ATLAS TRANSLATES

What defines a noble family?

“They value family ties over loyalty to the throne.”

In the Southern Kingdom, there were two major powers among the upper class – the royal family and the noble families. Neither had reached the peak of their power, but the noble families had firmly established themselves above the royal family.

Noble families were like tumors hindering the development of royal power. They owned land, private armies, estates, shops, and thousands of servants. They enjoyed the offerings of common people, and their young masters controlled ninety-nine percent of official appointments in the country.

The extravagant noble young masters spent their days traveling and sightseeing, competing in wealth and power. The ambitious ones diligently cultivated their young masters and developed family influence. Regardless of type, they shared one thing in common – they did not value royal authority.

As a member of the Southern Kingdom’s royal family, Liu Mu had never liked the noble families who could divide royal power. He once swore that if he held power, he would definitely reduce their influence.

But today, when the Emperor personally sentenced him to death and Prince Chen Liu Shu carried out this order, not a single person from the royal family pleaded for him. At this moment, only the noble families dared to break into prison to rescue him.

Only noble young masters would make such a bold move — rescuing him without fear of consequences. Even if there were consequences, the Lu family, known as the leading noble family of Jianye, could withstand them.

“Quick, this way!” Lu Xian threw a dark sable cloak over the young man who had just emerged from prison. It was pitch black all around, and fearing to alert the patrol soldiers in the Sima Temple, the servants didn’t dare light any fires.

They relied entirely on Lu Xian’s memory of the Sima Temple’s layout to escape. Lu Xian secretly stayed calm, thanks to his wife Liu Tang’s elder brother being the current Grand Marshal, which allowed him to indirectly obtain the temple’s floor plan.

Lu Xian clearly didn’t know that his ability to get the temple’s floor plan from his wife was actually Prince Chen’s secret instruction.

Liu Mu, who was somewhat confused and following Lu Xian and the servants outward, heard Lu Xian’s explanation and hesitated, feeling something was strange.

Liu Mu had studied with Prince Chen Liu Shu when they were young. In his eyes, although Liu Shu rarely spoke, he held strong opinions and was cut from the same cloth as Lu Yun – both could be described as “deceptively cunning.” How could such a person casually leak the Sima Temple’s floor plan?

“Something’s not right…” Liu Mu muttered.

He became secretly vigilant, wondering if Lu Xian was deliberately trying to deceive him. Perhaps since Prince Chen couldn’t find evidence to kill him now, Lu Xian was tricking him to escape to give him the crime of “prison break” as an excuse to kill him directly?

The current Prince of Hengyang had grown suspicious of everyone around him. He was becoming less and less able to trust these people…

Noticing Liu Mu’s protest, Lu Xian turned back and met Liu Mu’s cold, sharp gaze. Lu Xian was startled, thinking Liu Mu was still hesitating, and tried to comfort him: “What are you still overthinking? I heard directly from my third brother that His Majesty wants to kill you. You know my third brother is close to Prince Chen, so his words are naturally very credible. Now you’re like meat on the chopping block – what’s there to consider? Better to burn your boats and escape Jianye. You can flee back to Hengyang where you have years of established power. Once back in Hengyang, you can safely ignore His Majesty’s edicts if you choose. If you don’t want to return to Hengyang, you could go elsewhere… just don’t return to the border region. I feel there are some unresolved issues from the North-South war there, you shouldn’t go back there.”

Lu Xian feared Liu Mu would return directly to the border region, as he had dreamed this young prince would die there, so he earnestly advised him, worried Liu Mu might make an unwise choice.

A beam of moonlight shone through a skylight, illuminating Lu Xian’s billowing robes as they turned a corner, falling into Liu Mu’s eyes.

When Lu Xian turned back to speak again, he saw Liu Mu watching him. The youth who had always disdained to associate with him stared at Lu Xian and suddenly smiled. Lu Xian looked at him questioningly and saw Liu Mu’s lips curl: “I was overthinking it. How could you possibly deceive me?”

After all this fussing, it seemed he didn’t have the intelligence to trick him to his death.

When Lu Xian understood, he smiled helplessly: “…Young master, without reason, why would I harm you?”

Liu Mu lowered his eyelids and murmured: “Indeed. Without reason, why harm me?”

Without reason, his royal brother wanted to kill him; without reason, Lu Xian saved him. There were no explanations, yet suddenly, a shackle in Liu Mu’s heart fell away, and the dust in his soul was swept clean by that cold moonlight and the young man before him. He realized that even something as great as family ties could be heartless when heartlessness was called for. Even if noble families conflicted with royal power, what mattered was who wielded the power, not the frightfulness of power itself.

…

The Sima Temple was exceptionally quiet this night, with Prince Chen sitting alone in a dark room playing chess. The temple’s patrol forces happened to miss both groups of intruders. Lu Xian arrived first, Prince Zhao second. Prince Zhao Liu Huai was determined to kill those troublesome Northern spies, his personal ambition making those Northerners a powerful bait, luring him into Prince Chen’s trap.

Lu Xian and Liu Mu’s group quietly evaded the patrol soldiers escaping the Sima Temple, weaving left and right through the temple, moonlight filtering through clouds overhead, shadows heavy among the trees before them. Suddenly, the clouds parted and two groups came face to face. Prince Zhao and his followers had just dodged the temple’s guards when they saw figures flash before them. The other party reacted extremely quickly, seeing him and immediately turning to flee.

The same dark clothing, somewhat familiar.

“…!” Prince Zhao exclaimed.

Both breaking into the Sima Temple at night, immediately giving chase seemed somewhat strange.

However, Liu Huai suddenly realized something was wrong. Instead of immediately pursuing Liu Mu’s group, he led his private soldiers first to the prison holding the fugitives. The prison gates were tightly closed, appearing normal. Liu Huai first rushed to where the Northern spies were held – the group had been separated into different cells. Seeing the prince appear, they immediately rushed to the railings. But Liu Huai dared not linger, quickly counting heads—

Except for the Northern leader who had committed suicide by poison at the very beginning, all other numbers matched. So why was that escaping group moving so hastily?

Liu Huai’s heart pounded rapidly, vaguely sensing a great pit waiting ahead, but his mind remained blank for a long while, unable to figure out what had gone wrong. The Northern spies on both sides shouted loudly: “Young master, have you come to save us?”

“Young master, if you don’t save us, don’t blame us for implicating you. Even if you’re a prince without mortal danger, secretly communicating with enemy states – your future is finished!”

“Silence!” Liu Huai roared.

He stood rigid outside the prison gate, sweat beading on his forehead, wracking his brains: What was that group’s purpose? Should tonight’s killing be ended early…

Suddenly one of his followers remembered something and approached to whisper: “Young master, this prison holds not only Northern spies, but also Prince Hengyang!”

Prince Hengyang Liu Mu!

“Damn it!” Liu Huai cursed.

He had no time to kill these Northern spies, rushing straight to where Prince Hengyang was held. He cursed himself for having no friendship with Prince Hengyang normally – he didn’t care if Liu Mu lived or died, after all he wasn’t involved in Liu Mu’s affairs. But tonight… Liu Huai had also obtained the Sima Temple’s floor plan, and after several wrong turns, finally found where Prince Hengyang was held. The cell door was wide open, empty…

As he stood stunned, suddenly signal arrows flew into the sky outside, warning of intruders. Outside troops moved, large groups rushing over, shouting: “Here! Someone has broken into the Grand Marshal’s Temple!” Immediately, torches were lit everywhere, the entire Grand Marshal’s Temple bright as day, firelight surrounding where Prince Hengyang had been held.

Inside the prison, hearing the commotion outside, Liu Huai gnashed his teeth: “So that’s it!”

His followers’ faces instantly went white: “Young master, what do we do?”

“Chase them! Bring Prince Hengyang back!” Liu Huai roared.

So this is where they were waiting for him!

Liu Shu, Liu Shu!

Prince Zhao Liu Huai had meant to kill someone, but unwillingly became the prison-breaker instead. He had never even met Prince Hengyang face to face, yet was now being hunted by the Grand Marshal’s Temple troops. The Grand Marshal was the highest military commander in the Southern Kingdom, controlling all military matters. How could Prince Zhao’s private soldiers defeat them? Prince Zhao’s group fled the Sima Temple in disarray, pursuing Prince Hengyang.

He had to catch up to Prince Hengyang, otherwise he would be today’s scapegoat. He would lose what little trust he had with the Emperor!

Through streets and alleys, hunters became the hunted. Prince Zhao suddenly remembered: “Where’s the Metropolitan Governor? Where is he? When criminals escape in Jianye city, why isn’t the night patrol Metropolitan Governor here? Quick, split into two groups, go find the Metropolitan Governor. Have him help us chase people!”

…

The Metropolitan Governor was busy putting out fires.

Lu Yun took his newlywed wife on a night tour of Jianchu Temple, having a pleasant night discussion with the Buddhist nuns. Jianchu Temple was the first Buddhist temple in Jiangnan, with an even higher reputation than Kaishan Temple on Bell Mountain. While talking with the nuns at night, they admired the Plum Blossom Hermit’s knowledge, personally leading Lu Yun and his wife to view the temple murals, and introducing a stone tablet in the temple: “Our temple is building a stone pagoda for sacred relics. Once completed, we can welcome famous monks from the Western Regions to lecture on Buddhism, benefiting all under heaven.”

Lu Yun held a blue porcelain ox-shaped lamp with decorative colors, its flame flickering in the wind. His other hand held Luo Lingyu’s hand, the fire illuminating Lu Yun’s face. He smiled slightly: “Lecturing on Buddhism for all under heaven is a virtuous deed. Although my wife and I don’t follow Buddhism, my second brother is a devout Buddhist layman, he’s extremely fond of Buddhism. Even if just to accumulate merit for my second brother, my wife and I plan to donate a Buddha statue to the temple, contributing to the Master’s building of the relics pagoda and welcoming famous monks from the Western Regions.”

A group of monks followed, the lead nun had spent the whole evening talking with Lu Yun, all for his noble family background and expected donations. Originally slightly disappointed when hearing Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu didn’t worship Buddha, upon hearing Lu Yun would still donate to Buddha, the nun was overjoyed, repeatedly expressing thanks.

Thus she led Lu Yun and his wife to pay respects to Buddha.

Passing an empty hall in the temple, Lu Yun’s gaze flashed, and he casually asked about it – it turned out this hall had water leaks, the monks had moved out, and hadn’t gotten around to repairs yet. Lu Yun nodded: “What a shame.”

Luo Lingyu listened in confusion the whole way, not knowing what she and Lu Yun were doing. Suddenly, Lu Yun reached over, pulled a hairpin from her hair, and threw it into that empty hall. In her shock, Luo Lingyu saw Lu Yun’s hand wave, throwing his ox-shaped lamp as well, the flames curling up the hall’s curtains. A great fire burst forth!

Lu Yun: “Please get the Metropolitan Governor, tell him my wife’s most beloved hairpin was lost in the burning building, it was the token of our love, please ask the Metropolitan Governor to definitely extinguish the great fire and retrieve the hairpin.”

Luo Lingyu: “…”

The followers apparently left, while the guide nun looked over in disbelief. After a moment of shock, Luo Lingyu obediently lowered her head, covering her face and looking away: “My beloved hairpin, wuu wuu wuu…”

The monks and nuns: “…”

A monk sternly said: “Lu Yun, Third Young Madam, you dare take advantage of our temple having no one…”

Lu Yun glanced over: “My wife and I are willing to donate two Buddha statues.”

The temple’s monks and nuns: “…”

Their anger instantly dissipated, the temple’s clergy lowered their eyes, ignoring the fire growing ever fiercer.

…

Prince Zhao Liu Huai had once used firefighting as a trick to lure away the Metropolitan Governor, tonight Lu Yun used the same trick in return. Racing out of the city, they even crossed paths with the Metropolitan Governor’s men, both sides in a great hurry. The Metropolitan Governor was especially helpless – Lu Yun’s wife’s hairpin was a small matter, but the Lu family’s prestige forced them to go…

Among the powerful and noble, who was really better than another?

“Boom—”

Delayed for an instant, the city gates ahead were already closed, the fleeing people had left the city, while behind them people from the Sima Temple surrounded them: “Prince Zhao, please surrender.”

The Prince trembled, watching the surrounding firelight leap and burn, tall horses surrounding them. The firelight flickered on his face as he and his followers were surrounded, with many people from the Sima Temple forming multiple layers inside and out. Prince Zhao screamed hysterically, pointing at the city gates: “They’ve all escaped the city! Why aren’t you chasing them, why chase me?”

The pursuing troops lowered their eyes: “Young master, we only saw you break into the Grand Marshal’s Temple and rescue Prince Hengyang. Where is Prince Hengyang?”

Prince Zhao: “…!”

“I understand now, you did this deliberately… you all planned this! What nonsense about Lu Yun’s wife losing a hairpin, what nonsense about putting out fires… Liu Shu, where is Liu Shu! Let him come out, I’ll confront him!”

…

The city’s lights were left behind the walls, the gates tightly closed, the garrison all entering the city. Liu Mu found Master Kong in the suburban woods, where Master Kong had already prepared horses and provisions, following Lu Xian’s instructions to wait here. In the deep of night, seeing the youth, the old man was extremely excited, stumbling forward to meet him, nearly falling.

Liu Mu steadied him, warmth flowing in his eyes, blinking away moisture, he gripped Master Kong’s hand tightly. By now, after Master Kong had cared for him for many years, the bond between them needed no words. Mounting their horses, riding several li, Liu Mu and Master Kong each on horseback, at one moment, he suddenly looked back. Behind them smoke was hazy, Jianye city’s lights brilliant.

In that city troops surrounded the streets, Prince Chen making his graceful entrance. The young man took steady steps, under the swaying lights, walking step by step toward Prince Zhao Liu Huai whose expression had changed drastically. All this grew increasingly distant from Liu Mu.

Master Kong urged: “Your Highness, let’s hurry, if we delay it will be too late.”

Liu Mu gripped the reins tightly: “…Mm.”

Master Kong: “Young master, this time Lu Xian saved you. In the future you must repay him.”

Liu Mu: “Master, it wasn’t just Lu Xian. Behind him stood Prince Chen, Lu Yun, the might of the Grand Marshal, the power of noble families, the stance of common families… even Miss Luo, Luo, Luo. Letting one person escape, Lu Xian alone couldn’t have done it.”

“I’m grateful to Lu Xian… but I know there were others helping me. Master, these are all my benefactors.”

Cold moon, white horse, endless wilderness. Dust flying, no longer looking back at that distant city, riding on horseback, the youth seemed to laugh and cry: “My closest kin view me as an enemy, yet I also have benefactors.”

Master Kong asked: “Young master, where shall we go? Back to the border?”

Liu Mu said coldly: “No, back to Hengyang, to recruit soldiers and buy horses… that is my territory!”

“Farewell, Jianye.”

Liu Mu didn’t look back, fleeing south with Master Kong, escaping Jianye. Master Kong looked over – under the cold moonlight, the youth’s facial features had become deep, quiet. His childishness gone, through repeated brushes with death, he had grown up. Time became an invisible line, repeatedly cutting fate. The further Liu Mu got from Jianye city, the further he got from that fate that had once been so close to him—

In Lu Xian’s dream, Liu Mu had once become Emperor. At that time, headstrong and reckless, forceful and domineering, out of jealousy and hatred, he had to kill Lu Yun, placing the entire noble families in opposition to himself. He was forced into a situation where everyone at court was his enemy, returning to the rear palace, even the Empress was false to him. The Southern Kingdom fell and the city broke, he died with the Empress for the country.

Fate pulled a hazy thread, using Lu Xian’s hand, adjusting everything to the best direction—

Liu Mu need not become Emperor at an unsuitable time.

Luo Lingyu need not marry him, Lu Yun need not die at the border.

Yet Liu Mu also need not die. Lu Xian saved him.

Life is a great dream, too many experiences with death and life made the youth grow up, made him understand, noble families were never the enemy. Balance, rather than direct weakening, might be better… however, what did these things have to do with him.

The young prince’s expression cooled, he clenched his fist: I will never forgive those who tried to kill me! But I must also repay those who saved me tonight!

…

Saving Prince Hengyang was a simple task.

Only because Prince Chen didn’t want to lose a capable national commander over an old man’s nonsense, and Lu Xian was unwilling to accept the fate of being unable to keep Liu Mu alive.

Lu Yun observed from the side, guessing seven or eight tenths of it, and cooperated with those two’s actions. Though Liu Mu had left, things were not yet over. Walking back to the manor with his wife Luo Lingyu under the moonlight, Lu Yun thought of someone and smiled, telling Luo Lingyu: “Tomorrow, let Huan go visit Yue Zihan at the Sima Temple. She might receive an unexpected surprise.”

Luo Lingyu: “Ah?”

She had already forgotten who “Yue Zihan” was.