ATLAS TRANSLATES

The twins ran too fast, and Jinyue, along with the maids, hurriedly chased after them. When they reached the courtyard gate, they happened to see the siblings bump into the sight of four adults. Jinyue glanced at her master, Lu Yun, whose cold expression made her heart tremble. Under Jinyue’s signal, the maids quietly retreated, not daring to provoke Lu Yun’s anger.

Liu Chu noticed that Lu Yun’s mood was off and looked at him, asking, “Third Brother?”

Luo Lingyu tugged at Lu Yun’s sleeve, reminding him, “Brother Xuechen, Brother Xuechen…”

She was trying to remind him to keep his temper in check and not lose his cool at this moment.

Being tugged by the young lady’s sleeve and called several times, Lu Yun barely managed to suppress the anger in his heart. The twins finally realized that their father’s temper was off. Lu Sitao secretly glanced at his mother, full of questions, while Lu Siyong cautiously let go of his father’s leg and took a step back.

Lu Siyong asked, puzzled, “Father?”

Lu Yun took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He could pretend nothing had happened and continue chatting and laughing with Liu Chu and his wife. However, however…

He looked down at Lu Sitao and asked calmly, his tone hard to read, “Who taught you to dress like this?”

Lu Sitao replied blankly, “Sister taught me… Is there something wrong?”

Lu Yun turned to Lu Siyong. He had always been gentle with his daughter, but this was probably the first time he was angry with her. “Lu Siyong, go copy the family rules a hundred times! You’re not allowed to go out until you finish!”

Lu Siyong: “…!”

She shouted, “Why!”

Lu Yun said indifferently, “You’re being punished because you did something wrong. You led your brother astray. My friends are all here. Do you want me to scold you in front of everyone?”

Lu Siyong: “…”

She was too shocked to understand why her father was so angry when she had only helped her brother. She had been pampered by everyone since she was a child. Even when she fought with her brother before, her father never scolded her. Why was he blaming her now for helping her brother? The little girl, who had never suffered any grievances, immediately teared up, her eyes filling with water. With a blink, tears streamed down her face.

She glared at her father but didn’t dare to disobey. With a sob, Lu Siyong wiped her tears and ran off.

Lu Sitao, left behind, was stunned: “…”

Clearly, he was just as confused as his sister.

In the tense atmosphere, it was the beautiful Luo Lingyu who lightly laughed and instructed the maids peeking from the corridor but not daring to come over, “Come quickly, take Sitao to change his clothes. Sitao, such a little gentleman, shouldn’t imitate others and lose himself.”

Luo Lingyu winked at her younger son.

Lu Sitao vaguely understood where his father’s anger was coming from.

Inviting the emperor and empress to their home, only for Lu Siyong to run off crying to write, and Lu Sitao not knowing what to do. Zhou Yangling pretended not to notice and gave gifts to the twins, comforting them a little. However, the two children were still not very happy.

Lu Siyong: “I was helping others. Why am I being punished?”

Lu Sitao: “What I like is my own business. Why is sister being punished?”

Zhou Yangling sighed, thinking that Luo Lingyu’s two children were both stubborn and sharp-tongued.

Fortunately, Luo Lingyu was a skilled hostess and warmly received the guests. After Liu Chu and his wife left, Luo Lingyu even had the maids carry lanterns to check on the two children in their rooms. Returning to her own quarters, Luo Lingyu removed her outer robe and gracefully walked around the screen into the inner room.

The room was dark, with no lights on. She lit a candle and turned around to see Lu Yun silently sitting on the bed, one leg bent, his hand resting on his knee. He had been lost in thought for a long time without making a sound. Luo Lingyu patted her chest twice and scolded, “Why didn’t you light the lamp? You scared me.”

Lu Yun asked, “How are they?”

Luo Lingyu smiled and sat on the edge of the bed, leaning against Lu Yun’s bent leg. She teased, “Why don’t you go see for yourself? I’m not your messenger.”

Lu Yun: “…”

Even though his heart was heavy, her playful eyes and charming demeanor made him smile. Lu Yun sighed and poked her forehead lightly, “You!”

Luo Lingyu smiled, relieved to see him smile. She then hugged his bent leg and leaned over to look at his snow-like face. Luo Lingyu asked, puzzled, “It’s just two children being mischievous. Sitao dressed up as a girl. Didn’t Brother Xuechen also… okay, don’t glare at me, I won’t say it. I just don’t understand why you’re so upset?”

Lu Yun was silent for a long time.

He sorted out his slightly chaotic emotions and slowly said, “I’ve always loved our daughter and tried to treat both children equally. I thought I was doing well. Our family has always favored girls, and my brothers and I grew up like that. So, I didn’t mind that Siyong was favored. But tonight… I suddenly realized that Siyong and Sitao are different from how we were. They are twins, and their bond is much deeper than ours was.”

“When I was a child, our family also favored our eldest sister. My second brother and I were always told to give way to her… It wasn’t pleasant, but we didn’t think much of it because it was always like that. However, my relationship with my eldest sister wasn’t great. After she got married, we even felt a bit relieved. I guess there was some resentment. With Siyong and Sitao, these issues are even more pronounced. They eat and live together every day, seeing everything… The adults’ deep favoritism towards Siyong might be hurting Sitao. They are twins, closer than ordinary siblings, and more sensitive. That’s why Sitao listened to Siyong and dressed as a girl to please the adults… He knows the elders all favor Siyong and ignore him.”

Lu Yun laughed self-deprecatingly, “I’ve always been proud, but I overlooked this until tonight.”

Luo Lingyu was slightly stunned, deep in thought. She hadn’t thought deeply about it because she also had her favorite.

She then playfully shook his leg and flattered him, “Why blame yourself so much? Realizing the problem is already good. I believe you can handle this.”

Lu Yun sighed, “It’s not easy. We can barely manage in our own courtyard. Outside, in the entire Lu family, how can the elders change their ways just because of a few words from me? Even I, who was bullied by my sister as a child, still prefer girls. In our family, girls are too rare and precious.”

Luo Lingyu continued, “I believe in you. You’re a father for the first time. No one is born knowing how to be a father.”

Lu Yun’s eyes filled with a smile. He reached out to pinch her nose and gently shook it. He laughed, “When did you become so sweet-tongued? Always praising me?”

Luo Lingyu’s eyes sparkled with affection, “Of course, it’s because you taught me well.”

Her sweet words made Lu Yun’s heart bloom with joy. He couldn’t help but pull her into his arms and hold her tightly. He lowered his head, their breaths mingling, and kissed her tenderly. Their faces pressed together, full of deep affection. His hand rested loosely on her waist, gently massaging, and her body softened in his embrace.

The young lady gasped and leaned on his shoulder: Lu Yun’s techniques!

Lu Yun’s voice was hoarse as he praised her with a smile, “You’ve become more and more remarkable. When we first got married, you were still so meticulous. Now, I see you as much more magnanimous. The third young mistress has changed after marriage, even her temper has softened. You don’t even scold me anymore. Remarkable, truly remarkable!”

Luo Lingyu chuckled, pursing her lips as she laughed. Lu Yun’s half-sincere, half-teasing praise made her feel incredibly pleased.

Life deeply influences people. When she was young, she was petty because she had to be; now, she is magnanimous because life is comfortable and worry-free. Marrying the man she loves, who never gives her a hard time, has made her life enjoyable. Being with Lu Yun every day, influenced by him, she has gradually become the person she wanted to be when she was young.

Luo Lingyu then praised herself, “I also think I’m remarkable. But what I find most remarkable is that back then, I held my breath and waited for Brother Xuechen to marry me. That’s my proudest achievement.”

Lu Yun loved her even more for that.

Between husband and wife, mutual praise and constant flattery are indeed beneficial to their relationship. Lu Yun, who is usually frivolous in private, can say all sorts of sweet things to Luo Lingyu without batting an eye; Luo Lingyu, who loves to flatter, can’t help but praise Lu Yun every day.

That night, Lu Yun’s melancholy was soothed by Luo Lingyu’s praise. He laughed and rolled on the bed with his wife, spending a tender moment with her. The young lady’s cheeks were flushed like blooming peach blossoms in March. Her breathing became uneven, but Lu Yun suddenly lifted his head from her chest and said with a smile, “We should go see how the children are doing.”

Luo Lingyu: “…”

She hit his shoulder in frustration.

Lu Yun chuckled, “Why hit me? Are you feeling unsatisfied?”

Luo Lingyu: “…You’re so bad! I wonder who’s really suffering.”

After some playful bickering, the couple didn’t linger. They changed their clothes and, without disturbing the maids, took a lantern to visit their children. Since Lu Yun was most concerned about Lu Sitao, they went to his room first. Lu Yun hadn’t confined his son, but the boy wasn’t in his room.

Lu Yun raised an eyebrow.

Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu then went to see how Lu Siyong was doing with her punishment. This time, standing in a bamboo grove with the window open, the couple saw Lu Sitao, who shouldn’t have been there, sneakily climbing into his sister’s room through the window.

Luo Lingyu was surprised at how agile her younger son was.

Lu Siyong laid the desk, writing, but the more she wrote, the more grieved she felt. Tears fell in large drops, and suddenly she heard a knock on the window. A mocking voice came from above, “You’re crying again! No one’s here, who are you crying for?”

Lu Siyong looked up and saw her brother climbing through the window. She was utterly shocked, her eyes wide with tears still streaming down. She was a little beauty, her eyes wet, her lips red like petals. Even at a young age, she was already very lovable. The adults, seeing her so beautiful, favored her even more. Unfortunately, her brother, Lu Sitao, never fell for her charms.

Lu Sitao mercilessly criticized his sister, and when she jumped up to hit him, he leaned over to look at her writing, his tone even more mocking, “Lu Siyong, is this the result of your practice? Still so ugly.”

Lu Siyong’s eyes turned red with anger, “You, you, you!”

Her sore spot was hit because, without Lu Sitao, her writing progress would be considered excellent. But her brother, like a monster, wrote and read faster, easier, and better than her.

Lu Siyong’s eyes turned even redder.

She had helped him that evening, only to be punished by their father. Instead of comforting her, he came to mock her writing.

This life… is unbearable!

Lu Siyong let out a sob, threw down her brush, and dropped down on the desk, crying loudly. She cried so hard that she hiccuped, gasping for breath, her words unclear, “I’m just not as good as you, okay? You’re the best, you’re good at everything! Everyone says you’re just like father when he was young, and you’re so proud of it, right? I tried to help you, and father scolded me… Lu Sitao, I hate you! Stay away from me! I never want to see you again!”

Lu Sitao, however, was smiling.

Not only was he not driven away by his sister’s scolding, but there was also a teasing smile in his eyes as he deliberately said, “You’re crying again, the more you cry, the uglier you get!”

Calling her ugly was like killing her closest relative. Her brother knew exactly how to bully her. Lu Siyong wailed, “I hate you! Go away!”

She jumped up, pushing him, trying to shove her brother out the door. But Lu Sitao refused to leave, even dropping down on her small desk, saying, “Why should I leave? I’m here to help you write, okay? Father said you can’t go out until you finish. You’re so delicate, do you think you can finish?”

“I heard you have plans to go out with your little friends tomorrow. If you don’t finish tonight, how are you going to go out tomorrow? Don’t think just because father loves you, you can do whatever you want. If you upset him, he’ll still punish you.”

Lu Siyong cried and hiccuped but stopped pushing him. Watching her brother, like a little adult, sit in her spot and start writing, she said sadly, “But your writing is different from mine, yours is so good… If you help me, what if father finds out?”

Lu Sitao: “I’ll try to write worse. Your writing is just crooked, like a dog’s bite, right?”

Nonsense! Even if her writing wasn’t stunningly beautiful, it was at least pretty. Lu Siyong was furious, “Your writing is the one that’s crooked, like a dog’s bite! Your mouth is so annoying!”

She sat down angrily, glaring at him, “Everyone says I bully you, but no one sees how you talk to me! Lu Sitao, you’re so bad, you’re just sneaky.”

Lu Sitao pouted, “You’re the one being unreasonable. I’m helping you now!”

They bickered for a while, but perhaps because Lu Siyong was crying too hard to fight, and for some reason, Lu Sitao found his sister particularly agreeable that night and didn’t provoke her too much. They just argued a little, and at least Lu Siyong stopped crying. She hesitantly moved closer to her brother’s side, staring at his writing for a long time, anxiously praying that their father wouldn’t notice anything the next day.

Then she tilted her head to look at her brother. His features were proper, his lips red and teeth white, looking so much like her.

Lu Siyong gradually grew tired, but Lu Sitao was still full of energy. Slowly, the sister leaned against her brother’s arm, dozing off. She murmured, “Sitao, you’re so good.”

Lu Sitao: “I’m always good, no need for you to say it.”

Lu Siyong: “I won’t bully you anymore, I’ll protect you from now on!”

Lu Sitao puffed: “No need! You’re so annoying, just don’t bother me in the future.”

Being twins was troublesome; wherever they went, their fates were intertwined, constantly being asked about the other.

Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu watched from outside for a while, then looked at each other and smiled. They decided not to go in and see the children, turning to leave instead.

…

From then on, Lu Yun reflected on himself again and tried to adjust, striving to be fairer to both children. Outside the “Qing Courtyard,” he couldn’t control the entire Lu family’s favoritism, but at least within his own courtyard, he ensured that Lu Sitao wouldn’t be affected.

Lu Yun’s son was as self-assured as he was. From a young age, Lu Sitao noticed the adults’ favoritism toward his sister, but instead of reflecting on his own shortcomings, he thought they were all blind. After talking with his father, Lu Sitao became even more convinced that the adults had poor judgment and couldn’t see who was truly outstanding.

A year later, Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu had another child, a baby boy. Gradually, the Lu family’s courtyard became more lively, with more and more little ones running around.

But Lu Siyong remained the only girl of their generation.

Over time, even Lu Sitao began to feel that his sister was precious, the only one different from them. He couldn’t help but treat her better… Being the only one often made all the difference.

The twins fought less, but bickering was still common.

When Lu Sitao turned twelve, he bid farewell to his family and set out to travel the world.

Lu Siyong only found out about her brother’s departure from others and was extremely upset. She argued with him, but when he left, she and their cousins saw him off for ten miles. The stunningly beautiful young girl grew even more delicate and charming, her eyes red as she held her brother’s hand, complaining: “You’re so young to be leaving. Why did father agree? Sitao, if you’re bullied, just come home.”

“Sitao, Sitao! When will you be back? You must return before my coming-of-age ceremony.”

…

The bond between the twins was formed in their mother’s womb. An invisible thread connected them, no matter how far apart they were. The young man ventured into the wider world, but the thread linking him to his twin sister never broke.

The mountains were high, the waters vast.

The sound of oars echoed.

Lu Sitao stood at the bow of the boat, his clothes flowing like an immortal. Despite his young age, his features were refined and elegant, his demeanor as noble and pure as jade. The essence of the mountains and waters seemed to be contained within his brows. Day and night, he listened to the sound of water beneath the boat, as if hearing Lu Siyong’s tearful voice from thousands of miles away—

“Sitao, Sitao!”

“You must return before my coming-of-age ceremony—”

Author’s Note:

Well, the story of the twins Siyong and Sitao ends here! Sitao is one of my favorite young characters~~

I thought about marking it as complete here.