Let Me Go, I’m Not Pregnant - Chapter 13

“No!”

“Not allowed!”

Two dissenting voices echoed within the palace.

Luo Shen rubbed his ears; it was just a minor issue.

“I… have already promised Gu Xingzhi.”

This time, it was Chang’an’s turn to have a headache. “It’s so dangerous outside the palace, and there are so many people watching over you, Your Majesty. You can’t do something reckless!”

Even Chang’an’s motherly tone chimed in, “Why can’t General Gu handle whatever official business it is on his own? Why does he want to involve Your Majesty? I can tell he has ill intentions! It’s so dangerous outside, and if Your Majesty goes out, it’s like a lamb walking into a pack of wolves!”

Chang’an shook his head disapprovingly, “Using public affairs for personal gain.”

Alright, time to chop someone!

Luo Shen, flustered by Chang’an’s words, looked around and saw Changxin sharpening her sword again.

“…Changxin, you don’t want to go kill someone again, do you?”

Changxin looked back, her expression serious and obedient, nodding earnestly, “Mm.”

Again?

Luo Shen, covering his almost numb heart, spoke hesitantly, “He’s an official of the court…”

Changxin shook her head in disagreement, “If I quietly kill him, I guarantee no one will find out.”

Luo Shen: “???”

He fell into silence.

Once Changxin finished sharpening her sword and stood up, ready to leave, Luo Shen hurriedly stopped her, “Changxin!”

Changxin halted in her tracks, turned around, and still had that cool, but now unmistakably wronged expression.

Those eyes, eager to kill someone but unable to, made Luo Shen feel guilty.

He coughed lightly, “I have my own judgment, and I won’t let myself be wronged. You can trust me.”

Changxin thought to herself, wondering who has been feeling wronged ever since sneaking out of the palace.

By the way, why weren’t there any secret guards following him that day?

Suddenly, Changxin remembered this and her expression grew more serious.

Changxin shook her head again. In her eyes, Luo Shen was still the same pampered young prince from the past. Faced with someone as unreliable and shady as Gu Xingzhi, was there any chance for survival?

“Don’t worry,” Luo Shen thought to himself, feeling that if he didn’t resolve his relationship with Gu Xingzhi soon, these two would likely join forces to eliminate him sooner or later.

But Luo Shen wasn’t overly concerned about Changxin. She tended to be straightforward in her actions, and Gu Xingzhi shouldn’t pose too much of a threat to her. However, if Chang’an and Changxin teamed up against him, even he might have a hard time.

He was feeling a bit unsteady, so he turned and picked up the mask from the table, asking, “Changxin, have you confirmed the meeting with Gu Xingzhi?”

Changxin’s voice was filled with complaints, “I’ve confirmed it.”

Pretending not to notice her tone, Luo Shen asked, “How do I wear this mask?”

Changxin took a step forward, putting her sword aside, and slowly spread the mask over his face.

No matter how angry she was, Changxin wanted Luo Shen to appear as exquisite, handsome, and unparalleled as a celestial being from the heavens.

But Luo Shen just wanted to make himself look as ugly and unique as a pig in a pigsty.

Soon, the two of them began to argue again because they couldn’t agree on the mask’s appearance.

Once Changxin thought about it, she couldn’t believe the emperor would disguise himself as a pig for some wild man.

The emperor could tolerate it, but could she?

She was about to pick up her sword again and declare, “I’m going to kill him!”

Luo Shen: “…”

He quickly pulled her back.

After a tug-of-war, they compromised on a face that looked plain and forgettable, something that would blend into a crowd without drawing attention.

However, even so, the royal aura and his naturally warm eyes added a unique charm to the face.

Changxin lifted Luo Shen’s chin to examine him carefully, puckering her lips in dissatisfaction.

But seeing that the appointed time was approaching, Luo Shen was tired. “This will have to do.”

Did he really have to go to the meeting looking so beautiful?

It wasn’t because he was narcissistic, but he genuinely feared that if Gu Xingzhi found him too attractive, it might lead to complications considering their complex relationship.

Changxin finally relented, whispering, “He’s getting off easy.”

If Luo Shen had planned to bring Gu Xingzhi back to the palace and settle things privately, he could have chosen a different face. Instead, he chose one that would leave no lasting impression.

Pretending not to hear her, Luo Shen examined himself once more. The mask was set, and he had changed into the clothes of a palace servant. It was time to head to the back garden.

The former emperor had only married two women in his lifetime, and both had passed away. By the time Luo Shen ascended to the throne, there were hardly any other women in the palace, and the back garden rarely had visitors. This was the perfect opportunity for his secret meeting.

Luo Shen walked into the garden and spotted Gu Xingzhi waiting for him from a distance.

To be safe, he decided to wear the mask before approaching.

As he got closer, Gu Xingzhi’s ears twitched, and he turned to face Luo Shen. Upon seeing him, Gu Xingzhi’s face lit up with joy, “Chang Nian?”

Luo Shen moved closer and replied, “It’s me.”

Gu Xingzhi took a step forward, his voice filled with surprise, “When I received the message from Changxin today, I thought I must have misunderstood. Are you really here to meet me? Have you made up your mind?”

Luo Shen nodded, “I have made up my mind.”

Gu Xingzhi asked, “General Gu, do you have my jade pendant?”

Only now did Gu Xingzhi remember the jade pendant. He turned and unfastened it from his belt, saying, “I was afraid of losing it, so I tied it to my waist. Here it is, I’ll return it to you.”

Luo Shen finally received the jade pendant and felt a sense of relief. He closed his eyes for a moment and, when he opened them, his gaze towards Gu Xingzhi held a newfound determination.

“General Gu, I do not wish to accompany you. Let’s consider that night as if it never happened. I am a man, and I do not require someone else to take responsibility for me. Please, General Gu, let me go.”

Gu Xingzhi was taken aback; he had never thought about this before. In his view, when someone has been wronged, even involuntarily, they should take responsibility for their actions, regardless of their gender.

He had never considered whether the other person wanted that responsibility.

“You…” Gu Xingzhi started to speak but was interrupted by Luo Shen.

“I don’t need any other compensation,” Luo Shen continued, “My monthly stipend is enough to sustain me for the rest of my life. No one here bullies me, and I have no interest in romantic affairs.”

Gu Xingzhi recalled that the companion-reader by the Emperor’s side had been designated as the Crown Prince and received a higher stipend than ordinary people. He suddenly realized the reason behind General Gu’s suggestion for him to get closer to the Crown Prince.

It was a refusal.

Although Gu Xingzhi didn’t fully understand why he had failed, since the Crown Prince had made his decision, he couldn’t force him. Gu Xingzhi asked, “This is your own decision, and not something others are forcing you into, right?”

Luo Shen quickly nodded, indicating that it was indeed his own choice.

Gu Xingzhi sighed in relief. “Although you don’t want me to take responsibility, I can’t help but feel guilty. If possible, I’d like to be your friend. If you ever need anything in the future, please don’t hesitate to find me.”

Luo Shen shook his head, “I’ve already discussed this with the Emperor. I plan to leave the palace for some time, perhaps for good. I won’t be coming back.”

Gu Xingzhi was surprised, “Why suddenly decide to leave the palace?”

Luo Shen replied, “It’s not a sudden decision; I’ve been thinking about it for a while. I just didn’t find the right opportunity. Yesterday, I mentioned it to the Emperor, and he approved my request.”

He realized that his ability to fabricate stories on the spot had become surprisingly proficient, possibly because he had spent too much time with Changxin.

Luo Shen’s gaze shifted towards where Changxin should be, but she was nowhere to be seen. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease.

Gu Xingzhi nodded and didn’t press further. He thought that if the companion-reader was truly the Crown Prince, he would need to find an excuse to return in a different capacity and have a heart-to-heart conversation when he gained Changxin’s trust.

With that in mind, he didn’t ask any more questions and simply said, “In that case, Chang Nian, may I see your true face?”

Luo Shen thought to himself that this moment was bound to come.

Fortunately, he had prepared for this with a double layer of protection.

He readily agreed, “Sure.”

He then removed his mask.

However, at that very moment, a deep, stern voice sounded behind them, “Who are you? How dare you meet someone in the palace’s back garden in the middle of the night?”