ATLAS TRANSLATES

Ever since Luo Lingyu came to the Lu family, except for Lu Xian being normal at first, his behavior had been erratic. Even his mother found him strange, so it seemed natural that everyone thought he was ill?

Standing by the pillar outside the small Buddhist shrine, separated by willow and locust trees in the courtyard, Luo Lingyu watched as Lu Xian lectured Lu Yun severely. She felt a sense of satisfaction watching Lu Yun being criticized without being able to fight back.

Perhaps it was because Lu Yun usually pressured her too much.

While Luo Lingyu actively worked to improve her ability to deal with Lu Yun, she also hoped someone could keep him in check. Now it seemed that Lu Xian was probably the only one in the Lu family who would speak to Lu Yun this way—

“Going to the border? Do you know how dangerous it is there? And you want to go to Nanyang too? Have you forgotten that Miss Luo’s former fiancé was from Nanyang? You’re too… too… boundlessly charitable! I know you’re worried about the war, but we’re already doing our best. Even if you went, you probably couldn’t help much. Moreover, as a noble young man who’s never been without servants, when you get there…”

Lu Yun said: “I won’t go.”

Lu Xian: “…don’t think I’m trying to intimidate or threaten you, I’m thinking of your best interests. You’re not suited for…”

Lu Yun’s scalp was about to explode.

Especially since through the tree shade, he could see the silhouettes of the two ladies over there. Princess Ningping being confused was fine, but he felt he could already see Luo Lingyu’s smirking face. His second brother was actually lecturing him in front of Luo Lingyu – where was his dignity?

In the Lu family, because his parents passed away early, Third Young Master Lu Yun’s status was somewhat special. Usually whatever he did, the family elders would only show favoritism, as if afraid of wronging him and making his parents worry in the underworld. The Lu family was somewhat cautious when dealing with Lu Yun. The only one who would often speak to him as an elder brother was Second Young Master Lu Xian. Lu Yun treasured this brother… even though this brother’s views often went against his own.

Lu Yun felt stifled inside.

Luo Lingyu said something to Liu Tang on the other side. While Liu Tang was still hesitating, Luo Lingyu had already descended the stone steps and gracefully brushed past the hanging willows as she walked over. Her graceful figure moved towards the two Lu young masters, with Liu Tang hurriedly following. As she got closer, Luo Lingyu could hear Lu Xian’s voice more clearly. She indeed had a perfect smile on her lips, but when she saw Lu Yun’s indifferent face, the smile at the corners of her mouth froze slightly—

The Third Young Master’s long lashes covered his eyes, and his nose bridge was high and straight. The willow trees and sunlight intersected, casting layer upon layer of light on his face. There wasn’t much expression on his face.

Luo Lingyu tilted her head: Lu Yun seemed unhappy?

Even in front of his own people, he maintained that lofty and otherworldly appearance he showed to outsiders – this was indeed a sign that he was displeased.

Why was he unhappy? Because Second Cousin scolded him and he felt he lost face? But Second Cousin often scolded him, and he hadn’t been like this before. Or was it because he didn’t like what Second Cousin said?

Lu Yun interrupted Lu Xian’s earnest advice: “Second Brother, Cousin and the Princess are here.”

He lifted his eyelids and met Luo Lingyu’s thoughtful gaze. The way the young lady stared at him thinking made Lu Yun feel slightly flustered, and he looked away. Luo Lingyu didn’t mock him, but when Lu Xian turned to face the two ladies, he found an excuse to hurriedly leave.

So Luo Lingyu thought even more — it seemed he really wanted to go to the border. If he left, then who would marry her?

In the following days, Luo Lingyu didn’t see Lu Yun. Lu Yun was busy with government affairs, and since Danyang County was too far from the government offices in Jianye, Lu Yun came home even less than before. After Luo Lingyu separated from Zhou Yangling, she came to Danyang County to spend the summer with the Lu family. Since she wasn’t familiar with this place and the weather was hot, Luo Lingyu just stayed in her room eating iced perfumes, and didn’t even have much interest in playing with the young ladies due to the heat.

She had become much lazier.

She was completely different from the previous Miss Luo who liked to socialize and play everywhere.

In the afternoon of the hot summer day, cicadas chirped among the quiet willows – it was nap time. After the little sister was led by her maid to sleep, and Luo Lingyu had fanned her for a long time, she waited until her sister fell asleep before returning to her own room. She took out the half-embroidered pouches and pendants she had been working on. Needlework was extremely time-consuming, and ladies who loved socializing like Luo Lingyu didn’t particularly enjoy sitting there doing needlework. But since she had nothing to do now, she took it out to pass the time.

The door creaked open, and moving from the stuffiness outside into the cool room, the maid Lingyu’s face was flushed red from the sun, with her inner clothes sticking to her back, also wet with a layer of sweat. Through the intricate shadows of the curtains, Lingyu peeked in and saw fruit plates placed on the wooden table by the window seat, while on the golden plate sat icy honey sand. Cherries were drizzled with a layer of sticky cane syrup – the crimson fruits and milky white ice water created a red and white “snow mountain” that was so refreshing. That hint of coolness came from the direction of the honey sand ice.

This novel “honey sand ice” was clearly another clever idea from the young miss.

The young miss had always been clever with food, games and clothing. Knowing the maid had entered the room, she still kept her head down embroidering the pouch. Without raising her head, Luo Lingyu asked: “Did the old madam and others like the ‘honey sand ice’ that was sent to them?”

Lingyu: “They liked it alright, but their minds probably aren’t on eating right now. Only you, miss, aren’t anxious at all!”

Luo Lingyu’s heart stirred, guessing what it was about, but she just smiled slightly and kept her mind on the pouch.

But the maid Lingyu couldn’t stand it anymore and snorted as she went behind the curtain to change clothes. When she came back into the room and saw the young lady still the same way, not moving at all, Lingyu was quite exasperated. Although she had only been called by the old madam to serve the young miss for a few months, the young miss was interesting and often came up with fun things to make. The young and beautiful Lingyu had already started to be wholeheartedly devoted to the young miss. Now seeing Luo Lingyu like this, Lingyu said: “Miss Jiang has been invited by the old madam to stay as a guest, and all the other young ladies have gone to see her. But you only sent over a bowl of ice… aren’t you curious about Miss Jiang at all?”

Luo Lingyu was unconcerned: “Since I’ll be staying at the Lu family for a while, I’ll get to know her eventually. The sun is so strong at noon, there’s no need to go today.”

Lingyu: “You don’t know anything! There’s a reason for asking you to go! Young miss, you don’t know, but the Lu family often intermarries with the Jiang family, Chen family, and royal family. This Miss Jiang who came to Danyang is from that ‘Jiang family.’ Madam Lu is looking at potential matches for the young masters of the family, and has clearly set her sights on Princess Ningping for Second Young Master, and is still evaluating. So Miss Jiang’s arrival must be aimed at our Third Young Master.”

Luo Lingyu looked up, stopping her half-finished embroidery, and smiled brightly: “Oh, so that’s how it is. Now I understand why she would come visit in the middle of summer.”

Lingyu saw that she still didn’t seem particularly concerned, and became even more anxious: “The Jiang family is an old friend of the Lu family, and Miss Jiang has often come to play at the Lu house since she was young, so she and Third Young Master know each other. At least longer than when you first met Third Young Master. That Miss Jiang comes from a scholarly family and is skilled in poetry and painting, very likeable.”

Luo Lingyu: “Sounds like Chen Xiu.”

Lingyu: “That’s different! Miss Chen is proud and aloof, and doesn’t really play with the ladies of Jianye. But this Miss Jiang has a gentle and beautiful temperament, and gets along well with the other ladies. Earlier she was visiting her uncle’s family and wasn’t in Jianye. I heard that just a few days after she returned, the old madam anxiously invited her over. When Miss Jiang was little, the old madam even joked about betrothing her to our Third Young Master. When Miss Jiang comes to the Lu house, it’s like half a mistress returning home. Third Young Master even taught her painting before. We joke that Third Young Master is half a teacher to Miss Jiang, and Miss Jiang really did call Third Young Master ‘teacher’!”

Luo Lingyu let out an “oh”: So it was someone the old madam approved of.

No wonder she thought – the old madam didn’t like her, yet hadn’t said anything about her this whole time. So this was what she was waiting for.

The maid Lingyu paced around the room, dutifully informing Luo Lingyu about how that newly arrived Miss Jiang was eyeing Third Young Master like a tiger watching its prey.

That Miss Jiang brought quite a lot of things with her and was personally led by Madam Lu to meet the masters of each courtyard, showing how much the Lu family elders valued her.

After all, the Jiang family had long intermarried with the Lu family, and many of the Lu family elders came from the Jiang family. When this Miss Jiang came to the Lu house, it really was no different from returning to her own home.

Lingyu: “The old madam called Third Young Master home to show Miss Jiang around the garden!”

“The courtyard arranged for Miss Jiang is especially close to Third Young Master’s courtyard. But our courtyard is the farthest from Third Young Master’s courtyard.”

“Knowing Third Young Master loves calligraphy and painting, Miss Jiang brought two carts of ancient paintings.”

“…In short, young miss, this lady really poses a threat to you!”

When the Lu family elders were dissatisfied with the younger generation’s marriages, in keeping with their noble family ways, they wouldn’t interfere too much. Their usual method was to find someone more suitable and then subtly create distance from the previous person. Distance, time, and suspicion could easily create cracks in feelings. If it didn’t work after some time, they would wait longer. In the end, most people would follow the elders’ wishes and choose marriages that the elders were more satisfied with.

For example, Princess Ningping who was now invited by Madam Lu to stay at home had high hopes placed on her by Madam Lu.

Then there was Miss Jiang, Jiang Wanyi, who was carefully selected by the old madam.

The things that the maid Lingyu could see, Luo Lingyu naturally saw even more clearly. But she wasn’t as anxious as Lingyu: “…What’s the rush? It’s still early. If your Third Young Master was that easy to move, I wouldn’t still be living here embroidering pouches.”

According to her original plan, she should have been married by now!

Lingyu: “You can’t say that. Perhaps our Third Young Master wasn’t interested before and hadn’t thought about those matters? Now he’s clearly been moved by you, miss. If another lady comes along, he might also learn to appreciate feminine beauty.”

Luo Lingyu sneered: Hmph, so that was their plan. Let her test Lu Yun’s feelings, and once she’d tested them enough, send in someone new. She had reformed Lu Yun’s bad side, and the good side could be directly enjoyed by those who came after. The Lu family elders’ plan was quite clever.

Luo Lingyu snorted: “Whatever! I want to see how this Miss Jiang moves Lu Yun’s iron heart.”

She didn’t believe she was inferior to others.

She had put so much effort into Lu Yun, how could she let someone else benefit? If just any lady could move Lu Yun’s heart… that would only show her skills were too shallow. If that were the case, she would admit defeat.

Lingyu had said so much, but seeing the young lady still wasn’t anxious and just kept her head down embroidering, Lingyu stood there for a while. After seeing what the young lady was embroidering, her heart suddenly skipped, thinking of some things.

Actually, Luo Lingyu would often send things to Lu Yun – flower notes, new brushes, snacks.

At first Third Young Master wouldn’t accept them, but later his personal maid Jin Yue would treat their courtyard like Third Young Master’s own courtyard to visit.

The two courtyards had exchanged many gifts, but Luo Lingyu had never actually sewn anything before.

Luo Lingyu found embroidering too draining.

But now Luo Lingyu was embroidering a pouch…

Lingyu said: “Ah, looks like I worried for nothing. Young miss, you’re finally willing to pick up needle and thread. The Double Seventh Festival is coming up soon. It would be wonderful if Third Young Master wore something you embroidered.”

Luo Lingyu was smug inside, but casually said: “Double Seventh Festival? He might not even come back.”

But after Lingyu stayed a while longer, she advised again: “Young miss, since you always have such clever ideas, why don’t you use this kind of thoughtfulness to please the old madam? Just making Third Young Master happy doesn’t seem to be enough. In the end, Third Young Master’s marriage still needs the elders’ approval.”

The maid truly had her best interests at heart and was giving advice about her marriage. Luo Lingyu sighed, put down her needlework, and explained to Lingyu: “I know that parental orders and matchmakers’ words naturally make for the most stable marriages. But my background isn’t good enough. In a great family like the Lu family, even if the elders like me usually, when it comes to marriage, they won’t choose me. I could try to please the old madam… but it wouldn’t help much, and would only make the old madam look down on me more and be even less likely to choose me.”

“Why should I waste energy on something that won’t help much?”

But Lu Yun was different.

Having Lu Yun fight with his grandmother was much better than her fighting with his grandmother and offending her.

Luo Lingyu said: “It’s better to be neither obsequious nor arrogant. I don’t have to marry into the Lu family. I want the Lu family to know that it’s Lu Yun who wants to marry me, not that I’m just clinging to him.”

Lingyu was happy for her: “Third Young Master said he wants to marry young miss? That’s wonderful, I always knew young miss would marry into our family.”

Luo Lingyu: “…”

Her heart suddenly stalled.

She covered her face: No, he hadn’t.

The old madam wanted to test her, and she also wanted to test Lu Yun — she wanted to know if he simply didn’t want to marry her, or if he just didn’t want to marry at all. The two reasons would lead to different results, and she needed to prescribe the right medicine for different causes.

Luo Lingyu was always actively scheming about things around her. Lingyu worried that Jiang Wanyi’s arrival would pose a threat to her, but she felt this might be her opportunity.

…

On Jiang Wanyi’s first day at the Lu house, she didn’t see the famously renowned Miss Luo. But the next morning during tea time, she saw Luo Lingyu who came to greet the old madam.

At first glance of Luo Lingyu, Jiang Wanyi wrung her handkerchief, somewhat understanding why among so many young ladies at the Lu house, the old madam always mentioned this one.

Luo Lingyu had a graceful and elegant figure, beautiful features, yet her demeanor wasn’t overbearing. On the contrary, Luo Lingyu was very easy to talk to. In the hour since she arrived, even the usually stern Madam Lu was made to laugh once. The old madam had laughed several times.

The old madam finally said: “…Lingyu, why don’t you show Wanyi around the garden?”

Luo Lingyu agreed.

Jiang Wanyi paused, then affectionately held the old madam’s arm and coyly said: “Old madam, what do you mean having Sister Luo show me around the garden? I’ve been to Danyang before, but this might be Sister Luo’s first time here. I should be the one showing Sister Luo around the garden. Old madam, you’re being silly!”

Luo Lingyu’s smile deepened: This was a show of force, wasn’t it?

The other young ladies looked left and right, some understanding what was happening. Two beauties competing – it would be quite a spectacular show. The Lu family’s young ladies had known Luo Lingyu for half a year now, and had known Jiang Wanyi even longer. In their view, Luo Lingyu never admitted defeat and was extremely talented, so the competition between her and Jiang Wanyi would surely be fierce. With unclear motivations, the young ladies were quite interested to see whether Jiang Wanyi or Luo Lingyu would prove more formidable.

However, they were disappointed.

Unlike before when she had to compete to be first in everything, this time facing Jiang Wanyi, Luo Lingyu’s temperament was much milder. She didn’t fight or compete, was lazy about trivial matters, and let Jiang Wanyi have her way.

If Miss Jiang wanted to hold poetry gatherings, then they would; if Miss Jiang wanted to be the hostess, then she could be.

After just one day at the Lu house, Jiang Wanyi had lowered her guard.

That evening when talking with her maid, Jiang Wanyi said hesitantly: “…I think Sister Luo is quite nice. Why is the old madam so wary of her? Sister Luo doesn’t compete with me at all. When I tested her about Third Cousin, she had no reaction, just like an ordinary cousin… I wonder if the old madam guessed wrong, and Sister Luo has no designs on Third Cousin?”

The maid said: “We still can’t let our guard down! This year’s ‘Flower Goddess’ of Jianye was Miss Luo – even Chen Xiu lost to her. Miss Luo must not be as simple as she appears. My lady, you mustn’t trust her easily.”

Jiang Wanyi nodded uncertainly. The maid continued to encourage her with talk of Lu Yun, trying to reignite her fighting spirit.

In truth, Jiang Wanyi herself didn’t like competing, but the implications in the words of the people sent by the old madam made her anxious. The Lu and Jiang families had intermarried for so many years, and Lu Yun was so outstanding – she had wanted to marry him since she was young. First there was Chen Xiu who troubled her, and now came Luo Lingyu…

Jiang Wanyi sighed in frustration: “Why does Third Cousin always attract so many admirers?”

Ever since they were young, all the ladies had liked him.

As they grew up, even more ladies surrounded him.

Every time she came to visit the Lu family, all the young ladies would dress up beautifully, all for Lu Yun. Even though they barely got to see him.

Under the bright moon, Jiang Wanyi sat by the window and murmured: “…Even if I win against Luo Lingyu, will I ever have peace in the future? He’s too outstanding, there will always be people coveting the position of Third Madam Lu. I’ll need to always be on guard against all threats. I’ll have to be nervous every time he sees or talks to any lady. When he comes home and the young ladies linger around refusing to leave, and when he doesn’t come home I’ll have to wonder what renowned scholar he’s writing poetry or painting with…”

The maid froze.

She could only advise: “Outstanding people are all like this. If my lady likes him, you should learn from the other ladies and actively pursue him. As for my lady’s worries, once you’re together with Third Young Master in the future, you can gently advise him.”

Jiang Wanyi sighed and said no more, but thought to herself — How can I advise him? He’s never listened to what I say since we were young. Everyone says we’re childhood sweethearts, but why do I feel Third Cousin treats me the same as everyone else? Is it his nature to be so aloof, or does he simply not confide in me?

Besides, if I try to make ladies dislike him, will they actually dislike him?

The next day, when the ladies’ poetry gathering began, Jiang Wanyi set aside the previous day’s melancholy and put on her mask, continuing to face Luo Lingyu’s provocations with full fighting spirit. She had heard that Luo Lingyu was this year’s “Flower Goddess”, able to surpass Chen Xiu in scholarship, so she must not be simple.

As the ladies were writing poetry and painting in the courtyard, amidst their laughter, a maid came running breathlessly: “Young ladies, Third Young Master has returned. The old madam says he’s coming this way!”

All the ladies: “…!”

They still remembered how the old madam had said earlier that she would have Lu Yun come back to guide their calligraphy and painting. But Lu Yun hadn’t returned, so the old madam’s promise couldn’t be fulfilled. On Jiang Wanyi’s third day at the Lu house, she finally saw Lu Yun for the first time. It had been half a year since they last met.

The ladies instantly fell silent, each arranging their appearances. Jiang Wanyi was at a loss for a long while, her face flushed red. As she lowered her head to paint, her wrist holding the brush trembled slightly. Perhaps because everyone had been anticipating this moment, when it actually arrived, even the protagonist herself became nervous. Jiang Wanyi secretly glanced towards Luo Lingyu’s direction, but was startled—

Luo Lingyu wasn’t nearly as nervous as she was.

They were gathered around painting, with a seven or eight zhang long piece of white paper laid out on the table. The ladies stood around the table, each painting their own section. When everyone finished, they would judge whose painting was the best. Lu Yun was a nationally renowned scholar – since he was coming over, the ladies wanted to show off their talents, so they all stood by the table holding their brushes and painting.

Only a few ladies who had no particular interest in Lu Yun sat on the side drinking tea, eating fruits and cracking melon seeds.

For example, Princess Ningping Liu Tang.

And sitting with Liu Tang chatting and drinking tea was actually Luo Lingyu, whom Jiang Wanyi viewed as her rival. Luo Lingyu hadn’t finished her painting either, and wasn’t rushing to come show off. She was still cracking melon seeds, watching them bustle about with smiling eyes. Luo Lingyu’s behavior made Jiang Wanyi’s heart skip a beat, but before she could figure it out, her eyes had already caught sight of Lu Yun’s handsome figure walking out from the tree shade.

Lu Yun walked very quickly.

Making the maids and servants behind him all run to keep up. Jin Yue and the other maids ran until their faces were red, panting too hard to speak, while the male servants had it even harder as they still had to report various matters to Lu Yun.

Lu Yun’s handsome face and tall figure gradually became clear in the ladies’ eyes. Jiang Wanyi nervously lowered her head, already able to hear her own rapid heartbeat. After keeping her head down for a while, she couldn’t help but look up again, and saw Lu Yun raise his eyebrows in surprise, seeming very unexpected to see so many young ladies.

Lu Yun frowned and asked Jin Yue: “…Why are they here?”

On the necessary path back to his courtyard.

Jin Yue smiled and said: “Miss Jiang has come to stay as a guest.”

Jiang Wanyi’s heart skipped a beat as she saw Lu Yun’s eyes look over. She put down her brush and walked over gracefully, moving very slowly. But Lu Yun just glanced this way once before coming over. Jiang Wanyi had always thought him cold, but when he walked over, she was overjoyed, thinking Lu Yun was finally giving her face.

Lu Yun said: “What are you doing here?”

Jiang Wanyi: “…Ah?”

She looked up in surprise, but saw that Lu Yun wasn’t looking at her. Following Lu Yun’s gaze, she saw that Third Young Master was frowning, staring at Luo Lingyu who sat drinking tea by the stone table.

Luo Lingyu put down her tea but still didn’t stand up. Liu Tang beside her looked at her admiringly as the young lady smiled and said: “Would you like to try my newly blended flower tea?”

Under the shocked gazes of all the ladies, Lu Yun walked over. He lowered his head to glance, and amidst the gasps of those around, asked: “Which is your teacup?”

Luo Lingyu pointed with her lips, and in front of everyone, he drank her tea and commented: “Not that great.”

But the ladies were already dazed: …He actually drank from Luo Lingyu’s teacup. Even though the one Luo Lingyu pointed to hadn’t been used before.

Jiang Wanyi’s face turned pale, finally witnessing the threat Luo Lingyu posed to her — even though that lady hadn’t stood up, Lu Yun had walked over to her. So her lack of competition wasn’t due to her magnanimity, but because she had no need to compete.

In a place Jiang Wanyi couldn’t see, Luo Lingyu smiled with satisfaction: To be honest, she quite enjoyed this kind of dominance. Liking Lu Yun, being viewed as an enemy by all the ladies, this feeling of being elevated by everyone… it was wonderful.

The more ladies who liked him, the more it proved her prowess.

She had somewhat found the pleasure in liking him.

…After all, Luo Lingyu and Jiang Wanyi were completely different types of ladies.