ATLAS TRANSLATES

The night was alive with the soft glow of lanterns hanging beneath the windows—sheep horn lanterns, red silk lanterns, and others.

As the wind blew, the lanterns swayed, their metal frames clinking against each other, creating a rhythmic, tinkling sound.

Behind several layers of blue and silver curtains, the sounds of music and laughter from men and women seeped through the gaps, drifting out into the night.

A banquet was in full swing, with servants and maids waiting outside.

The music played inside wasn’t performed by professional musicians but by the noble men and women themselves.

In this era, noble men and women prided themselves on their artistic talents, considering it refined to play their own compositions.

This kind of music wasn’t for the servants to enjoy—it was for the nobles to appreciate and critique among themselves, purely for entertainment.

Aside from the musicians, some guests were playing games like pitch-pot and riddles, while others painted, discussed poetry, or played board games like double-six and Go.

The young men and women sat or stood, gathered or alone, each enjoying themselves in their own way.

The banquet was held to bid farewell to Miss Han, who was returning home.

The atmosphere was lively, and everyone was having a good time.

Miss Han and Miss Wang exchanged a few words, and their conversation soon turned to Luo Lingyu.

The two women couldn’t help but scan the room for her.

When they spotted her sitting at a table with an embroidered Go board, facing another young woman, with white and black pieces in hand, they noticed that the game had drawn quite a crowd of onlookers.

Luo Lingyu’s eyes were lowered, her hair elegantly styled, and the soft glow of the lanterns illuminated her figure.

The eyes of the Lu family’s young men, as well as the attention of the other women, were all fixed on her.

Miss Han’s tone was tinged with envy. “This Luo sister is not only beautiful but also incredibly talented. It’s almost too much.”

Miss Wang’s expression was complicated. “I heard she was born in Ruyang, and her family was once a prominent clan. Ruyang is close to the northern states, and the scholars there have always been more skilled than those in the south. She must have learned a wide range of things from a young age. We can’t compare to her.”

The southern states’ love for luxury had developed gradually after the founding of the kingdom, but in terms of scholarly heritage, the south still lagged behind the north.

However, in recent years, as the trend of luxury grew, the noble families in Jianye had begun to catch up, even surpassing the northern states in some respects.

Miss Han sighed, her voice still tinged with jealousy. “Yes, I can’t compare to her. Today, she’s only showcasing her talents within the Lu family, and already the young men are captivated. If she were to step outside the Lu family, it wouldn’t be long before her beauty and reputation spread throughout Jianye.”

“Are the noble ladies of Jianye really going to lose to a country bumpkin?”

Miss Wang hesitated for a moment before saying, “Miss Chen from Scholar Chen’s household might be able to rival her.”

Hearing this, Miss Han’s mind conjured up an image of Miss Chen.

She pursed her lips, displeased, and turned her face away.

Miss Chen from Scholar Chen’s household… She had admired Lu Yun for years but always acted aloof, looking down on the other cousins who lived in the Lu family.

She seemed to be waiting for Lu Yun to come and win her favor.

But how could Third Cousin possibly do that?

If he were to choose, he’d probably pick Luo Lingyu over Miss Chen.

The room was filled with overlapping shadows of men and women.

Lu Xian, the second son of the Lu family, stood behind Luo Lingyu, watching her play Go.

His eyes flickered with admiration as he observed her.

Lu Xian was a quiet man who enjoyed collecting famous Go games.

He could tell that Luo Lingyu’s play wasn’t just about skill—it was about strategy.

She had a clear plan in mind.

Through the game, Lu Xian pondered: This cousin of ours seems to have many thoughts…

Luo Lingyu, holding a white Go piece, smiled faintly, though inwardly she was troubled.

She hesitated, thinking about Lu Yun’s earlier words to her.

His words had left her uncertain—should she hide her talents and avoid drawing too much attention?

But while other women had the luxury of time to slowly build their reputations within the Lu family, she didn’t have that luxury.

She hadn’t expected life in Jianye to be so expensive.

She was struggling to make ends meet, and she didn’t know how much longer she could last.

If she couldn’t marry into a good family within six months, life would become very difficult for her and her sister.

As she played Go, Luo Lingyu’s mind wandered.

Should she secretly sell some of the gifts she had received to make some money?

But the items she used were things only nobles could afford.

Ordinary people wouldn’t buy them.

If she wasn’t careful and someone discovered her financial struggles, how could she continue to stay in the Lu family with dignity?

How frustrating.

Luo Lingyu frowned: It’s all Lu Yun’s fault.

She had put in so much effort, and now this promising cousin seemed to be slipping through her fingers…

Unconsciously, Luo Lingyu looked up and met Lu Xian’s gaze.

Lu Xian was momentarily startled but then gave her a kind and encouraging smile.

Second Cousin was upright and straightforward, not one for complicated thoughts.

He was actually…

Just as she was thinking this, a maid’s voice suddenly announced from outside: “Madam is here!”

Everyone in the room was startled and quickly stood up.

The bamboo curtains were pulled aside, and Madam Lu, dressed in a deep-colored, high-collared robe with long, flowing sleeves, entered with a stern expression, followed by her maids.

Her attire was as somber as the impression she gave—dignified and serious.

With Madam Lu’s arrival, the relaxed atmosphere in the room vanished instantly.

Luo Lingyu stood by the Go board, watching as Second Cousin Lu Xian stepped forward in surprise.

“Mother, why are you here?”

As everyone bowed to Madam Lu, they were all inwardly shocked.

They knew that Madam Lu didn’t usually attend such gatherings, preferring to stay away from these kinds of social events.

Luo Yunhuan, acting like a little adult, stood beside her sister and tugged on Luo Lingyu’s sleeve.

“Sister, look!”

Luo Lingyu followed her sister’s small finger and saw a dejected little boy trailing behind Madam Lu.

The boy looked around nervously, and when his eyes met the Luo sisters, he gave them an anxious look.

Luo Lingyu whispered, “You were sick a few days ago, so you didn’t meet him. That’s Lu Chang, the fourth son of the Lu family. He should call you ‘cousin.’”

Luo Yunhuan snorted. “Look at him… Sister, do you think he’s in trouble?”

Luo Lingyu was deep in thought when Madam Lu was ushered to the seat of honor by the eager Miss Wang.

Madam Lu didn’t even accept the tea offered to her.

Her cold gaze swept over the young men and women in the room, lingering on Luo Lingyu for a moment before moving on.

Luo Lingyu’s heart skipped a beat.

Madam Lu spoke in a calm but firm voice. “Your tutor has informed me that your studies have been lacking recently. When I inquired, I found that none of you were in your rooms studying—instead, you were out playing. So, I’ve taken it upon myself to come here and assess your progress. Qingyao, bring me the records of our young men’s studies for the past month.”

The young men were stunned.

“…”

Lu Xian frowned. “Mother, what are you doing? Can’t this wait until later…”

Madam Lu cut him off sharply. “Quiet! Since Miss Luo arrived, your studies have declined significantly. Don’t you realize that?”

The young men lowered their heads, and the cousins whispered among themselves, not daring to speak up.

The atmosphere grew heavy as Madam Lu sat in the seat of honor, ordering the wine and food to be cleared away and replaced with stacks of silk and paper.

The tutor’s red comments were clearly visible on the pages.

Starting with Lu Xian, Madam Lu began questioning each of the young men about their studies…

Suddenly, Madam Lu said, “Miss Luo, come here and grind ink for me.”

All eyes turned to Luo Lingyu, who blushed deeply at being singled out in such a humiliating manner.

This public reprimand felt like a form of punishment.

Madam Lu didn’t even glance at her again, as if blaming Luo Lingyu for the young men’s poor academic performance.

The cousins, though preoccupied with their own worries, felt a sense of relief that Luo Lingyu was taking the brunt of Madam Lu’s anger.

They couldn’t help but sneak glances at her: Would this cousin storm out in anger?

Luo Lingyu’s expression remained calm.

She whispered a few words to her frowning sister, and Luo Yunhuan nodded after looking up at her.

The little girl, small and delicate, slipped away from her sister’s side.

As she passed the dejected Lu Chang, she suddenly stomped on his foot.

Lu Chang yelped in pain, clutching his foot and looking at her in confusion, only to be met with a glare from the little girl.

Lu Chang was completely baffled.

“…”

Who was this little girl who had just stomped on his foot?

No one stopped Luo Yunhuan as she ran out of the courtyard.

Meanwhile, Luo Lingyu knelt beside Madam Lu, grinding ink as the matriarch continued to scold the young men about their studies.

Madam Lu didn’t even spare her own son, Lu Xian, from her harsh words, leaving him pale and embarrassed.

The other young men fared no better.

Though she was ostensibly criticizing the Lu family’s young men, her words were clearly aimed at Luo Lingyu, implying that she was distracting them from their studies.

From time to time, she also made pointed remarks about how women should stay at home, learn domestic skills, and not wander around…

The cousins blushed with shame.

Miss Han, who had already planned to return home the next day, was on the verge of tears.

How could Madam Lu speak to them like this!

Just because Madam Lu preferred to stay at home, did that mean they had to do the same?

Miss Wang, the hostess of the banquet, wanted to speak up but hesitated.

Her eyes met Luo Lingyu’s, and the latter subtly shook her head, signaling her not to intervene.

Miss Wang bit her lip and remained silent, enduring Madam Lu’s indirect criticisms.

The cousins felt humiliated and thought to themselves: Tomorrow, we’ll leave and return to our own homes. We won’t come back to the Lu family anytime soon.

But while they had homes to return to, Luo Lingyu had no such option.

After scolding everyone until she was hoarse, Madam Lu turned to Luo Lingyu again.

“Miss Luo, don’t you agree? They spend all their time playing instead of studying or striving to improve. Is it proper for young men to waste their time in the company of women?”

Luo Lingyu slowly raised her head.

Everyone’s eyes were on her.

Luo Lingyu spoke calmly and respectfully. “Madam, if you wish to hear my thoughts, may we speak in private?”

Madam Lu raised an eyebrow. “Why? Why not speak here?”

Luo Lingyu lowered her eyes, her tone gentle but firm. “For your own dignity, Madam.”

Madam Lu’s eyes narrowed, and a vein on her forehead twitched.

She studied Luo Lingyu for a moment, her expression shifting several times, before finally nodding.

She stood and followed Luo Lingyu into a side room.

The rest of the room collectively exhaled in relief.

…

In the “Clear Courtyard” of the second branch, two men sat playing Go under a plum blossom canopy—Lu Yun and Liu Chu.

The candlelight flickered, and Lu Yun turned his head to see his maid, Jin Yue, gesturing frantically from outside the window.

She pointed toward the main courtyard: Something’s really happening over there!

Liu Chu glanced over and asked softly, “Xuechen, do you have a lover?”