I Did Not Become Empress On Purpose - Chapter 9

As soon as Bai Yueying entered the room, she was greeted by an unusually enthusiastic Bai Ruofeng, who was waving at her. This rare sight genuinely took her by surprise.

How could Bai Ruofeng’s entire attitude change overnight? She felt a strange unease in her heart, though her expression remained completely unperturbed.

“Second Brother, I heard your legs were acting up. Why didn’t you send someone to summon an imperial physician?” Bai Yueying walked over and seated herself on the chair her maid had placed by the bedside.

Bai Ruofeng smiled, but just as he was about to speak, a very faint fragrance drifted to his nostrils. The scent was like a hook, yet overwhelmingly domineering; the moment it wafted over, every thought in his mind was instantly wiped clean, leaving his brain blank for a brief moment.

When he finally snapped back to his senses, he was met by Bai Yueying’s worried eyes. “Second Brother? Second Brother? Why does your face look so pale? Do you need me to call a physician?”

That fragrance most likely came from Bai Yueying herself. It was hardly uncommon for young women to carry scented sachets. Shifting his gaze downward, he indeed spotted a small embroidered sachet tied around her waist.

Pointing directly at the object on Bai Yueying’s waist, Bai Ruofeng said bluntly, “Your sachet is too strong. It makes me feel uncomfortable.”

“Ah!” Bai Yueying let out a soft gasp, hurriedly untying the sachet from her waist and signaling her maid to take it outside and throw it away. “I bought this on the street simply because I liked the design. The shopkeeper said it was made from dried medicinal herbs and that wearing it long-term is beneficial to one’s health. Is Second Brother sensitive to this kind of scent?”

“Yes.” Bai Ruofeng wrinkled his nose. “What kind of sachet is this? It is almost as potent as a knockout drug.” Strangely enough, everyone else around seemed completely normal; it was as if he were the only one who could perceive it.

Bai Yueying’s eyes curved into crescents. “Second Brother, are you feeling better since waking up today?”

He had no idea how Tang Yan had managed to sneak him out of the estate without alerting a single soul inside.

Bai Ruofeng replied, “I have seen the physician and just took my medicine. Do not worry, I am quite alright.” Despite his pale face as he leaned against the headboard, and though his spirit seemed lively enough without a trace of dejection, that profound sense of frailty enveloped his tall, slender frame, robbing his words of any real conviction.

He looked less like a battle-hardened general capable of lifting tripods and more like an invalid. If not for his striking face, no one outside would have dared to recognize him.

“As long as you are fine.” Changing the subject, Bai Yueying continued, “By the way, this morning I saw a physician in coarse hemp clothing being brought into the estate by your servant, and he has been settled in the courtyard next door. Why would Second Brother bypass the imperial physicians and trust some healer picked up from the streets?”

The divine doctor’s identity was difficult to explain. Bringing him up meant explaining how Fang Youcheng had dragged the man here, which in turn required explaining how an amnesiac like him knew Fang Youcheng in the first place, and just who Fang Youcheng was. Since Bai Ruofeng still had not figured out Fang Youcheng’s exact background, aside from assuming he was some wealthy and prominent noble youth of the capital, how could he possibly explain it to Bai Yueying?

In the span of a blink, Bai Ruofeng had already formulated an excuse. “Folk remedies exist for a reason. There is no harm in believing in them; at the very least, they will not kill me.”

“Second Brother!” Bai Yueying feigned annoyance.

Bai Ruofeng laughed heartily in response, only to choke on his own mirth and cough for a good long while. Bai Yueying reached out to gently stroke his back, her willow brows knitted into a charmingly frustrated and helpless expression of a delicate young lady.

“My dear sister,” Bai Ruofeng drawled lazily, reaching out to catch her wrist with an air of casual intimacy, intending to pull her closer and save her the trouble of hovering. “Last night I dreamed of…”

To his surprise, the wrist beneath his palm instinctively jerked away. The withdrawing force was immense, slipping right past his fingers in an instant.

Is she guarding against me? Startled by Bai Yueying’s overreactive defense, Bai Ruofeng raised his eyes to look at her.

Catching his direct gaze, Bai Yueying realized her reaction had given her away. With a fluid flick of her wrist, she gestured for the servants to step inside to open the windows and fetch fresh hot water. Turning back to seat herself on the stool, she acted as though nothing at all had happened, seamlessly resuming the previous topic. “What did Second Brother dream about?”

Come to think of it, they were brother and sister, but times were different after all. Perhaps his sister simply placed greater emphasis on propriety, Bai Ruofeng thought, countless stray thoughts flashing through his mind. Nevertheless, keeping a completely unbothered expression, he chuckled. “Ah, I dreamed of you, Sister. I dreamed that you were dressed in a foot soldier’s uniform.”

He quietly observed Bai Yueying’s reaction.

“So it was just that. That was a long time ago. I was ignorant back then and snuck into wearing military uniforms because I wanted to follow our father and older brother in becoming a towering general. Who would not want to when both father and brother were so exceptional?” Bai Yueying said with a look of yearning. “It is truly admirable. Still, following our mother, I learned plenty as well. After going out to socialize with the young ladies of the capital recently, I am just glad I did not disgrace the Suppressing North Marquis Estate.”

Reminded of their departed family members, Bai Yueying lowered her gaze with a trace of desolation. “Why did Second Brother suddenly bring that up?”

“Just asking out of curiosity.” Bai Ruofeng brushed it off with a casual laugh, maintaining his cheerful facade while his gaze grew steadily darker. “Sister, have you ever learned martial arts?”

Bai Yueying froze, stuttering slightly, “This…”

Seeing Bai Ruofeng lock his eyes onto hers without blinking, Bai Yueying turned her head aside and muttered, “Of course I have learned a few moves for self-defense, but Second Brother, stop teasing me. A third-rate parlor trick like mine would only make people laugh if word got out.”

“Have you ever set foot in a military camp?” Bai Ruofeng’s questioning tone grew increasingly sharp and pressing.

Startled by his severe expression, Bai Yueying grew somewhat indignant and stood up. “Second Brother!”

“Hahaha, do not be upset, do not be upset. I just wanted to show a bit more care for you.” Bai Ruofeng burst into laughter, the gloom on his face dispersing like snow beneath a clearing winter sun. “Is not my sister preparing to enter the palace? The late emperor favored literature over martial arts, but the new emperor is entirely different. He heavily promotes military officers, commands all four armies, and exudes a martial, bellicose spirit.”

Naturally, these insights were borrowed entirely from what Duan Qingzhang had told him during their spring outing by the moat, but it was more than enough to deflect Bai Yueying.

“What if he happens to prefer palace candidates who know martial arts? Though you have learned plenty of needlework and calligraphy from our mother, you ultimately hail from a general’s household. If His Majesty asks about your martial skills, how will you reply? Will you not let a golden opportunity slip right through your fingers?”

Bai Ruofeng’s words gave Bai Yueying pause for thought. Her willow brows knitted slightly as she found herself genuinely troubled by the prospect.

Seeing that she had bought into it, Bai Ruofeng offered a few more words of comfort before dismissing her, telling her to go practice a few moves.

Halfway to the door, Bai Yueying suddenly spun around. “Second Brother,” she called out from a distance, “tell me, what if I perform a sword dance for the Empress Dowager at the Jade Pool Banquet?”

Her gaze seemed entirely expectant of his approval. Taken aback, Bai Ruofeng immediately piled on the encouragement. “Splendid! Simply splendid! His Majesty will surely love it.”

“Then I shall accept Second Brother’s auspicious words.” Satisfied, Bai Yueying finally took her leave.

At that exact moment, Tang Yan walked in through the doorway pulling the divine doctor Chen Wushang along with him. As they passed each other, Tang Yan and Bai Yueying exchanged a brief glance before quickly looking away.

Just which of Second Brother’s friends sent this page boy? Bai Yueying thought to herself. He does not look like an ordinary martial artist.

Meanwhile, Tang Yan relied on pure intuition to conclude that this seemingly fragile young lady possessed hidden thorns beneath her gentle exterior and was far from as harmless as she appeared.

“Young Master, it is time for your acupuncture,” Tang Yan reported.

Looking at the two men before him and knowing he was about to be turned into a human pin cushion once again, Bai Ruofeng let out a profound sigh.

A month later, a shadow vaulted over the walls of the Suppressing North Marquis Estate.

The intruder moved with absolute purpose, making a direct line for Bai Ruofeng’s courtyard. Unlike before, the courtyard was now populated by quite a few servants, meaning he could no longer treat the place like an empty realm; instead, he had to navigate several corridors before finally reaching his destination.

He was moving in such a hurried rush that he failed to notice the two figures practicing walking along the covered walkway nearby.

“Is this what they call sending messages via carrier pigeon?” Catching sight of the black shadow darting past, Bai Ruofeng’s eyes lit up instantly. He reached out and delivered a light slap to the back of Tang Yan’s shoulder, the same Tang Yan who was supporting him, and praised, “They move fast.”

He had only communicated his urgent desire to see Brother Cheng to Tang Yan after breakfast, yet not even a single shichen had passed before a shadow had already materialized.

Tang Yan replied, “Young Master, do not be impatient, I will help you walk.”

Before he could finish his sentence, the person who had been strolling at a snail’s pace just moments earlier impatiently broke into a light jog. As he ran, Bai Ruofeng glanced back over his shoulder to press a finger to his lips in a silent shh gesture, followed by a wave of his hand signaling Tang Yan to go tend to other matters.

His legs moved with a brisk agility that bore no resemblance to someone who had spent months confined to a wheelchair.

Moving too quickly, a lingering numbness gradually crept up his legs, which were not yet fully healed. Relying on his momentum, he stumbled twice, braced a hand against the doorframe, and leaned forward to peer inside. Fang Youcheng had already familiarly bypassed the screen partition, expecting to find the empty bed and the equally empty wheelchair nearby, only to discover the room completely deserted.

A mischievous glint flickered in Bai Ruofeng’s eyes. Bracing himself to stand upright, he took two deep breaths to steady the slight panting from his sudden dash, then crept forward on light footsteps.

A sudden gust of wind stirred behind him. Turning with practiced vigilance, Fang Youcheng caught an outstretched arm, but the moment his eyes registered the face before him, the tension in his grip melted away. Yet before he could react, Bai Ruofeng refused to let up, throwing a direct punch straight toward his face with his free hand.

Although Tang Yan had mentioned that Bai Ruofeng could now walk, seeing it with his own eyes still brought a flicker of surprise to Fang Youcheng. He leaned backward to evade the playful assault, a hint of a smile flashing in his dark eyes as he straightened up and countered with a punch of his own.

To his surprise, Bai Ruofeng grew increasingly enthusiastic, treating it like an engaging sparring match, though his lower stance remained visibly unstable. Deflecting the other’s half-playful attacks, Fang Youcheng maneuvered him by the shoulders toward the wheelchair, ending the sparring match by gently pressing him down into the seat.

“Chen Wushang certainly has some genuine skills.” Releasing his grip, Fang Youcheng watched Bai Ruofeng push himself back up and turn around, his gaze dropping to the other’s legs. “Looks like your legs are mostly healed?”

Without answering, Bai Ruofeng hooked an arm familiarly around Fang Youcheng’s neck with a companionable grin. “Did I give you a scare just now? Hahaha.”

Perhaps for the sake of mobility, and unlike their previous encounters, Bai Ruofeng had changed into a black martial arts uniform that accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist, giving him an upright posture and a dramatically improved complexion and vitality.

Faced with that enlarged, handsome face, Fang Youcheng’s pupils constricted slightly. At such close range, his gaze lingered on Bai Ruofeng’s features, only now noticing a faint, light mole near his left cheekbone. Feeling as though he had discovered a rare treasure, he could not help staring at it for a moment.

“Hey, snap out of it!” Bai Ruofeng gave his cheek a flirty, light pat.

“Black is too heavy,” Fang Youcheng suddenly remarked out of nowhere. “Red still suits you best.”

“What?”

Fang Youcheng repeated his previous question. “Are your legs pretty much recovered?”

“Not quite, I am still doing rehabilitation.” Bai Ruofeng bent down to knead his knees. “Standing or moving around for too long still causes numbness and stiffness, but it is certainly better than being a cripple.” He leaned back against the wheelchair, not even bothering to look around as he hooked his arm backward to fish out the two dog-eared military strategy books. “There are some basic movement techniques in here that I have been practicing, but my bones are still stiff as wood, creaking and cracking with every move.”

“Haste makes waste.”

“I know, I am just envious watching you guys vault over walls and leap across roofs.” He used the rolled-up military book to lightly tap Fang Youcheng, the corners of his lips curling upward as he asked, “Brother Cheng, are you lacking a disciple?”

Fang Youcheng knew precisely what the other was plotting. “Not lacking any.” Seeing that Bai Ruofeng still wanted to press the matter, he deftly changed the subject. “When I arrived just now, I noticed quite a few unfamiliar faces around the estate. What is this about? I thought you preferred peace and quiet.”

“Ah. Someone died in the lotus pond earlier,” Bai Ruofeng said, finding the incident rather odd himself, though he had never cared much for meddling in such trivial affairs. With no mistress in the marquis estate, Steward Yuan had managed things in the past, and continued to do so now. “We did not have enough manpower for estate chores, so my sister suggested buying a batch of servants from a slave trader. The new servants are quite sharp and efficient; I find them rather satisfactory. Speaking of my sister, the reason I had Tang Yan summon you today was actually to ask you something.”

“What is it?” Fang Youcheng perked up. When his hidden guard had reported that Bai Ruofeng had an urgent matter, he had rushed over without waiting to hear the details.

“With the Jade Pool Banquet drawing near, my sister is participating in the imperial selection. As her older brother, how can I not help put in a good word for her?” Broaching the subject with a perplexed expression, Bai Ruofeng tapped his palm with the rolled-up military manual. “According to what Duan Qingzhang mentioned before, I used to be the young emperor’s study companion. Since His Majesty allowed me to return to the capital to recuperate, why have my requests to enter the palace and pay my respects been repeatedly rejected over the past month? Tell me, Brother Cheng, do you know the reason?”

So it was all on account of someone else. A pang of disappointment hit Fang Youcheng’s heart. “It is probably considering that your body has not fully recovered yet. There are too many eyes and ears in the palace; recuperating quietly within your own estate is far more peaceful than going to that place.”

Fang Youcheng walked over to the window and seated himself by a low couch, where a chessboard was set up, its black and white pieces arranged in the pattern of a smiling face. Pausing for a moment, he remained somewhat fixated on the point. “Did you want an audience with the Emperor purely for this matter?”

“Of course!” Bai Ruofeng wheeled himself closer, striking his chest with righteous confidence. “Is not this a matter of utmost importance? The Suppressing North Marquis Estate now only consists of the two of us siblings. If I do not back her up, who will?”

Hearing this, Fang Youcheng raised an eyebrow. “Why worry yourself so much? For all you know, she might not even pass the initial rounds of the Jade Pool Banquet.”

Bai Ruofeng grew stubborn. “My sister is talented and beautiful; anyone with eyes would choose her. Tell me, how could she possibly fail?”

Fang Youcheng’s gaze roamed leisurely across his face with pointed significance. “Perhaps because His Majesty simply does not care for that type of beauty.”

“Oh? Brother Cheng seems remarkably well-informed. Pray tell, what type does His Majesty prefer?” Bai Ruofeng pressed further.

Fang Youcheng picked up a black Go piece and dropped it squarely onto the board. To Bai Ruofeng, the man played chess randomly, casually placing a black stone to the left of the smiling face pattern. Yet in Fang Youcheng’s eyes, the pieces on the board had transformed into a familiar, smiling face, and the stone he placed landed precisely on the left cheek.

“His Majesty prefers beauties who are cheerful and bright, passionate and unrestrained, extraordinarily skilled in martial arts, and capable of commanding the battlefield,” he stated slowly.