ATLAS TRANSLATES

Several days had passed since the Flower Festival.

Luo Lingyu still remembered how Lu Yun had pressed her against the door, his words making her head spin.

That day, he not only kissed her, but also made her wipe the wine from his face and neck with her handkerchief. Her mind was already in chaos when her silk handkerchief touched his throat, and his Adam’s apple moved slightly under her touch.

In that moment, when she met the young master’s deep ocean-like eyes, she found it hard to breathe, as if drowning in his gaze.

When Lu Xuechen spoke to her softly, his throat moved under her palm: “Will you continue wiping?”

Luo Lingyu’s voice trembled, though she tried to stay calm: “Yes, I will.”

Lu Yun’s pretense of aloofness was just that—pretense. Though he looked disheveled, he sat quietly and dignified, lowering his eyes without touching even a finger of hers. But his breath mingled with hers as their faces were so close. Again and again.

The differences between men and women—this was the first time he gave her a clear sense of attraction to the opposite sex. She stared at his throat, and for a moment her fingertips trembled, lightly grazing it.

Then she heard him take a sharp breath.

Under her palm, like a jumping heartbeat, came that low, magnetic, gravel-like hurried breathing.

The young master was breathing heavily near her ear, and Luo Lingyu finally blushed bright red. His allure was too much for her to handle, and she practically crawled out the door. Outside, her limbs felt weak, and the sun seemed to spin above. She patted her blood-red cheeks, confused about why she had lost her composure so completely in front of Lu Yun.

She felt dizzy all day, yet happy.

The Flower Festival was the happiest day Luo Lingyu had experienced since her parents’ passing. In Nanyang, she had to please her elders to get support from the not-so-powerful Luo family. After coming to Jianye, she still had to please people, navigating among the outstanding young men and women while carefully not showing weakness in front of them. They had everything while she had nothing. The things they didn’t care about were exactly what she desperately wanted.

She had put in so much effort, even slightly manipulating the princess… The Flower Goddess festival finally let her feel free for a moment!

The ladies treated her as their leader, the young men’s gazes followed her all day, and there were the courtly paintings of her by the scholars. This included Qi Third Young Master’s confession, Lu Yun’s uncontrollable emotions… and finally, when she returned to the Lu family by carriage, she held the new painting “Goddess of Wu Mountain” by the Plum-Seeking Hermit.

Because she was absent for a while that day, the scholars, unable to see her, let their imaginations run wild. For example, Mr. Wang’s “Mountain Ghost” painting depicted a mountain spirit holding osmanthus branches, surrounded by vines, making her appear mystical and mysterious. It was highly praised by everyone.

But Luo Lingyu’s favorite was still Lu Yun’s “Goddess of Wu Mountain.” He painted her as a celestial maiden, controlling clouds and rain, hidden in misty mountains. The beautiful immortal looking back among clouds and peaks—that one glance full of deep emotion made Luo Lingyu’s heart tremble uncontrollably.

When everyone asked her to choose one painting to take home, without hesitation, Luo Lingyu chose the Plum-Seeking Hermit’s Goddess of Wu Mountain. After making her shy selection, she secretly glanced at Lu Yun and said softly: “I don’t mean anything by it, I just purely like this painting.”

Lu Yun, standing beside her, looked down at her with a strange expression. He seemed to be smiling, yet also… hiding a secret she didn’t know about. He chuckled softly: “…I like her too.”

He had dreamed of her before.

Luo Lingyu’s hands clutching the painting immediately tightened.

However, it seemed like everything she had been wanting suddenly took a big step forward, becoming within her reach.

Luo Lingyu felt like she could float—

The “Jade Young Master” whom no lady in Jianye could attract asked her if she could love. No one else moved his heart, but he hesitated for her. He had the power and wealth she liked; looking at him was like looking at mountains of gold and silver… how could she not like him?

Luo Lingyu had playfully and proudly answered him that day: “If you can love, then I can too.”

Lu Yun had only smiled then, without saying anything specific.

This ambiguous relationship with Lu Yun was like a cat and mouse game, each trying to guess the other’s thoughts while wanting the other to submit to their charm. Overall, Luo Lingyu rather enjoyed this kind of secret back-and-forth emotion unknown to others. This self-satisfied enjoyment showed itself in many ways during ordinary days.

Spring had arrived, and time suddenly passed much faster. The garden was full of green spring colors, and various wine parties and flower parties were endless. Luo Lingyu actively participated in all sorts of gatherings of Jianye’s young men and women, maintaining her usual diplomatic charm, showing both talent and beauty.

For everyone, Luo Lingyu didn’t distinguish between like and dislike, only between useful and not useful. And those she could meet in Jianye were all useful resources in her eyes, so she naturally paid them countless times more attention.

Through her persistent efforts, Luo Lingyu’s reputation for beauty finally spread throughout Jianye’s noble circles. When speaking of outstanding ladies, everyone, both men and women, would think of her.

Miss Chen, Chen Xiu, hadn’t won this year’s “Flower Goddess” title. She was already unpopular among the ladies, and with the socially adept Luo Lingyu’s appearance, Chen Xiu suddenly seemed dull in comparison.

But Chen Xiu was proud too. When her father wanted to take the whole family south for a summer trip, she stubbornly refused to go. It was said she even went to find Lu Yun, asking him if he had any feelings for her… this was just a rumor, and Luo Lingyu didn’t know how her third cousin had answered Miss Chen. In any case, after being sick for a while, Chen Xiu still stayed in Jianye.

With Scholar Chen’s entire family gone, the empty mansion was left with just one daughter.

Hearing this, the ladies spat: “She insisted on staying, definitely still for Lu Yun. Her skin is really thick… if Lu Yun wanted to marry her, he would have done so long ago. Why would he let her pine away for so many years?”

But Luo Lingyu deeply admired Chen Xiu. To focus completely on one thing, spending an entire youth on the same matter. Not caring about the ladies’ dislike, not minding their disdain. Chen Xiu remained proud, writing poetry and painting all day, mixing with other talented women, and gradually, people stopped talking about her.

Because she admired Chen Xiu, Luo Lingyu specifically went to visit her during her illness. However, her arrival was mistaken by Chen Xiu as provocation. Chen Xiu became even more ill from anger—”You came to laugh at me! Just wait, when Lu Yun knows your true face, he won’t like you either.”

Luo Lingyu: “…”

She felt so innocent.

However, Chen Xiu’s words did give Luo Lingyu some food for thought. That night was stuffy and cloudy, and the maids opened all the doors and windows of the house. In the warm breeze, the maids sat under the lamplight, listening to Luo Lingyu having her little sister recite from books while they made summer clothes from lotus silk. Summer was approaching, and lotus silk was an expensive, light crepe silk fabric. The ladies of Jianye had recommended lotus silk to Luo Lingyu, and when she used it, she finally understood how expensive it was.

Her heart was bleeding.

Her sister was pouting unhappily while reciting, her eyes darting around. She watched as Luo Lingyu took out her collection of treasures again, hesitating repeatedly. Several items were spread out on the floor tiles, the more precious ones including the jade pendant that Prince Hengyang had given Luo Lingyu when they first met, and various small gifts that Lu Yun had exchanged with her. The most precious was still the Plum-Seeking Hermit’s painting.

She now had three paintings by the Plum-Seeking Hermit—the first one she had obtained early on, and now she knew that the beauty on the boat under the moon that Lu Yun had painted was her. This was from their first meeting, both a stain on her reputation and the beginning of everything, and it was the Plum-Seeking Hermit’s painting. Luo Lingyu couldn’t bear to sell it.

The second was the painting of Lu Yun’s youth that Lu Xian had given her after Lu Yun’s identity was revealed.

The third was the “Goddess of Wu Mountain” that the Plum-Seeking Hermit had painted among the ladies’ portraits on Flower Festival day. After several scholars finished their paintings, she could choose one to keep. Luo Lingyu had chosen the Plum-Seeking Hermit’s “Goddess of Wu Mountain.” She loved this “Goddess of Wu Mountain” even more than Mr. Wang’s highly praised “Mountain Ghost” painting from that day. She couldn’t bear to sell this one either.

Luo Lingyu picked through them left and right, getting a headache.

Her little sister Luo Yunhuan stopped reciting and asked in her crisp voice: “Why do you need to sell things again? Didn’t that string of glass bracelets sell for quite a lot? Sister, I don’t need new clothes. I don’t go out anyway, why do we need to keep up appearances? Sister, you should use it all for your own clothes.”

Luo Lingyu glared at her: “You’re still a young lady from a scholar’s family, how can my sister not have what other ladies have?”

Luo Yunhuan: “But I really don’t go out…”

Luo Lingyu: “Noble families cultivate dignity, it has nothing to do with whether you go out or not. When you were young, you experienced everything, so when you grow up, you won’t be easily deceived, and you’ll keep your heart steady. I have you read books and learn the zither, all to cultivate your spirit… alright, don’t worry about it, I’ll think of something.”

Luo Yunhuan paused for a moment, then her eyes reddened, and she came to hug her worried sister.

After being by the young lady’s side for several months, the maid Lingyu could now join their conversations. After Lingxi went to take care of the younger Miss Luo, Lingyu became Luo Lingyu’s personal maid. As a personal maid, she would naturally know many things about the young lady that others didn’t. Lingyu offered a suggestion: “Young lady, these things are all extremely precious, don’t sell them anymore… The money from selling the bracelet wasn’t little, if we’re frugal, we can make it through a couple more months. But if the young lady is really worried about money… why doesn’t the young lady ask Third Young Master for some money?”

Luo Lingyu immediately raised her beautiful eyes, thoughtful.

Luo Yunhuan’s face turned red: “B-b-borrow money?”

Luo Lingyu chided her: “What borrowing money? Brother Xuechen is so kind-hearted, he will surely help. Just a small amount from between his fingers would be enough for me… Brother Xuechen and I have deep friendship, there’s no question of borrowing.”

Luo Yunhuan: Brother Xuechen?! Her, her, her sister called Third Cousin “Brother Xuechen”!

Judging from Luo Lingyu’s character, her sister clearly meant to borrow without intending to return… Luo Yunhuan felt very uncomfortable, feeling that her sister was trying to take advantage of Third Cousin. She really felt this wasn’t right… but, but, she had already seen Luo Lingyu do this kind of thing many times. The young miss sat down gloomily to continue reading, but her mind had already wandered. She also wanted a lot of money, so her sister wouldn’t have to always be like this…

Having already thought of asking Lu Yun for financial assistance, Luo Lingyu thick-skinnedly considered how to persuade him. However, she went to the “Clear Courtyard” several times, but Lu Yun wasn’t there, only Jinyue sighing and chatting with her. Jinyue said the war at the border between the Southern and Northern countries was intense, and Third Young Master was working in his office all day without returning home, the Clear Courtyard hadn’t prepared dinner for Third Young Master in a long time…

Jinyue worried: “The war has nothing to do with us, how nice it would be if the young master just wrote poetry and painted like other young masters.”

But Luo Lingyu’s eyes darkened slightly, saying: “Someone must care about the suffering at the borders. I admire Third Cousin for taking it to heart.”

Jinyue was startled, this was the first time in months that Luo Lingyu had disagreed with her. Because Luo Lingyu usually went along with what others said, no one really knew what she truly thought. When Luo Lingyu expressed her real views, it always surprised people… After the young lady had left, Jinyue pondered for a long time, then asked other maids about the young lady’s background the next day, and suddenly realized: “Ah, Ruyang!”

The young lady came from Nanyang, but before that, she had lived in Ruyang. Ruyang was at the border between the Southern and Northern countries, and back then in the case of the Ruyang Luo family’s extinction, it was when the Northern country invaded, and the Ruyang Luo family swore not to surrender, leading to the whole family being massacred.

Even today, people remembered how Lu Yingying, the already married daughter of the Lu family, had come to seek refuge at her maiden home in a disheveled state with her son…

Jinyue lowered her eyelids: Counting the time, the young lady must have been around ten years old then… for a ten-year-old young lady to experience such things, yet she never mentioned it to anyone afterward… to be able to keep such a big thing in her heart, the young lady was quite extraordinary.

Although she couldn’t see Lu Yun, Luo Lingyu first received an invitation to a tea-drying party. This time was peculiar, as the invitation came from Prince Chen Liu Shu.

Prince Chen’s meaning was that since she had a good relationship with Young Master Zhou, and now she had a good reputation in Jianye’s noble circles, Prince Chen wanted her to bring Young Master Zhou into the circle.

Although Zhou was from a humble background, after several months of interaction, this young master had been establishing private schools and compiling books, and Prince Chen greatly admired him. Prince Chen could bring Zhou into the court circle, but in the scholar circle, Prince Chen himself didn’t speak much and wasn’t familiar with anyone, and Lu Yun had long since stopped mixing in this circle, so there was no way forward. Then Prince Chen thought of Lu Yun’s capable cousin.

Luo Lingyu was very happy to lead Zhou to meet various young masters and ladies.

She had always had good feelings toward Zhou Yangling because Zhou Yangling was the gentlest young master she had ever met. Even though she didn’t want to marry Young Master Zhou, she still hoped to do something for Zhou Yangling. Prince Chen was really overthinking it, how could someone like Zhou Yangling need Luo Lingyu’s introduction? Young Master Zhou would surely make everyone happy.

But on the day of the tea-drying party, Luo Lingyu finally understood why Prince Chen wanted her to lead Young Master Zhou.

The Southern country was known for good tea, and the tea-drying party used tea tasting, tea selection, and tea competition as a pretext for young masters and ladies to socialize.

Luo Lingyu had gotten along easily with these young ladies and young masters in recent months, and now as she led Zhou Yangling to introduce him to them, at first everyone maintained normal attitudes when they saw the handsome young master.

Until one young master said with a half-smile: “Young Master Zhou… we’ve heard of him. Recently, disciples from humble backgrounds have been coming to Jianye seeking official positions, and after Prince Chen’s many mediations, Young Master Zhou’s name has become well-known to many in Jianye these past few months.”

The conversation atmosphere was good, but once this young master spoke, the atmosphere immediately became somewhat stiff.

Luo Lingyu was puzzled: “What’s wrong with that?”

Zhou Yangling tugged at her sleeve, indicating she didn’t need to say more. As soon as Luo Lingyu spoke, that young master who had spoken was captivated by her beauty and immediately blushed. In front of a beauty, he couldn’t say unpleasant things, but seeing Zhou Yangling beside the beauty, he gave Zhou Yangling a resentful glance, spat, and turned away: “Hmph, commoner!”

After Zhou Yangling pulled away the angry-faced Luo Lingyu, the two sat down, and Zhou Yangling carefully explained to Luo Lingyu: “The distinction between nobles and commoners, doesn’t little sister know? It’s normal for nobles to look down on those from humble backgrounds, sister needn’t be angry. Not everyone is like sister, without prejudice about family status, willing to be friends with me.”

Luo Lingyu immediately blushed at his words: No… she had status prejudices too. If she didn’t, she would have already found a way to marry Young Master Zhou.

But in Zhou Yangling’s eyes, his little sister Luo was a young lady who was a bit temperamental yet extremely lively and lovable. She would save him, a stranger, at their first meeting, would cry when Qiniang couldn’t dance, and would climb mountains to have clear conversations with Mr. Wang. Luo Lingyu was an interesting person, at least she had won Zhou Yangling’s favor.

Luo Lingyu felt ashamed: “No, no, no…”

She did all these things for reasons. She wasn’t as good a person as Young Master Zhou thought, but when Young Master Zhou’s gentle gaze held a smile as he looked at her… Luo Lingyu steadied herself and smiled brightly: “That’s right, I am just that sincere, kind, and beautiful-souled young lady in Young Master Zhou’s eyes.”

Zhou Yangling was amused by her: This was the first time he’d seen someone so thick-skinned in self-praise.

Luo Lingyu made up her mind: “Don’t worry, Young Master Zhou. Prince Chen has entrusted you to me, I must not fail his trust.”

Luo Lingyu continued: “Don’t mind these young masters and ladies looking down on humble backgrounds. Even some famous scholars come from humble origins – Chen Xiu is still the disciple of Scholar Zhou Tan, and everyone knows Zhou Tan was from a humble background. These people, as long as you have talent, you can stand out.”

Zhou Yangling wasn’t so concerned: “That was all Prince Chen’s idea, I don’t really…”

Luo Lingyu’s eyes welled up with tears as she gazed at him softly: “Don’t you trust me?”

Zhou Yangling: “Uh…”

Unable to bear seeing a beautiful lady cry, Zhou Yangling sighed and resigned himself: “What do you want me to do?”

Only then did Luo Lingyu smile, thinking for a moment before saying: “Let’s bring out your set of chimes and shock them. Hmph, they haven’t experienced what imperial court music is like in many years… I want them to know that the chimes in the ‘Flying to the Moon’ dance that day were with your help.”

After thinking briefly, Zhou Yangling nodded, still speaking gently: “Sister only needs to say that I was invited to assist, no need to say that I readjusted the music. Sister’s title as ‘Flower Goddess’ is undisputed.”

Luo Lingyu stared at the young master before her for a long while. She hadn’t planned to let people know that the most outstanding chimes in the dance weren’t hers; she had only wanted people to get to know Zhou Yangling.

But Zhou Yangling took the initiative to do this, to help her this way… Luo Lingyu’s eyes reddened, and she reached out to grasp his sleeve, murmuring: “Young master, you’re so good to me, I…”

I have no way to repay you, I really want to offer myself in marriage!

When Prince Chen became worried and came to check if Zhou Zibo was being well cared for by Luo Lingyu after dealing with court matters, he stood behind flowers by the lake and personally heard those solemn and magnificent chime sounds.

He stood on this side of the water, watching the other shore crowded with young men and women, with Luo Lingyu and Zhou Yangling he had introduced in the center. The lady and the young master struck the chimes together, grand musical rhythms resonating with each strike…

The crowd watched, amazement in their eyes, staring at Luo Lingyu and Zhou Yangling striking the chimes. Young Master Zhou was handsome, the Luo lady elegant, their eyes meeting, naturally in sync, how harmonious. Everyone praised—

“Hearing the chimes again… this young master actually knows how to play the chimes?”

“Isn’t this the music from Little Sister Luo’s ‘Flying to the Moon’ dance that day? So Little Sister Luo knew Young Master Zhou early on.”

“Young Master Zhou truly has great talent.”

Liu Shu stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on that young master. Sitting beside Luo Lingyu, he would occasionally discreetly take care of her. When Luo Lingyu sometimes forgot the rhythm and secretly looked at him, he would naturally help fill in the gaps.

His gentle water-like eyes always noticed the lady beside him.

The young master kept his eyes lowered, his bearing naturally elegant, shining like beautiful jade.

Liu Shu stared intently, seeing Luo Lingyu and Zhou Zibo’s glances meeting, his heart sinking heavily, feeling somewhat uncomfortable. He held this feeling without showing it, yet when Young Master Zhou occasionally raised his eyes to smile, the young master’s slight smile on his face came like starlight crashing over him. Zhou’s gentle features, composed temperament, his undisturbed manner in the face of favor or disgrace… such an elegant young man caught the attention of the surrounding ladies, their gazes becoming more numerous and passionate.

Liu Shu’s blood began to jump, his whole body tingling, feeling weak yet also as if encrusted with gold.

He stared at that young master, slowly growing pale.

A clear, lazy, and noble voice came from behind: “Been looking for you everywhere, what are you doing here?”

Liu Shu turned around to see his good friend Lu Yun coming over leisurely. Lu Yun had changed into court clothes, specifically coming to discuss state affairs with Prince Chen. Lu Yun carelessly glanced across the lake, seeing the silhouette of a certain beauty. The young master’s originally cold expression immediately broke into a smile: “It’s her again… she even has to make a fuss about this.”

His little sister Yueer was truly multi-talented.

Liu Shu’s shoulders trembled slightly.

How perceptive Lu Yun was, he turned his head: “What’s wrong with you?”

Liu Shu raised his eyes, his face still very pale. After a long silence, this Prince Chen said to his friend: “Xuechen, I think… I, I…”

Lu Yun: “Hmm?”

Liu Shu’s forehead broke out in sweat, finding it difficult to speak but having to face it: “I fear… I have… a preference for cut sleeves¹.”

Lu Yun: “…!”

The Prince Chen’s servants who had been chasing after Lu Yun, all sweating, happened to hear this: “…!”

As if struck by lightning, all the servants’ eyes instantly turned to Lu Yun’s handsome fair face. If Prince Chen had a preference for cut sleeves, who could he be in love with? Around Prince Chen, only Lu Yun had been steadfast as a rock. Everyone showed expressions of sudden realization: No wonder Prince Chen wouldn’t marry, and Lu Yun wouldn’t marry either. So Prince Chen had always felt this way about Lu Yun…

What everyone thought of was also what Lu Yun thought of. Lu Yun’s face turned from green to white, moving many steps away from Prince Chen. His expression was very strange as he looked at this friend with great complexity. Among the men around Liu Shu, it seemed there really was only Lu Yun. After thinking for a moment, Lu Yun still decided to distance himself from Liu Shu…

Prince Chen Liu Shu: “…?”

All the servants turned pale: It seemed Lu Yun wasn’t interested in their master. So it was a case of unrequited love… now that they had heard their master’s words, would he kill them to silence them?!

1. The term ‘Cut Sleeve’, a euphemism for homosexuality in mandarin, is taken from a famous story where Emperor Han and his lover Dong Xian were napping together. The emperor had to wake up and attend a court audience, but Dong Xian was fast asleep with his head resting on the emperor’s long robe sleeve, so he cut off his sleeve to not disturb him. ↩︎