ATLAS TRANSLATES

Beneath the eaves of the temple, green trees cast their shadows against a backdrop of mountains and waters, with ponds and groves dotting the landscape.

Chen Xiu kept her distance as she followed, watching Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu stroll together. Kaishang Temple was one of the larger temples in Jianye. The couple was surprisingly patient, entering every hall they came across to pray and make wishes before each Buddha and Bodhisattva. Their greediness for blessings made Chen Xiu, who was trailing behind them, purse her lips in disdain.

She had always been proud and aloof, never encountering people like this before. Lu Yun used to be just like her, but now he had changed — surely because of that cousin of his.

Chen Xiu thought about how she’d heard that Lady Jiang, Jiang Wanyi, had also moved into the Lu family home. Even with all this happening, how was Luo Lingyu still so proud and pleased with herself? Even Lady Jiang, who was so favored by the Lu family elders, couldn’t suppress Luo Lingyu?

This woman was truly frightening.

Chen Xiu had been internally criticizing Luo Lingyu for a while, believing Lu Yun had been bewitched by a cunning vixen who only had beauty to offer. But as she looked more carefully, she saw the two being led by a young monk into a master’s quarters.

Before entering, the young monk was so nervous looking at Luo Lingyu that he accidentally bumped into a rose pot by the door.

As the thorny branches swayed towards them, Lu Yun immediately reached out, his sleeve falling, to shield Luo Lingyu from the thorns.

Neither Luo Lingyu nor the young monk noticed.

The beautiful young lady stepped over the threshold, smiling and chatting with the young monk, unaware of what Lu Yun had done for her on the other side.

The thorny branch hadn’t scratched Luo Lingyu as she entered the inner hall.

Chen Xiu watched as Lu Yun brushed his right hand with his left — there seemed to be traces of blood on his right fingertips. But the distance was too far for Chen Xiu to see clearly.

When she tried to look more carefully, Lu Yun had already carelessly shaken his hand, his robes falling back into place as his tall figure disappeared through the doorway.

Chen Xiu felt even more heartbroken: In all the years she had known Lu Yun, when had she ever seen him take such care of a lady?

Usually, when ladies tried to take care of him, he would avoid them as if they were floods and fierce beasts.

Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu stayed inside for about half an hour before coming out. When they emerged, Luo Lingyu was holding a sachet in her hand. Chen Xiu quickly hid behind a tree, watching the two walk along the covered corridor that ran along the wall. Tree shadows danced and flickered, casting patterns on the colorful lantern windows. The light that fell upon the handsome man and beautiful woman was like flowing water grass, creating rippling waves of beauty.

A talented man and a beautiful woman — the young lord stood tall and straight, while the lady was graceful and elegant. What a perfect match.

At the end of the corridor was a pond. Two days after the Qixi Festival would be the Ghost Festival¹, an extremely important Buddhist holiday. The Ghost Festival traditionally involved floating lanterns on water to pray for the deceased. Kaishang Temple was already preparing for the upcoming Ghost Festival — by the pond, rows of exquisite lanterns were neatly stacked. Most were lotus lanterns, with a few other designs mixed in. These lanterns were arranged in rows, prepared for the faithful who would visit Kaishang Temple on the day of the Ghost Festival.

At the corridor’s end where the path stopped, Lu Yun lowered his head, lost in thought, while Luo Lingyu nervously clutched her sachet.

Seeing the lanterns arranged by the pond, she found a topic of conversation and pointed to them, saying to Lu Yun: “Did you know? Second Cousin seems to believe in past lives and karma, he’s always visiting temples. These past few days, I heard from his maid that Second Cousin wants to become a lay Buddhist. Aunt is about to lose her mind. I expect during the upcoming Ghost Festival, Second Cousin will come here to offer lanterns to Buddha.”

Lu Yun remained silent.

Luo Lingyu secretly glanced at him, her beautiful eyes shimmering, her voice growing softer: “When that time comes, shall we come here too?”

She reached out and gently tugged at Lu Yun’s sleeve.

Lu Yun looked down, his gaze slowly falling to her hand that was pulling at his sleeve. His eyes flickered with emotion, starlight trembling within them. His lips moved, but he still remained silent for a long while.

Luo Lingyu frowned, confused in her heart: It was just going to the Ghost Festival together, why wouldn’t he agree? Did he not like her? But he had spent the Qixi Festival with her, and still wore the five-colored thread she had tied — such gestures held much deeper meaning than the Ghost Festival, didn’t they? He would spend Qixi with her but not go to the Ghost Festival? Perhaps Lu Yun didn’t believe in Buddhism?

Oh, that was possible. After all, what Lu Yun had studied deeply was metaphysics.

Having attributed Lu Yun’s silence to his disbelief in Buddhism compared to her own faith, Luo Lingyu let go of the topic. By this point, she had run out of other topics to make small talk about. The young lady’s face was flushed red to the extreme as she turned her shoulders to face Lu Yun directly. She glanced at him, and he lowered his eyes to look at her. Luo Lingyu gathered her courage and stepped forward.

With Lu Yun not objecting, she tremblingly reached out and tied the sachet she had been carrying to his waist.

After getting the charm from the master and solemnly placing it in the sachet, she now pretended to casually give it to him to wear… Luo Lingyu’s palms were completely sweaty.

She kept her head down as she tied the sachet for him. From Chen Xiu’s diagonal angle against the wall, it looked as if the young lady had completely embraced the young lord and wrapped her arms around his waist. The young lord stood motionless as the lady was being so forward… The well-educated Lady Chen felt jealous and bitter, spitting out: How shameless!

As Luo Lingyu tied the sachet for Lu Yun, her gaze inevitably fell to the young lord’s waist. Though renowned for his refined and elegant style, Lu Yun’s clothes were typically loose and flowing, revealing little of his form. As she lowered her head to tie the sachet, her hands accidentally touched his waist, and she felt the lean but solid strength hidden beneath.

Usually she had only thought of him as a handsome jade-like young lord.

Lu Yun chuckled lightly: “Did you feel anything?”

Luo Lingyu: “…”

Her face burning hot, she quickly withdrew her hands and exclaimed: “Hmph, there wasn’t anything…”

As she tried to pull away her hands, Lu Yun raised his own and caught them.

Lu Yun held her sweaty hands, raised an eyebrow, his peach blossom eyes dancing as he gave her a meaningful look.

Luo Lingyu was incredibly embarrassed, wanting to explain that she was just nervous about her sachet, it wasn’t what he thought at all…

She struggled hard, but Lu Yun held onto her delicate hands and brought them to his lips, giving them a light kiss.

His eyes still watched her.

Though his gaze was pure, his actions were not at all proper! This was the dignified scholar that everyone knew!

Luo Lingyu’s face flushed hot, but she tried hard to maintain her composure, telling herself she couldn’t lose to Lu Yun. The hints of frivolous flirtation in Third Young Master Lu’s manner wove around her like silk threads, surrounding and consuming her, pulling her into his embrace to devour her completely.

Lu Yun leaned close to her ear, his lips brushing against the hair by her cheek, successfully making her even more rigid: “You didn’t feel anything? Perhaps little sister Lingyu is suggesting I should take off my clothes to let you feel properly?”

Luo Lingyu pushed him away forcefully, righteously scolding him: “This is a sacred Buddhist place, Lu Yun, please mind your behavior and be virtuous! Don’t blaspheme against Buddha!”

Lu Yun curved his lips in a smile. Though he wasn’t particularly devout, since they were in a temple, he naturally couldn’t say such things anymore.

He was about to speak again when suddenly temple bells began to ring. The bell sounds were clear and prolonged, reverberating through the mountains like rippling waves spreading in all directions. The faithful men and women staying at Kaishang Temple all paused reverently at this moment to listen to the bells.

Luo Lingyu also looked in the direction of the ringing bells, closing her eyes to listen.

Lu Yun stood beside and behind her, watching as her red lips and rosy cheeks formed a gentle expression. Flowing charm moved through her features, though due to her young age, it wasn’t yet fully clear. If she were a few years older… surely all the young lords in Jianye would go mad for her.

Beauty has always been bewitching since ancient times. Moreover, a beauty like Luo Lingyu never relaxed in her self-improvement — he had hardly ever seen her be lazy.

How could she always be so full of energy?

Lu Yun gradually noticed what set Luo Lingyu apart from other women, and he slowly began to understand what exactly he was looking for whenever he stared at her, what he was hoping to see. He hoped she would be like an exquisite painting, hoped every aspect of her would be rich and vivid, different from others. He didn’t care for delicate beauties; he appreciated ladies with bright and intense colors…

The bell sounds faded, and Luo Lingyu opened her eyes. Lu Yun calmly shifted his gaze away, pretending he hadn’t been staring at her the whole time she had her eyes closed. When Luo Lingyu looked at him, she only saw Third Young Master Lu serenely admiring the scenery.

Luo Lingyu’s gaze lowered to his waist where she had just tied the sachet, and the young lady said joyfully: “I just prayed to Buddha, and Buddha agreed. I said this charm should be worn by you always, to bless Brother Xuechen with peace and safety at the border.”

Lu Yun’s eyes jumped, catching the key point. His voice tightened as he said slowly: “Who told you I was going to the border? Didn’t I tell Second Brother I wouldn’t go?”

Luo Lingyu said dejectedly: “You were lying to him.”

Lu Yun’s tone was strange: “…He doesn’t know I was lying to him, yet you do?”

Luo Lingyu took a couple of steps, sighing melancholically: “That’s because Second Cousin is pure-hearted and doesn’t know you’re such a schemer.”

Lu Yun hadn’t actually tried to hide anything; he did whatever he wanted to do. It was just that Lu Xian was foolish and believed whatever his third brother said. But Luo Lingyu wasn’t one to easily trust people, and this wasn’t her first day knowing Lu Yun’s do-as-he-pleases style. When she saw so many books about the northern and southern borders in his study, Luo Lingyu had confirmed her suspicions.

At that moment, the shock in her heart was indescribable.

Luo Lingyu looked up: “Why did you never tell me you wanted to go to the border? Were you afraid I would try to stop you like Second Cousin and argue with you?”

Lu Yun stepped forward, wanting to explain: “Lingyu…”

Luo Lingyu gestured that he didn’t need to say more. She wore a smile on her face, trying hard to appear understanding and sensible.

Luo Lingyu smiled brightly: “I’m different from Second Cousin. Second Cousin doesn’t want you to go to such a harsh place, afraid you’ll suffer. But while I may not support you in other things, when it comes to going to the border to fight, for country and family, in such matters, I will definitely stand on your side.”

After all, her own family had died in the war.

Ruyang was right on the border between the Southern and Northern countries.

Despite whatever other faults she might have, on this point, she stood with Lu Yun.

Luo Lingyu looked him up and down repeatedly, saying softly: “I know Third Young Master Lu is the only son of the Lu family’s second branch, and the Lu family doesn’t want you on the battlefield. But I’ve also heard that Third Young Master Lu’s father was a great general, who also protected the country at the border in the past. Brother Xuechen, perhaps your father and my parents even met before. Perhaps you came to our Ruyang with your parents when you were young.”

Lu Yun stared at her steadily, his voice hoarse: “…I don’t remember…”

Of course, Luo Lingyu’s intention wasn’t to try to establish a connection with him. She just wanted to appear considerate and obedient: “…Anyway, I stand with you. I give you this charm, this sachet, you must keep them well. When you reach the border in the future, you must take good care of yourself, protect yourself. You are a noble young lord, without servants and maids accompanying you, you may not be used to life there. But it doesn’t matter, after staying there for a while, you’ll get used to it. Don’t worry about Old Madam Lu and the others, they naturally won’t agree with you leaving, but I will help persuade them.”

“Brother Xuechen, a good man’s ambition lies in the four corners of the world, in all under heaven. I understand you in my heart!”

She said many things, while her heart was already turning sour, already feeling unbearable pain, yet on the surface she had to act as if she understood Lu Yun.

Actually, Luo Lingyu did truly understand, she did genuinely support Lu Yun going to the border.

Yet at the same time, like Old Madam Lu and Lu Xian, she didn’t want Lu Yun to leave. She wanted to marry him, wanted to become his wife… if he left, if he didn’t come back… like his family, she hoped he would stay.

But if she also argued with him… then Lu Yun would have no one supporting him.

Luo Lingyu endured her discomfort, forcing down her concerns, wanting to be different from others in Lu Yun’s eyes, to be his only supporter — moreover, she wasn’t exactly lying.

Just give her more time, let him at least dissolve her engagement before going to the border, at least become engaged to her… she was dependent on others, never knowing where she would end up, only a marriage contract could settle her down. She wanted family, wanted to get married.

Luo Lingyu’s eyes held a smile as she looked up at Lu Yun with passionate gaze.

Lu Yun remained silent, quietly watching her.

His eyes were clear and black, and as he gazed at her, his pupils grew darker and darker. Like an abyss that absorbed everything.

But he didn’t speak.

His attitude of neither agreeing nor refusing, the way he quietly watched her, made Luo Lingyu’s forced smile gradually stiffen. Suspecting he had once again seen through her insincerity, thinking her hypocritical… Luo Lingyu turned her face away, biting her lip, feeling embarrassed for a moment. Even if she didn’t truly feel that way in her heart, she had at least acted supportive of him on the surface, what more did he want from her?

Did he really want her to be truly virtuous?

But she had never been virtuous!

Tears welled up in her eyes, grievances rose in her heart, yet she didn’t want Lu Yun to laugh at her. Just then, there was a clanging from the corridor head, and a gust of wind blew past. With a crash, the lotus lanterns piled by the pond tumbled down, many floating away on the water, drifting far in the wind.

Luo Lingyu turned and stepped down to the pond to retrieve the lanterns, speaking anxiously to cover her discomfort: “The lanterns fell, I’ll help them pick them up…”

Almost fleeing in embarrassment from Lu Yun’s side.

Luo Lingyu reached the pond’s edge, gritted her teeth and stepped into the water. The water only reached her knees; she rolled up her sleeves and reached out to retrieve the flower lanterns that had blown into the center of the pond. After retrieving several, she walked further and further toward the center of the pond, the water gradually rising higher.

Luo Lingyu deliberately didn’t look back at Lu Yun behind her, deliberately throwing herself completely into retrieving the lanterns. The lantern light reflected hazily on the water’s surface. Perhaps because she was so focused on retrieving the lanterns, when she turned around, a dark figure stood before her, startling her unexpectedly.

The lanterns in the young lady’s arms fell back into the water as she stumbled backward, nearly falling into the water.

Lu Yun reached out and pulled her into his embrace.

His face showed no emotion, but as she looked up, his dark figure leaned down and Lu Yun bent to kiss her lips.

Luo Lingyu kept backing away until she finally lost her balance and fell sitting in the water. Lu Yun followed her down, kneeling before her, his arms still embracing the young lady sitting in the water. He reached up to brush away water droplets from her cheeks, closed his eyes and kissed her, kissing her with particular passion.

Passionate and emotional.

It was oppressive, somewhat forceful, not allowing her to refuse. Her shoulders shrank back, but his lips entangled with hers even more intensely.

Luo Lingyu struggled, but Third Young Master Lu didn’t try to restrain her. He simply closed his eyes and kissed her. Luo Lingyu was full of anger, about to forcefully push away this presumptuous man when the lantern hanging in the corridor swayed in the wind, casting light over them.

Luo Lingyu knelt sitting in the muddy water, and in the firelight, she saw Lu Yun’s jade-white face, his long black lashes, his straight nose.

Perhaps because she rarely saw him so emotional, when he closed his eyes and showed such deep feelings, when he held her hand, when water droplets trembled on his eyelashes, her heart softened.

Luo Lingyu was stunned. In that moment, seeing his face so close, her heart went “bang” like fireworks blooming.

She heard the sound of her own heart falling hopelessly in love… she was naturally drawn to such a young lord.

And as Luo Lingyu’s hands relaxed, the arms loosely embracing her waist tightened as Lu Yun held her close. He lifted his gaze and looked at her once. Third Young Master Lu always gave her chances to escape, but when she didn’t run away, he became forceful. This time was more intense than ever before…

Usually his kisses were tender and gentle, but this time they were passionate and unrestrained.

Like conquering a city!

His tongue swept across every inch of her mouth.

Their saliva mixed, breathing grew rapid, tongues went numb.

Luo Lingyu’s knees trembled as an aching numbness rose from her lower back from his kisses. He was only kissing her, yet showing such passion, lost in the moment, pulling her down with him into the abyss. Gasping, moaning, the more she trembled, the more passionate he became. Passionate, passionate… she had never seen him so seemingly crazed before.

Lu Yun opened his eyes, his black obsidian eyes bright as they met the young lady’s moist, gentle gaze.

Lu Yun spoke softly: “I am very grateful for the charm you gave me, and I am grateful for your support. No one in the Lu family supports me, Lingyu, you are the only one. I have worn countless sachets since childhood, but I never looked at who embroidered what I wore daily. Those were all given by maids, I didn’t even know what was inside the sachets. This is the first time I’m wearing a sachet given by a lady. “

Luo Lingyu murmured: “Brother Xuechen…”

Lu Yun’s fingertips rubbed the cool skin of her wrist. His expression remained that calm. Neither the arrogance he showed in public, nor the flirtatiousness he displayed in private. This quiet demeanor of his made Luo Lingyu unable to look away.

Lu Yun continued: “…It’s all firsts, from now on, I will always wear this sachet. Until I see you again.”

Luo Lingyu felt doubt arise in her heart: What did he mean by “until I see you again”? Wasn’t he right here with her?

Lu Yun said no more. Before Luo Lingyu could think too much, he kissed her again.

The young lady let out a whimper as Lu Yun pressed against her lips, asking tenderly: “What do you want in return?”

Luo Lingyu caught her breath, a glint of cunning appearing in her eyes as she daringly gave him a look, half-joking and half-serious: “I don’t want anything else, I want Brother Xuechen.”

She wanted Lu Yun.

As long as Lu Yun was here, everything else would follow. Why should she ask for other benefits when she could have him?

Her answer seemed to excite Lu Yun immensely.

He kissed her again, their tongues meeting as she felt his burning heart. Lu Yun’s other hand reached for the young lady’s nape, massaging it with just the right pressure until she trembled and fell into his arms gasping. His technique was incredibly skilled – though he was only kissing her and not touching anywhere else, she was already trembling with fluttering eyelashes and moist lips, her whole body losing strength.

She could only whimper and gasp.

Luo Lingyu: “Don’t… stop kissing me…”

Lu Yun said softly: “Lingyu, Brother Xuechen has you in his heart.”

She suddenly froze and looked up at him.

…

Just this one sentence was enough to make her completely surrender.

Made her willing to fall.

Made her fall deeper and deeper.

Made her not want to ask anything else, only wanting to spend this wonderful night lost in his embrace.

But she had already realized — Lu Yun was likely leaving.

…

Lu Yun closed his eyes.

He didn’t want to tell Luo Lingyu tonight.

His arrangements with Prince Chen were almost complete, the documents would arrive tomorrow, and in three days, he would leave Jianye to truly go to the border, to Nanyang, and even to her hometown of Ruyang.

She smiled and laughed, asking how they would spend the Ghost Festival, asking if he liked the sachet she gave him.

How could he answer her?

On this Qixi night, he didn’t want to say unhappy things. He neither wanted to argue nor make her cry. He wanted her to be happy tonight, to remember this best night between them…

…

Lu Yun repeated: “Brother Xuechen has you in his heart.”

Luo Lingyu said softly: “…Mm.”

…

In the darkness, stumbling away, tears fell from Lady Chen’s eyes as she finally left.

She had seen Lu Yun’s truly passionate side.

She had lost completely.

Or perhaps it couldn’t be called losing. He probably had never liked her in the first place.

Third Young Master Lu truly liked his cousin, didn’t he?

Some people have known each other for over ten years yet remain destined to be apart; some people have only met a few times, yet can’t forget each other.

And how could Chen Xiu bear it: She had moved herself, stubbornly staying in Jianye. Her parents and relatives had all gone elsewhere to escape the summer heat, yet she alone stayed in Jianye! She couldn’t even face her parents… She had embarrassed herself so thoroughly!

In the future, what should she do?

…

Lu Xian pestered Old Madam Lu all evening and got a somewhat satisfactory answer. Old Madam Lu agreed to write to Old Lord Lu asking about Lu Xian’s grandfather’s thoughts. Under Lu Xian’s urgent prompting, Old Madam Lu simply wrote the letter on the spot.

Only then did Lu Xian feel at ease.

When he left, he knew his grandmother and mother had both given him several disapproving looks.

But it didn’t matter.

He thought contentedly: As long as my younger siblings are well, I am satisfied.

Yes, I still need to watch over Lu Yun. Keep an eye on Lu Yun, don’t let this troublemaking third brother run off to the border! The border is too dangerous – that dream of Lu Yun being pierced by countless arrows still makes one’s heart tremble to think of it.

…

The satisfied Lu Xian, having resolved to guard Lu Yun, went back to wash up and sleep. After he fell asleep, he dreamed again. Perhaps his efforts in reality had finally set the direction of his dream future. In this dream that Lu Xian had again, it was no longer hazy and unclear – he could finally stand aside and see many details.

In the dream, Lu Xian stood like a wandering spirit before the wedding hall, smiling broadly as he watched his third brother and cousin Luo marry.

Lu Xian was delighted in his heart: They really got married! Everything was really settled!

He could relax now…

Just as he thought this, the dream scene suddenly shifted. How deeply in love Lu Yun and cousin Luo were after marriage no longer mattered, because the city gates of Jianye were blown open and the Northern army attacked. Because the northern war situation had not been resolved and only grew more intense, despite the court’s many refusals, by the time of Lu Xian’s dream, tens of thousands of troops marched south.

The gates of Jianye crashed down!

The whole city was shrouded in fire and smoke!

The royal family fled south, the Lu family and other noble families fled south. Enemy troops watched hungrily, attacking wave after wave.

Rolling like a mudslide, the situation grew worse and worse. The South was defeated, the Lu family fell, Lu Yun and cousin Luo died, most of the Lu family met with disaster, Lu Xian himself barely escaped into exile.

…

Lu Xian woke from the nightmare, dazed: …This dream, was it wrong?

1. The Ghost Festival, also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, is a Buddhist and Taoist holiday that honors and appeases the spirits of the dead. ↩︎