ATLAS TRANSLATES

The mountain pines spread like an ocean. Temple halls lined up in rows. The Buddha of Infinite Life stood watch.

At Zhong Mountain, they had plans to meet with the young ladies to play at Plum Ridge. It was noon, but the ladies hadn’t arrived yet.

Since Lu Xian and Lu Xian were already at Kaishan Temple, Luo Lingyu pondered for a moment and decided to go pay respects.

Kaishan Temple was a famous spot on Zhong Mountain. Visitors came and went daily. Even noble ladies would stop by to pray when passing through. But noble ladies were different from common folk — when they came to burn incense, they’d donate tens or hundreds of taels of silver.

Luo Lingyu was different from them. She chose to visit while the young ladies hadn’t arrived yet.

Kaishan Temple was bustling with visitors streaming in and out. Before entering, their ox cart stopped on the mountain path. The young lady lifted the curtain and stepped down, squinting as she looked around.

All the temple visitors turned to look. The young men craned their necks, staring at the beautiful lady stepping down from the cart. Moments later, two young men also descended from the cart behind her. Both had remarkable presence, and one was especially handsome — like a jade statue come to life.

As soon as Luo Lingyu and Lu Yun appeared, they caused a traffic jam at Kaishan Temple’s main gate.

Seeing monks come out to maintain order and clear the path, with servants helping, Lu Xian’s eye twitched.

Usually when they went out, people would stare at Lu Yun. Lu Xian was used to the commotion his third brother caused. Now with cousin Luo visiting, she created just as much excitement… Lu Xian blamed himself for only remembering his third brother’s good looks and forgetting cousin Luo was equally stunning.

After being surrounded and stared at for a while, the servants finally cleared a path. Lu Xian presented his card, requesting to see the temple abbot: “I had a dream and would like the master to interpret it.”

Buddhism came from the Western Regions and didn’t originally include dream interpretation or fortune telling. But after entering China, to gain followers, monks had to learn these skills. Through these practices, they gained devotees and believers. Over time, most high-ranking monks in temples learned one or two divination methods.

The Lu family couldn’t be offended. The monk quickly led Lu Xian to see the master. Lu Xian hesitated, looking at Luo Lingyu, not wanting her to follow.

Luo Lingyu was clever and immediately said she wanted to pray in the temple instead of seeing the master with Lu Xian. As for Lu Salang, he had already disappeared when their carriages were surrounded, unable to handle the attention.

Lu Xian felt relieved and agreed to meet his cousin at the temple gate later before following the monk.

Lu Yun wandered alone in the temple.

Avoiding the crowds, he first went to the small bamboo grove behind Kaishan Temple. After walking there for a while, Lu Yun thought about how to get into Prince Hengyang’s mansion…

When Luo Lingyu invited him to Zhong Mountain, he first refused since she was with his second brother. But then he thought coming to Zhong Mountain could be a good excuse.

If he said he was at Zhong Mountain, then sneaking into Prince Hengyang’s mansion that night would be less suspicious. He wanted to see what the Prince was planning and why he pointed assassins toward him.

Was he targeting the Lu family, or Liu Chu?

Lost in thought, Lu Yun suddenly noticed the bright light and thinning greenery. He had wandered out of the grove while walking in circles.

It was almost noon. Time for the vegetarian meal. The temple was less crowded now. His second brother should be done soon too.

Lu Yun left the bamboo grove. He planned to burn some incense first, then find his second brother.

His second brother had been acting strange lately, always looking at him with sad but loving eyes… Lu Yun wanted to know what was going on.

Indeed, under the hot midday sun, there were fewer visitors. Lu Yun walked in the tree shade, relieved no one was staring.

He picked a random prayer hall to enter. But just as he was about to step in, he saw a graceful young lady kneeling on the prayer mat.

Her long robes and silk sashes spread on the ground. She prayed with closed eyes and clasped hands, her profile both beautiful and devout.

Lu Yun raised an eyebrow.

He couldn’t help but laugh inside.

How did he run into her again?

Kaishan Temple was huge with many prayer halls. Yet somehow he randomly walked into Luo Lingyu?

A monk at the door handed him incense. Lu Yun took it. There was only one prayer mat inside and Luo Lingyu was using it, so Lu Yun waited outside.

The monk at the door smiled and said: “This lady and young master came together, right? Strange though. The lady has visited many halls but won’t buy incense. She just says a sincere heart is enough.”

Lu Yun grew curious: “Oh? That’s my cousin. She won’t buy incense?”

Incense came in three grades. Common folk bought the lowest grade. For nobles, temples would directly offer the best incense.

This rule had gone unquestioned for years. The monk had served at Kaishan Temple for twenty or thirty years. Luo Lingyu was the most beautiful lady he’d seen, and the first noble lady to pray without burning incense.

The monk had wondered if she was pretending to be noble but was actually poor… but seeing Lu Yun say she was his cousin, he dismissed that thought.

How could Prince Lu’s cousin not afford incense? Impossible.

The monk praised: “The lady must be a true believer. Common folk use incense to pray, but the most devout use their hearts. A sincere heart is enough. She must be the latter.”

Lu Yun stared at the monk with deep eyes until the monk almost couldn’t continue his story. Lu Yun found the monk ridiculous: The latter type? Sincere heart? Yeah right. Did he know what kind of person his cousin Luo was?

But he was curious too.

He wanted to see what trick Luo Lingyu was up to now.

Lu Yun put a finger to his lips and whispered “Shh. I’ll go look.”

Since they were family, the monk didn’t stop him. He quickly invited Lu Yun in. Even in this sacred place, they had to please the Lu family.

Lu Yun stepped lightly. He used his sleeve to hide the incense smoke so Luo Lingyu wouldn’t notice.

He crept up behind her slowly.

The kneeling lady didn’t notice at all. Eyes closed, she whispered: “Buddha, please bless my parents and the Luo family of Yuyang to rest peacefully. Please tell them their daughter Lingyu is doing well in the Lu family. Tell them not to worry.”

“But the Lu house is big with many eyes watching. I can’t properly honor the ancestors this year while staying there. Please ask my father and mother not to mind, not to blame their daughter. When I marry, I’ll bring their tablets into my home and honor them properly each year. I promise.”

Lu Yun froze, looking down at the lady kneeling ten inches before him.

He quietly watched her head, listening to her soft prayers like spring breeze. The hall was silent. Her voice was so low – if he wasn’t right behind her, he’d never hear.

These weren’t words for show. They weren’t meant for others to hear.

She was praying to her parents… Lu Yun’s eyes softened with pity. He remembered Luo Lingyu was only fourteen, dependent on others, caring for her young sister too.

Just as Lu Yun felt sympathy, he heard her next prayer:

“Please help me find a good husband, Buddha. He should be powerful, wealthy, handsome, refined, and talented. I want to marry such a man. Buddha, please choose carefully for me. I want to be like a vine flower – not thinking or worrying about anything, just circling my lord’s knees each day while he cherishes and protects me.”

Lu Yun: “…”

Marriage again!

How desperately did she want to get married?

Luo Lingyu continued: “I’m too poor now to donate to Buddha. But don’t worry – once you help me find a good husband and I marry well, I’ll come back to repay you. I’ll have money then…”

A cool male voice like falling jade beads came from behind, full of doubt: “But if you come back to repay with your husband’s money, isn’t that his sincerity, not yours?”

Luo Lingyu: “…!”

That familiar voice, that familiar tone… Her back bristled. She jumped up with a shriek, stumbling as she turned.

She looked warily at the young man who appeared behind her. Still not feeling safe, she looked past Lu Yun to check behind him.

Lu Yun smirked: “Don’t bother looking. My second brother isn’t here. It’s just me.”

Luo Lingyu: “…”

Her face turned red: “What are you talking about! I wasn’t checking for second cousin!”

Lu Yun snickered, looking at her mockingly: Sure, lie. You dare say you weren’t afraid my second brother would see your true self and be disappointed?

Luo Lingyu’s face got even redder with anger: “Cousin, how could you eavesdrop? Even eavesdropping on my prayers to Buddha – aren’t you afraid of karma?”

Lu Yun: “What karma would I get? You’re the interesting one, coming to ask Buddha to pick you a husband so you can be a vine flower… a vine flower!”

Luo Lingyu’s face stiffened as she glared at him: What’s it to you? I want to be a vine flower, so what?

Lu Yun stepped forward. Luo Lingyu cautiously stepped back.

As they moved back and forth, flirting and teasing, the prayer hall’s atmosphere completely changed.

He cornered her against the Buddha statue, forcing her to take his incense. Lu Yun leaned in, laughing softly: “You pray without incense – who are you trying to fool?”

“None of your business! It’s not like I want to marry you!”

Buddha, please open your eyes and give her back that aloof plum hermit, take away this rascal Lu Yun who just teases her…

Luo Lingyu’s ears burned with embarrassment. She pushed him away.

This time Lu Yun was prepared and didn’t budge. He stayed in front of her, still smirking: “As for wanting to be a vine flower…”

With her restless spirit, could she ever stay quiet and still?

“Cousin Luo, give up. You can forget about that in this life.”

Luo Lingyu: “Hey!”

She looked up and suddenly saw Lu Yun’s face turn cold as he looked down at her:

“Better to ask me than Buddha… Cousin Luo, who you marry might end up being thanks to me.”

Luo Lingyu stared wide-eyed, watching his cold expression last just a moment before he winked at her with a teasing smile.

She couldn’t figure out what Lu Yun meant before he turned away laughing and left the hall.

Behind him, the Luo girl who wanted to be a vine flower stamped her foot in anger, not sure whether to chase after him—

Everyone has their dreams, right? What’s wrong with wanting to be a vine flower?! He had to butt in, how annoying!

Luo Lingyu stood dazed for a while. She couldn’t focus on praying anymore – Lu Yun’s face kept appearing in her mind.

Her senses were disturbed, her face flushed red. She couldn’t pray properly anymore.

She had no choice but to place the incense Lu Yun gave her and go find Lu Xian

When she saw Lu Xian, he looked lost too. Clearly his problem hadn’t gotten a satisfying answer either.

But that noon was the last time Luo Lingyu would see Lu Yun for the next two days.

She had plans with the young ladies that she had to keep. When she tried to find Lu Yun later to force him to keep her marriage-obsessed secret, she couldn’t find him anywhere.

Luo Lingyu and Lu Xian looked at each other in confusion, not knowing where Lu Yun had gone.

Lu Xian could only comfort her: “Third brother doesn’t like feasts and games. Maybe he went to play somewhere else on the mountain? Don’t wait for him.”

Luo Lingyu felt empty inside but forced herself to agree.

That night, while Luo Lingyu finally met with the young ladies, killing broke out in Prince Hengyang’s mansion in Jianye City.

Lu Yun wore black clothes and a wide hat hiding his face.

He stood in Prince Hengyang’s mansion holding someone up, coldly eyeing the guards around him!