ATLAS TRANSLATES

As dawn broke, the sky was overcast with grey clouds and a bone-chilling wind blew. After the old emperor finished speaking, he sat in his sedan chair and closed his eyes. Several generals went to report to him about the situation in Jianye, while Prince Chen Liu Chu remained rooted to the spot, his expression stiff as he turned to look at Prince Hengyang Liu Mu, who was surrounded by his men.

Though surrounded by concerned subordinates and covered in various wounds, the young man remained unfazed. Unusually, he was in quite a good mood. He believed his relationship with his elder brother had been mended, believed that the imperial brother who once doted on him had returned… Liu Chu watched him laugh so carefreely and felt another stab in his heart.

Liu Chu knew how heartless the emperor could be. Years ago, this emperor had sacrificed too much for the throne – emotions were a luxury to him. Having finally become emperor, he naturally wanted to enjoy everything he had longed for before. Hence the extravagance, luxury, womanizing, and pursuit of immortality. The one thing he didn’t care about was feelings, and naturally cared even less about Liu Mu.

…A noble prince who had just rescued the emperor from enemy hands, and his reward was to be killed because the emperor feared his embarrassing affairs would become known?

“Father Emperor, Father Emperor—”

As Prince Chen stood silently like a statue, Liu Mu noticed Liu Chu’s subtle gaze. Across the crowd, the youth looked over with innocent questioning eyes. Liu Chu stood still, with large troops under his command and control of the entire Sima Temple. But the order to kill Liu Mu was too difficult to carry out.

It wasn’t worth it at all.

As prisoners were being held and northerners were surrendering, just as Prince Chen showed slight resistance, another cloud of dust rose in the distance, drawing closer – Prince Zhao Liu Huai arriving leisurely. Liu Huai tumbled off his horse in an ungraceful heap, his face filled with grief and eyes brimming with tears. In an imperial family, whose acting skills were worse than whose? Roughly pushing aside the obstructing Liu Chu, Liu Huai threw himself before the emperor’s carriage and cried out with seeming sincerity: “Your son was careless and late in coming to your rescue, Father Emperor, please do not blame me…”

“Your Highness, Your Highness!” The advisors beside Prince Chen Liu Chu urged their lord. Though beautiful in appearance, His Highness was usually decisive – how was it that even after Prince Zhao had arrived, His Highness still hadn’t apprehended Prince Hengyang?

“What’s wrong?” Liu Mu finally noticed something off about Liu Chu’s gaze and pushed through the crowd to approach his nephew.

Liu Mu thought Liu Chu’s strange look meant he had discovered some other plot by the northern enemy forces, so he naturally came forward without hesitation. But Liu Chu remained silent while his advisor spoke urgently: “Your Highness, Your Highness!”

—Your Highness, please give the order quickly, don’t forget Prince Zhao is waiting to clear his name and steal the credit!

But Liu Chu still wouldn’t give the order: With northern forces watching like tigers and the southern kingdom desperately needing talent, sacrificing a prince skilled in warfare just for the emperor’s personal preference was not worth it.

“Prince Chen, His Majesty sent me to ask – what’s wrong? Do you have any questions?” A general squeezed his way to Prince Chen Liu Chu’s side.

“Ah—” A thundering of horses approached like rolling thunder under the red sun, quickly drawing near. The leading youth dismounted gracefully and came forward with his attendants to pay respects to the startled emperor. Seeing Prince Zhao’s evasive gaze, his handsome face showed an intrigued expression as he paused briefly.

Then, unhurriedly, Lu Yun glanced at Liu Chu.

Liu Chu tensed. He raised his eyes, his pupils dark like twilight turned to midnight chill, and looked across at Liu Mu. Under such repeated meaningful gazes, Liu Mu finally began to sense something and stepped back discreetly.

Liu Chu spoke: “Seize him.”

The men beside him had been waiting for this order. As soon as Prince Chen spoke, they pounced like tigers toward Liu Mu and his personal guards. Liu Mu’s guards were startled, while Liu Mu’s eyes suddenly contracted. He immediately resisted, immediately raised his arm, Liu Mu roaring: “Liu Chu—”

But he had only called Liu Chu’s name before he reacted, his gaze weak and hollow as he looked incredulously toward the emperor’s sedan chair. The rising sunlight stung the youth’s eyes painfully. In his ears still seemed to echo the words “Among all people today, none compare to brothers,” while in reality, his imperial brother had once again raised weapons against him…

Liu Mu mumbled: “Why…”

Liu Chu’s heart felt heavy as he watched the youth initially resist before quickly being pressed down by soldiers, forced to kneel. His knees struck the cold, solid earth as the emperor’s sedan chair was raised and the magnificent procession returned to Jianye. Even Prince Zhao, who had conspired with the northerners, faced no consequences at this time, yet Liu Mu who had just risked his life to save the emperor was now being held by the same soldiers he had worked with moments ago.

Liu Mu roared: “Why?!”

“What did I do wrong?”

“What do you want from me?!”

Liu Chu turned away, coldly ordering: “Apprehend Prince Hengyang. The northerners caused trouble in Jianye – this matter must be thoroughly investigated. Prince Hengyang must be seized for questioning.”

His advisor: “Your Highness!”

His Majesty’s order was clearly to kill him on the spot – why take this unnecessary step? This unnecessary step would not earn Liu Mu’s gratitude, and would only invite His Majesty’s blame. Why must Your Highness get involved in such troublesome imperial family grudges?

Liu Chu didn’t explain. Though his eyelashes were long and thick and his features rather delicate, his heart was cold and strong, rarely wavering. Once he made a decision, he would carry it through.

Liu Chu did not want to kill Prince Hengyang. Prince Hengyang was a military talent that the southern kingdom needed. To kill Prince Hengyang just because of one statement from the emperor – Liu Chu was unwilling.

But with everyone watching, he had no justification to release Prince Hengyang on the spot. That would give others ammunition and create trouble for himself.

He could only detain him first, using the excuse of “unable to turn hostile in public” to temporarily placate His Majesty. If Liu Chu didn’t act, someone else would eagerly take on this villainous role. To protect Liu Mu’s life, Liu Chu could only take matters into his own hands first.

Liu Chu had never feared trouble or avoided dangers – he only ever considered what was best for the southern kingdom.

After giving the order, Liu Mu was led away by soldiers, his face pale and dazed. His attendants were outraged, cursing loudly, but Prince Chen remained unmoved, like water off a duck’s back. Prince Chen only turned to give Lu Yun a look, and Lu Yun smiled slightly.

These two friends exchanged a glance, and Liu Chu understood he had been set up by Lu Yun — this scene was probably exactly what Lu Yun wanted him to face. To directly witness the emperor’s cruelty, Prince Zhao’s ambition, Liu Mu’s innocence, and the southern kingdom’s unstable future.

Liu Chu said nothing, mounting his horse with a cold expression, inevitably harboring some resentment toward Lu Yun for setting him up like this. After mounting, the troops followed to return to the city. As the iron cavalry advanced, Liu Chu suddenly heard the horse bell chime and sway in one direction. He turned his head to see an old man standing breathlessly about thirty paces to the side and back.

The old man wore hemp clothes and straw sandals, having run until he was as disheveled as a fleeing refugee. Supporting himself against a tree as he caught his breath, accompanied by a servant carrying bundles. The old man’s face was covered in weathered wrinkles as he stared at everything in confusion and shock.

He blurted out: “Your Highness—”

Liu Mu, being held by the soldiers, trembled all over and raised his head, his keen gaze immediately spotting Master Kong. Master Kong had returned to the capital with him, but being elderly couldn’t keep up with him and had to desperately rush by carriage behind them. Master Kong had finally caught up, only to witness everyone being arrested.

Liu Mu immediately forgot his self-pity and shouted: “Go—”

His face cold: “I dismissed you – you monitored me for all these years on the Empress Dowager’s orders. I’ve had enough of it, get lost! Don’t let me see you again!”

Master Kong’s body trembled, his clouded eyes contracting as if in pain. He could see the situation was wrong and stepped back, but being old and frail, he realized he couldn’t escape and had to stop.

Master Kong trembled as he stepped forward: “Prince Chen, I don’t know how my master has offended you. He’s young and hot-tempered, doesn’t know when he’s done wrong – I beg Your Highness to show mercy…”

Liu Mu cursed loudly: “Old fool, who asked for your pleading?! Get lost, get lost, get lost! You think I don’t know what you’re really after? Old fool, get out of the way!”

Master Kong continued begging Prince Chen: “Your Highness…”

The old man pleaded while the youth cursed and swore, both with reddened eyes and trembling bodies. This friendship was so much deeper than his iron-hearted father emperor’s. Liu Chu watched quietly and said slowly: “Why does this old man block the way? Step aside, don’t delay my return to the city.”

Someone beside him: “Your Highness, he’s clearly…”

Liu Chu: “Do I need you to tell me what I can see? “

Liu Chu was usually cold and spoke little. Because he spoke little, every word carried weight and brooked no argument or dispute. His subordinates could only reluctantly make way, watching Prince Chen ride past. Though they knew that old man should be arrested, they could only let him go.

Liu Mu breathed a sigh of relief.

As Liu Chu rode past, he heard the youth’s very soft: “Thank you.”

Liu Chu’s face suddenly tensed, looking extremely ugly — to commit such an evil deed and receive someone’s thanks, how shameful!

…

The emperor safely returned to the palace, falling gravely ill after his return. The old emperor aged instantly, trembling all day in fear and paranoia, not daring to leave his bedchamber for a single step.

The missing northern princess was said to have been killed on the road. Lu Yun found a female corpse, but the old emperor was disgusted and frightened, refusing to even look at it. The old emperor hid in his bedchamber cursing the north, condemning their shamelessness.

At times his gaze would turn strange as he anxiously asked if Prince Hengyang was still alive, why hadn’t he been killed yet. He paced back and forth in the magnificent golden dragon hall, waving his arms neurotically with an odd look in his eyes, muttering to himself: “I am still emperor! I did nothing unseemly! It’s all Liu Mu’s fault!”

Prince Chen was frequently questioned by him, and he stared at this son with a very strange look in his eyes.

His attitude toward Prince Zhao was similar — someone had reported that Prince Zhao had cooperated with northern spies to cause the chaos in Jianye. Prince Zhao hurried to clear himself, angrily denouncing the northern spies for falsely implicating him to cause internal strife in the south. Prince Zhao came crying to kneel before the emperor, begging his father not to believe the rumors of ill-intentioned people. The old emperor was half-believing, half-doubting.

The old emperor: “I hope you are truly innocent.”

Prince Zhao: “It’s all those northern spies making things up, I absolutely did not betray the country. Prince Chen… yes, he has always disliked me. Your Majesty giving him the task of investigating the spies is giving him a chance to eliminate opposition. Father Emperor, I am innocent! You cannot just listen to Prince Chen’s one-sided words…”

Anxiously, he exploited the old emperor’s suspicions toward Prince Chen Liu Chu, desperately fighting against his fate of being dragged into the mud by the northern spies.

The old emperor indeed grew suspicious of Prince Chen. Mentioning Prince Chen reminded him that Liu Mu was still being detained and investigated… What was there to investigate? Liu Mu had been at the border, how much could he know about the chaos in Jianye? Prince Chen wanting to investigate Liu Mu was clearly just stalling for time!

The old emperor said disappointedly: “Prince Chen is becoming more and more disobedient.”

He couldn’t understand – where had the old Liu Chu gone, the one who would do whatever he said without question or excuse, whose capable handling of affairs was so reassuring. Why in the past year had Liu Chu gone from forging imperial edicts to protecting traitors…

The old emperor collapsed into his seat covering his face, muttering madly: “Everything has changed, everything has changed… I am still emperor!”

Prince Zhao Liu Huai standing below to report: “…”

His eyes contracted as he realized his father had been frightened to the point of mental confusion. To escape, he would have to find his own way. Prince Zhao’s eyes turned cold – Prince Chen was using those northern spies to suppress him. As long as the entire court forced those spies to death, no one would be able to implicate him.

Thus, while Prince Chen was conducting the investigation, Prince Zhao actively campaigned up and down, trying to persuade the court officials. The officials’ attitudes were ambiguous, having received favors from the Lu family that night and now unwilling to offend Lu Yun. This angered Prince Zhao even more, making him more desperate in his self-preservation efforts.

Perhaps even he knew this was just the last struggle of an autumn grasshopper. But so what? He wasn’t doing well, but Prince Chen wasn’t much better off.

…

On a day of heavy rain that flooded heaven and earth, torrential waves seemed to pour down from the horizon with a mighty roar.

Without servants attending, Prince Chen Liu Chu sat quietly in a corner window of his study. Before him were brushes, ink, paper and inkstone. On the paper was clearly written the character for “kill”, but he sat motionless for a long time.

Because someone had glimpsed his vulnerability, Liu Mu had to die. Then after killing Liu Mu, the next to be dealt with would likely be himself. Father Emperor had never cared which of them lived or died – he had too many sons, if one wasn’t suitable, another would do. How chilling.

How could the southern kingdom’s future be entrusted to such a ruler?

Lu Yun had made him witness this heartless, cruel side of his own father firsthand. If he didn’t resist, he would be the next to die… Lu Yun was forcing him…

Liu Chu closed his eyes and muttered: “Lu Xuechen… you bastard!”

He suddenly stood up and took an umbrella to go out. When servants inquired, Prince Chen had already gotten into a carriage: “Going to find Third Young Master.”

…

The heavy rain pattered steadily as thick fog rose between heaven and earth.

Having just left her brother-in-law and sister’s courtyard, Luo Yunhuan hummed a tune while jumping and playing in the rain with her umbrella. As she twirled her umbrella, she accidentally bumped into a beautiful maid coming from the opposite direction.

Jingyue: “Oh my, young miss!”

Another maid held an umbrella while Jingyue carried documents half her height. She had been walking carefully, but when turning a corner was bumped into by the playful young Miss Luo, causing the documents in her arms to fall to the ground.

Jingyue panicked: “Quick, quick, see if the documents got wet? These were sent by the retainers for the master, they can’t be damaged.”

Luo Yunhuan quickly apologized and crouched down to help gather the documents. Her brother-in-law, Lu Yun the Third Young Master, was a sharp-tongued person – if her carelessness caused Sister Jingyue to be punished, the young miss would feel terribly guilty. Fortunately when the documents fell, the maids who had served Lu Yun for years had strong emergency response abilities. They quickly picked up the documents and after careful inspection found that only the outer covers needed to be wiped clean, the writing inside hadn’t gotten wet.

As Jingyue breathed a sigh of relief, she saw Luo Yunhuan holding one document, the young miss had already stood up but was still looking at it… Jingyue smiled and snatched it back, joking: “Young miss, these are all confidential state affairs, you can’t read them randomly.”

Luo Yunhuan froze, bit her lip, and after a while softly said “Oh.” She wasn’t as lively as usual, wasn’t chasing after Jingyue asking this and that like before. She held her umbrella and walked away in a daze. The young lady was gradually growing up, her retreating figure starting to show hints of a stunning beauty… Jingyue wondered: “What’s wrong with little Hua’er now?”

Of course Jingyue and the others didn’t know that while helping pick up the documents, Luo Yunhuan had seen an execution list. The first name was one she didn’t recognize, but the second was Yue Zihan.

She only knew “Brother Zihan” – she didn’t know who “Yue Zihan” was. But… but… how could there be such a coincidence in the world? Was Brother Zihan this Yue Zihan? Had he committed terrible crimes? Was her brother-in-law going to execute him? Luo Yunhuan returned quietly to her chambers and lay her head on the desk, feeling utterly miserable.

She was growing up, developing her own private matters of the heart. She couldn’t tell others, could only nurse her wounds alone in private.

When the maid Lingxi realized she hadn’t heard the young miss’s lively chatter for quite a while and came to check, she found the young miss had caught a cold, her forehead burning hot. Lingxi panicked – being naturally timid and indecisive, when the young miss fell ill, her first thought was of Lady Luo Lingyu.

Luo Lingyu had originally been with Madam Lu and the newly wedded Second Young Madam, the women competing over household matters, which was quite interesting. Upon hearing her sister was ill, Luo Lingyu immediately brought a doctor to see her. While the doctor was checking the young miss’s pulse in the inner chamber, Luo Lingyu sat in the outer chamber, asking the maids about how her sister had fallen ill while taking the paper that Lingxi tremblingly handed over—

“Your servant took this from the writing desk, it was written by the young miss.”

Luo Lingyu lowered her eyes, her eyelids twitching slightly as she saw written on the paper: Yue Zihan.

After the doctor came out, Luo Lingyu went into the inner chamber to accompany her sister. Holding her feverish sister in her arms, she stroked her forehead and asked softly: “Hua’er, who is ‘Yue Zihan’? Did your brother-in-law do something to you?”

The maids said Luo Yunhuan had fallen ill after returning from Lu Yun’s place. There must be some reason for it.

Luo Yunhuan mumbled something incoherently in her feverish state. Luo Lingyu couldn’t make it out and had to give up. After instructing the maids to take good care of her sister, Luo Lingyu took away the paper with “Yue Zihan” written on it. It wasn’t that she wanted to be harsh on Lu Yun or thought he would bully her sister. Given how much the Third Young Master doted on her sister, he probably wouldn’t even scold her… Luo Lingyu felt somewhat sour about this.

However, Lu Yun worked at the government office during the day and wasn’t at home, so he shouldn’t have encountered her sister, right?

Luo Lingyu returned to her chambers. The courtyard was quiet. The maid Jingyue stood in the corridor, winking at her and putting a finger to her lips with a “shh” before pointing inside the bamboo screen. Luo Lingyu pressed her lips together, her heart stirring.

In the dim night, lanterns swayed in the rain under the corridor. Luo Lingyu entered the chamber and lifted the beaded curtain to walk inside. Sure enough, she saw a young man lying on the couch. He still wore his crimson court robes, and even relaxed on the couch in sleep, the red robes remained proper with their brocade sash at the waist. The fine clothes highlighted the master’s lonely, aloof air.

A book lay open covering his face, his black hair scattered like ink, the fingers resting on the book long and strong yet with the gentle luster of jade.

Luo Lingyu felt the rain-dampened edge of his clothes and paused, leaning down to remove his outer robe when she caught a very faint smell of alcohol on him. She took away the book covering his face and saw the weariness there, her heart suddenly aching for him. He kept his eyes closed, dark circles beneath them, clearly unaware his wife had returned.

As Luo Lingyu sat by the couch, gazing absently at Lu Yun’s sleeping face, a maid outside hesitantly said softly: “My lady, the master instructed us earlier to prepare a bath. The hot water is ready now.”

Luo Lingyu: “He’s already asleep, how can he bathe? Let’s wait until tomorrow.”

The maid: “…But isn’t my lady here? The master has been drinking, it’s not good for him to sleep like this?”

Luo Lingyu: “…”

She had been thinking of asking Lu Yun who “Yue Zihan” was, but the maid seemed to be suggesting she help Lu Yun bathe? This this this… wasn’t appropriate, right?!