ATLAS TRANSLATES

As dusk fell, bamboo shadows danced. A clear lake stretched between two banks, lined with corridors and pavilions, artificial mountains and towers.

Red and yellow lanterns glowed like crystal droplets, scattered among the lush trees.

After dark, lights began to flicker on throughout the Lu mansion. Lu Xian, the second young master, was halfway home when he remembered his cousin who was good with plants. He sent his servant ahead with the flowers to ask about their care.

Lu Xian headed back to his own courtyard first, since his father, the Left Minister Lu Mao, had returned and wanted to check his studies.

While crossing the great lake, he heard children arguing clearly in the quiet:

“You’re the fox spirit, not my sister!”

“My mother says your sister deliberately seduces men…”

“Your mother this, your mother that! Is that all you know? No wonder your mother’s just a concubine — so low class, always gossiping. Just wait till Lady Lu finds out!”

Even though Luo Yunhuan rarely went out, she’d heard from the maids how strict Lady Lu was with the servants. If she was that harsh with servants, she definitely wouldn’t go easy on concubines.

Little Fourth Master Lu Chang’s eyes turned red with anger. He usually couldn’t argue with this taller cousin. But when Luo Yunhuan rambled on so freely and brought up his concubine mother, Lu Chang exploded like a wild cat with its tail stepped on.

“Don’t talk about my mother!”

“I’ll say what I want! I’m going to tell Aunt, I’ll tell her how your concubine mother taught you to—”

As Luo Yunhuan turned to run up the corridor, Lu Chang pounced on her from behind, eyes blazing red: “You dare!”

Luo Yunhuan turned and saw her furious cousin charging at her. She hesitated only briefly before rolling up her sleeves and grabbing Lu Chang’s arm. They started wrestling.

She didn’t think a young lady would lose to a young master. Lu Chang grabbed her hair, pinching and hitting.

Punch after punch, the little girl and boy grunted angrily, rolling around by the lake. Sometimes they were locked in fierce combat, sometimes chasing each other.

No one would have guessed these refined young nobles could fight like this. The night was cool and quiet, with no servants passing by to break them up.

Soon both children’s delicate faces were bruised and swollen…

Lu Xian raised his lantern and was shocked: “What are you two doing? Stop!”

But the children were so absorbed in fighting they didn’t hear him.

Lu Xian rushed over, the lantern’s faint light illuminating a small area. He recognized the fighting children and his voice grew sterner:

“Fourth Brother!”

“Hua’er!”

Clearly words alone wouldn’t stop them. Lu Xian watched in disbelief as they tangled together. Since no one was listening, the usually refined second young master threw down his lantern and rolled up his sleeves to try separating them: “Didn’t you hear me? No fighting!”

But Luo Yunhuan had a wild streak.

And Fourth Master Lu’s pride was stung.

The scholarly Lu Xian found himself caught in the middle, unable to separate the two flailing children. They ignored everything he said, constantly jumping from his outstretched hands to lunge at each other.

Lu Xian was at his wit’s end, sweating profusely. He was horrified to discover the children were so fierce he couldn’t restrain them. When they crashed together again, he had to struggle to pull them apart.

The Lu family’s second son had always been refined and proper. He studied literature, not martial arts, only learning enough riding and archery for social occasions. This scholarly young master never imagined he couldn’t control two fighting children.

Lu Xian had to call for help: “Someone come quickly!”

Nearby, Luo Lingyu was anxiously searching for her sister with her maids. Not wanting others to think “those Luo girls are causing trouble again,” they searched quietly, tiptoeing around.

They looked through bushes and woods but couldn’t find the young lady. When they heard Lu Xian’s shouts, Luo Lingyu was startled: “Why is Second Cousin still out? Shouldn’t he be back in his quarters by now?”

Without thinking more, Luo Lingyu led her maids toward the sound.

Standing on the corridor looking down, her heart stopped — she saw two children fighting on top of Second Cousin Lu. She instantly recognized her little sister.

The fighting children twisted away from Lu Xian’s grasp once again. They weren’t just fighting — they shoved away the interfering Lu Xian together.

Lu Xian stumbled backward, laughing helplessly. His foot caught on something — a rock or plant — and he couldn’t catch his balance.

Luo Lingyu watched from above, screaming: “Cousin—”

Before she could finish, there was a huge splash behind the wrestling Luo Yunhuan and Lu Chang.

They hadn’t noticed their annoying older brother gone. The splash soaked their backs.

Fourth Master Lu and little Miss Luo froze, still gripping each other’s faces. They spun around to look at the bubbling lake water.

Their poor Second Brother Lu Xian was thrashing in the water, sleeves flailing. His vision was blurry as the water kept pulling him under. Panic hit him as his feet found no ground. Struggling desperately, he choked out: “Help… I can’t swim…”

Luo Yunhuan and Lu Chang were paralyzed with fear, watching their brother sink before their eyes.

Above them, Luo Lingyu lifted her skirts and thundered down the steps. The two children turned at the footsteps to see their beautiful cousin running toward them.

Luo Lingyu ignored the children completely. She told her maid Lingyu “Watch them!” then ran to the lake’s edge.

She quickly kicked off her shoes and socks and removed her outer shawl.

Lu Chang stared, having never seen a beauty undress before his eyes. His face burned red, not knowing where to look.

But the beautiful cousin had already tossed aside her shoes and socks, rolled up her sleeves and pants, and jumped into the lake.

The maids held onto Luo Yunhuan and Lu Chang, anxiously watching the lake’s center, waiting for their young lady.

It felt like forever. Their faces had gone pale when finally they saw figures surface — Luo Lingyu swimming back, gritting her teeth as she dragged someone.

The maids cried out joyfully: “Miss, Miss, we’re over here!”

At the shore, they all rushed to help Luo Lingyu pull Lu Xian out.

Lu Xian was pale and unconscious, his long hair soaked. His wet robes were heavy.

After dragging him back, Luo Lingyu’s knees went weak. She collapsed on the ground, gasping for air.

Hearing the maids’ terrified cries of “Second Young Master!”, Luo Lingyu’s lips trembled. She pinched her leg hard to give herself some strength.

She dragged her soaking body through the crowd of maids. She pulled the unconscious Lu Xian into her arms and slapped his face: “Second Cousin, Second Cousin…”

Lantern light approached — the night patrol servants were coming. Seeing the crowd of maids, they rushed over.

Lu Chang fell to his knees. Luo Yunhuan wasn’t much better, now realizing what trouble they’d caused.

Second Young Master Lu was the highest-ranked young master in the Lu family. If anything happened to him…

Luo Yunhuan’s voice shook with tears: “Sister, I’m sorry—”

Luo Lingyu held Lu Xian, watching people approach. She turned to look at her terrified sister and little cousin.

Her sister’s eyes filled with tears. Her cousin looked panicked but bit his lip in silence…these two children…

She didn’t care about Lu Chang being disliked by the family. But this involved her sister. Her sister was so young — she couldn’t let this ruin her future.

Besides, Lady Lu already hated her. A little more hatred wouldn’t matter.

And with this incident… she wouldn’t have to join the polo game her aunt arranged. She wouldn’t embarrass herself.

As for Second Cousin… if she took the blame, she hoped his kindness meant he wouldn’t speak up.

Steeling herself, Luo Lingyu said: “Hide in the bamboo grove until everyone leaves. Don’t tell anyone you pushed Second Cousin into the lake.”

Lingyu realized what was happening and cried out sharply: “Young Lady!”

Luo Lingyu’s face was calm: “No one is to speak of this. Just say… say that Second Cousin and I argued, and I accidentally pushed him in.”

That night, no one in the Lu mansion could sleep.

In the late hours, after “Clear Court” had turned out its lights, Second Branch Master Lu Yun suddenly opened his eyes.

He sat up in bed and saw firelight growing brighter outside the curtains.

After a while, Lu Yun got dressed and went out. The hall was brightly lit. Jingyue was softly comforting a sobbing young lady in her arms.

Jingyue said: “Tell me what happened, won’t you? Third Young Master is asleep. Our master was injured and shouldn’t get up at night. Oh, don’t cry…”

Luo Yunhuan choked out: “Sister Jingyue, please, let me see Third Cousin! My sister saved Third Cousin before, he should help her now. The Lu family… the Lu family… Third Cousin is my only hope!”

Though their real relative was First Aunt Lu Ying, with Second Young Master hurt, not just Lady Lu but the Old Lady was furious too.

First Aunt never cared about them — she definitely wouldn’t risk trouble to protect her sister.

Luo Yunhuan cried until her eyes were swollen and her voice hoarse.

Just then, the curtain lifted. Jingyue and the young lady in her arms turned to see the handsome, elegant master standing in the doorway.

Lu Yun’s eyelids drooped: Why did she always cause trouble? So annoying.

Author’s Note: Among all these strangers, Third Young Master Lu treats our little Miss Luo the best~~

PS: Again, reminder that in this era of the Hundred Schools of Thought, there were no strict rules about chastity or men and women keeping their distance. Women could even remarry with children. The nobles played even wilder than common people!