand and turned towards Ning Yingying. Shen Yuan took the space to collect his breath.

“Any more concerns, Wife Ning?”

Ning Yingying paused, looking between the two of them, then shook her head.

“No, A’Luo. If this is what you wish, then I will do my best to watch over the palace in your absence.”

She spoke to Luo Binghe’s back. The emperor didn’t turn around to face her, instead keeping his attention on Shen Yuan.

“This lord never speaks without conviction, Wife Ning,” he replied, voice tinged with cold. “Maintain the household as is expected.”

Shen Yuan barely perceived their interaction. His thoughts were a tangled mess he could only poke at.

“Wait, wait, Lord Luo.” Shen Yuan found his voice. “You’ll actually come with me?”

As soon as the words were spoken, Shen Yuan cringed.

He’d meant to ask any number of things for clarification, to begin untangling his emotions and Luo Binghe’s spontaneous plans. He hadn’t intended to sound absolutely pathetic.

“Yes,” Luo Binghe replied simply with an easy smile directed at Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan was once again at a loss for words. His heart was beating rapidly, though he hadn’t done anything.

Was this what the wives felt like when they had Lord Luo’s full attention?

Ning Yingying cleared her throat, finally drawing Luo Binghe’s attention and giving Shen Yuan another moment to breathe.

Shen Yuan briefly considered seeking out a physician to ask about his chest pain, but he didn’t have the time to worry about it now. Maybe when he returned.

“Is Yingying jealous of this lord leaving with another husband?” Lord Luo teased, though the words had an unnecessarily sharp bite that even Shen Yuan could hear.

Ning Yingying’s flinched slightly, and though Luo Binghe was still turned away, he had clearly caught the movement. The easy smile shifted into something bitter.

“This wife will miss her husband dearly. As she does whenever he leaves her side,” Ning Yingying responded, the words somewhat unnatural in their lack of emotion. “This wife will have to seek comfort from the second and third wives.”

Luo Binghe snarled, and for a moment, Shen Yuan expected him to turn back and swipe at Ning Yingying.

Though, Shen Yuan probably hadn’t read the situation properly. Why would the most adored couple in the realm be arguing?

Maybe it was foreplay?

Luo Binghe’s sharp canines were quite captivating. They looked just as sharp as a Jade-Eyed Bear’s.

“Husband Shen,” Luo Binghe spoke, addressing Shen Yuan rather than responding to Ning Yingying. “This lord will be ready to leave within half a shichen. Is that acceptable?”

“Wha.. Oh! Oh, yes, I’m already packed,” Shen Yuan responded in a jumble. “I’m able to leave whenever Lord Luo is willing!”

“Good,” Luo Binghe replied. “This lord will bathe and meet you by the main gates.”

Without a backward glance, Luo Binghe strode down the hallway, presumably to his own quarters. Shen Yuan attempted to kill the thought that Lou Binghe only needed to bathe because he had just had sex with First Wife Ning, though the image of a nude, sweaty Luo Binghe kept sneaking in.

“Husband Shen,” Ning Yingying said, pulling his attention back, “How are you feeling?”

Shen Yuan took a deep breath, focusing on the person in front of him. 

A single poke at his current mental state was enough to tell him that he didn’t want to dive any deeper. Too much had happened in a single day. He was not fit to process any of it.

“Our home is not built to host the emperor,” is what he finally managed in response.

Ning Yingying gave a soft laugh.

“A’Luo surrounds himself in luxury, though it is not something he desires from those unable to give it,” she explained. “He will not expect the Shen family to treat him outside of their means.”

Shen Yuan nodded along. “Lord Luo truly is a generous man. Ahh,” he groaned, completely caught a series of new worries, “Should I write ahead? So, my family can at least be prepared? Who am I kidding? What messenger could arrive before Lord Luo?”

“Husband Shen.” Ning Yingying’s voice was firm, once again pulling Shen Yuan’s attention back.

“Hmm?”

She stared at him for a moment, long enough that Shen Yuan felt the urge to check his clothes for a stain.

“Be mindful of your heart,” she eventually spoke.

Shen Yuan blinked back at her.

“This wife remembers when you arrived at the palace,” she continued. “Husband Shen truly adores Emperor Luo, though A’Luo hasn’t thought of Husband Shen for years.”

Shen Yuan flinched at the straightforward charge.

Ning Yingying continued. “As one who has placed her trust in undeserving men more than once, this wife hopes you can learn from her mistakes.”

The concern was clear in her eyes, but Shen Yuan couldn’t piece together why. Luo Binghe was a pragmatic man. Sure, Shen Yuan was hurt that Luo Binghe had forgotten him, but who could have expected anything else? Shen Yuan wasn’t one of the beautiful flowers in his garden. He was a toad, graciously allowed to live in the pond.

Shen Yuan had no illusions about his place in Luo Binghe’s mind. Though he had no idea why Luo Binghe had volunteered to travel with him, he wasn’t foolish enough to think it came from a place of love.

There was no reason at all to worry about his heart.

Most likely, Luo Binghe had undisclosed business in the Red Frost Mountains and was using Shen Yuan as a convenient excuse.

Shen Yuan bowed in acknowledgement. “This husband thanks First Wife Ning for her concern. He will take her words to heart.”

With a strained smile, Shen Yuan avoided Ning Yingying’s overbearing gaze and walked away as fast as he could without being obvious.

 

 

art by Worm / @softandworm

 

Notes:

First and foremost, THE ART!! THE ARTTT!! 💕💕💕 ITS GORGOUS! HILARIOUS! ABSOLUTE PERFECTION!

Every chapter of this fic has a corresponding artwork! All of which was done by the wonderful, amazing, stunning Worm!!! Please give them lots and lots of love for their artwork!! I'm so in love with every single piece and feel so absolutely honored that such a talented artist created so much for my fic!! ((I'm so excited for everyone to be able to see them!!))

Follow Worm on Twitter, and like/share/retweet the artwork here!!!

 

Notes on the fic:
1. The whole fic is written! and I'll publish a chapter every 3 days. Chapter 2 will be published this Friday, May 24th ( the whole fic will be posted by June 1st!)

2. For time and distance:
• a. 1 shichen = 2 hours
• b. 1 chi = ~ 1 ft = ~0.5 meter
• c. 1 li = 500 meters
• d. For fellow writers (or anyone interested), I highly recommend this page on Chinese Weights and Measures

3. Aaaah, okay, OC names.

If you care, here’s some thoughts on my OC naming process

I am not Chinese and only have one year’s worth of study in Mandarin, so it’s def not perfect. I pulled names from Chinese actors/actresses (for everyone except Luo Xuanyu, whose name I made up so it could match his brother), so all of these are real Chinese names. However, I have no idea how these sound within the world of svsss or in a historical context. (Also, w the Shens, their 'first' names are all real names from actors, but I had to attach the 'first' names to the given name, Shen, so hopefully all of the names combined okay.) If anything seems strange, please let me know, I’m happy to learn and rewrite! And for anyone curious, all the names their meanings will be in the other drop-downs.

Additional OC Harem info

Harem Members:
• Guo Haoyu, 郭(surname/wall that surrounds city) 昊宇(vast universe), 123rd wife, demon, youngest daughter of noble family, into harem at 17, currently 24
• Li Xingmei, 李 (surname/plum tree) 星 (star/heavenly body) 美 (beauty), wife who taught Shen Yuan how to cook. They meet at least once a week for tea
• Huang Wei, 黄 (surname/yellow) 薇 (archaic name for vetch [a flowering plant] / rose), the wife who enjoys weiqi and makes Shen Yuan play weiqi with her
• Qi Shuai, 齐 (surname) 帅 (handsome/elegant), wife who taught Shen Yuan the basics of cultivation. She shares Shen Yuan’s loves for beasts, though she enjoys hunting them more than studying them
• Chi Peng 遲 (surname/late) 蓬 (fleabane [daisy-like flower]), 23rd wife, has two children, Shen Yuan babysits for her / tutors the children
• Chi Peng’s children:
• • • Luo Xuanqi 洛 (surname, the river, from lbh) 轩 (high/lofty) 琦 (fine jade), 12 years old
• • • Luo Xuanyu 洛 (surname, the river, from lbh) 轩 (high/lofty) 钰 (treasure / precious), 10 years old

Additional OC Shen Family info

The Shens were the hardest for me, because I wanted the names to all make sense together. I don’t know if I’ve accomplished that, but there was some thought that went into it. All of them have 1 character names, and the boys’ names all denote strength. Shen Xiu, the Meimei and only girl, gets an elegant name instead. The names are also all simpler characters (fewer strokes than average). So, their names fit into the idea of the Shens being a literate, main merchant family of a village, but still, at their heart, a family of hardworking farmers.

The Shens:
• Shen Zhao, 沈 (surname) 钊 (to encourage, to strain), father, Fuqin/Die
• Ye Qing, 叶 (surname, leaf) 青 (green grass/young crops), mother, Muqin/Niang
• Shen Hong, 沈宏 Hong (wide, spacious, great), oldest brother, Da-ge
• • • Hu Shan, 胡珊 Hu (surname, recklessly), Shan (coral), Shen Hong’s wife
• Shen Jun, 沈军 Jun (army, military), second brother, Er-ge / Er-di
• Shen Yuan, 沈垣 Yuan (wall / city), third brother, San-ge / San-di
• Shen Xiu, 沈秀 Xiu (flowering, elegant), youngest, sister, Meimei

4. I spent a solid amount of time reading html tutorials just so I could figure out how to make those drop-downs (this is the peak of my coding career)