Let Me Go, I’m Not Pregnant - Chapter 23

After being placed in a carriage, as soon as Qin Cheng released him, Luo Shen promptly took a seat on the side. Qin Cheng was about to sit beside him when his collar was suddenly pulled, and he found himself lifted off the ground, suspended in the air.

Gu Xingzhi had yanked him over and unceremoniously placed him on the opposite side, taking the middle seat himself.

On their way, the subtle and pleasant fragrance once again wafted over to them. Gu Xingzhi’s expression darkened slightly, and the memory of that night flashed through his mind.

“I say, since my life is in your hands, why not let me die a bit more comfortably? Do you have some grudge against my brother?” Qin Cheng tried to strike up a conversation.

However, neither of them replied. In fact, they remained unusually silent throughout the journey, creating an eerie atmosphere.

Qin Cheng looked from one to the other, but both of them maintained their silence. It was more than silence; the atmosphere had become strangely quiet.

He glanced at both of them, one with a cold expression, the other… unseen.

Both of them showed no intention of speaking, leaving Qin Cheng feeling like a mere ornament in the carriage. He eventually decided to stay quiet as well.

After a while, they arrived at the Qin residence.

Ever since Qin Huang had married into the family, he had swiftly risen through the ranks. In just half a year, he had reached the position of Qin Tianke’s sister’s husband, and the banquet was now in celebration of Qin Tianke’s wedding to Zheng Chao.

Upon entering the residence, Luo Shen overheard the name Zheng Chao, and it took him a moment to recall. He wondered whether there was any connection between the two.

Next, they saw Qin Huang approaching.

Qin Huang’s status wasn’t high enough to meet the Emperor, and therefore he didn’t know what Qin Cheng looked like. He had come specifically for Qin Cheng.

“Qin Cheng, I waited for you for half the day, and you’re out enjoying yourself again!” Qin Huang scolded Qin Cheng and then noticed Luo Shen standing beside him. His face immediately darkened. “Today is a joyful day, and you’re causing trouble?”

Qin Cheng disdainfully replied, “This isn’t my joyful day, so why can’t I amuse myself?”

Qin Huang’s anger flared up, but since important figures were present tonight, he couldn’t afford to make a scene. He lowered his voice to warn Qin Cheng, “Get your people out of here right away! Don’t spoil the celebration!”

Qin Cheng was equally defiant, asking, “What’s the matter? Is that person here again? You seem so timid. It’s normal to be attracted to beauty—”

Taking a deep breath, Qin Huang glared at Luo Shen and bluntly stated, “Stay with this woman in the room. Do not leave until the banquet is over!”

With that said, a servant approached.

Qin Cheng was furious and stormed away. The two servants prepared to take Luo Shen away, but he exchanged a glance with Gu Xingzhi and decided to take the initiative, following Qin Cheng.

The servants locked Qin Cheng and Luo Shen together in a room, while Gu Xingzhi was locked in a woodshed.

Although Luo Shen knew that Gu Xingzhi would eventually find a way out, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy. “You’re Qin Huang’s brother, yet he treats you like this?”

Qin Cheng, in a good mood, replied, “That’s because I’m incorrigibly mischievous and beyond help.”

Luo Shen sighed silently, then looked around the room. “Why would your brother treat you like this?”

Qin Cheng, still in a good mood, said, “It must be because I’m too stubborn and unruly.”

Luo Shen couldn’t help but frown. He had a feeling that there was more to it than Qin Cheng was letting on. “It can’t be just that, can it?”

Qin Cheng, amused, studied Luo Shen. “Why are you so concerned about my family affairs, beautiful one?”

Luo Shen didn’t respond and simply rubbed his temples. A servant approached to change their tea, and Qin Cheng, pouring the tea himself, casually asked, “Would you like some tea, my beauty?”

Luo Shen glanced at the tea and shook his head, declining it.

Qin Cheng’s mood remained good, and he took a sip of tea, seemingly unfazed by their predicament.

“Beautiful one, there’s no one else here. Why don’t you just take off your veil?” Qin Cheng suggested.

Luo Shen didn’t comply and shook his head.

Qin Cheng sighed in disappointment. “You really are hard to figure out. Although I’ve cross-dressed before, I’ve never met anyone quite like you.” He sighed again, took another sip of tea, and couldn’t help but recall a face that was flushed but unyielding.

“Beautiful one…”

Qin Cheng tugged at his collar, feeling a bit hot.

Luo Shen glanced at him and then got up, walking over to the window. “Well then, let’s open the window.”

With a push, the window opened, and he came face to face with the servants outside.

Luo Shen: “…”

He silently closed the window.

Luo Shen then turned and noticed a small door in the corner of the room. Curious, he walked over to it. “Why is there another door in your room?”

“Hmm?” Qin Cheng felt a bit dry in the mouth and took another sip of tea.

Outside the window, the two servants exchanged glances.

“I added some medicine to the master’s tea. He should be fine, right?”

“Just now, the young lady opened the window. I think the master’s condition is good.”

“Then, after they’re done, let’s go find the master for our reward~”

The two servants became more and more excited as they spoke, as if they could already see piles of gold waiting for them.

Inside the room, there was a sudden thud.

Luo Shen was thrown onto the bed and stared at Qin Cheng, who was busy undressing. “What, what are you doing?”

Qin Cheng tossed his paper fan aside and smirked, “Can’t you tell? I’m going to… enjoy you.”

Luo Shen: “…”

The veins on his forehead twitched, “Your life is in my hands, and you dare to do this?”

Qin Cheng, still quite red in the face, replied, “To die in the embrace of a beauty… it’s worth it.”

Luo Shen: “…”

He stared at Qin Cheng, who was looking increasingly flushed. It seemed that the so-called “life-saving pill” was just a simple heart medication. It couldn’t possibly have that effect, so…

Luo Shen suddenly remembered the tea they had been served and cursed quietly. Then he asked Qin Cheng, “Do you still remember who I am?”

“Beautiful… one?” Qin Cheng’s gaze became incredibly vacant, and it looked like he had lost all his senses.

“Good,” Luo Shen nodded.

Then he lifted his foot and kicked Qin Cheng in the chest, sending him sprawling to the ground. With a swift hand movement, he managed to knock him unconscious.

He crouched down, ran his fingers over the man’s belt, and successfully retrieved a key. Then, Luo Shen walked over to the small door, used the key to unlock it, and found himself in an empty dungeon.

It was strange; why would there be a dungeon beneath his own house?

Luo Shen jumped down and landed gracefully. He took out a folded fire starter from his pocket and used it for illumination, proceeding forward.

The dungeon led to another area, and the spot where he landed was just an empty room filled with straw. However, when he stepped on it, the sensation was peculiar.

Luo Shen crouched down and moved the straw aside, revealing a package of letters. He opened one at random and discovered that it contained correspondence between Qin Huang and the mastermind behind the assassination of Luo Ming!

How could these letters end up in a place like this?

Luo Shen didn’t have time to read them in detail when he heard footsteps approaching. He quickly stashed the letters in his pocket and climbed back into the room.

He had just closed the door when he heard Qin Huang’s voice from outside.

“You said they’ve been inside the room all this time and haven’t left?”

“Yes, my lord, that’s correct.”

“After Prince Qin leaves, summon Qin Cheng to my study. If he refuses to come, tell him that he should never think of leaving through that door again.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Luo Shen froze.

Prince Qin? Wasn’t that Luo Ming?

How did he come over here?

As Luo Shen was pondering this question, Qin Cheng, still nursing his throbbing head, struggled to get up from the ground. His head was still spinning, and as soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Luo Shen in a daze, with wrinkled clothes and a torn hem, looking somewhat disheveled, as if he had been taken advantage of.

Qin Cheng instantly regained his senses and hastily knelt down, apologizing, “Beauty, I-I…”

Before he could finish his sentence, the window was suddenly opened, and a figure leaped into the room. Qin Cheng quickly turned around and, to his horror, found Luo Shen in that compromising state.

Luo Shen mumbled, seemingly bewildered, “Huh?”

Upon seeing this scene, Gu Xingzhi, who had just entered the room, raised an eyebrow. He acted swiftly, pulling Luo Shen into his arms while his other hand drew a soft sword, pointing it directly at Qin Cheng’s throat.

Qin Cheng was on the verge of tears. “I can explain!”

Outside, the sound of music began to play.

Luo Shen’s mind flashed with a familiar face. He whispered to Gu Xingzhi, “Luo Ming is here.”

Gu Xingzhi noticed that Luo Shen was still in relatively good condition, indicating that nothing substantial had happened between them. It seemed Qin Cheng had only taken some liberties. Gu Xingzhi asked, “What should we do with this person?”

Luo Shen’s cold gaze swept over Qin Cheng. “Kill him.”

“No, no, no!” Qin Cheng hastily kowtowed. “I have reasons to keep me alive!”

The gleam of the sword cast a white light on Qin Cheng’s forehead.

Long, dark lashes cast shadows over his eyes.

“You came for Prince Qin, right? I can help you get close to him or even assassinate him!”

Gu Xingzhi’s gaze drifted towards the dimly lit door. Qin Cheng’s lips curled slightly.

“Getting close or assassinating, either way works.”