Let Me Go, I’m Not Pregnant - Chapter 14

The mask in Luoshen’s hand fell onto the grass with a soft thud.

 

The palace guards immediately drew their swords and pointed them at the two individuals. The chief of the guards, upon seeing Gu Xingzhi, was surprised for a moment, then took a step back, his tone now filled with respect. “General Gu.”

 

Gu Xingzhi nodded in acknowledgment and turned to face the guards. “Gentlemen, this is His Highness the Crown Prince.”

 

Luoshen, still with his back to them, was unaware of the situation and remained frozen.

 

How had he miscalculated and forgotten about Luoming?

 

“Why is General Gu meeting inside the palace at this hour?” Luoming raised his fan and spoke with a faint smile, though his gaze remained fixed on Luoshen’s back. He found the man’s posture and figure strangely reminiscent of Luoshen.

 

The chief guard, pointing his sword at Luoshen, asked sternly, “Why didn’t you salute His Royal Highness the Crown Prince upon meeting him?”

 

Luoshen turned around slowly, revealing his face to Luoming. Upon seeing that face, Luoming felt somewhat disappointed. He had suspected that this person might be Luoshen.

 

“Your servant… I meanL Changnian, pays respects to Prince Qin,” Luoshen greeted Luoming with a bow, his gaze fixated on the ground.

 

“I am currently inside the palace to assist His Majesty with official matters. Tonight, I simply took the wrong path and was inquiring about the way back. It doesn’t concern him.”

 

Gu Xingzhi stepped forward, appearing indifferent, and partially concealed Luoshen behind him. “Prince Qin, what brings you to the palace so suddenly?”

 

Luoming gazed at the person only partially visible behind Gu Xingzhi, then smiled lightly. “I came to finalize the date for His Majesty’s engagement banquet. It will be in three days. General Gu, I trust you will be there.”

 

Gu Xingzhi replied politely, “Of course.”

 

“In that case, General Gu, do you need me to have my attendants escort you back?” Luoming inquired with a hint of amusement in his voice.

 

“No need,” Gu Xingzhi declined and then took Luoshen’s arm, guiding him away. He had a feeling that Luoming’s sudden presence in the palace was not a good sign.

 

Luoshen hurriedly followed Gu Xingzhi as they left the area. He scanned his surroundings but couldn’t find any trace of Changxin.

 

He stopped abruptly and turned to Gu Xingzhi, saying, “General Gu.”

 

Gu Xingzhi also stopped and looked at Luoshen with a serious expression. “Prince Qin has suddenly entered the palace. It’s best if you avoid him for now.”

 

Luoshen thought quickly. Luoming’s appearance could only mean trouble, especially if he started suspecting the relationship between him and Changgnian. He decided to go back to his usual role and avoid raising any suspicions.

 

“l’ll go. I’ll leave General Gu here, and I have other matters to attend to,” Luoshen said and turned to leave.

 

Gu Xingzhi was about to say something when Luoshen ran off quickly into the shadows and disappeared from sight.

 

Gu Xingzhi reached out to grab his wrist but only managed to grasp something else. He looked up just in time to see Luoshen vanishing into the darkness.

 

On the other side, one of the palace guards picked up the fallen mask and asked Luoming, “My lord, are you planning to proceed to His Majesty’s chambers?”

 

“Give it to me.” Luoming took the mask and smiled. “Who was that person?”

 

A nearby eunuch explained, “He is said to be one of His Majesty’s attendants, named Changnian. He rarely leaves the palace, so not many people have seen him.”

 

Luoming’s gaze turned pensive at the mention of Changnian. An attendant named Changnian, who rarely left the palace, didn’t match the description of Luoshen’s current attendant. Luoshen’s attendant was rarely outside but was traveling outside the palace. How could he suddenly appear here and not have been recognized by anyone?

 

The idea of Luoshen having a secret lover intrigued Luoming, and he couldn’t help but smile suggestively. He addressed the guard, “Later, bring that person to me.”

 

“Of course, my lord.”

 

Meanwhile, Luoshen rushed through the hidden corridors back to his chambers and immediately asked Chang’an, “Is Changxin back?”

 

“Changxin? Wasn’t she out with His Majesty?” Chang’an replied, puzzled. “Wasn’t she with His Majesty? She’s not by his side?”

 

“She’s not.” Luoshen was equally puzzled. Changxin never left his side. He realized that something was amiss. He had been with Changxin, yet how had he encountered that situation?

 

Chang’an’s expression darkened. He had just inquired with the palace guards about Changxin’s whereabouts when Luoshen returned. They had confirmed that she left with Luoshen, but…

 

If she had left with him, why had Luoshen encountered that situation?

 

His intuition told him that something was terribly wrong. Unfortunately, at that moment, a eunuch arrived to report that Prince Qin had entered the palace unexpectedly.

 

Luoshen removed his outer robe and handed it to Chang’an. “Forget about her for now. Get rid of Luoming.”

 

“Understood.” Chang’an carefully stored the robe and approached Luoshen to help remove the mask.

 

Luoshen stopped him. “Not now.”

 

Changxin had applied some adhesive to his face, and even after removing the mask, he would still need to wash his face. Besides, if he spent more time inside the curtain, it would make Luoming more impatient.

 

Luoshen ordered Chang’an to lower the curtain, and he took a step behind it to change his clothes. He didn’t want Luoming to see him changing.

 

Outside the curtain, footsteps approached.

 

Just as Luoshen was about to call Chang’an to remove the mask, Luoming’s voice came from the other side of the curtain. “Brother Emperor, why did you lower the curtain?”

 

Luoshen quickly composed himself and asked, “Why did you suddenly enter the palace without prior notice?”

 

“Isn’t this a pressing matter?” Luoming replied. “I realized that I hadn’t set a date for my engagement banquet on the way back that day. I thought you usually don’t sleep early, so I came to inquire. Did I disturb you, Brother Emperor?”

 

Luoshen raised an eyebrow and gestured toward the lowered curtain. “Do you see that or not?”

 

He had already lowered the curtain, which should have been a clear signal.

 

Luoming’s mouth was slightly agape, and his playful smile was replaced with confusion. “Emperor…”

 

Had Luoshen always been this good at retorting? Luoming couldn’t believe how much Luoshen had changed. In his memories, Luoshen was studious and obedient, letting Luoming bully him without protest. Afterward, Luoshen was forbidden from seeing Luoming, leaving a gap of several years. However, Luoming never expected him to change so quickly.

 

He stared at the pale yellow curtain, and it dawned on him. In the reports he had received, Luoshen usually stayed up late. Why was he…

 

He recalled the figure he had seen in the garden at that inappropriate hour.

 

His lips twitched with understanding.

 

“Brother Emperor, I just wanted to ask you to agree to set the engagement banquet in three days. You’ll remember to come, won’t you?” Luoming continued, undeterred.

 

Luoshen hesitated for a moment, knowing he couldn’t refuse. He nodded reluctantly. “Fine.”

 

“Good, Brother Emperor, I won’t disturb your rest any longer.”

 

“Alright.”

 

A moment later, footsteps moved away from behind the curtain, and Chang’an’s voice called out again, “Your Majesty!”

 

Luoshen sighed with relief and quickly lifted the curtain.

 

Chang’an was baffled. “Your Majesty, why haven’t you changed your clothes yet?”

 

Luoshen ground his teeth. “My jade pendant!”

 

He must have accidentally dropped it in the garden!

 

“In that case, shall I…” Chang’an began.

 

Luoshen shook his head. “You keep an eye on Luoming, don’t let him come over. I’ll go retrieve it myself.”

 

He couldn’t risk exposing himself by letting Chang’an help him find the pendant. Luoming mustn’t know about the connection between him and Luoshen’s private life. It was better to go alone.

 

“If Changxin returns while I’m away, ask her to wait for me,” Luoshen added.

 

“Understood,” Chang’an replied and rushed out to find Luoming.

 

On the other side, when Luoming received the news that Luoshen was still awake, he realized that Luoshen had stayed up late today. He also couldn’t help thinking about the figure he had seen in the garden earlier.

 

Back in the garden, Luoshen rubbed his nose as he searched for his pendant. He had looked everywhere but still hadn’t found it. He suspected it might have fallen when he was with Changxin.

 

He stood up and headed in another direction.

 

Suddenly, a shadow moved behind him, and a blunt object struck him, rendering him unconscious.

 

After incapacitating Luoshen, the man lifted him onto a tree branch and listened to the commotion outside the garden.

 

“Changxin, where did you go?”

 

“I just caught someone.” Changxin held a eunuch who had been knocked unconscious. “He was acting suspiciously. I think he’s a bad guy.”

 

“So that’s what happened.” Chang’an breathed a sigh of relief. He instructed Changxin to keep an eye on the captive while he waited for Luoshen to come out.

 

“In the garden?” Changxin asked, bewildered. “I just came out from there. There was no one.”

 

“… ” Chang’an said, “His Majesty just went to the garden.”

 

Both of them fell into a contemplative silence. They exchanged glances and then turned to hurry towards the garden.

 

However, they arrived a step too late. In the garden, there were only footprints left behind, and the person had disappeared.

 

Changxin drew her sword. “Chang’an, I’ll go inform General Gu. I’ll rescue His Majesty!”

 

Chang’an stopped her. “No! His Majesty is still wearing a mask. If we mobilize the Imperial Guards, General Gu will undoubtedly discover it. We must act discreetly.”

 

Changxin was furious. “Then, should I kill that person?”

 

Chang’an was anxious. “His Majesty would be distressed!”

 

Changxin would be distressed too!

 

Changxin paced back and forth in frustration, then saw the eunuch. Realization dawned upon her, and she stabbed the eunuch’s heart with her sword. “Distract the tiger to devour the wolf!”

 

Chang’an watched the blood flow from the eunuch’s wound, his eyes darkening. “You go inform General Gu that Changnian is missing, and that His Majesty is currently in conversation with Prince Qin, unable to free himself. Ask for his help in finding Changnian.”

 

He couldn’t let Changxin kill anyone, and they couldn’t let Changnian discover their actions either.

 

Changxin’s cold gaze remained fixed on the eunuch, who was barely clinging to life. She remained silent for two seconds, then suppressed her murderous intent before saying, “Alright.”

 

She sheathed her sword and turned to run towards Gushichen’s residence.

 

Changan watched her go, feeling his legs go weak, almost collapsing to the ground. He turned his head, delivered a punch to the eunuch’s face, and through gritted teeth, asked, “You’re one of the former Prime Minister’s people, aren’t you?”

 

The eunuch, gasping for his last breath, had his vision clouded by the blood splatter from earlier. He couldn’t clearly see Changan’s face, but by the voice, he recognized him. “Changan… Prime Minister treated you so well, and you… you actually…”

 

Before he could finish his sentence, Changan strangled him to death.

 

Changan stood up methodically, took out a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe his hands clean, and called out into the empty space, “Come out.”

 

A dark figure appeared behind him.

 

“Changan feels guilty for not living up to the Prime Minister’s nurturing. Go back and convey this: if anyone tries to harm the Emperor again, Changan will ensure they beg for death,” Changan spoke, maintaining his calm and composed demeanor, but the rising and falling of his chest betrayed his inner turmoil and anger.

 

“From now on, Changan and the Prime Minister are at odds. If any of you wish to follow me, come to my room tonight. If not, you are welcome to come and kill me.”

 

He closed his eyes, as if he had more to say but ultimately couldn’t bring himself to speak it.

 

Turning away, Changan sighed in relief and was about to leave when he heard the voice of one of his shadow guards.

 

“Lord Qin, we pledge our unwavering loyalty to you.”

 

He paused in his tracks.

 

How should he put it? It was the first time he had heard his shadow guards speak, and the name they mentioned, Qin Fu.

 

So, that was his name.