ATLAS TRANSLATES

The fragrance of flowers and dew, neither purely floral nor purely dewy, carried a refreshing scent.

However, the process of creating it was far from simple—it wasn’t just a matter of collecting dew from flower petals.

Luo Lingyu’s small bottle of floral dew was the result of a year’s labor. She had gathered petals from a hundred flowers, washed and dried them, then steamed them in a specially crafted vessel.

The process was repeated over and over, accumulating the essence until the fragrance became rich and enduring.

The selection of flowers had to be precise, the timing exact, and the vessel itself was difficult to obtain.

Luo Lingyu and her sister had worked tirelessly through spring and winter, ruining countless batches of flowers, to produce this single small bottle.

“Just one drop is enough to fill the air with an extraordinary fragrance, sweet and aromatic, capable of masking even the strongest milky odors. If Third Cousin dislikes the taste of cheese, this floral dew can balance it out.”

Lingyu glanced at the beautiful young woman sitting under the candlelight, her eyes downcast, and suddenly understood something.

A mischievous smile spread across her face as she nodded and said, “Understood.”

She then led the still-confused Lingxi away.

It was no wonder Lingxi was puzzled—since arriving at the Lu family, Luo Lingyu had assigned her to take care of her younger sister, Luo Yunhuan.

Yunhua had been ill for several days, and Lingxi had been by her side the entire time. By the time the little girl had recovered and was bouncing around again, Lingxi had somehow become Yunhua’s personal maid.

The candlelight flickered as Luo Lingyu sat with her head bowed, while the two maids bustled in and out.

Sitting on the long couch, Luo Yunhuan’s face was almost buried in a jade bowl as she scooped spoonfuls of cheese cake into her mouth.

Her bright, grape-like eyes darted around, watching her beautiful sister’s affectionate gaze follow the maids as they left. Swallowing her mouthful of cake, Yunhua mumbled, “Sis, are you trying to win people over again?”

Luo Lingyu turned her head, her beautiful eyes narrowing as she chided her sister, “What do you mean, ‘win people over’? That sounds so crude. I’m just sharing something nice with our relatives.”

Yunhua, wise beyond her years, pursed her lips. “But even if you give them things, they still won’t like you if they don’t want to.”

Having grown up with her sister, Yunhua had seen firsthand how people gossiped about Luo Lingyu behind her back.

They said her beauty was too striking, not noble enough, and unfit for high society. Yet, despite their words, they couldn’t help but steal glances at her.

Luo Lingyu had heard such comments countless times, and while Yunhua seethed with anger, Luo Lingyu simply smiled and said, “I don’t expect everyone to love me. I just don’t want to make enemies. With my looks and talents, it’s only natural that many would envy me.”

Yunhua snorted. “Bull! You even gave Third Cousin some of that floral dew… Oh, I get it now. You’re trying to win him over because you want to marry him.”

Marry? Again?

Luo Lingyu sighed deeply. “Don’t say ‘bull.’ You don’t understand anything, so don’t go around spouting nonsense. Who do you think I’m doing all this for? It’s for you!”

Yunhua wasn’t buying it. “You’re doing it for wealth and luxury, so you’ll never run out of gold and silver. You’re not doing it for me!”

Luo Lingyu was speechless.

She stared at her sharp-tongued little sister in disbelief.

After their parents passed away, she had taken on the roles of both mother and sister, raising Yunhua on her own.

To ensure her sister wasn’t too naive, she had never hidden her actions or words from her.

But still… hearing such words from a nine-year-old was a bit too much.

Yunhua continued, sniffing disdainfully. “You’re definitely trying to win over Third Cousin because he’s handsome. Just like that guy we saved on the boat—you thought he was poor, so you ignored him. That poor guy… it’s strange, though. I wonder why he suddenly left the boat…”

Luo Lingyu’s eyes flickered, and she felt a pang of guilt.

Of course, the man hadn’t left the boat voluntarily—she had forced him off.

But she wasn’t about to tell her sister the truth.

Yunhua, unaware of her sister’s actions, had been upset that the injured man had left without a word, seemingly ungrateful. The next day, Yunhua had come down with a fever after disembarking, and the incident had been quickly forgotten.

Now, bringing it up again, Yunhua concluded, “Anyway, you’re just a snob who looks down on the poor!”

Luo Lingyu snapped, “Shut up. You’re so high and mighty, yet you still rely on me for food and shelter. If I were really such a snob, I’d throw you out on the street to beg for a couple of days. Let’s see how tough you are after going hungry for a few meals!”

Seeing her sister’s face scrunch up, she reached out and pinched Yunhua’s cheek hard.

Yunhua howled and tried to squirm away, but Luo Lingyu held her firmly, saying:

“No more eating. Go read, go study!”

“Be a proper young lady, be a talented young lady.”

Yunhua struggled, crying out, “No!”

But despite her delicate appearance, Luo Lingyu was surprisingly strong. She dragged her sister over and dumped a stack of books in front of her. Just for speaking out of turn, Luo Lingyu had pinched her little sister’s cheek until it turned red, forcing the teary-eyed girl to open a book.

Yunhua really didn’t like reading, writing, or any of the refined arts.

But Luo Lingyu—

“She’s really quite cunning,” remarked Lady Zhang Minglan, the wife of the Lu family’s eldest branch, as she chatted with an old servant while supervising her young son’s calligraphy practice.

When Lingyu and Lingxi brought in the fresh cheese cakes, Lady Zhang glanced at them and had them set aside. She offered her assessment with a slight smile, her tone playful.

On the long couch, an eight-year-old boy, Lu Chang, the fourth son of the Lu family, was sprawled over a small desk, diligently practicing his characters with a brush.

Lu Chang was not Lady Zhang’s biological son—his birth mother was a low-ranking concubine who was timid and submissive.

As a result, Lady Zhang had taken charge of his upbringing. For the first few years, she hadn’t paid much attention to him, focusing instead on her own children. But now that her eldest daughter was married and her second son was grown, she had little else to occupy her time.

So, she had taken Lu Chang under her wing and was personally overseeing his education.

The concubine, Lu Chang’s birth mother, dared not complain and could only express gratitude.

Lu Xian, the second son of the Lu family, was naturally kind-hearted and was pleased that his mother was taking good care of his younger brother. He had no reason to feel jealous.

Lu Chang obediently practiced his calligraphy, though his childish curiosity got the better of him. As Lady Zhang and the old servant chatted, he couldn’t help but eavesdrop—

The old servant chuckled. “Miss Luo is not only beautiful but also clever. This cheese cake looks quite novel. Shall we send a bowl to Second Young Master to try?”

Lady Zhang pondered for a moment, then called a maid from behind the screen to inquire. After a brief discussion, she nodded and said to the old servant, “See? I don’t even need to worry. She’s already sent some to the young masters. At such a young age, she’s quite remarkable.”

At just fourteen, Luo Lingyu, though from a prestigious family, was far more shrewd than the noble daughters of Jianye.

The old servant observed Lady Zhang’s expression. “Do you not like her, madam?”

“It’s not a matter of liking or disliking. It’s just her personality and the dynamics of our family,” Lady Zhang replied, frowning. “But ever since she arrived, she’s been the center of attention. First, she impressed the old madam and dazzled the young masters and cousins. The next day, Third Young Master took her on a tour of the gardens. Have you ever seen Lu Yun spend time with any other cousin? And today, she’s been sending out cheese cakes… She’s never idle.”

“Since she arrived, the young masters have been restless, all asking about this new cousin.”

“I just hope she doesn’t set her sights on my second son. I must protect Lu Xian’s marriage prospects. She can’t have him.”

Lu Chang, still practicing his calligraphy, thought to himself: So the madam really doesn’t like this new cousin.

And indeed, Luo Lingyu was far from idle.

After the cheese cakes were well-received throughout the Lu household, she felt encouraged. The next day, she began sending out tea.

Lady Zhang twisted her handkerchief, staring at the green tea that had been presented to her, feeling conflicted.

…

The tea from the north was different from that of the south.

The small amount of tea cakes Luo Lingyu had sent were harvested from cliffs so high they were nearly inaccessible.

The leaves couldn’t be picked by hand—only the fallen leaves could be collected, and even then, only a few at a time.

Lu Yun knew this because, along with the small packet of tea leaves, there was a pale yellow note. The note was filled with tiny characters, explaining that the tea was from the north, called “Sunshine,” and had a thick, rich flavor with a strong aroma. It also included amusing anecdotes about how the tea was selected and the fun Luo Lingyu had while sun-drying it. Finally, it listed the tea’s benefits and the best time to brew it.

Holding the note up to the candlelight, Lu Yun raised an eyebrow and turned the thin sheet of paper over and over. The faint, fragrant scent reminded him of someone’s eyes, and his heart stirred unexpectedly.

Lu Yun lowered his eyelids. Jin Yue smiled and said, “Miss Luo is both elegant and thoughtful. First, she sent cheese cakes, and now tea. She has such a kind heart.”

A kind heart?

Lu Yun tossed the note onto the table. He didn’t believe Luo Lingyu had a kind heart—she undoubtedly had ulterior motives. And he had a good idea of what she was after.

Thinking of that cold, calculating woman, Lu Yun didn’t want to comment. As he brewed the tea himself, he noticed Jin Yue still standing behind him.

Jin Yue said, “Young Master, it’s often said that one should return a favor. Miss Luo has sent us so much. Shouldn’t you send something in return?”

Jin Yue added, “The other young masters and ladies have all sent gifts in return… Miss Luo’s maid even hinted at it.”

Under the faint light from the window, Lu Yun frowned.

Even the return gifts had to be prompted? This girl was too cunning.

After a moment, he said indifferently, “Then take something from my study and send it to her.”

Jin Yue immediately agreed but didn’t leave. Instead, she glanced at the pale yellow note on the table. “Young Master, should I take this as well?”

Lu Yun lay on the couch, a deerskin blanket covering him from the chest down. He had returned to Jianye a few months ago, injured, and had been recuperating at home.

The night was deep, and his eyes were closed. The candlelight cast a soft glow on his face, accentuating his snow-like beauty.

He remained silent for a long time, his long hair spread over the brocade quilt, his skin and lips pale, his expression weary and fragile.

Thinking he had fallen asleep, Jin Yue didn’t press further. She leaned over to take the note from the table when suddenly, a lazy, melodious voice came from behind her. “Keep it. Return it to her tomorrow. Tell her I don’t keep unique items.”