ATLAS TRANSLATES

Lu Yun had a slight headache.

June 19th was Luo Lingyu’s birthday. On this day, she would turn sixteen.

Last year, Lu Yun was deeply moved by how Luo Lingyu had cried during her coming-of-age ceremony at fifteen. No matter what, he remembered his cousin’s birthday clearly. To make this day special for her, Lu Yun put in a lot of effort. Not only did all the Lu family members and noble families of Jianye come to celebrate the Third Young Madam’s birthday, but in the evening, Lu Yun also arranged for fireworks to be set off over the Qinhuai River for half an hour.

He also gave her a grand gift.

With her husband treating her so well, Luo Lingyu’s face flushed with excitement. By the time the fireworks ended that evening, probably everyone in Jianye knew it was the Third Young Madam’s birthday. Even though Luo Lingyu was known for being vain and showy, she couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. She blushed in Lu Yun’s arms — after all, she was only sixteen, yet Lu Yun had arranged such an elaborate celebration, as if it were a major anniversary.

Since her husband was being so considerate and good to her, Luo Lingyu naturally put extra effort into serving Lu Yun that night. Like an enchantress in his arms, her body covered in a light sheen of sweat, moving according to his desires, Lu Yun was thoroughly satisfied. Afterward, after bathing together, the summer night was quite warm. Unable to sleep, Lu Yun simply laid out a bamboo mat, and they sat together admiring the moon in front of the bamboo grove in their courtyard.

The atmosphere was wonderful. Luo Lingyu wanted to show that she wasn’t just materialistic. Under the cold moonlight filtering through the bamboo, she nestled in her husband’s arms, swaying her arm to show him the glass bracelet she wore. Lu Yun’s eyes held a smile as he listened to Luo Lingyu say with a grin: “My lord didn’t need to arrange such a grand birthday celebration for me. People might laugh and say I’m young and don’t know my place. Though Brother Xuechen gave me such a wonderful gift, what I remember most deeply is still the glass bracelet you gave me last year. No gift can compare to that one.”

Lu Yun’s eyes deepened with amusement as his hand lazily stroked her thick black hair that was spread across his arm.

Ah, that glass bracelet… Before that, he and Luo Lingyu had been testing each other, their hearts holding varying degrees of affection, yet neither speaking it plainly. That was the first time they had argued seriously, and their feelings finally came to light around that time.

Luo Lingyu sighed: “Zhou Lang and I share the same birthday. Last year, Prince Chen even celebrated his birthday. I wonder how Zhou Lang celebrated this year.”

Lu Yun’s expression cooled: “While in my arms, don’t speak of other men.”

Luo Lingyu blushed momentarily, realizing her mistake. She was usually uninhibited with Lu Yun, and had forgotten in the moment that he didn’t like her mentioning other young men… he was extremely jealous. Not wanting to upset him on this night, she obediently said “yes” and gave him a kiss to make amends.

But Lu Yun’s mood had already started to sour. Since it was June, after his second brother’s wedding, Lu Yun had been focused on the refugees in Jianye. Now that situation was mostly resolved, first Prince Chen had sighed about when Zhou Yangling would return, and tonight Luo Lingyu had brought it up… Lu Yun remembered something – Luo Lingyu still didn’t know Zhou Yangling was a woman.

In other words, he had known all along but coldly watched as Luo Lingyu developed feelings for Zhou Yangling. Though he was confident and believed he would never lose to a woman, the fact that he had hidden this from Luo Lingyu until now… once she learned the truth, it would be his day of misfortune.

Lu Yun secretly regretted it. When he had agreed to keep Zhou Yangling’s identity secret, he hadn’t cared that much for Luo Lingyu. Back then, he never imagined he would actually marry her. Unfortunately, the mistake was already made. Given Luo Lingyu’s pride and temperament, the longer he waited to come clean, the worse it would be for him.

The Third Young Master’s head really ached.

After much consideration, Lu Yun decided to try to make amends.

One evening in late June, Luo Lingyu went to visit her aunt Lu Ying. Her aunt asked about her cousin Luo Yan, and only then did Luo Lingyu learn that when Luo Yan had gone to Nanyang, he hadn’t told his mother at all. Several months had passed before Lu Ying found out her son had returned to the Southern Kingdom. After Luo Yan’s brief appearance in Nanyang and Lu Yun’s resolution of the scholar matter, Luo Yan had left again. Given the many difficulties in Nanyang, it was only much later that Lu Ying heard bits and pieces from others, which immediately worried her greatly. Though Lu Ying was generally easygoing and casual, when faced with her son being just as casual as herself, she couldn’t help but pull her niece Luo Lingyu aside to complain at length.

Luo Lingyu naturally soothed her with gentle words, and eventually brought out puppets to make her aunt laugh. She finally cheered up and asked Luo Lingyu to write a letter requesting Luo Yan return to Jianye to visit his family.

Liu Tang, the Second Young Madam who had accompanied her, clicked her tongue in amazement. In her view, both Madam Lu and Aunt Lu Ying were different types of “difficult to please.” Madam Lu was stern and rigid, while her aunt loved to joke around – two completely opposite personalities, yet Luo Lingyu could pacify them both. How impressive.

Luo Lingyu gave a modest smile.

Managing the household was just like this – she would learn about all the big and small affairs of the Lu family. Luo Lingyu and Liu Tang studied together under Madam Lu’s guidance, but Luo Lingyu had left the little princess Liu Tang far behind. Yet the little princess greatly admired Luo Lingyu and, rather than resenting her for stealing the spotlight, wished her mother-in-law wouldn’t burden her with such troublesome matters. Since Sister Luo did it so well, why not let her handle it?

Liu Tang blushed – as a young woman newly married, she was inseparable from her husband and had no interest in household management.

Madam Lu was deeply resentful of her unambitious daughter-in-law.

After rushing about like this, by the time Luo Lingyu returned to the “Clear Courtyard,” night had fallen deeply. She had expected to find it cold and empty, and would need to ask when Lu Yun would return. But unexpectedly, as soon as she entered the courtyard gates, she smelled a fragrant aroma. To her surprise, she saw servants standing on tiptoes throughout the courtyard, craning their necks curiously to look around.

Luo Lingyu followed their gaze toward the kitchen, asking curiously: “Did we get a new cook? What are you all looking at?”

Everyone: “Third Young Madam!”

They hurriedly paid their respects, then Jinyu explained with an odd expression: “The Third Young Master is busy in the kitchen… Young Madam, I’ve served our young master since childhood, and you know his temperament… I’ve never seen him go near the kitchen before.”

Others excitedly added: “The young master must be preparing a surprise for the Third Young Madam!”

Though Luo Lingyu outwardly chided them “don’t talk nonsense,” she was secretly delighted. However, she was also puzzled – her birthday had already passed, so why was Lu Yun trying to please her like this?

What happened next left Luo Lingyu even more overwhelmed with joy.

Her husband, the incomparably elegant Third Young Master Lu, not only rolled up his sleeves to cook, preparing a table full of dishes for her. After dinner while digesting, he personally taught her how to brew the “qin fish tea” that he had never bothered to make before. Not only that, but Lu Yun also gave Luo Lingyu a dazzling bead curtain that shimmered with flowing light.

The sound of the beads colliding was crisp and clear, each bead uniform in size and polished to smooth perfection. Luo Lingyu was indeed enchanted.

In this era, glass was precious, making bead curtains even more valuable. Even in the luxury-loving Southern Kingdom, finding such a high-quality bead curtain was no easy task. When Luo Lingyu specifically asked Lu Yun and learned that even the palace only had two such curtains, her vanity was supremely satisfied. Being fond of showing off, she wouldn’t let such a fine bead curtain be stored away in a box. Instead, she immediately had lights lit and ordered the curtain to be hung up.

The fresh breeze created ripples, the beads flowing like water, as if they were living in a crystal palace in the East Sea.

Yet Luo Lingyu felt slightly uneasy: Lu Yun wasn’t the type to do things without reason. It wasn’t any special occasion or festival – his treating her so well made her worried.

Especially when Luo Lingyu was looking over accounts that night, and Lu Yun, instead of lying on the couch asking for her company, was actually lying in bed and smilingly said: “Your husband will warm the bed for you first.”

Luo Lingyu: “…”

She could no longer focus on her account books.

The young woman put on a serious expression, set down her books, and walked to the bedcurtain. Lu Yun raised an eyebrow as she sat down. Her eyes turned curious as she wrapped her arms around his neck and said coquettishly: “My lord, why are you suddenly being so good to me? Do you have something to ask of me?”

Lu Yun: “Nothing.”

He gently took the young woman’s hand and placed a light kiss on it. He gazed at her lovingly and chided: “You little woman are overthinking. Does your brother need a reason to spoil you?”

Luo Lingyu gave a shy smile and followed his lead, falling into his embrace as he pulled her onto the bed and pressed her down. Lu Yun kissed her for a while, until the young woman’s cloud-like hair was disheveled and she was breathing softly in gasps. His eyes grew heated as passion stirred. As Lu Yun’s hand slipped inside her collar to caress her, Luo Lingyu gave a soft cry and grabbed his hand. She gave him a seductive look and teased: “Does Brother Xuechen truly spoil me unconditionally?”

Lu Yun stared at her snow-white peaks rising and falling with her breath, his gaze burning hot. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he lowered his head to suckle, but was again met with her shaking head in refusal. Though frustrated and finding her coy, he didn’t want to upset her and restrained his desire, laughing huskily: “Of course.”

Luo Lingyu asked innocently: “Even if I want Sister Chen Xue to come out and meet me, would you agree?”

Lu Yun paused: “…”

His gaze grew slightly rigid as he looked at her. After a moment of silence, he surprisingly didn’t get angry, but instead probed: “Why must you see her? Didn’t we agree not to mention her?”

Luo Lingyu poked his shoulder like a little cat and humphed: “Just tell me if you’re willing or not. Didn’t you say you spoil me? I just really like Sister Chen Xue and want to see her. Will Brother Xuechen agree?”

Lu Yun’s pause lasted a bit longer.

He hesitated secretly for a moment before giving a slight nod: “Not today… your brother will let you see her in a couple days.”

Luo Lingyu: “…”

He agreed! He actually agreed!

How could he possibly agree?!

Luo Lingyu knew very well how much Lu Yun detested Chen Xue. Though she often teased Lu Yun about Chen Xue, it was just to mock him. She had never dared hope Lu Yun would dress as a woman again. Yet today, he had actually agreed… As Lu Yun pulled open Luo Lingyu’s bodice and lowered his head to kiss and suck, he suddenly felt warmth on his face.

He looked up to see tears streaming down Luo Lingyu’s face like pearls.

Lu Yun: “…Didn’t I already agree? What’s wrong now?”

His words only made her cry harder, her shoulders starting to shake.

This lovemaking clearly wasn’t going to continue… As Lu Yun was at a loss, the young woman pushed him away with a sob and even threw a pillow at his face. Luo Lingyu cried as if her heart would break: “Y-you agreed to my request, but I almost wish you hadn’t… you hate Chen Xue so much, yet you’d let her appear. You’ve given me so many gifts tonight, wuwuwu… you must have done something to wrong me and are trying to appease me in advance.”

Lu Yun stiffened for a moment.

He said nothing, and Luo Lingyu glanced at him with tear-filled eyes. The young man sitting with her in the bed curtains had his long hair loose on his shoulders, his jade crown askew, his robes disheveled, yet his features were refined and his brows and eyes were beautiful – no matter how messy his clothes, when worn by him they took on an aesthetic of artistic dishevelment. He was so handsome… The more Luo Lingyu thought about it, the more she trembled as she lay face-down on the bed: “Tell me, did you do something with another young lady and it was discovered, so you’re afraid I’ll be angry? Did you… did you hold someone’s hand, or… or sleep with someone…”

Lu Yun: “What do you mean sleep with… how can you speak so crudely…”

Both angry and amused, he pulled her into his arms: “No, your brother hasn’t done any of those things… your brother only likes you.”

Luo Lingyu collapsed crying in his embrace: “Yi, you admitted it!”

Lu Yun said: “What did I admit?!”

Luo Lingyu looked up with tear-filled eyes: “You only denied doing things with other women, but didn’t deny the rest. You admitted you did something to wrong me, Lu Yun you bastard…”

Lu Yun grew annoyed, her crying giving him a headache. But he did feel guilty and didn’t want to promise he hadn’t wronged her. One Zhou Yangling was giving Lu Yun quite the headache. Luo Lingyu grew suspicious, wondering if his heart had changed. The fear of not knowing tormented her, and Luo Lingyu was truly getting upset when she saw Lu Yun rub his forehead and glance down at her.

Lu Yun: “Whether or not I’ve changed my heart, little sister will know once we do it.”

Luo Lingyu choked: “What… what are you saying… mmph!”

She was immediately pushed down onto the bed as he entered her without further words, making her cry out in distress, though her lips were sealed by his kiss.

…

That night was particularly intense, with the Third Young Madam begging for mercy several times. At first she was still crying, but later she was just whimpering sweetly, calling him “good brother,” and finally weakly pleading “spare me, brother.”

It was a night of passion, leaving them drenched in sweat.

Luo Lingyu confirmed that Lu Yun’s performance in bed showed he still very much loved her. The little cherries on her chest were very swollen the next day… his passionate desire that night was definitely not the guilty behavior of someone who had been unfaithful.

So what exactly had he done to wrong her?

Luo Lingyu couldn’t figure it out no matter how much she thought about it. When she asked Lu Yun, he wouldn’t say, leaving her full of questions.

At this time, the matter of Prince Zhao’s private communications with the enemy finally came to an end.

Yue Zihan confessed everything, and even though Prince Zhao Liu Huai had fled to his father’s sleeping chambers, he was still convicted of his crimes. Prince Chen was merciful and didn’t execute Prince Zhao, only demoting him to commoner status and permanently banishing him from Jianye. Prince Zhao wept loudly in his father’s chambers at the end, but the old emperor now spent his days bedridden and couldn’t intercede for Prince Zhao despite his anxiety.

Prince Zhao cried to each of the other princes in turn, despairing as he cursed Prince Chen: “My fate today will be yours tomorrow! He spares my life only to maintain his reputation. He will use the same methods to deal with you all.”

The princes grew wary, realizing from Prince Zhao’s case that Prince Chen was no simple figure. He had somehow gained control of Jianye’s military affairs without their notice. Several princes felt a sense of crisis and wanted Prince Chen to return power to the old emperor, but the emperor’s health wouldn’t allow it. Individual princes couldn’t oppose Prince Chen alone, so they joined forces, gathering their supporters to try to deal with Prince Chen first.

The great families of Jianye were pulled into the white-hot struggle between the princes, swaying back and forth as they all closed their doors and stayed out of it.

Only the Lu family, with their close ties to Prince Chen, now fully supported him as his core backing. But the Lu family alone couldn’t oppose all the noble families of Jianye. Prince Chen’s situation became somewhat less favorable for a time.

Prince Chen remained composed, slowly engaging in a war of attrition with them.

In early July, several major temples including Kaishanyuan Temple on Bell Mountain and Jianchusi Temple in Jianye jointly invited Prince Chen to preside over this year’s Ghost Festival ceremonies, subtly indicating Buddhism’s support for the next emperor. This angered the other princes even more. Jianye welcomed its most prosperous Ghost Festival in over a decade, but several princes and their supporters refused to participate, unwilling to give face to Prince Chen. There was no major conflict, but the success or failure of this ceremony related to whether Prince Chen could stabilize his power in Jianye.

Even with people snubbing him like this, Prince Chen still showed no anger.

On the eve of the Ghost Festival, Luo Lingyu followed her husband Lu Yun up Bell Mountain to stay at Kaishanyuan Temple, representing the Lu family in supporting Prince Chen’s presiding over the ceremony. The day before the festival, Luo Lingyu went to great lengths to invite some of her close female friends to come play. But even so, there were very few noble men and women present.

Under a mountain pavilion, lords and ladies sat around a stream playing “floating wine cups.” Prince Chen Liu Shu was also present. Several princes suddenly arrived together to watch them play “floating wine cups” and mock Prince Chen, seeing how he would handle the ceremony with so few people.

Prince Chen’s expression remained calm.

Luo Lingyu looked at how few people were on the mountain and whispered to Lu Yun: “Will it really be alright? What if no one comes tonight, how will Prince Chen save face?”

Lu Yun gave a mysterious smile: “People will come. Just watch.”

Some watched to mock while others played their game. The mountain spring burbled as several princes gradually lost patience. One prince stood up to represent his brothers in fake sympathy to mock Prince Chen: “Fifth Brother, with no one coming, tonight’s ceremony surely can’t proceed. You’d better apologize to the abbots now while there’s still time. We’re all brothers, and we can’t bear to see you lose face. Wouldn’t that shame the royal family too?”

Prince Chen remained unmoved.

The princes were displeased: “Fifth Brother (Fifth Brother), don’t make things difficult for everyone.”

Suddenly, an attendant rushed over and whispered something in Prince Chen’s ear as he sat by the water. Prince Chen’s eyebrows lifted, and after being mocked for so long, he stood up. As the other princes looked on in confusion, he personally went to welcome them: “Quick, invite the master in—”

Everyone by the pavilion stream stood up to watch as Prince Chen quickly descended the steps to welcome someone. Standing beside Lu Yun, Luo Lingyu looked curiously and saw through the green trees a procession of white-robed gentlemen approaching in an orderly line. Coming down the mountainside, green leaves brushed their heads as flower petals fell to the ground. The shrubs cast shadows on their figures. As the impressive group approached with dignified bearing, their robes moving in the wind, they embodied the essence of scholarly grace.

Prince Chen’s voice held rare excitement as he welcomed the leader: “Master Zhou Tan!”

Zhou Tan!

The great scholar Zhou Tan! Leader of the common-born scholars Zhou Tan!

Luo Lingyu was stunned, her hands and feet turning cold as she stood up. She watched as the middle-aged man at the front reached out to help up Liu Shu, who was about to bow to him. The middle-aged man gave a hearty laugh and called out loudly: “Your Highness is too courteous! Hearing of Your Highness’s righteousness, this old man, though unworthy, has brought all the common-born scholars to pledge allegiance to Your Highness.”

The gentlemen approached one by one, their white robes like clouds against the green shade. All the common-born scholars of the realm had gathered.

What an impressive sight!

The young princes who had been mocking Prince Chen turned pale: “…”

They stared at the snow-white robed commoner scholars, feeling annoyed. But uncontrollably, they found their gaze drawn to one figure behind Zhou Tan — the only lady among all the men.

Her clothes fluttered in the wind, her bearing elegant and refined, embodying the beauty of mountains and rivers. What an exceptionally clear and gentle lady, beautiful in her soft grace. She smiled slightly as she bowed with her father to everyone. Every gesture and smile, though delicate and frail, possessed a beauty like Xi Shi that made Luo Lingyu stare at her fixedly. Hearing the discussions around her, Luo Lingyu’s face turned from green to white, quite a sight to behold. She heard this lady’s name spread around the stream —

“Zhou Yangling, so this is the renowned Zhou Yangling.”

“I heard she could have been included in the Portrait of Notable Ladies of the Realm long ago. But she was frail, and the scholar Zhou Tan wanted to protect his daughter, refusing to let the world see what she looked like.”

“Don’t you all think Lady Zhou looks somewhat familiar?”

“Not familiar exactly… I just feel like she’s sur… surpassed Luo…”

“Not at all. Young Lady Luo is gracefully charming, with the beauty of a startled swan; Lady Zhou is elegant and refined, with the grace of an orchid. They’re both rare beauties. Each has her own charm, but in my heart Young Lady Luo is the most beautiful.”

As the important figures discussed the allegiance, the princes’ faces darkened, while spectators quietly compared the beauties. Lu Yun stood there and, as expected, felt a sharp pain at his waist.

Luo Lingyu stared at Zhou Yangling in a daze: Zhou Zibo, Zhou Yangling… so that’s how it was.

Author’s note: Sister Zhou, come comfort Young Lady Luo~