ATLAS TRANSLATES

Lu Yun found it hard to understand women’s moods.

Just yesterday, he had privately humbled himself to please her. She had been breathless, pink-cheeked, and dramatically exclaiming life and death beneath him. Lu Yun felt their conflict was resolved. Though he was annoyed when General Wei Cong suddenly interrupted them, overall he felt quite satisfied.

After all, he had explained that his “seeking death” wasn’t actually seeking death – he had backup plans and the risk to his life was minimal.

Lu Yun pondered: Perhaps because the risk to his life was so small, because it was death he could control himself, it was useless against the death tribulation?

Lu Yun thought he had resolved the issue. So the next morning, when the soldiers were having breakfast before training, Lingyu urgently sent word that the young miss still wanted to pack and leave the mountain. Lu Yun didn’t understand at all. He went to find Luo Lingyu to discuss it. When he entered her tent, he saw her sitting by the bed personally folding clothes to put in her bundle.

There was no one else in the tent. When he entered, she merely lifted her eyelids without raising her beautiful eyes. She focused on folding clothes, her cloudy hair framing her flowery face, gold ornaments swaying gently. The jade-white earrings framed her peach-colored cheeks, swinging like tiny swings that made one’s heart itch. Her hundred-layered skirt trailed on the ground, the hem embroidered with falling plum blossoms. The pink and white silk sash layered over her skirt was truly delicate and beautiful.

Lu Yun walked over and stood behind her, looking down at her. She still had a stern expression and showed no sign of acknowledging him.

Lu Yun’s eyes flickered with a slight fire, his face showing a faint smile as he spoke gently to coax her: “Sister, these clothes look rather old. Let me give you some money to have new ones made? Someone as lovely as you should have new clothes to match.”

Lu Yun reached out: “These old ones, you might as well leave them. Let your brother keep them as a memento.”

Luo Lingyu blocked his reaching hand from behind, annoyed: “Don’t just grab things! For someone from a noble family, how can you not know that old clothes are more comfortable to wear than new ones?”

Lu Yun smiled: “So you’re willing to talk to me now?”

He embraced her from behind. She showed signs of wanting to avoid him, making his heart sink. Lu Yun had no patience for other women – he never needed to coax anyone. With Luo Lingyu, Lu Yun’s patience threshold was lowered again and again. Though she was unwilling, he still sat down and hugged her waist from behind, lifting her to sit on his lap.

This intimate position was unprecedented – Lu Yun was becoming increasingly bold. But Luo Lingyu was completely unwilling. His cool nose nuzzled her neck. Though her face flushed red, she quickly turned away, her body straining to lean away from him as much as possible.

Lu Yun’s expression darkened.

After a long silence, he continued smiling gently, his hands caressing her as he spoke softly: “What’s wrong now? How have I offended you again, hmm? A little coyness is charming, but too much…”

Before he could finish speaking, the woman in his arms suddenly exploded.

Luo Lingyu jumped up, pushed him away, and put three steps of distance between herself and the frowning young man. Lu Yun sat on the bed, his dark eyes coldly watching her. Luo Lingyu held her waist, her figure graceful.

Before Lu Yun could get angry, Luo Lingyu laughed coldly first: “I knew it, you’re always like this. You always think things are just resolved.”

Lu Yun felt extremely annoyed inside, and it showed slightly on his face.

Lu Yun held his forehead, tilting his head to look at her: “Isn’t it resolved? Weren’t you whimpering and crying ‘Brother spare me’ yesterday, very satisfied?”

Luo Lingyu’s face flushed red: such lewd talk!

She said angrily: “That wasn’t my true feelings, you clearly forced that! You’re always like this. Whenever we disagree, you always resolve it this way. Every time I don’t agree with you, every time you don’t want to hear what I have to say, you just come grind against me, kiss me…”

Lu Yun paused, thinking that it was indeed like this.

He had always disliked hearing others’ opinions or being rejected. With Luo Lingyu, whenever she resisted or wouldn’t listen to him, he would just kiss her, hug her, nuzzle her…

A smile appeared on Lu Yun’s face. Light fell on his lashes, trembling, then rippling in his black pupils. He smiled ambiguously: “You don’t like it, hmm?”

Luo Lingyu: “Which eye of yours saw that I liked it?”

Lu Yun raised an eyebrow, his meaning clear: Both eyes saw it. Sister, the way you were entranced, tsk tsk…

Luo Lingyu was extremely embarrassed. When he raised his eyebrow, she felt her heart skip a beat. She angrily stomped her foot, her eyelashes trembling, and told the truth: “…I was just seduced by your looks.”

Lu Yun drawled: “Oh… that’s enough.”

She was just a peerless beauty, each taking what they needed.

Seeing his expression, Luo Lingyu quickly said: “I was just seduced by you, it doesn’t mean I agree with you in my heart.”

Lu Yun didn’t care: “It’s just a kiss.”

Luo Lingyu nearly broke down: “Is that just an ordinary kiss? If I were a bird, you’d want to turn me completely upside down, and not satisfied with just plucking all my feathers, you’d have to shake me twice more! I’d be completely bald from your shaking!”

Lu Yun curved his lips: “…”

His techniques were consistently lingering and affectionate, full of tender care. When he held her, breathing almost touching the woman’s, kissing her neck, smelling behind her ear, sucking on her collarbone… that feeling of dark fire burning, how could a woman resist? Even when Luo Lingyu reminded herself to level up, once in front of Lu Yun, she couldn’t help but be led by him.

It was her fault for truly liking him, truly being seduced by his looks.

Such words from Luo Lingyu pleased Lu Yun. His eyes curved, peach blossom eyes full of emotion, flying upward with flickering, enchanting light. Lu Yun propped his chin, listening attentively: “Thank you, sister Lingyu, for praising my kissing technique.”

Luo Lingyu: “…Hmph!”

In her heart she thought what are you so proud of, you just rely on having read two more erotic books than me. Wait until I… wait until I… eventually make you submit beneath me, following my commands.

Though Lu Yun joked verbally, he understood Luo Lingyu’s meaning. She felt the problem hadn’t actually been resolved – he was just stalling for time. That’s why she still wanted to leave, still wouldn’t pay attention to him. Lu Yun sighed, his expression fading slightly – such a small matter, back and forth repeatedly, he truly found it annoying.

In the past, if a woman was so persistent, Lu Yun would just leave without a word.

Luo Lingyu lowered her eyes, judging Lu Yun’s expression, judging where his bottom line was. She couldn’t just let everything be as he wanted – he gets what he wants, and when he doesn’t want something she has no say; but she also couldn’t go too far – a little coyness was cute flirting, but too much coyness would truly make Lu Yun tired of her, and then who knows when they could reconcile.

A clever woman should grasp this balance.

Lu Yun now knew what she wanted, but remained silent for a long time, glancing at her. Luo Lingyu was confused by his look, only seeing him lift his robe to stand, saying nothing as he lifted the thick felt curtain and left. The tent was suddenly left with just Luo Lingyu alone, leaving the woman’s face alternating between green and white as she bit her lip. This time, tears truly filled her lashes.

She felt wronged and angry in her heart, unable to bear his attitude. She suddenly threw herself onto the bed, crying: “What’s so great! Who needs you… you get unhappy just from being told off a bit… I won’t pay attention to you anymore in the future! Wuwuwu… bastard Lu Yun, wuwuwu…”

When Lu Yun lifted the curtain to come back in, he saw her lying on the bed crying, and heard her sobbing and cursing him. Lu Yun’s steps slowed – at one moment his heart ached seeing her shoulders shake with crying, at another moment hearing her crying and whimpering seemed lovable and pitiable.

Lu Yun put down what he was carrying, sat down and laughingly hugged her back from behind, his fingers wiping away her tears as he teased: “Yingying, why are you cursing me behind my back again? You must curse me eight hundred times a day?”

His fingers couldn’t wipe away enough tears, so he used his sleeve to wipe them. Seeing her sobbing and hiccuping, her shoulders trembling, her eyes and nose all wet. And… her makeup was smeared. Usually he would tease Luo Lingyu about smeared makeup to make her nervous; but when she truly became a little flower cat, he didn’t say anything. Lu Yun held back for a long time, but still couldn’t resist, and turned his face away.

Luo Lingyu immediately punched his shoulder, breaking down: “Are you laughing? Are you secretly laughing?! I’m so angry I could die and you can still laugh!”

She pouted, glaring at him full of resentment. Then she turned to hug his neck, rubbing her tears into the hollow of his neck. Luo Lingyu after all had endless small tricks, knowing that Lu Yun’s return meant something, knowing where her advantages lay, knowing the ways between men and women – the more she nuzzled him and pouted at him, hugging and snuggling against him, the more he would love her.

The woman was both coy and pretty, her beauty and allure carved into his bones, captivating his heart.

Making the young lord lower his eyes, holding her hand, kissing and sucking her fingers, earning a “yi” sound from the woman. Lu Yun actually knew her little thoughts in his heart, but was ultimately put in a good mood by her coquettishness. One hand hugging her, one hand taking out the paper he had brought and handing it to the teary-eyed woman in his arms to look at.

Lu Yun reached out to pinch her nose, not gently: “Heartless one, I write something for you, yet you curse me behind my back.”

Luo Lingyu sniffled, trying hard to hold back the tears that were deliberately making him feel distressed, rubbing her eyes to look at the paper he handed over. The ink was not yet dry on the paper, the calligraphy bold and flowing, a master calligrapher’s work – one look showed it came from the scholar Lu Yun. Luo Lingyu’s heart pounded, admiring her future husband’s artistic cultivation before looking at what he had written—

Lu Yun had written two rules regarding the two of them on the paper.

First, he would never joke about matters of life and death, and if such matters arose in the future, he would never conceal anything, speaking without reserve and telling all there was to tell; second, Luo Lingyu would not embarrass him or make him lose face in front of others in the future. They could argue in private, but couldn’t make Lu Yun lose face in front of others.

Luo Lingyu read carefully, and was handed a rabbit hair brush: “If you agree, then sign. In the future we’ll act according to this agreement, and won’t argue about such problems anymore.”

Luo Lingyu was satisfied in her heart, seeing that he had already signed his name, she then signed her name after his. As she signed, Lu Yun looked down at her, indulgent amusement rising in his eyes. After she finished writing, the paper was torn in half, each keeping one half, both sides finally satisfied. Having achieved her goal, Luo Lingyu found Lu Yun pleasing to look at no matter how she looked at him.

She thought how lucky she was – the young lord she loved was not only talented and good looking, he was also sensible and understanding, quick to catch on, not needing her to explain at length what she was angry about.

Hugging the young lord’s neck, Luo Lingyu raised her face, speaking softly and intimately: “Brother Xuechen, after arguing all morning, does your head hurt, are you hungry? Let me make you a meal? Just for you alone, no one else gets any. Brother Xuechen doesn’t like sharing things with others, you like having things just for yourself, I know.”

The beauty looking up eagerly should have been pleasing to the eye. But she didn’t know that her crying had smeared her makeup, her face streaked red and black, sticky and messy. Lu Yun was still so bad, seeing it but not saying anything, just silently laughing to himself, his shoulders shaking with held-back laughter.

Lu Yun said seriously: “Thank you sister Lingyu for being so considerate, then please go ahead.”

Luo Lingyu happily made an “mm” sound, no longer packing her bundle, getting up to give him a kiss before gracefully leaving. Lu Yun sat in the tent waiting, lowering his gaze, and sure enough after a while, heard footsteps running back outside, someone panting angrily, a woman’s voice furious: “Lu Yun! Come out here—”

Knowing he had been found out, Lu Yun fell back laughing on the bed: “Hahaha…”

…

In everyone’s eyes, after Lu Yun and Miss Luo argued, they strangely made up again after two or three days. Luo Lingyu no longer said she wanted to leave the mountain, playing her role as the gentle little beauty again, showing concern for people in the military camp. Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu were inseparable, making people very surprised. When chatting idly, some soldiers curiously asked Lu Yun how he had won the lady’s favor.

Lu Yun avoided the topic.

Those shameless things he did, he naturally wouldn’t let others know.

And Luo Lingyu truly gave him face in front of others, even specifically apologizing for slapping him; witnessed by everyone, Lu Yun also condescended to apologize, saying he shouldn’t have made her angry.

The two of them sweet and affectionate, putting on an act, made the soldiers in the army envious, and also made other Nanyang ladies who had come up the mountain hoping to hook up with Lu Yun leave disappointed.

After being lovey-dovey for several days, after Luo Lingyu went down the mountain, she also came back several times to visit Lu Yun, bringing winter clothes and food for the soldiers in the camp. After several times, the soldiers all knew Miss Luo would bring necessities when she came, and all looked forward to Luo Lingyu’s arrival. Until late in the eleventh month, the day before the winter solstice.

When Luo Lingyu came up the mountain again, comforting the soldiers together with Lu Yun, suddenly the ground shook violently, and she staggered back several steps, falling into Lu Yun’s arms. The originally relaxed soldiers immediately became alert, standing up and sending people to investigate. Lu Yun’s expression was grave, and after a while received news that the northern army had begun a strong counterattack, reaching the city walls, attacking the city again.

Lu Yun immediately had someone contact General Wei, not staying long on the mountain, but going down to provide aid. He hurriedly had someone send Luo Lingyu back, and Luo Lingyu didn’t say anything at the time, but halfway down in the carriage, she got out and went to the main army’s camp at the foot of the mountain. Observing Lu Yun’s expression, she knew this battle was strange and feared it would be difficult to handle. As a weak woman, her urgent duty was to help save lives and heal the wounded in the rear, help brew porridge and prepare food, relieving pressure for the soldiers on the front lines.

The northern army’s attack this time had very strong firepower.

The southern army resisted with all their might, but the number of casualties still kept climbing.

General Wei and Lu Yun and others were facing a great enemy, discussing daily why the enemy army’s firepower had suddenly become so fierce, what help they had received. The two men’s expressions were grim – they could still resist just the northern army; but if the northern army had reinforcements, the southern army would be isolated.

The fires of war blazed, consuming the north.

…

When the northern war fires ignited, due to poor information transmission, the southern capital Jianye did not immediately learn of the battle situation. However, on the day the northern army bombarded the southern army’s city gates, on the court, Lu Xian’s eyelids kept twitching, vaguely having an ominous premonition. This premonition came strongly, making him distracted, causing him to miss participating in the confrontation between political enemies on the court.

After the morning court ended, Lu Xian did not leave the imperial city, going directly to his office to work. Today many scrolls were submitted to the Minister of Works’ office, all needing Lu Xian to organize alone. Organizing until noon, extremely tired, Lu Xian fell asleep on his desk. In this sleep, his prophetic dream with confused timelines, coming from an unknown time, returned again—

Snow mountains vast and majestic, guests arriving like returning home, white clothes whiter than snow.

Under the fires of war at the city gates, mixed with smoke and blood, buried countless corpses. Both sides battling, there was a scholar who secretly crossed over, returning from the northern country, coming to Nanyang to seek Lu Yun.

This person wore a tall crown and jade belt, his robes flowing elegantly, his every movement showing the scholarly refinement of the young nobles of Jianye. When he raised his eyes, amidst the filth, revealing his own face, the observing wandering soul Lu Xian immediately shook. And seeing him look at Lu Yun, smiling as he spoke: “Yan has returned, seeing Third Cousin, I cannot contain my joy.”

Lu Yun’s expression moved slightly, grasping the newcomer’s hand. As if realizing something, he welcomed the young lord into the tent to talk in detail.

And the observing Lu Xian was shocked, dazed: this young lord… was his cousin, his aunt’s only son, Miss Luo’s cousin brother, Luo Yan.

After returning to Jianye with his mother, Luo Yan studied for two years before going to travel and study around the world. Not returning for two consecutive years, even his mother Lu Ying herself wasn’t worried, so naturally no one in the Lu family asked about Luo Yan’s whereabouts. Lu Xian had always thought this cousin was traveling and studying between the various provinces of the southern country.

Only in the dream’s vision did he learn that Luo Yan had somehow gone to the northern country!

Luo Yan’s return brought an explosive piece of news.

…

Lu Xian woke from the dream with a start, sweating profusely, rushing to his desk to write a letter, his cursive writing dancing wildly, he hurriedly wanted to finish this letter to send to his third brother. Only hoping it would arrive in time, hoping his third brother would be prepared in advance!

Having had this dream, seeing his white-robed cousin Luo Yan in the dream, only at this moment did all the information from the dream piece together completely, only now did he finally understand exactly how his third brother died!

The southern court’s refusal to send grain when summoned, the northern princess’s slander, the northern provinces’ distrust of Lu Yun refusing to fight alongside him, the assassination by a strange youth in the snow mountains… plus this explosive news that Luo Yan brought!

All of these came together to cause his third brother’s death!

Reality and the dream were already different, but what was meant to come would still come. Writing the letter, Lu Xian’s hands shook, reminding himself: Quickly, faster! Only by grasping all this in advance could third brother escape trouble!

…

Under the fires of war, Luo Lingyu was helping bandage the wounded in the military camp. This day, she received an honored guest, the guest specifically asking to see her. Luo Lingyu was very surprised, not knowing when she had gained such face. She washed up, tidied her appearance before being led by a soldier to see the person.

In the tent, the youth turned around first, looking over with deep eyes.

Luo Lingyu was startled: “Prince Hengyang! Weren’t you in Ruyang, how did you come to Nanyang?”

Liu Mu said softly: “I was originally in Ruyang, saved someone, this person insisted on coming to Nanyang to see Lu Yun. When I mentioned you, he became even more excited… this person claims to be your cousin brother.”

Behind Liu Mu, another young lord turned around, smiling as he looked at the young woman standing at the tent entrance. Luo Yan’s features were gentle, combining the bloodlines of both the Lu and Luo families, his appearance was very good. When he clasped his hands in greeting, it made Luo Lingyu step forward to support him.

Luo Lingyu: “Cousin! It really is you… how are you here, Aunt said you were traveling and studying.”

Luo Yan had originally been looking at this sister with gentle eyes – his relationship with Luo Lingyu was closer than with ordinary people. But hearing Luo Lingyu say this, Luo Yan remembered the urgent matter, frowning: “Hearing Prince Hengyang say that the strategic deployment here is Third Cousin’s responsibility? I have important news to tell Third Cousin, quickly take me to see him!”

Luo Lingyu’s eyes flickered, agreeing, having a servant go deliver the message.

She and Luo Yan were cousins in name, growing up together in childhood, Luo Yan acting as her brother, loving her much more than his mother did. But since Ruyang city fell and Luo Lingyu was separated from her aunt’s family, counting down it had been five years since Luo Lingyu had seen Luo Yan. Not seeing each other for five years, even if she was selfish, she didn’t know what Luo Yan’s character was like now, so she naturally had to stand on Lu Yun’s side, pondering whether her cousin brother would harm people.

After all, the meaning in Prince Hengyang’s unspoken words… seemed to be that Luo Yan came from the northern country.

…

That night, Lu Yun returned and met with Luo Yan. Time was pressing, Luo Yan followed Lu Yun into the tent, having no time for small talk about old times, urgently telling Lu Yun: “Cousin, when I was traveling and studying in the northern country, I received your letters to the scholars. Do you know that the northern country views you as a great enemy – whichever scholar helps you, they arrest them and don’t let them out?”

Lu Yun’s brow twitched: “You were also arrested?”

Luo Yan: “Anyway I escaped… I was in contact with people while being detained, and learned some news. The northern country has captured a gunpowder master, having him develop new explosives to use against the southern country. That master is also proud in temperament, unwilling to hand over the formula, fearing he would die after giving up the formula. Now that gunpowder master is still being held… if cousin has a way, please save him. Once he comes out, the northern country will no longer have new explosives to threaten our southern country.”

Lu Yun glanced at him: “…Your news is late. I’m afraid these explosives have already been put to use by the northern country.”

The new counterattack, the northern country’s firepower was so fierce, so this was the reason.

Luo Yan was stunned, then his face turned pale as he collapsed sitting: “Ah! How can this be? Could the southern country be defeated?”

Lu Yun didn’t answer Luo Yan, but had a thought in his heart, standing up to pace in the camp. His mind was keen, inferring one thing from another. When Luo Yan told him this news, there was no need for Lu Er Lang to write a letter carefully telling him what happened in the dream. Lu Yun’s eyes flickered slightly, light brightening in them as he made a sound—

So that’s how it was.

Snow mountain, one army, enemy country pursuing.

So he led those people to infiltrate deep into the northern country, to rescue those implicated scholars, and to take away that gunpowder master.

Otherwise, General Wei wouldn’t trust him to lead troops into battle alone.

At that time, the situation must have been that General Wei controlled this battle while he went behind enemy lines to rescue people. The enemy pursuit was fierce, he died on a day of heavy snow and fog. But the gunpowder master was successfully sent back to Nanyang, buying time for Nanyang, buying time until supplies could be sent.

Only then could Nanyang achieve great victory.

Only then could the southern country avoid defeat.

…

Lu Yun chuckled softly, muttering: “So that’s how it was.”

Luo Yan was completely bewildered, watching Lu Yun walk out of the tent. Refreshed and invigorated, Lu Yun left the tent, but inadvertently looked up to see Prince Hengyang Liu Mu and Luo Lingyu standing together talking. Though those two had normal expressions, standing together they were like a thorn stabbing Lu Yun’s heart.

Lu Yun was silent for a moment, then spoke: “Your Highness.”

Liu Mu looked over.

Lu Yun said slowly: “Lingyu is already engaged to me, she is now my fiancée.”

Liu Mu: “…”

Frowning, still not understanding what Lu Yun meant.

After speaking, Lu Yun also felt he had said too much. Under Luo Lingyu’s suddenly smiling gaze, Lu Yun maintained his composure, casually making up an excuse: “I am engaged to Lingyu, and have long been acquainted with Your Highness. Shouldn’t Your Highness give us gifts of congratulation?”

Liu Mu: “…”

He was bewildered: …Has this person gone mad wanting gifts? Wait, this approach… why is it a bit like his second brother who speaks nonsensically with no logic to be found? No wonder they’re family?