Let Me Go, I’m Not Pregnant - Chapter 29

In the afternoon, the sunlight was gentle and warm. 

Luo Shen slowly opened his eyes, his body still feeling a bit weak. He stared at the bed for a moment, and the memories before he lost consciousness slowly returned. He remembered Zhao Xiaoling and quickly tried to get up. However, when he turned his head, he saw Gu Xingzhi standing at the bedside, his eyes filled with a deep and ominous look.

Luo Shen’s mind went blank for a moment. “Gu… Gu Xingzhi?”

Gu Xingzhi got straight to the point. “Did His Majesty also visit the Tianxi Pavilion that day?”

Luo Shen’s complexion changed slightly, and he clutched the blanket, moving back against the wall. As the cold temperature of the wall touched his back, he hurriedly shifted his buttocks towards Gu Xingzhi.

“I… I just passed by,” he stammered.

He felt a cold sweat on his forehead and his heart raced in panic.

Gu Xingzhi couldn’t have already guessed, could he?

Zhao Xiaoling didn’t seem to know much about what happened that night. Maybe Luo Shen could shift the blame. If he didn’t admit to it, would Gu Xingzhi… How could Gu Xingzhi even think of him?

After all, he was the Emperor!

Yes, the Emperor!

Luo Shen comforted himself. If he didn’t admit to it, Gu Xingzhi might not connect the dots. He had been maintaining his appearance as the Emperor before others. How could Gu Xingzhi suspect him?

Gu Xingzhi, on the other hand, had a vague suspicion in his mind. However, this matter was not easy to verify. He decided to feign acceptance. “I see. So you did go in.”

Luo Shen lowered his head. “At the time, I was with Changnian. We got separated on the way, so I returned to the palace and sent people to look for him.”

As Luo Shen spoke, he couldn’t help feeling smug about his cleverness. See, he had resolved Changnian’s matter!

However, Gu Xingzhi seemed to detect a hint of insincerity in Luo Shen’s words. Still, this matter was not easy to confirm, so he chose to pretend to agree. “If that’s the case, then alright. Your Majesty, allow me to escort you back to the palace.”

Luo Shen quickly nodded, trying to sit up. However, he accidentally pressed on his injured palm, causing him to wince in pain.

His long eyelashes fluttered as he remembered Zhao Xiaoling and asked, “What about Zhao Xiaoling and Qin Cheng?”

Gu Xingzhi replied, “Injured the Emperor and tried to assassinate him. As for the punishment—”

Luo Shen quickly interrupted, “She was acting under the orders of Luo Ming. Since she is Zhao Wenzhong’s daughter, she should not be put to death. Instead, we can use this to hold Luo Ming accountable.”

Gu Xingzhi listened but was not entirely convinced. “Your Majesty, allowing a criminal’s daughter to enter the palace and notifying the world that you are protecting her is equivalent to indicating your intentions.”

Luo Shen felt a bit hesitant. “Then what should we do?”

Gu Xingzhi continued, “She must be detained for injuring the Emperor, but to prevent Prince Ming from plotting anything, we can have Qin Cheng infiltrate as a prison guard.”

Luo Shen hesitated. “Can we trust Qin Cheng?”

Gu Xingzhi replied, “Your Majesty, trust your people and do not doubt them.”

Luo Shen had no choice but to nod in agreement.

“Your Majesty, it’s time to return to the palace. Everyone is worried about you.”

Hearing Gu Xingzhi’s urging, Luo Shen quickly got up. He had just stepped out of bed when his legs suddenly went weak, causing him to stumble forward. Fortunately, the person next to him acted quickly and caught him.

Feeling the familiar presence, Luo Shen’s cheeks flushed slightly. He tried to stand up, but his legs gave way again, and he fell forward into the person’s arms.

Gu Xingzhi sighed helplessly as he watched the person struggling to stand but failing. He picked him up horizontally.

The person in Gu Xingzhi’s arms let out a startled cry, his slender arms tightly wrapped around Gu Xingzhi’s neck. His forehead brushed against Gu Xingzhi’s chin, and his long legs kicked in the air a couple of times before finally settling down.

Gu Xingzhi looked down at the person in his arms who had stopped struggling and sighed again.

He held the person and placed him back on the bed, then gestured with his eyes for him to try again.

The person immediately tried to sit up, but he felt weakness in his legs once more. He desperately shook his head, embarrassed.

Gu Xingzhi frowned, considering his options. He decided to try something else. He gently lifted the person and carried him in his arms, in bridal style.

The person in Gu Xingzhi’s arms was startled and let out a cry. He wrapped his arms around Gu Xingzhi’s neck and clung to him tightly. His legs flailed for a moment before finally settling down.

Gu Xingzhi sighed again, looking down at the person in his arms who had stopped struggling. He said with a hint of amusement in his voice, “Little troublemaker.”

Despite being called that, the person in Gu Xingzhi’s arms couldn’t summon his usual anger. His heart raced uncontrollably, and he felt a strange sense of satisfaction. 

He had never experienced such a feeling before.

When Gu Xingzhi put him back on the bed, the person immediately tried to sit up, but his legs felt weak once more. He realized that he couldn’t stand up on his own.

Gu Xingzhi wanted him to try once more, and he attempted to stand, but the weakness in his legs was undeniable. He shook his head, and with a somewhat haughty tone, he looked at Gu Xingzhi and said, “I allow you to carry me outside.”

Gu Xingzhi raised an eyebrow in response. He lifted the person and carried him outside. 

During the journey, the person appeared somewhat absent-minded. Gu Xingzhi couldn’t help but wonder if he had said something that upset him.

He had carried the person onto a carriage. Inside the carriage, there was a thick layer of cushioning that would allow the person to roll around comfortably.

Gu Xingzhi put the person in the carriage, and as he did, the person immediately curled up in the corner.

Gu Xingzhi was puzzled by his behavior. He approached the person and tried to speak, but the person quickly pulled aside the carriage curtain, pretending to be interested in the scenery outside.

Gu Xingzhi raised an eyebrow, unsure if he had somehow made the Emperor angry.

The situation remained tense as the carriage came to a stop. Gu Xingzhi cautiously inquired if he could carry Luo Shen inside.

Luo Shen nodded reluctantly but continued to avert his face throughout the journey, hiding his emotions from Gu Xingzhi.

Gu Xingzhi maintained his composure externally, but internally, he was somewhat anxious. He carried Luo Shen inside, and as they entered, Chang’an rushed over, expressing concern, “I heard that Your Majesty was attacked?”

Gu Xingzhi responded with a faint “Hmm” and added, “The assassin has been captured and will be sent to the Dali Temple later. Chang’an, the medicine is on the carriage. Please fetch it and brew a dose.”

Chang’an hurriedly left to retrieve the medicine.

Luo Shen had initially thought about turning to Chang’an for comfort, but when he realized Chang’an had left, he felt a sense of frustration. He buried his head back into Gu Xingzhi’s embrace, saying, “Just put me on the bed.”

“Understood.”

Gu Xingzhi gently placed him on the bed, and as expected, Luo Shen rolled up in the blankets again. Gu Xingzhi couldn’t help but cough lightly, “Your Majesty, your hand…”

Luo Shen extended his left hand from under the blankets.

Gu Xingzhi sighed, “It’s your right hand.”

“Ah.” The muffled voice from under the blankets indicated that Luo Shen had stretched out his right hand.

Indeed, as Gu Xingzhi unwrapped the bandage on his right hand, Luo Shen’s discomfort was evident. Gu Xingzhi couldn’t help but lighten his touch, saying, “Your Majesty, I thought you had a high pain tolerance.”

Luo Shen, feeling wronged, retorted, “Aren’t you affected when you get cut by a knife?”

Gu Xingzhi responded coolly, “No, I’ve been through much worse.”

Luo Shen was momentarily surprised, realizing that the man before him had spent years in the harsh environment of the frontier, growing up amidst danger. He fell silent, contemplating this revelation.

The two of them sat in silence for a while before Gu Xingzhi finally spoke up, “Your Majesty, in the future, please don’t send me away for trivial matters. Your health is of the utmost importance and cannot be risked.”

Luo Shen remained puzzled for a moment before he comprehended that Gu Xingzhi was referring to the task he had assigned earlier. He glanced at Gu Xingzhi’s face and whispered, “But my belongings are really lost.”

His jade pendant, it seemed impossible to retrieve it.

Gu Xingzhi was about to ask what it was when Chang’an suddenly burst into the room, saying, “Your Majesty, Prince Ming has been kidnapped again!”

Luo Shen’s face turned pale, and Gu Xingzhi’s expression darkened.

Luo Shen suddenly remembered that he had forgotten to instruct Qin Cheng not to use restraints. By now, Qin Cheng was probably swept away by the sea currents.

He looked bewildered, and he exchanged a glance with Gu Xingzhi.

What should they do now?