ATLAS TRANSLATES

Prince Chen, Liu Chu, stood up from the cushioned seat, his dark eyes calm and quiet as he watched Lu Yun’s personal maid, Jinyue, and several other maids take neatly folded, soft clothes from the incense burner to help Lu Yun change.

Lu Yun, recovering from an injury at home, had been casually draped in an old robe, his demeanor lazy and his features striking.

Jinyue, who was passionate about perfuming clothes and grooming, always made sure her young master looked his best.

Now, Lu Yun changed into a wide-sleeved white robe, loosely tied at the waist with a jade belt.

His face was clean and fair, and his expression suddenly became serious.

The casual, lazy air around Lu Yun vanished as he opened his eyes, transforming back into the aloof, snow-capped mountain-like figure that outsiders were accustomed to seeing.

As he changed, Jinyue seized the opportunity to explain to Liu Chu in a soft voice why they needed to go out.

Jinyue said, “Miss Luo is a guest after all, and she’s quite pitiful.”

Liu Chu nodded slightly.

He remained silent for a while, organizing his thoughts, running them through his mind three or four times before speaking.

“Xuanchen, are you going to play the hero and save the beauty?”

Liu Chu was very surprised.

“You… you… you actually know how to save the beauty?”

Jinyue nodded repeatedly, pleased.

At the same time, Lu Yun’s voice, as clear and melodious as the clinking of jade, lazily replied, “No.”

Jinyue: “…?!”

She looked up at her young master in confusion: Had all her efforts to explain how pitiful Miss Luo was been in vain?

She had received quite a few gifts from Miss Luo.

Liu Chu also raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Before leaving, Lu Yun still had a somewhat frivolous air.

He smiled, his brilliance like a shining pearl, causing the maids in the room to blush and lower their heads, not daring to look at him directly.

Under the surprised gazes of Jinyue and Liu Chu, Lu Yun raised his hand and touched his chin.

“We’re going to watch the show.”

Jinyue: “…”

Her expression was almost saying, “Young master, you have no compassion.”

Lu Yun chuckled lightly, casually slinging an arm around Liu Chu’s shoulder while waving off Jinyue and the others, indicating they didn’t need to follow.

“My cousin is not the obedient, well-bred lady you might think, A-Man (Liu Chu’s nickname)…”

Liu Chu whispered, “But… Jinyue said she’s… pitiful…”

Lu Yun scoffed.

“Still different.”

Lu Yun continued, “We’re going to watch the show. My aunt is straightforward and might not be able to handle my cousin. She might even end up at a disadvantage… We’re not going to back her up. We’ll sneak in through the back door and watch quietly…”

Jinyue and the other maids and servants stood anxiously under the corridor, watching as Lu Yun and Liu Chu walked further away.

Once outside, Lu Yun stood tall and straight, like a pine tree or a crane.

With his wide sleeves, flowing belt, and adorned with gold and jade, Lu Yun was exceptionally outstanding, walking ahead of Liu Chu.

No one would have guessed that Lu Yun was going to watch Luo Lingwei’s embarrassment—

Many people were probably waiting to see Luo Lingwei’s downfall.

This Miss Luo was skilled in social maneuvering, her actions always purposeful.

Since arriving at the Lu family, she had overshadowed the other cousins.

The young masters’ attention often revolved around her, leaving the cousins with mixed feelings.

While they didn’t necessarily wish for Luo Lingwei’s misfortune, her being taken by Madam Lu as an example brought a certain sense of schadenfreude.

The hall was silent, and everyone stood outside with strange expressions. Madam Lu and Luo Lingwei had gone inside the tent to talk. Those waiting outside were unsure what to do.

Lu Xian, the second young master, glanced around the room and saw the youngest, Lu Chang, almost burying himself in the doorway.

Lu Xian called the young boy over.

Once the other young masters and ladies realized what was happening, they all gathered around Lu Chang, asking what had happened.

Lu Chang looked up, seeing a group of older brothers and sisters surrounding him.

As a young, illegitimate boy, Lu Chang had never received so much attention before. He was both flattered and frightened, on the verge of tears again.

Inside the green tent, only Madam Lu sat, while Luo Lingwei stood.

Madam Lu’s expression was as cold as ever, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes deep, making her seem very difficult to get along with. She glanced coldly at Luo Lingwei, seeing the woman’s slender waist and alluring figure, her dislike growing stronger.

Just as Madam Lu was about to speak, Luo Lingwei quickly bowed and spoke first:

“I apologize for disrupting my cousins’ studies.”

Madam Lu: “…”

Her words were cut off, leaving her momentarily speechless.

The corners of her mouth twitched upward a couple of times, and her expression softened slightly.

“It’s good that Miss Luo understands.”

Luo Lingwei’s expression stiffened uncomfortably as she secretly observed Madam Lu.

It seemed that Madam Lu was straightforward and preferred direct communication, not beating around the bush.

Luo Lingwei’s heart was tangled, constantly adjusting her attitude toward Madam Lu—when under someone else’s roof, facing the lady of the house, should she humble herself and apologize, or should she resist and fight for her rights?

The old Marquis of the Lu family was in Jiaozhou, while the matriarch, due to her frail health, remained in Jianye.

However, because of her age and health, the internal and external affairs of the Lu family had always been managed by Madam Lu.

With no daughters in the family, only sons, Madam Lu had little to do but oversee the young masters’ studies.

Now, with Lu Xian, the second young master, of marriageable age, Madam Lu was anxious about her son’s marriage while also guarding against women who might corrupt him.

In Madam Lu’s eyes, the woman most likely to corrupt Lu Xian, based on her looks, figure, skills, and talents, was undoubtedly Luo Lingwei.

Luo Lingwei lowered her eyes: If she were to bow her head completely in front of Madam Lu, she would have to prepare to do so for the rest of her life; if she resisted fiercely, she would have to prepare to be thoroughly disliked and possibly mistreated by Madam Lu.

If she were to consider Madam Lu as her future mother-in-law, bowing her head for a lifetime would be fine; if Madam Lu were not her future mother-in-law, even if her family was currently down on its luck, she was still a lady from a noble family.

Madam Lu already disliked her, and if she were to treat her harshly, as long as she married well, it wouldn’t matter.

She wasn’t a member of the Lu family, so Madam Lu had no authority over her marriage.

As for her marriage, given her background, relying on elders was out of the question.

She could only rely on a young master’s affection for her, which reduced the conflict with Madam Lu’s dislike.

Having thought this through, Luo Lingwei slightly raised her head.

“Madam, I have something to say. I admit my fault in disrupting my cousins’ studies, but I believe the fault does not lie solely with me. The Lu family’s young masters are all outstanding, but focusing solely on their studies isn’t good. They should also have time to relax and play.”

Madam Lu’s face darkened.

“So this is your reason for constantly hosting banquets?”

Luo Lingwei replied, “I’ve never heard that sending an invitation means the recipient must attend. I’ve sent invitations to you as well, Madam, but you’ve never attended. Whether one attends is up to the individual, not me.”

Madam Lu retorted, “Before you, there was never…”

Luo Lingwei interrupted, “Before me, the household often hosted banquets. I’ve never heard you say anything about it.”

Madam Lu’s face was stern, thinking to herself that this woman was unlike anyone else—she had never seen such a bewitching young lady before…

But Madam Lu, coming from a prestigious family with strict upbringing, would never say such harsh words.

Luo Lingwei continued, “Interaction between young men and women is beneficial for fostering good relations between families and for integrating what they’ve learned. A gentleman should broaden his horizons, not be swayed by external things, and remain composed even in the face of great challenges. If a woman can sway a young man’s character… then how fragile must he have been before?”

Madam Lu, infuriated by her sharp tongue, breathed heavily.

“You… you… you certainly have a lot of grand theories!”

Luo Lingwei raised her beautiful eyes and softly asked, “Am I wrong?”

Madam Lu gritted her teeth.

“Go on! Let’s see how many grand theories you have.”

…

Inside the tent, Luo Lingwei spoke eloquently, her voice as clear as jade.

Outside, the crowd buzzed around Lu Chang.

In the back room, the window lattice was gently propped open, and the figures of two young men flashed by.

After dismissing the servants in the courtyard, Liu Chu watched as Lu Yun, who had propped open the window, smiled slightly.

He walked over and also heard the woman’s voice from inside the tent.

Lu Yun and Liu Chu looked over, the screen blocking their view, but they could vaguely see the standing woman’s well-proportioned figure, though her face was unclear.

The two young men listened intently, hearing every word of Luo Lingwei’s rebuttal to Madam Lu.

Liu Chu was extremely surprised—wasn’t this supposed to be a pitiful cousin without parents?

How could a typical pitiful cousin dare to challenge the lady of the house like this?

Lu Yun lowered his head and laughed, his eyes sparkling.

He clicked his tongue.

Inside the tent, Luo Lingwei’s speech finally came to an end.

“…Therefore, even if I am at fault, the fault does not lie entirely with me.”

For a while, only Madam Lu’s heavy breathing could be heard, clearly indicating she was furious.

After a long pause, Madam Lu finally said, “Miss Luo, you have quite the silver tongue. You insisted on speaking to me inside the tent, not just to save my face, but also to save your own.”

Luo Lingwei nervously lowered her head.

She didn’t want to oppose Madam Lu, but she couldn’t afford to appear weak.

Once she showed weakness, she would never be able to regain her strength.

Madam Lu would never like her; she only had—only had—

Suddenly, a woman’s loud laughter came from outside.

“Why are you all standing here as if you’re being punished? Where’s Lingwei? Why isn’t the hostess present at her own banquet?”

Madam Lu’s brow twitched as she recognized the voice—it was Lu Ying.

The only daughter of the Lu family’s matriarch, Madam Lu’s sister-in-law, and Luo Lingwei’s aunt.

Lu Ying, with her many titles, had come to support Luo Lingwei.

Madam Lu’s expression shifted uncertainly as she looked at the graceful young lady standing before her.

She opened her mouth to ask if Luo Lingwei had sent someone to fetch Lu Ying, but then she heard a young lady’s voice from outside—”Aunt, Miss Luo isn’t the hostess; I am.”

It was Miss Wang explaining to Lu Ying.

Madam Lu’s eyes immediately flickered as she looked at Luo Lingwei.

Luo Lingwei bowed.

“I’m not the hostess. Madam, shall we go out to greet Aunt?”

Madam Lu: “…”

So, this entire farce had been her misunderstanding Luo Lingwei from start to finish?

And Luo Lingwei hadn’t said anything outside… still saving her face?

…

Luo Lingwei raised her head, a light sheen of sweat on her forehead from the tension.

But the corners of her lips curled up, pleased with herself for resolving the conflict.

As she helped Madam Lu out, Luo Lingwei’s gaze casually swept the room and suddenly froze as she met a pair of smiling eyes outside the window.

The eyes disappeared in a flash, but Luo Lingwei was so startled that her mind went blank.

She couldn’t be mistaken—there was only one person with such beautiful eyes, and that was Lu Yun—had he been spying on her?!

Was he concerned about her or just watching her make a fool of herself?!

Author’s Note: Luo Lingwei: …He must be tsundere—he secretly has a crush on me!