Let Me Go, I’m Not Pregnant - Chapter 31

 Luo Shen was dazed, allowing himself to be captured until he gradually struggled to breathe, only then did he manage to pull back his wandering thoughts.

 

He tried to push Gu Xingzhi away, but his hands were held down on the wicker chair.

 

Luo Shen’s anger made the corners of his eyes red again. He bit down on Gu Xingzhi’s lips, finally regaining his composure.

 

Gu Xingzhi released him but didn’t get up. He asked, “Your Majesty, are you feeling wronged?”

 

“What nonsense are you spouting?” Luo Shen glared at him. “I’m going to hold you accountable!”

 

He struggled, but Gu Xingzhi didn’t let go. “I never said that Your Majesty is completely useless.”

 

Gu Xingzhi explained, “When I met Prince Ping that day, he asked me about my opinion of Your Majesty. I thought he was a person sent by Your Majesty, so I told him that even though Your Majesty might be a bit slow and not good at governing, you’re working very hard, and it’s not impossible for you to be a good monarch.”

 

Luo Shen was momentarily stunned. He hadn’t expected Gu Xingzhi to evaluate him in such a way.

 

He had initially thought that those evaluations were typical of what Gu Xingzhi would say. After all, Gu Xingzhi often cast him disapproving glances, and he had been reluctant to accept the role of the chief minister in the first place.

 

Furthermore, his discomfort wasn’t solely due to one or two critical remarks.

 

But hearing this now, all those grievances seemed to have dissipated with Gu Xingzhi’s affirmation.

 

His long eyelashes trembled slightly, and Luo Shen’s mood improved. He then remembered another matter and asked with a stiff neck, “So why did you kiss me?”

 

“Can’t Your Majesty tell?” Gu Xingzhi asked in return.

 

Luo Shen was dumbfounded. Did Gu Xingzhi find pleasure in this?

 

With a trembling voice, Luo Shen said, “You… You couldn’t have developed feelings for me, right?”

 

“What’s so impossible about it?” Gu Xingzhi was satisfied with Luo Shen’s reaction. “Can’t Your Majesty discern my feelings?”

 

“Could it be that you’re angry with me?” Luo Shen’s voice quivered. Since he had been poisoned and returned, it seemed that Gu Xingzhi’s attitude had changed?

 

Or perhaps, it had changed even earlier than that?

 

Ah, why couldn’t he sense any of this?

 

Gu Xingzhi remained silent, and Luo Shen fell into a contemplative silence as well.

 

Perhaps… he should bring Changnian out again for a walk?

 

“Your Majesty, do you dislike me?” Suddenly, Gu Xingzhi asked.

 

Luo Shen had an intuition that he liked him. Otherwise, at the moment when he rebelled against him, he should have received a punishment like a slap and a death sentence. But Luo Shen didn’t do that.

 

Luo Shen’s expression looked conflicted.

 

From a philosophical perspective, he did like him.

 

But at least not now.

 

However, with this expression, Gu Xingzhi was satisfied. “Your Majesty, please rest early. I still have some official matters to attend to. Later, I’ll have someone deliver your medicine.”

 

Seeing him release his grip without immediately demanding an answer, Luo Shen sighed with relief. After Gu Xingzhi left, he immediately called Chang’an and told him to find Changxin.

 

A while later, Changnian entered the room and saw that Luo Shen had changed into Changxin’s clothes. He was holding the mask as he came down and urgently called her, “Hurry and help me put this on!”

 

Changxin exchanged a glance with Chang’an.

 

Chang’an said, “This afternoon, Lord Gu made Your Majesty cry.”

 

Luo Shen nearly missed a step.

 

He quickly grasped the chair and looked up, indeed seeing Changxin holding a sword. He urgently called her, “Quick, help me apply this!”

 

Changxin gave Chang’an a meaningful look.

 

Chang’an said, “Not only that.”

 

Changxin paused, then turned to him. “What else?”

 

Chang’an stood to the side with his hands folded. “Lord Gu also forcibly kissed Your Majesty.”

 

Changxin: “…”

 

She took out a bottle of poison from her pocket. “I’ll apply poison to the sword before I go!”

 

Luo Shen: “…”

 

He glared at Chang’an. “Can’t you persuade Changxin?”

 

Chang’an snorted and turned his head. “Changxin, His Majesty hasn’t sentenced him to death yet.”

 

Changxin was startled and looked at Luo Shen. Seeing that Luo Shen was avoiding her gaze with guilt, she understood. “Your Majesty, when are you going to marry him into the palace? I’ll tie him up and bring him here!”

 

Luo Shen: “…”

 

He weakly said, “I… I think you should help me change back to Changnian’s face. He probably hasn’t seen Changnian in so long that he’s confused…”

 

He should have liked Changnian. Why did he seem to like him more now?

 

Changxin put away the sword and approached him, pinching the mask. She tutted. “Look, Your Majesty didn’t listen to me. If Your Majesty had let me shape your face, this wouldn’t have happened. He must have found Your Majesty beautiful and compared it to Changnian’s ordinary appearance, so he started liking Your Majesty!”

 

She said while grinding her teeth. Why hadn’t she cut him down yet?

 

Luo Shen always felt that something wasn’t quite right, but… it also seemed to make sense?

 

He asked Changxin to put the mask on his face, secretly thinking about having more encounters between Changnian and Gu Xingzhi.

 

But Changxin said, “This mask can only be used two more times at most, Your Majesty. If we use glue again, it won’t hold well and might reveal the truth.”

 

This mask was custom-made, and making a new one would take at least three months. The new one was already in production, but there was no time to get it now.

 

With Changxin’s reminder, Luo Shen felt a sense of panic and confusion. He decided not to dwell on it too much for now and deal with the immediate issue. He could always use the mask later if needed.

 

—

 

In the evening.

 

Gu Xingzhi was working on official business in his study.

 

He had someone investigate Prince Ping’s identity and indeed found out that his real name was Chang Qing, and his appearance was completely different from Changnian.

 

Logically, what Prince Ping had done was a grave offense, punishable by exile from the palace. However, strangely, Luo Shen didn’t accuse him and only punished him to work as a supervisor for the repair of the Leng Palace.

 

Furthermore, Gu Xingzhi noticed that since the day Changnian was captured, he hadn’t appeared in the palace again.

 

If Changnian had any ill intentions, why would he miss such an opportunity when Luo Shen was poisoned?

 

Gu Xingzhi was pondering this when he suddenly heard footsteps outside.

 

He got up and walked to the door, seeing a figure standing there.

 

He furrowed his brows. “Changnian?”

 

Luo Shen turned around, half hidden in the shadows, and looked at him. “Lord Gu, may I have a word with you?”

 

Gu Xingzhi stepped out and followed him to a small pond nearby.

 

He asked, “It’s been a while, Changnian. How have you been in the palace?”

 

“I’m fine. I just have a question for you.” Luo Shen said, “That day, I accidentally lost my jade pendant again. I wanted to ask if Lord Gu would accompany me to look for it?”

 

Gu Xingzhi remembered this incident. After he couldn’t find Changnian that day, he left the jade pendant in his room. But after so many days…

 

Seeing Gu Xingzhi hesitate, Luo Shen quickly added, “I’m afraid of being captured like that day, so I’ve been hiding in my room all this time. I only dared to come out after hearing that Prince Qin was captured a couple of days ago…”

 

He spoke cautiously, “If it’s inconvenient for Lord Gu, I can go search on my own. I apologize for the trouble.”

 

Luo Shen turned to leave, but as he passed by Gu Xingzhi, he accidentally stumbled over a stone.

 

Gu Xingzhi quickly helped Luo Shen up after he stumbled and accidentally touched the bandages hidden in his sleeve. He felt a subtle change in expression.

 

Luo Shen tried to ask him, “Did what you said that day work?” 

 

Gu Xingzhi looked into his eyes and compared them to his memories. Gradually, things became clearer in his mind, and he nodded, “It worked.”

 

Luo Shen’s heart skipped a beat, and he continued, “Can you—”

 

But before he could finish, Gu Xingzhi said, “I heartily delight in Your Majesty, but I’m willing to give my life for you.”

 

Luo Shen was stunned.

 

Gu Xingzhi noticed his expression, which wasn’t the reaction of a thwarted plan or enjoying being rejected but pure astonishment with no ulterior motives. He confirmed, “I can provide you with other kinds of help, of course, without harming Your Majesty.”

 

Luo Shen pushed him away in confusion and asked, “What exactly do you like about me?”

 

Gu Xingzhi replied, “He’s foolish.”

 

Luo Shen was furious. He glared at Gu Xingzhi and was about to scold him, but then he remembered his current identity and quickly restrained his temper, saying, “You can’t insult the Emperor like that!”

 

Gu Xingzhi smirked, “I’m just speaking the truth.”

 

Luo Shen was angry. He glared at Gu Xingzhi, but then he realized that if he continued questioning, he wouldn’t receive any flattering compliments, and he might expose his identity due to his temper.

 

Luo Shen bit his lip, pretending to look pitiful. “You said you wanted to marry me earlier, and now that I delight in you, can’t you… like me in return?”

 

Gu Xingzhi was puzzled for a moment. He remembered what he had said that day and explained, “At that time, I thought you were being deceived, and I wanted to rescue you from a dangerous situation and make other plans for you. If you need help, I will do anything for you, but my heart delights in only the Emperor.”

 

Luo Shen blinked and realized that making Gu Xingzhi like Changnian again was impossible. He had to act sad and pitiful, waving his paw and running away, planning to figure things out later.

 

Gu Xingzhi watched Luo Shen’s departing figure, sighed helplessly, and then felt something. He turned around.

 

There, a long sword was pointed directly at him.

 

Changxin’s eyes blazed, and he muttered, “Disappointing Changnian, can’t I just kill him now?”

 

Gu Xingzhi sighed, “…”