Let Me Go, I’m Not Pregnant - Chapter 28

Luoshen’s movements came to a sudden halt as he turned and found himself face to face with a woman in a pink dress. She had a graceful figure, and her attire was of high quality. She didn’t look like she had mistakenly entered this place.

Luoshen looked at her with confusion and asked, “Is this your room?”

If it was her room, why did those two servants lead them here?

However, Gu Xingzhi reacted first. He drew the soft sword at his waist and pointed it at Zhao Xiaoling, demanding, “Who are you? What is your purpose in sneaking into this room?”

Zhao Xiaoling slowly raised her head, and her mind briefly flashed back to that chaotic night when she had been pinned down beneath someone. She remembered the face that had been smirking at her, and the thought of her father suffering in prison every day, the image of him growing thin and haggard.

But in the next moment, her eyes refocused, and the face she saw now was not the same as that night.

It was not the same person.

She immediately realized that there had been a mistake that night. Somehow, Luoshen had misunderstood, thinking that the person he had been with that night was her. That misunderstanding had led to this awkward situation.

But she had already entered the room, and her plan was in motion. Should she give up now, or should she forge ahead despite her nervousness?

Gu Xingzhi asked, “Who are you? Have we met before?” He had a vague memory of having seen her somewhere, but he couldn’t quite recall it.

This question gave Zhao Xiaoling a way to proceed.

According to Luoming’s words, on that night at Tianxi Lou, the Emperor had arranged for a woman. Even if it wasn’t her, someone who had been drugged and controlled, it was unlikely the Emperor would remember her.

She gulped, her voice trembling with nervousness. She had to take a chance.

“Your Majesty… that night at Tianxi Lou…”

But before she could finish her sentence, another voice rang out in unison, “Gu Xingzhi!”

Zhao Xiaoling was startled and quickly covered her chest, her heart pounding.

Gu Xingzhi turned his head, puzzled. “What’s the matter?”

“I… I think I left something behind in the hall, could you please go get it for me?” Luoshen’s heart was pounding. His lips turned pale, and he looked anxiously at Gu Xingzhi, fearing that he might notice something.

“But, Your Majesty, at this moment…” Gu Xingzhi hesitated.

Luoshen didn’t give him a chance to argue. “I’m asking you to go, so go!”

Gu Xingzhi frowned, sensing something was amiss with Luoshen’s behavior. He considered that this strange girl might be the reason behind it.

His gaze shifted between the two of them, and he couldn’t help but jump to a conclusion. “Your Majesty, this person is from Prince Qin’s Mansion; you must not pursue her.”

Luoshen’s throat tightened. He glared at Gu Xingzhi and decided to use Zhao Xiaoling as a shield. “Nonsense! I really lost something! Besides, you’ve scared her!”

Zhao Xiaoling, who had yet to say a word, was perplexed. She hadn’t even mentioned anything about Tianxi Lou, yet the Emperor was already panicking?

Her eyes flickered as she decided to play along, pretending to be on the verge of tears.

Gu Xingzhi’s face turned dark as he walked toward the door with determination.

Luoshen couldn’t help but tremble under Gu Xingzhi’s intense gaze.

Just in case Gu Xingzhi discovers the truth, Luoshen wasn’t sure if he could keep his head attached to his shoulders. He nervously approached the door and then turned back to face Zhao Xiaoling, his expression turning serious. “Tell me, what do you want?”

Zhao Xiaoling withdrew her gaze and smirked slightly. “Your Majesty doesn’t remember? That day, it was a common woman who served you.”

Luoshen snorted, “I never met anyone that day.”

Zhao Xiaoling’s smile froze.

Luoshen took a step closer and asked, “Are you trying to deceive me for Prince Qin?”

Zhao Xiaoling remained kneeling on the ground with her head lowered. “Your Majesty, you don’t remember? That day, I…”

Luoshen’s tone turned cold as he interrupted her, “The crime of deceiving the emperor is punishable by death. Think carefully. Are you working for Prince Qin, or will you confess to me? I might spare your life.”

Zhao Xiaoling briefly closed her eyes. She had known since the moment she saw the Emperor’s face that there was no escape for her. She had held out a glimmer of hope, hoping she could save her father.

But now…

When she opened her eyes again, they held a sense of determination.

Luoshen, with a furrowed brow, inquired, “Did he force you to harm me at Tianxi Lou?”

He hoped that with her testimony, he could get to the bottom of Luoming’s involvement.

However, before she could answer, Zhao Xiaoling suddenly stood up, sneering at Luoshen. “Your Majesty, do you not know the common woman’s name?”

Luoshen was taken aback and asked, “What?”

Zhao Xiaoling continued, “My name is Zhao Xiaoling, and I am the daughter of Zhao Wenzhong, the county magistrate of Cao County.”

Luoshen slightly opened his mouth, finding it hard to believe.

Zhao Wenzhong? His daughter?

He was surprised, and then Zhao Xiaoling drew a dagger from her sleeve, her eyes filled with determination.

Luoshen immediately took two steps back to avoid the attack and called out, “Zhao Xiaoling, calm down!”

But Zhao Xiaoling couldn’t calm down. She knew that if she confessed, her father would die, and if she didn’t, she wouldn’t survive either. She believed that she might as well stab Luoshen to death, making her death somewhat meaningful.

Her frantic attacks with the dagger were fast and erratic, lacking any logic. Several times, she nearly wounded herself.

Although Luoshen managed to dodge her attacks, he couldn’t bear to see her get hurt while acting recklessly. Seeing her swaying the dagger wildly, he reached out and grabbed the blade.

The sharp edge of the blade immediately cut into his palm, and blood gushed out. Luoshen winced in pain, and with a hoarse voice, he said, “I was investigating what happened that year!”

However, Zhao Xiaoling was unrelenting. With a cold smile, she said, “It’s been half a year. Do you think I still trust you?!”

She released the dagger she had in her hand and pulled out another, charging toward Luoshen.

Luoshen was shocked; he had no idea there was another dagger. He quickly switched the bloodied dagger to his left hand to block the attack, but Zhao Xiaoling was already charging toward him—

In this critical moment, someone suddenly broke through a window and stood in front of Luoshen. Simultaneously, he opened a fan, trapping the attacking dagger.

Qin Cheng moved his wrist, causing a paralyzing sensation through the fan that made Zhao Xiaoling release her grip. She took a step back, holding her wrist, glaring at Qin Cheng.

“Is it you?” she questioned.

Qin Cheng’s eyes were deep and solemn. “Xiaoling, we have found the evidence regarding your father’s case. You don’t need to hurt him anymore. I’ll handle the rest.”

Zhao Xiaoling was puzzled. “Who are you?”

Qin Cheng took a deep breath. “I am Qin Cheng.”

Her pupils dilated as she was left in disbelief. She slumped to the ground.

Qin Cheng hadn’t initially intended to get involved in this situation, but when Gu Xingzhi discovered him, he was coerced by him to replace the kitchen’s problematic dishes. Afterward, he realized Zhao Xiaoling’s situation and worried that Qin Wang might discover her intentions after her return. He tracked her down and, upon hearing her words inside the room, finally learned her identity.

He never expected that Zhao Xiaoling was the woman from that day at the Tianxi Pavilion. Only one person could have sent her to the brothel.

Qin Huang!

Qin Cheng clenched his teeth and turned to kneel before Luoshen. “I implore Your Majesty to spare Xiaoling’s life! I am willing to accept any punishment on her behalf!”

Luoshen glanced at the still-confused girl on the ground and seemed to understand what had transpired.

He sighed. “I…”

Before he could finish his sentence, he suddenly felt something. He lowered his head to look at his right palm.

Just then, the door was kicked open, and Gu Xingzhi appeared at the doorway.

He withdrew his raised foot upon seeing that there was someone else inside the room but paid little attention when he noticed Qin Cheng. Gu Xingzhi walked forward and spoke, “Earlier, the ministers were all heading this way, and I suspected that Qin Wang might have set some trap. I suggest that— What’s going on here?”

He saw the additional person inside and paid little mind to it, but when he noticed Luoshen’s alarming injury, his expression changed. His gaze immediately turned hostile towards Qin Cheng. However, Qin Cheng kept his head down while shielding the limp girl behind him.

For a brief moment, Gu Xingzhi wondered if Luoshen had attempted to harass Zhao Xiaoling and was injured by Qin Cheng in retaliation.

But his reason told him it wasn’t so.

Footsteps were approaching from outside, and Gu Xingzhi didn’t have time to figure out whose fault it was. He called Qin Cheng, “Take her with you!”

Qin Cheng nodded and then lifted Zhao Xiaoling in his arms, escaping through the window.

Gu Xingzhi turned around and was about to suggest returning to the palace when he suddenly noticed the person in front of him swaying and collapsing.

Gu Xingzhi quickly caught the falling person. He heard Luoshen gasping for breath, “A dagger… poisoned…”

Worried, he held Luoshen and immediately jumped out of the window, running for help.

Behind them, Qin Cheng clenched his teeth and left with Zhao Xiaoling.

The palace was far from Qin Wang’s residence, and Gu Xingzhi was afraid that Luoshen wouldn’t make it in time. So he took Luoshen to his own residence first and on the way, he gave a few silvers to a random passerby, telling him to fetch a doctor from the Dafutang immediately.

Once Luoshen was settled on the bed, the housekeeper rushed back with the doctor. Luoshen, who had been active earlier, now lay quietly on the bed. His face was pale, and his brows were furrowed in apparent distress, making one feel pity for him.

The doctor hastily checked Luoshen’s pulse and, after a thorough examination, his expression slightly changed. “He has been poisoned.”

Gu Xingzhi stood by the bedside, listening to the doctor’s words, and was alarmed. “Can he be saved?”

“Don’t worry, the poisoning isn’t deep, and this toxin is easy to neutralize. He can be saved,” said the doctor. He tended to Luoshen’s wound and immediately wrote a prescription. “He should take this medicine three times a day for a week.”

Gu Xingzhi let out a sigh of relief. He handed the silver coins to the doctor and said, “Please do not disclose what happened here today.”

The doctor understood, but before leaving, he hesitated for a moment. There was something he didn’t know how to say.

Seeing the doctor’s hesitance, Gu Xingzhi inquired, “Is there something else?”

“The humble skills of this one are not advanced enough. I can only help with this poison, but I would advise you to seek a better doctor to examine him. Although this is not a critical condition, I am not sure it should have been detectable.”

Gu Xingzhi’s face turned serious. “Is it a terminal illness?”

The doctor hurriedly shook his head. “No, he will be fine with good care. Just make sure he rests well and avoids overexertion. If he takes medicine, choose something gentle to avoid causing further harm.”

Relieved to hear this, Gu Xingzhi thanked the doctor. He planned to find a palace physician to check on Luoshen when he returned to the palace.

“Now, when can he wake up?” Gu Xingzhi asked.

“About half an hour.”

After seeing the doctor off, Gu Xingzhi took a glance at the still-sleeping figure on the bed. He then left the room.

Outside, Qin Cheng and Zhao Xiaoling were kneeling.

Gu Xingzhi looked at them and focused on Qin Cheng. “Explain what happened.”

Qin Cheng explained Qin Wang’s plot and actions, but he was vague when discussing the events of the day. Gu Xingzhi pressed for more details.

Zhao Xiaoling hesitated but finally said, “I… I injured His Majesty.”

Gu Xingzhi questioned her further. “You and His Majesty have had no prior interaction. How did you get close to him?”

Zhao Xiaoling lowered her head, her voice trembling. “Qin Wang once… orchestrated an encounter between His Majesty and me. That night, I was also present, and Qin Wang mistakenly thought that His Majesty was the one who spent the night with me.”

Gu Xingzhi’s mind was suddenly struck with a realization. He remembered why Zhao Xiaoling’s face seemed familiar.

But why was Luoshen there as well?