ATLAS TRANSLATES

Under the moonlight, she was beautiful whether frowning or smiling, utterly captivating.

As she grew older, her charm became even more alluring. She made no effort to hide it, naturally graceful, habitually pleasing others and unconsciously enticing… only slightly better than Lu Yun who maintained an aloof facade despite being constantly surrounded by ladies.

Lu Yun loved seeing Luo Lingyu’s various enchanting and graceful sides, but also resented how she was always surrounded by different young men.

Sometimes in frustration, he wondered why she couldn’t be more wooden? Why not just be a simple beauty with nothing but looks?

Wouldn’t it be better to entice fewer men?

Yet Lu Yun knew well that if Luo Lingyu were a wooden beauty, he wouldn’t like her either. He probably liked her exactly as she was.

When Lu Yun received word that Prince Hengyang had brought her here, he was already unsettled. When he received a letter from Yingchuan in the morning saying Prince Hengyang personally escorted her to Nanyang, his unease immediately intensified.

This discomfort also came with worry about her health—in her current condition, how could she make such a long journey? Hadn’t the doctors advised her against traveling?

So he rode dozens of li to meet and personally escort her to Nanyang.

Who would have thought that what he’d find was—under flowers and moonlight, a young man playing the xun flute with a beauty keeping him company.

A poetic scene, with budding feelings that would make anyone jealous.

…

Setting aside how Lu Yun perceived the “budding feelings” between Luo Lingyu and Liu Mu, when Luo Lingyu suddenly saw Lu Yun, she first thought it was an illusion. Upon realizing it wasn’t, she felt a surge of joy and unconsciously stood up.

Her sash fluttered, her dress’s waistline as delicate as plum blossoms in snow. The young lady felt countless emotions, seeing him brought more than just joy. Her heart was full of concerns—thoughts of his impending death, Lu Xian’s dream, how she hadn’t been able to see him…

Just as tears welled up in her eyes, Lu Yun acted even more dramatically.

In front of the standing Prince Hengyang Liu Mu, he displayed deep affection.

Lu Yun walked up to Luo Lingyu, looked down at her with usually concealed passionate eyes now flying upward, black as midnight and smooth as warm jade. With Liu Mu watching from the side, Lu Yun’s lips curved into a smile as he reached out with his slender jade-like fingers, tenderly brushing aside the hair that had fallen by her cheek.

Lu Yun: “My dear has traveled so far just to find me, you must be exhausted.”

Liu Mu’s face stiffened slightly: …who was this “dear”? Surely not Luo Lingyu?

When his cool fingers lightly brushed her cheek, Luo Lingyu felt an electric sensation and blushed. She glared at him in annoyance: brushing hair aside was one thing, but why did he have to touch her face? So intimate?

Lu Yun’s eyes clearly showed his intention for intimacy.

Not just brushing hair and touching her face, he circled around Luo Lingyu, examining her figure. Lu Yun was puzzled why her form hadn’t changed much; if there were any changes, it was just that her chest was fuller and her waist and shoulders more slender… Was this normal for pregnancy?

Though thinking this, Lu Yun only smiled absent-mindedly and said: “Little sister has grown more beautiful.”

Luo Lingyu secretly felt pleased and cast him a glance. Her heart was joyful—seeing him standing before her, teasing and flirting with her in all his elegant glory, how could he possibly die? Perhaps Lu Xian’s dream was nonsense.

Lu Yun spoke softly, unusually saying many tender, affectionate words. He rarely asked questions like “are you tired” or “did you suffer” or “how long will you stay” in front of others. Or perhaps Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu’s romance was still too new, giving him few chances to show his caring side. His sudden display made Luo Lingyu secretly happy, while Liu Mu gave Lu Yun a deep look.

The rivalry between the young men was mutually felt. The young prince sneered: acting so flirtatious like courting, isn’t he just trying to show dominance? But he didn’t know that Liu Mu was already tired of hearing about Luo Lingyu’s love life from Lu Xian.

Was it necessary to keep bringing up this thing between Luo Lingyu and Lu Yun?

Lu Yun remained unhurried, saying everything he needed to say. By the end, Luo Lingyu was almost floating, under the illusion that Lu Yun loved her deeply. Just as she was about to float away, Lu Yun changed the subject and asked Liu Mu about the war situation in Yingchuan. Since Yingchuan, Nanyang, and Ruyang were all neighboring areas, warfare in one place would affect the surrounding areas, so Lu Yun was very concerned about the situation.

Liu Mu collected himself and said flatly: “I’ve just arrived, so I don’t know either.”

Lu Yun then said: “We can discuss it another day.”

Liu Mu gave an “mm” but thought to himself: who wants to discuss with you later? I want nothing to do with your Lu family! This prince despises you noble families!

After making small talk, Lu Yun casually chatted with Liu Mu for a while, asking many questions about the current situation in Jianye. When Luo Lingyu was nearly bored waiting on the side, Lu Yun finally bid farewell to Liu Mu. Without even saying anything, Lu Yun maintained an attitude of “this is how it should be” as he gestured for Luo Lingyu to say goodbye to Liu Mu before leading her away.

Liu Mu hesitated, stepping forward: “I have carriages…”

Lu Yun turned back, giving him a light glance: “…No need to send us off. Knowing little sister Lingyu was coming, I also prepared a carriage. I just arrived on horseback because it was faster than the carriage.”

Sure enough, as they spoke, those standing on the hillside heard the sound of carriages approaching below. Liu Mu’s expression immediately darkened, while the clever Luo Lingyu, before Liu Mu could speak, proactively offered to help her maid move luggage and thanked the prince for escorting her all this way.

Liu Mu looked at Lu Yun, then at Luo Lingyu’s somewhat cautious expression, and fell silent.

After a while, Liu Mu nodded, speaking loudly: “Then until we meet again.”

He gave Luo Lingyu another look: “…Since I promised Lu Xian to escort you to Nanyang, if you encounter any difficulties on this journey, you can always seek my help. A gentleman keeps his word.”

Luo Lingyu responded sincerely: “Your Highness is truly kind.”

Lu Yun’s lips twitched.

Both Luo Lingyu and Liu Mu pretended not to see.

…

Although Lu Yun said he rode ahead on horseback, the carriage that followed wasn’t bad either. Moreover, Lu Yun was so considerate of Luo Lingyu that when she showed the slightest intention to help her maid move luggage, he stopped her from exerting herself. Luo Lingyu’s heart tightened with a subtle suspicion. But she wondered if Lu Xian hadn’t explained things clearly to Lu Yun, or how could he, being directly involved, not know? Full of doubts, but with servants present, Luo Lingyu could only smile and act sweetly dependent, without saying much.

Even when Lu Yun caringly asked about her three daily meals, after answering, she gave him a shy, grateful look.

Lu Yun was startled, a flash of genuine amusement in his eyes. Watching the servants busy at work, he reached out and gripped her wrist through his sleeve: …After knowing each other for so long, clearly aware that he didn’t fall for such acts, she still persistently tried to entice him with her glances, little sister Lingyu was truly mischievous.

A moment later, Luo Lingyu finally sat in Lu Yun’s carriage.

Just as the carriage was about to move and she was leaning against the wall about to take a nap, her closed eyelids sensed a slight brightening, and her body felt the carriage sink. Luo Lingyu opened her eyes to see the carriage door open and Lu Yun leaning inside.

Seeing her surprised look, he smiled and raised an eyebrow, while reaching out to tap the wooden shaft of the carriage door: “Let’s go.”

Luo Lingyu: “Hmph, all the fine young men nowadays don’t ride in carriages, they prefer horseback.”

Lu Yun: “With a beauty sharing the carriage, who would be foolish enough to ride a horse?”

He praised her as a “beauty,” making Luo Lingyu purse her lips and immediately lower her head with a shy smile, saying nothing more.

Her smile was so beautiful yet affected, shy and alluring, like night roses in the dew, stirring one’s soul.

Lu Yun’s heart trembled, his body moving slightly as Luo Lingyu turned her head to see him bend and step across in the narrow carriage, sitting down beside her.

Lu Yun reached out, and Luo Lingyu thought he was going to pull her into his embrace. Her heart fluttered, extremely nervous, as this had never happened before. This reunion with Lu Yun seemed to have different boundaries, as if the limits were lower.

Though she worried about his life, this wasn’t the right atmosphere to discuss it.

However, as Luo Lingyu nervously waited, Lu Yun’s outstretched hand wasn’t aimed at her waist, but reached straight for her lower abdomen. Luo Lingyu froze, watching this handsome and elegant young man crouch before her knees, his face also drawing close to her abdomen. The young man tenderly scolded her: “Not even three months along, yet you’re traveling. What if you harm the child?”

Luo Lingyu: “…?!”

The young man’s warm palm pressed against her flat abdomen. She looked down to see the lantern light from outside falling on his face, highlighting his thick black eyelashes and beautiful features. His appearance not only amazed Luo Lingyu with his good looks that remained undamaged by wind and sun but also created a sense of unreality, as if she were truly pregnant. She even wanted to go back and recheck the medical books to see if she had misunderstood how pregnancy worked.

…But there really hadn’t been anything between them.

Was Lu Yun perhaps testing her? Testing with such genuine emotion?

Luo Lingyu hesitated for a moment before asking: “Didn’t Second Cousin explain this matter to you later?”

“Hmm?” Lu Yun responded carelessly, his eyes focused on studying her abdomen while speaking casually, “Explain what? Second Brother sends so many letters every day, mostly boring trivia. I’m usually very busy and don’t have time to read every letter. What’s wrong?”

He sharply raised his eyes.

Luo Lingyu stared at him for a while: “…Do you really like children?”

Lu Yun was stunned for a moment before smiling: “…I only like yours.”

Thinking she was jealous, he pondered for a moment before sitting up and pulling the slightly stiff young lady into his arms. As the carriage swayed along the mountain road, he steadily held her shoulders and drew her to his chest. He kissed her temple, making the lady in his arms shiver slightly. Lu Yun sighed softly, his lips touching her brow in a gentle kiss.

Lu Yun lowered his eyes and confided in her: “You know my parents died early, leaving me with many shadows. There are many things I don’t like, but I know you like what I don’t. For example, marriage, for example, love… That way, you’ll feel secure. I don’t want to leave you, don’t want to be abandoned by you.”

He kissed her brow again, speaking softly: “So I’ll try to like them.”

He smiled again: “Besides, a child between me and little sister Lingyu, regardless of gender, would be so beautiful. To be honest with you, when I first saw you just now, I was already thinking about what name we should give our child.”

“The war situation in Nanyang is volatile, and there are many official duties, so I’m very busy. But in my spare moments from work, I think about our child. I bought many gifts for them, you’ll definitely like them.”

Lu Yun liked to chatter when speaking privately with her, but the more he spoke, the more uncomfortable Luo Lingyu became. Eventually, when he kissed her brow and eyes, she raised her hand to stop him.

Luo Lingyu leaned her upper body back, saying cautiously: “I haven’t done anything with other men behind your back.”

Lu Yun was startled, then said: “I believe you. I don’t think so little of myself.”

He didn’t believe she had the ability to mess around under his nose when he was present; when he wasn’t around… Lu Yun thought, wasn’t she carrying his child?

Lu Yun reached out, repeatedly caressing her lower abdomen until Luo Lingyu felt sick to her stomach. She suddenly pushed Lu Yun away, retreating from his embrace. Lu Yun’s back hit the carriage wall from her push, making him frown in pain, his expression slightly darkening, unable to understand what she was doing.

Luo Lingyu pressed herself against the other side of the carriage wall, closing her eyes and speaking urgently: “I’m not pregnant at all!”

Lu Yun: “…”

Luo Lingyu noticed no response and looked up to see his stunned expression. She immediately questioned: “I’m clearly not pregnant, Second Cousin made a mistake, and he said he would write to tell you. Something must have gone wrong in between, maybe his letter wasn’t delivered properly, or maybe you didn’t read it, I don’t know. But don’t you know whether you’ve done something or not?”

“Lu Xuechen, is it that you have no experience and don’t know what’s going on, or that you have too much experience to the point where you can’t remember whether you’ve done anything with me?”

The young lady was on the verge of tears, “Could it be that while you were courting me, you were also messing around with other women behind my back? Who is it? Tell me!”

Having such a suspicion, she immediately wanted to kill that woman!

Lu Yun’s face turned pale.

Then red and blue, his expression becoming exceptionally colorful. After a while, he asked with difficulty: “I… haven’t been intimate with you?”

Luo Lingyu looked at him and began to worry. She slowly came over, no longer joking, and reached out to feel his forehead: “Brother Xuechen, what’s wrong with you? Have you lost your memory? Do you remember who I am? Don’t scare me.”

Lu Yun was dumbfounded.

He blankly thought: From her reaction, that means… she really isn’t pregnant.

He no longer needed to carry that heavy burden in his heart.

Since learning of her pregnancy, he had been uncomfortable, full of anxiety, not knowing if he could be a good father. Wanting to share the joy with others, yet fearing this huge responsibility at the same time. He had been constantly preparing himself mentally just to be able to face her, to think that having a child might not be bad.

He had finally convinced himself… yet she said there was no pregnancy.

For a moment, Lu Yun felt an enormous disappointment, even more than the fear he had felt when first learning of her pregnancy.

Lu Yun sat there motionless, while Luo Lingyu kept guessing until she had a sudden realization, “…Could it be that after drinking, you forget what happened? You actually don’t remember what you did that night?”

Lu Yun suddenly became flustered.

He gave a cold snort.

He was extremely embarrassed.

Two disappointments in one night—first seeing her flirting with Prince Hengyang, then learning her pregnancy was false… Lu Yun’s face darkened, and he couldn’t even pretend to look at her favorably anymore.

Third Young Master Lu suddenly stood up and pushed open the carriage door, jumping out, causing the coachman outside to cry out in alarm. Sitting in the carriage and hearing the commotion outside, Luo Lingyu burst out laughing. She covered her mouth as she laughed, most enjoying seeing Lu Yun in such a defeated state.

At the same time, the young lady wrinkled her nose at his retreating figure: throwing another tantrum. Lu Xuechen and his terrible temper!

But she was no longer the Luo Lingyu who used to try to please him. She would wait for him to come back and try to please her… Showing her attitude on their first night of reunion, Brother Xuechen was too interesting.

…

The next day, Lu Yun escorted Luo Lingyu back to the Luo family. Because they had argued the night before, neither would speak to the other, making the Nanyang Luo family curious as they kept looking at Lu Yun: Hadn’t Third Young Master Lu previously come to their house saying he wanted to marry Luo Lingyu? Luo Lingyu didn’t even know about it yet, so why wasn’t he saying anything today?

Lu Yun now felt extremely awkward whenever he saw Luo Lingyu, reminded of his embarrassment.

He made excuses about being busy with official duties and left the Luo family. On his way back to the military camp, Third Young Master Lu walked down the street where the early morning market had already started, with vendors calling out their wares constantly. Stopping at one stall, Lu Yun lowered his gaze to see children’s rattles being sold. As he stared blankly at the rattles, feeling deeply disappointed, he suddenly heard a venomous roar from behind: “Lu Yun!”

He turned around to see Fan Qingchen, the Fourth Young Master of Nanyang’s Fan family, with an icy expression, shaking off his servants and striding toward him menacingly—

“You forced me to break off my engagement?!”

“Dream on!”