ATLAS TRANSLATES

Fan Qingchen examined Lu Yun — he had to admit that Lu Yun was even more captivating in person than in the portraits.

The portraits couldn’t capture his aura.

When Lu Yun arrived by boat across the water, his outstanding appearance and demeanor blended as one, easily drawing all attention to himself while making others fade into the background. At least Luo Lingyu’s entire demeanor changed upon seeing Lu Yun.

Fan Qingchen watched as the maids and Luo Lingyu helped Lu Yun go pay his respects to the elderly madam and others. He let out two deep chuckles. Though his laughter wasn’t unpleasant, Luo Lingyu’s arm stiffened, which Lu Yun immediately noticed.

Lu Yun casually explained to everyone that he was bored and came to play at the lake pavilion, not expecting the elderly madam and others to be here.

Everyone had different expressions, likely not believing Lu Yun’s explanation, but they didn’t say much.

When Lu Yun heard Fan Qingchen’s low laughter, the young lord turned his face, and his eyes still covered in gauze “looked” toward Fan Qingchen: “How should I address this young lord?”

With Lu Yun’s arrival, the relaxed atmosphere in the pavilion became tense. Madam Lu saw the situation wasn’t right. She gave a signal, and the musicians near the water side of the pavilion gathered their pipa and guqin instruments. They kept looking back as they left, their faces flushed red as they reluctantly gazed at Lu Yun while being led away by the maids.

Luo Lingyu coughed once: “This is Young Lord Fan, the fourth son of the Fan family from Nanyang.”

Fan Qingchen’s gaze remained fixed on Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu who stood between them. His voice softened: “Why are you being so distant with me, Sister Luo? I am your betrothed, after all.”

Lu Yun’s voice was extremely faint: “Where’s the proof?”

Luo Lingyu’s pupils constricted.

Fan Qingchen was stunned for a moment.

Everyone in the pavilion looked at Lu Yun as he repeated: “How can Young Lord Fan prove he is truly from the Fan family of Nanyang? Don’t blame me for being overcautious. Nanyang is a thousand miles from Jianye, and Cousin Luo is still so young. It wouldn’t be strange if she couldn’t judge people well and was deceived. Since Cousin Luo is staying at our Lu family home, even if she leaves, we must ensure her safety and not let her blindly follow a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Isn’t that right?”

The elderly Madam Lu and others coughed awkwardly, their faces reddening – it was as if Lu Yun was implying they hadn’t checked things properly before and were going to sell off Miss Luo. But since Miss Luo herself had brought this person back, how could he be fake?

Luo Lingyu looked left at Fan Qingchen’s face, dark as ink, then right at Lu Yun’s calm and handsome face. The panic in her heart was suppressed. Though Lu Yun’s eyes were covered and couldn’t see, she couldn’t help but look to him, feeling slightly reassured and sweet: “That’s right.”

Fan Qingchen’s tone was strange: “Proving that I am from the Fan family of Nanyang isn’t difficult, but isn’t the Third Young Lord paying too much attention to my betrothed? You and my betrothed, could it be…”

Lu Yun’s lips curved slightly.

His smile was like spring, yet carried a hint of mockery. This time he didn’t speak himself, but his maid Jingyue spoke for him instead: “Young Lord Fan is overthinking! Our young lord’s reputation in Jianye is illustrious, with many young ladies admiring him. My lord, don’t make our young lord’s familial affection for his cousin sound so questionable.”

Everyone stared at the beautiful quick-witted maid: “…”

Jingyue certainly had thick skin.

The smile disappeared from Fan Qingchen’s face as he stared at Lu Yun. After a moment, weighing the consequences of antagonizing the Lu family, Fan Qingchen took a step back and slowly said: “Proving my identity from the Nanyang Fan family isn’t difficult. I have servants who came with me to Jianye who can testify. The entry records at the city gates are clear and can also prove it.”

“Servant testimony doesn’t prove much,” Lu Yun continued without pause, “You want to check the entry records? Xiulin, go find the Metropolitan Governor and check Young Lord Fan’s entry records into the capital, check all their information along the way: who they met, what was said, where they stopped to rest. Get all the details.”

Lu Yun nodded to Fan Qingchen, polite yet distant: “To prevent any mistakes, please excuse the offense.”

His servant “Xiulin” acknowledged and ran out of the pavilion, rowing away by boat. The others in the pavilion, including elderly Madam Lu, were all watching the scene unfold. Under Lu Yun’s dominating presence, they observed with varying expressions but were extremely cautious not to voice any opinions.

Fan Qingchen’s face darkened: “Why make things so complicated? Can’t Sister Luo verify who I am?”

Luo Lingyu was quick to catch on, immediately saying: “I am young and ignorant, still confused myself. My testimony doesn’t count – I’ll follow Third Cousin’s lead!”

Fan Qingchen: “…”

Fan Qingchen’s eyes turned cold, his lips twitching slightly as he stared at Lu Yun like ice daggers. Lu Yun was showing him his authority, demonstrating how much power he had in Jianye. Information from the Metropolitan Governor could be obtained at will. And Luo Lingyu’s support for Lu Yun… Lu Yun sat there gracefully – even with blind eyes, his mind was sharp.

Fine.

He had skills.

But Fan Qingchen didn’t believe Lu Yun only had this move to stall for time: “What else? Once you prove I’m really who I say I am, you’ll let me take Sister Luo away, right?”

Lu Yun: “We also need to verify if the marriage contract is genuine.”

He said calmly: “Even if you really are the fourth son of the Nanyang Fan family, the marriage contract might not be real. After all, Nanyang is so far from Jianye – anyone could have lied or anything could have happened along the way, and we here in Jianye wouldn’t know. To ensure Cousin Luo’s safety and allow the Lu family to let her leave, I need to verify if the marriage contract is genuine.”

Fan Qingchen paused for a moment, understanding.

No matter what, it seemed he wouldn’t be able to take Luo Lingyu away today.

Fan Qingchen turned to attack elderly Madam Lu: “Elderly Madam, I naturally have a marriage contract with Sister Luo. If it were fake, wouldn’t Sister Luo have denied it from the start?”

Elderly Madam Lu actually couldn’t wait to have Luo Lingyu leave their family, and Lu Yun’s intention to keep her here already displeased her.

As soon as Fan Qingchen spoke, Madam Lu pondered: “What the young lord says makes sense…”

But unexpectedly her grandson immediately said: “Cousin Luo not protesting could mean Young Lord Fan is telling the truth, but it could also mean he threatened her. If Cousin Luo was coerced, shouldn’t we stand up for her? Since she came to stay at our home properly, even if she leaves, she must leave safely and whole. Isn’t that right?”

Elderly Madam Lu struggled: “What Third Young Master says also makes sense…”

Fan Qingchen laughed coldly: “I can produce the marriage contract immediately. I just arrived in Jianye and haven’t even bought a residence yet – how would I have time to threaten Sister Luo?”

Elderly Madam Lu: “Hmm, that makes sense…”

Lu Yun: “You haven’t even settled your residence yet want to take Cousin Luo away – clearly you have other intentions. Now I’m even more reluctant to let Cousin Luo leave with you.”

Elderly Madam Lu: “…”

Looking left and right, elderly Madam Lu could see the tense atmosphere between the two young lords. Her chest felt tight as she stared at Lu Yun’s elegant face with its white gauze-covered eyes. Previously when Lu Yun burned his eyes for Luo Lingyu, she thought he had feelings for her. But that was just speculation – elderly Madam Lu couldn’t be certain. Now, however, elderly Madam Lu was sure – given her grandson’s lazy nature, he wouldn’t easily get involved with young ladies.

Lu Yun feared trouble, feared getting entangled, feared being tied down by women… yet he cared so much about Luo Lingyu’s matters!

Elderly Madam Lu’s expression became very unpleasant.

Lu Yun and Fan Qingchen continued their verbal sparring, Lu Yun’s expression remaining calm and towering while Fan Qingchen’s face grew increasingly worse, the cold murderous intent in his eyes barely concealed. His cold eyes fixed on Lu Yun, killing intent suddenly rising.

However, this was the Lu family home – even if Lu Yun was blind, he was still a blind man sitting steadily in his own courtyard…

Fan Qingchen suppressed his anger: “Whatever we say doesn’t count. We just need to confront Sister Luo directly. I’ve known Sister Luo for four years – if she says right now that I’m not the Fan family’s fourth son she knows, I’ll leave immediately.”

Luo Lingyu painfully swallowed: “…”

She had been at a disadvantage from the start. If she had denied knowing this person from the beginning, denied any marriage contract, she could have maintained that denial. But since she didn’t deny it initially, any denial now would seem fake. Lu Yun was willing to lose face for her sake, insisting the person was fake. But that was just to buy time.

Lu Yun could use this stalling tactic, but she couldn’t…

Luo Lingyu’s face turned pale white.

The complicated gazes of elderly Madam Lu and others, Fan Qingchen’s threatening look, Lu Yun’s turned face – all were directed at Luo Lingyu. She steeled herself, bearing the pressure as she slowly stepped forward, each step very slow. Her lips trembled as she struggled to speak: “I…”

The young lady’s delicate gaze looked pleadingly toward Lu Yun.

Lu Yun remained expressionless, his fingers resting on his knee twitching slightly.

Luo Lingyu paused, suddenly struck by inspiration. While slowly beginning to speak about matters she didn’t know how to favor, she rubbed her forehead, her steps faltering. The young lady’s face was as pale as snow, and after uttering just one word, she let out a whimper and stumbled, falling to the ground unconscious.

Lu Yun, who was closest to her, immediately raised his sleeve and stood up. Though his eyes were impaired, he accurately caught the fallen lady in his arms, his tone worried and urgent: “Cousin! Cousin? What’s wrong… Grandmother, it seems Cousin has heatstroke.”

Elderly Madam Lu, Fan Qingchen and others all choked: “…”

Divine-like heatstroke.

But this play had to continue no matter what. Luo Lingyu lay weakly unconscious in the young lord’s arms, Lu Yun dutifully playing the role of a caring cousin, while the women ordered people to fetch a doctor and surrounded the unconscious Luo Lingyu.

Fan Qingchen was left out.

He coldly watched everything unfold.

In the June heat, his eyes were red as fire but his heart cold as ice. Though he could clearly see through all the crude acting, he couldn’t stop this play. Looking at the elegant jade-like profile of the young lord among the people, Fan Qingchen narrowed his eyes and laughed coldly: Lu Yun… heh, it seems the support cousin found this time isn’t simple.

But so what?

Everything was just buying time. He wanted to see how long these two could keep this up.

…

Lu Yun carried Luo Lingyu back to “Snow Trace Court”. After all the concerned visitors left, Luo Lingyu was able to stay at the Lu family home using “heatstroke” as an excuse. When the doctor and others left, the room quieted down, and the lady lying weakly in bed quietly opened one eye… she saw Lu Yun sitting silently by the bed.

Lu Yun sat quietly, his features clear and beautiful. With his eyes covered, one couldn’t see his expression or tell what he was thinking.

Luo Lingyu carefully looked at him.

His ear twitched and he turned his face toward her, his voice cool and mocking: “Everyone has left.”

Luo Lingyu covered her mouth and nose with the brocade blanket, saying softly: “Thank you, Brother Xuechen, for helping me.”

Lu Yun: “I can help you get through today, but I can’t help you get through a lifetime. You have a marriage contract with someone who even chased you to Jianye. Yet I was the last to know.”

Luo Lingyu heard the unfriendliness in his tone.

She felt very wronged: “I only found out he came today too… Brother Xuechen, are you not going to help me anymore? What should I do?”

When she called him “Brother Xuechen”, Lu Yun’s expression improved slightly. Earlier when he openly confronted Fan Qingchen, he was internally suppressing his fury and embarrassment. He had never fought over a woman to this extent, never been forced into a position where he needed to win through sophistry… Luo Lingyu!

Lu Yun reached out and pinched her face hard.

Tears burst from Luo Lingyu’s eyes, but she dared not get angry and could only endure, feeling extremely wronged: “Brother Xuechen, why don’t I keep pretending to be sick, until you think of a solution. You will think of a solution, right…”

Lu Yun snorted: “Why should I help you?”

Luo Lingyu froze.

Lu Yun had pretended to be aloof for so long – if she used “you are attracted to me” as an excuse, he would definitely snort in disdain and leave, absolutely refusing to admit it.

She looked at Lu Yun for a while, then lowered her eyes and slowly sat up from the bed. She sluggishly moved toward him, hesitated for a moment, then reached out and hugged his neck.

He remained still as a jade mountain, and Luo Lingyu felt awkward and annoyed, but compared to Fan Qingchen’s threats, Lu Yun only making her feel awkward was already very good…

Luo Lingyu hugged his neck, wanting to act coquettishly, but she was unwilling to lower herself before him.

She said gently: “Please…”

Lu Yun turned his face toward her, his nose touching her alluring lips. He suddenly laughed lightly: “Is that how you beg? Do you even know how to beg? Is this your attitude when begging someone?”

Being laughed at by him again made Luo Lingyu’s heart tremble, her fingers stiffening around his neck. She felt annoyed, thinking “I’m not a courtesan, how would I know how to please someone as difficult as you?”

The young lord sat normally, but his breath mingled with hers. Both noble and frivolous. Two completely opposite qualities existing in one person, like a poppy tempting one to fall.

Luo Lingyu’s fingers brushed the white gauze covering his eyes, and she couldn’t help asking: “How are your eyes? Can’t you remove the gauze yet?”

Perhaps because her tone was too gentle, and her fingers stroking his face were cool. The atmosphere was so good that Lu Yun’s tone also softened, his breath intertwining with hers as he answered: “Almost healed…”

His expression suddenly changed again, asking in an odd tone: “You haven’t begged your betrothed like this before, have you? Haven’t spoken to him this way?”

Luo Lingyu: “…”

She said: “Why would I need to beg anyone? He was always the one begging to play with me. Lu Xuechen, I have many admirers – do you think everyone is like you?”

Lu Yun said coldly: “Cheap admirers are meaningless.”

Luo Lingyu cursed him in her heart, thinking tomorrow she would announce to the world, letting all the ladies in Jianye who pursued him see how he viewed them. Actually saying people were “cheap”!

Lu Yun suddenly asked again: “Your betrothed is called Fan Qingchen, my courtesy name is ‘Xuechen’ – do you treat me differently because we share the character ‘chen’?”

Luo Lingyu: “…”

Dumbfounded.

She hadn’t even noticed what Lu Yun pointed out. Luo Lingyu found it ridiculous – when she first met Lu Yun, she didn’t even know his courtesy name was “Xuechen”. How could she look for similarities between Lu Yun and Fan Qingchen? Besides, that person’s name didn’t use the same ‘chen’ character, it clearly used ‘chen’ meaning ‘morning’.

Lu Yun continued: “When I remove the gauze, I must see what kind of person your betrothed is, and whether we look alike…”

Luo Lingyu boldly pushed him, annoyed and coquettish: “Will you ever stop? I already said I don’t like him anymore! You clearly despise him yet keep calling him ‘betrothed’. Can’t you just say ‘him’? Will you die if you don’t say the word ‘betrothed’?”

She couldn’t stand him!

Though he clearly disliked Fan Qingchen, he kept bringing him up. If she didn’t mention him, he would, constantly talking about it… Lu Yun’s jealousy really knew no bounds.

…

Luo Lingyu really used “heatstroke” as an excuse, not daring to go out all day and just staying in her room pretending to be sick. Fan Qingchen visited the Lu family several times – each time he came, Luo Lingyu would be terribly ill, as if she was cursed by him.

Fan Qingchen knew exactly what was happening and was extremely angry, but he also laughed coldly, wanting to see if the Lu family could really keep Luo Lingyu forever.

Lu Xian, who occasionally came home for tea and food, also heard about these matters. However, Lu Xian didn’t have much reaction, just saying “oh” as if remembering something. Because of that dream he had, he vaguely recalled that Luo Lingyu seemed to have an old acquaintance from Nanyang. There seemed to also be a “betrothed”… but this person didn’t cause much trouble. At least when Lu Xian knew about it in the dream, this matter was already over.

These days Lu Xian was trying hard to remember his dream, recalling that on June 19th, Luo Lingyu would pledge allegiance to Prince Hengyang. From this day forward, Prince Hengyang would openly protect Miss Luo and confirm her as his princess.

The timeline in the dream diverged and converged with reality. If at this time in the dream, Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu hadn’t reconciled and were still arguing, then Prince Hengyang would indeed have an opportunity.

Lu Xian only wanted to ensure cutting off Prince Hengyang’s path, making sure that on June 19th, Miss Luo wouldn’t go meet Prince Hengyang.

After hearing about the family matters and learning that Lu Yun was helping Miss Luo, Lu Xian visited Luo Lingyu once and didn’t return. He had more important matters – he urgently wanted to know if the “dan poison” affecting the old emperor in his dream might be a trap.

After replacing the Taoist priests who sent Prince Hengyang to the palace, Lu Xian didn’t spend much time at home. He was busy with official duties and interrogating these Taoist priests.

One evening at dusk, the sky was gloomy and cold with a few raindrops falling. Despite Madam Lu’s nagging, when Lu Xian’s servant informed him there might be progress, he took an umbrella and drove to the outskirts of the city. Lu Xian had hidden those Taoist priests in the mountains and interrogated them for several days. Today those people finally spoke up, so naturally Lu Xian wanted to know the truth immediately.

Arriving at the mountains, passing through the woods, he came to a thatched hut. Outside the hut, he closed his umbrella as thunder rumbled in the distance. Lu Xian shook the water from his robes and opened the door to enter. Inside there was only one lamp, and Lu Xian sat down to see the bound Taoist priests before him beaten badly with wounds all over. The priests lay on the ground, breathing weakly.

In the days since discovering these Taoist priests were suspicious, this was Lu Xian’s first time coming to see them in person.

Lu Xian: “Well? Speak up and I’ll guarantee you’ll live out your days.”

One of the priests gasped intermittently: “We’ll talk… we’ll talk… Prince Hengyang never asked us to poison anyone… he just wanted us to compete with the other palace Taoist priests for favor, to make His Majesty like us best.”

“Yes, yes! That’s right! His Majesty likes Taoist priests, so Prince Hengyang just wanted us to make more elixirs.”

Lu Xian interrupted: “Did he personally tell you to make more elixirs for His Majesty to consume?”

Throughout history, many emperors sought immortality, yet none had ever achieved it. Well-educated noble lords like them who had read extensively knew those Taoist priests were just deceiving people. Who knew what those so-called elixirs contained. His Majesty didn’t trust court physicians but trusted Taoist priests. Taking medicines recklessly, death wouldn’t be surprising.

And this “elixir” was what Prince Hengyang wanted…

Lu Xian spoke with slight urgency, confirming again: “Did he really say to make more elixirs, to convince His Majesty to take more – is that true?”

The Taoist priests’ heads were dizzy and muddled, hearing things unclearly. In their groaning, none answered Lu Xian. Lu Xian watched as a guard beside him lashed out with a whip, striking the priests. Lu Xian closed his eyes, somewhat unable to bear watching or listening. He was supposed to be a refined young lord, yet had to hear such things… The guard’s burly figure cast shadows on the wall as he wielded the whip fiercely: “Didn’t understand our lord’s question? Answer our lord!”

“Answer our lord’s question—”

BOOM—

Thunder rumbled again in the sky, and amid the clattering lightning, torrential rain poured down. The heavy rain drowned out the priests’ screams echoing up and down in the hut. Mountain rain and flashing lightning made the atmosphere extremely oppressive. Lu Xian felt somewhat uncomfortable and stopped the guard’s whipping: “Enough, just let them answer properly, no need to beat them…”

But suddenly a low laugh came from outside: “Answer? What secrets could such small characters know? If Lu Xian wants to know, why not ask me directly? Wouldn’t that be more convenient?”

The guards accompanying Lu Xian in the hut were startled and drew their swords in quick succession. Lu Xian suddenly stood up and turned to look. The door was kicked open from outside with a “bang”, and Prince Hengyang, carrying the cold and rain, stepped in over the fallen door.

Lightning flashed in the sky as rain fell like spears and halberds. In the lightning, rows of guards standing outside the hut created a cramped and stern pressure. At their front was Prince Liu Mu, who walked into the hut holding a sword. Liu Mu pointed his sword forward as Lu Xian backed away, face pale.

Lu Xian: “What are you doing? You dare!”

Liu Mu: “Who told you to discover this secret… I didn’t want to confront the Lu family either, but Lu Xian, your curiosity was too great. When you saw something wasn’t right, you should have just turned and left. Why did you have to let me see you?”