I Did Not Become Empress On Purpose - Chapter 5

Beneath a tree, a thoroughly unremarkable-looking man stood guard in front of a brown mat, upon which rested a three-tiered wooden food box. Fang Youcheng carried Bai Ruofeng over on his back. The man cupped his fists in a salute to the two of them and quietly slipped away.

Fang Youcheng gently set Bai Ruofeng down upon the picnic blanket and seated himself beside him, only then answering the question about appearances he had raised earlier. “No one. You are very handsome. If the noble households of the capital were to hold a ranking of young masters based on appearance, you would undoubtedly place as the third-ranked Tanhua scholar.”

“Oh? And who are the other two?” Interest piqued, Bai Ruofeng leaned over toward the food box as Fang Youcheng brought out a flask of wine and two small cups, pouring a drink for each of them, and pulled out two dishes of delicate pastries.

The pastries were exquisitely crafted; one plate was seasonally shaped like cherry blossoms, known as cherry blossom pastries, while the other held golden glutinous rice cakes heaped with soybean powder at the edges. Unable to resist the mouth-watering allure, Bai Ruofeng picked up a cherry blossom pastry, took a hasty bite, and promptly showered his clothes in flaky crumbs.

A soft chuckle drifted from beside him, as light as a breeze whispering past. Annoyed, Bai Ruofeng brushed at his mouth and turned toward the sound as Fang Youcheng explained, “One is your eldest brother.”

Hearing this, Bai Ruofeng’s curiosity regarding the legendary Suppressing North heir was instantly piqued. Still, since it was his eldest brother, he was willing to accept the ranking.

“The other,” Fang Youcheng raised his cup in a toast and downed it in a single gulp, “is Duan Qingzhang, the prime minister’s son.”

“Never mind my eldest brother,” Bai Ruofeng finished off the cherry blossom pastry in a few bites, dusted off the crumbs, propped his elbows on his knees, and leaned forward with a hint of dissatisfaction. “Is that Duan Qingzhang really more handsome than I am?”

Observing his competitive streak, Fang Youcheng countered, “Isn’t this entirely your own fault?”

“My fault?”

“The young master rankings circulate among the inner chambers of noble ladies, so they are naturally judged through the lens of selecting a husband. They all say that while you are blessed with good looks, your behavior is far too unrestrained and wild, lacking the steady composure of the Duan family’s son.” Fang Youcheng patted Bai Ruofeng’s slightly puffed cheek. “Look at you, sulking over a privately circulated rumor like this. Still not a shred of composure in sight.”

With that, he actually plucked a tiny bit of leftover pastry crumb from the corner of Bai Ruofeng’s mouth, watching him with growing amusement.

“Daring to mock me, you don’t deserve this wine!” Smarting from his wounded pride, the disgruntled youth retaliated by snatching the white jade wine flask right out of Fang Youcheng’s hand.

Fang Youcheng merely shook his head. “So ungrateful. Just how far do you think I carried you on my back? And now you won’t even let me drink the wine I brought myself.”

Lost in thought for a moment, Bai Ruofeng arrived at a sudden realization. He reached out and patted Fang Youcheng’s shoulder with a sympathetic expression. “Brother Cheng, oh Brother Cheng, to think you were laughing at me for placing third, when you didn’t even make the top three at all!”

Delighted at the discovery, he chuckled merrily. “Who would have thought! You can’t even compare to me! Your behavior is definitely even more unruly than mine. By the way, do I still lack a sister-in-law?”

Clapping his hands together in merciless mockery, Bai Ruofeng teased, “You’re not looking so young anymore, you know. Whichever young lady catches your eye, you’d better hurry up and send a matchmaker over before you age past your prime and nobody wants you.”

There was truly only one person under the sun who dared to mock him like this, but then again, there was only ever one Bai Ruofeng in this world. As for the young master rankings? It was entirely natural that he wasn’t on them, Fang Youcheng thought; those people simply didn’t have the gall to rank him.

Seeing Bai Ruofeng looking utterly thrilled at having supposedly seized upon a weakness of his, Fang Youcheng merely curled his lips without a word, letting the other indulge in his speculations.

The two chatted, laughed, and drank wine together, creating an atmosphere that could only be described as harmonious.

The surrounding air, which had remained frozen, gradually thawed. The onlookers who recognized their identities pretended to act casual, though their eyes covertly tracked the scene, yet not a single person dared to step forward.

When Duan Qingzhang stepped down from his carriage, he lifted his gaze and caught sight of the long-absent person. The joyful smile blooming across his gentle, refined countenance was instantly checked by the icy, piercing glare shot his way by the man sitting beside Bai Ruofeng. Adjusting his lapels, Duan Qingzhang strode toward the two of them.

“Do you still remember the favor you owe me from when we bought the clay figurines?” Fang Youcheng’s expression grew steadily darker.

Bai Ruofeng, who had been indulging a bit too much in the wine and pouring himself drinks independently, was momentarily stunned when the flask was snatched away. Remembering the incident, he blinked. “Right. What do you want?”

Noticing that Duan Qingzhang was already approaching their spot, Fang Youcheng narrowed his eyes to appraise the newcomer. “I want you to promise me that you’ll stay away from Duan Qingzhang, especially his sister.”

“What’s wrong with them?”

“Hmph!” Fang Youcheng let out a heavy snort, making his deep displeasure abundantly clear. Setting down his empty cup, he stood up and smoothed out the creases on his outer robes. “Though I’d rather not admit it, he is your friend. I won’t intrude on your reunion. Until next time.”

This statement was rather contradictory: he claimed to dislike the other mingling with Duan Qingzhang, yet he was willing to yield space for them to socialize, all while calling it awkward to intrude. Bai Ruofeng failed to follow the logic and couldn’t figure out why Fang Youcheng was suddenly leaving. However, sensing that Fang Youcheng genuinely disliked Duan Qingzhang, he didn’t try to make him stay, simply nodding instead. “Alright. Let’s hang out again next time, Brother Cheng.”

Turning to leave, Fang Youcheng had barely taken a single step when a thought struck him. He pivoted back and said, “Your original personal page boy is gone. Since the new servant in the estate is clumsy and unfamiliar with your habits, I happen to have someone here who is quick-handed and capable of serving you properly, and can also double as a bouncer when trouble arises.”

His gaze shifted toward an ordinary-looking man standing quietly off to the side, whose presence had gone completely unnoticed until now.

Catching the cue, the man stepped forward and delivered a formal, respectful bow to Bai Ruofeng. “Greetings, Young Master. This subordinate’s name is Tang Yan.”

Bai Ruofeng looked from Tang Yan to Fang Youcheng, deliberating, “Brother Cheng, how did you know I was struggling with the new page boy?”

As he spoke, he observed their expressions. Tang Yan’s face remained as blank and unresponsive as a deaf piece of wood, while Fang Youcheng, caught red-handed in the act of secretly keeping tabs on him, stiffened slightly. Refusing to admit defeat, he stubbornly masked his guilty conscience behind a veneer of ironclad, overbearing authority: “What? Is it a crime for me to care about a patient?!”

Amidst these exchanges, Duan Qingzhang, who had already drawn close, happened to catch the tail end of Fang Youcheng’s declaration. Having witnessed the emperor’s wrath leave millions dead in its wake, he was struck by a wave of nervous panic, yet he steadily bowed to Fang Youcheng, who was currently dressed in ordinary civilian attire while traveling incognito. “Young Master Fang…”

Not daring to meet Bai Ruofeng’s probing gaze, Fang Youcheng cut him off swiftly. “You can escort him back to the estate later.”

Swallowing down the words he had prepared to say, Duan Qingzhang nodded, offered another silent bow, and watched the man depart.

By contrast, Bai Ruofeng merely waved his hand with casual amusement. “Thanks for the helper, Brother Cheng. Safe trip back, and you’re welcome to come play with me again next time!”

“Oh right! Remember to use the door next time.”

Fang Youcheng, whose stride had been swift and steady, nearly tripped over his own feet at the teasing remark, though he quickly vanished from their sight entirely.

Tang Yan kept his presence remarkably subdued, standing quietly behind Bai Ruofeng with lowered head and respectful posture.

Looking up at the approaching visitor, Bai Ruofeng intended to ask the tall, lean man to bend down, but the newcomer thoughtfully bypassed the spot where Fang Youcheng had just been sitting, kneeling down beside him to match his eye level.

Duan Qingzhang let his gaze sweep across the other’s legs before speaking in a soft tone, “When I first heard of your heroic deeds at the northern border, I had a bad premonition in my heart, and it turned out to be true.” Frowning, as though wanting to reach out and touch but not daring to, he expressed his worry, “I only knew you returned to the capital to recuperate, but I had no idea it was this severe. How are you holding up now? What did the imperial physician say?”

“What, are you worried about me? It’s nothing much, just a bit troublesome that I can’t move around,” Bai Ruofeng said with a cheerful smile as he leaned back and propped himself up with his hands. Inwardly, however, he felt a lingering spark of dissatisfaction: while he had to admit the man before him possessed the refined elegance of a jade-like gentleman, if anyone claimed Duan Qingzhang was more handsome than he was, he would flatly refuse to accept it. Were delicate pretty boys the trend these days? Those people truly had no taste!

Seemingly sensing the odd tone in his voice, Duan Qingzhang scrutinized Bai Ruofeng with a subtle gaze. “Brother Bai?”

“What?” Bai Ruofeng snapped back with a slight edge of annoyance.

Duan Qingzhang let out a soft laugh. “Why are you suddenly acting so distant? Could it be that you’re blaming me for not coming to visit right after you returned to the capital?”

The remark sounded genuinely intimate, leaving Bai Ruofeng momentarily stunned.

“I did visit the estate, but you hadn’t woken up at the time,” Duan Qingzhang explained. “I handed the gift to your younger sister and left. Speaking of which, after seeing the severity of your injuries, I immediately dispatched someone via fast courier to invite a miracle doctor out of seclusion, but unfortunately, the doctor was away on a medical trip and has yet to return.”

With such frequent interactions, were this person and the original owner more than just ordinary friends? Plucking absentmindedly at a blade of grass, Bai Ruofeng thought to himself that if they kept chatting like this, his lack of memories would inevitably be exposed sooner or later.

That being the case, he decided to be direct. “Your name is… Duan Qingzhang? I’m terribly sorry, but I injured my head and don’t remember anything from the past. Were you and I quite close before?”

“Amnesia?” Duan Qingzhang knitted his brows tightly, pressing further. “Before, meaning how long ago?”

“Everything,” Bai Ruofeng replied impatiently. “You still haven’t answered my question!”

“To think you remember nothing at all,” Duan Qingzhang murmured with a hint of regret, offering an apologetic smile. “Please forgive me, Brother Bai. I was simply caught off guard. When we were studying together in the Imperial Academy, we weren’t actually close. You always used to say I looked like a delicate pretty boy, found me hard to look at, and refused to play with me.”

Well, what a coincidence, Bai Ruofeng thought. The moment I laid eyes on you, I found you unappealing, like a black sesame filling stuffed inside a white glutinous rice skin.

Naturally, he wouldn’t voice those thoughts aloud, putting on a polite expression of attentive listening instead while pulling the plate of glutinous rice cakes closer to snack on. “And then?” he asked between bites. “Brother Cheng said you were a friend of mine.”

“And then… through various circumstances, we gradually grew closer.”

“What circumstances?” Bai Ruofeng’s curiosity was piqued.

“Perhaps serving the same master,” Duan Qingzhang replied with a gentle smile. His fair complexion and quiet demeanor while sitting there radiated a scholarly aura that reminded Bai Ruofeng of a harmless rabbit. Yet this particular rabbit was fiercely tight-lipped; every time Bai Ruofeng tried to probe for the real reason, he deftly evaded the topic.

“Hmph.” Setting down the porcelain plate, Bai Ruofeng straightened up, leaned against the tree trunk with crossed arms, and grew even more displeased. “I truly despise you people who love to keep others guessing.”

“Brother Bai, do not be impatient.” Seeing his familiar straightforwardness, Duan Qingzhang thoughtfully offered a suggestion. “Since Brother Bai remembers nothing, allow me to brief you on the current political landscape of the capital.”

That piqued Bai Ruofeng’s interest. Having just arrived, he certainly needed to be mindful of local dynamics, lest he accidentally offend some high-ranking noble.

However, Duan Qingzhang abruptly shifted his tone, sounding teasing yet carrying an underlying current of absolute seriousness, “Actually, there is nothing special to be mindful of. After all, you have inherited the title of Suppressing North Marquis and been appointed as the General Who Subdues Barbarians; no one in their right mind would dare provoke you. Besides, even back when you held no titles or ranks, Brother Bai, you could strut sideways through Chang’an City and not a soul would dare utter a word.”

Though he caught the underlying meaning, Bai Ruofeng still found the phrasing awkward, raising his wine cup to half-hide his lips. “I am not a crab, why would I strut sideways?”

It was meant merely as a playful quip, but Duan Qingzhang stated bluntly, “Who in the capital does not know of His Majesty’s deep fondness for the marquis?” The remark instantly made Bai Ruofeng choke, sending him into a prolonged fit of coughing as he inwardly cursed the man for speaking so casually about things that shouldn’t be mentioned while being deadly serious about everything else.

Duan Qingzhang gently patted his back, looking innocently perplexed. “What is the matter? Is the wine unpalatable?”

“No, no. You shouldn’t speak so recklessly; people could lose their heads for less. By the way… do you know who else used to be close friends of mine besides Brother Cheng?”

Duan Qingzhang wore a rather peculiar expression for a moment before resuming his usual smile, raising a single index finger to point back at himself.

A fair-weather friend who told half-truths was worse than having none at all. Bai Ruofeng was left speechless.

Sensing Bai Ruofeng’s disdain and knowing when to quit while ahead, Duan Qingzhang smiled warmly. “The late emperor long harbored suspicions toward the Suppressing North Marquis. As a political hostage entering the capital, Brother Bai rarely associated with the nobles of the capital in the past.”

“I see.” Bai Ruofeng understood, his thin lips curving into an unrestrained smile. “I thought I was just some wealthy, idle slacker.”

Duan Qingzhang’s gaze darkened with a profound, lingering nuance. “If one could truly live as a wealthy, idle slacker, who wouldn’t want to?”

“Since I rarely associated with nobility, Prime Minister’s son, how did you and I cross paths?”

“As for me—” Duan Qingzhang’s eyes curved into crescent crescents. Raising an index finger to press it against his lips, he suddenly projected a frivolous charm entirely at odds with his usual dignified composure. “Is it possible that I am not actually a noble?”