What if someone that grew up with Yue Qingyuan and Shen Qingqiu recognized them one day...
Maybe the servant of some lord at the sect to discuss dealings, and they see two people they never expected to see much less see succeed so well.
That dreaded duo, the inseperable two, Xiao-Jiu and Qi-ge. Theyve got a bite mark scar on their forearm from the time they got brave and tried to take a spot from Xiao-Jiu.
And there he is. The feral child from the streets that fought everyone.
Aloof. Lofty. Beautiful. But that same glare he used back then, sharpened by his refined features.
Then they see Yue Qi. Strong, powerful, but with that familiar placating smile honed in their past.
Okay now imagine the two peak lords had been on good terms with this person. The bite mark was how they first met.
Okay now imagine it's Shen Yuan, who had no idea that his friends from the streets in this horrible second life would become THEM.
Shen Yuan tries to hide himself a bit but... Well. He isn't exactly meant to hide. He's a concubine, and a very poorly treated one that's used as eye candy.
He enters the meeting with the lord of his household and in a swift motion is pulled onto his lap.
He looks uncomfortable and ashamed, trying to hide his face from all the powerful cultivators that would want to look down on him... And to hide his shame from Shen Jiu and Yue Qi.
And everyone in the room notices the poor concubine on that disgusting mans lap. Of course they do. But he grabs the attention of the two he least wanted to recognize him. The one that was taken first out of the three of them. The only one with a name of his own.
And they see how that bright and hopeful slave boy they once knew receeds into himself as he's displayed to be oggled.
Yue Qingyuan and Shen Qingqiu's eyes meet and there's a spark of one thought between the two of them.
They want this lord worse than dead. They want him thrown into ruin and exciled from society, and to pry Shen Yuan out of his grasp and into theirs.
So for the first time in years, the two get together in a secret meeting that night in the halls of Qiong Ding and form a plan.
They're not letting this man leave the mountian with Shen Yuan.
Shen Yuan is shocked to see them that morning speaking with his lord, who has a greedy look in his eyes.
"Yuan-er, come here." He's beckoned over and steels himself as he does as he's told, before he's forcibly turned to face Yue Qingyuan.
"I'm giving you away, my dear. I hope you take good care of Yuan-er." But by his tone he has other ideas in mind for that.
Shen Yuan is shocked? Appalled? Hopeful? Greatful? Angry? Excited? He doesn't know. All of it.
But before he knows it, he's left behind as the man leaves and being guided to the sect leaders home, with Shen Qingqiu in tow.
"Now, Zhangmen-shixiong can't have a concubine" Shen Qingqiu says as he personally begins to measure Shen Yuan for a new set of robes.
"He can't?" Shen Yuan asks, still dazed and without even a hello how are you.
"No of course not. So you will be wed to him as his wife. As well as mine." and Yue Qingyuan happily nods behind him as he carries over a tray of sweets.
"Wh- Wait huh? What are you talking about!? I can't marry both of you-!"
"Of course you can, we'll be wed to each other." Shen Qingqiu affirms
"You- You're cutsleeves?" Shen Yuan stares at them in surprise, and Yue Qingyuan laughs.
"Xiao-Jiu and I decided long ago that we would all marry if we ever found you again. When we saw you, we knew we wanted to keep that decision."
"But- Don't I get a say in this!?"
"Do you not wish to be wed to us?" Shen Qingqiu flicks open his fan and raises a brow.
"... I mean... I... I never considered but... Well I mean..." Shen Yuan mumbles out before his cheeks turn pink. He may not be gay but it's a much better situation to what he had.
A year later, he's very gay, very loved, and got to watch with glee as the man he was a concubine for falls to ruin and rumor.
