Let Me Go, I’m Not Pregnant - Chapter 38

In a hidden passageway, a palace servant weighed the bag of medicinal dregs in his hand and turned back the way he came.

He noticed that the emperor’s bedchamber was very lively tonight. It was precisely because of this commotion that he found an opportunity to obtain this bag of medicinal dregs.

The palace servant walked quickly, hoping to deliver the dregs to his master before they cooled down.

However, just as he rounded a corner, a hand reached out from the darkness and swiftly grabbed him.

The palace servant was pressed against the wall before he could react, and the bag of medicinal dregs that had just been in his hand was now in the other’s possession.

Terrified, he looked at the person in front of him, and in the next second, a piercing gaze stabbed into him. “Whose medicine is this?”

Seeing the other person’s face clearly, the palace servant’s legs went weak. “L-Lord Gu, this medicine, it’s, it’s mine.”

Gu Xingzhi’s cold gaze swept over him. “Is that so? Have you thought about how you’d like to die?”

The palace servant trembled, cold sweat pouring down his face, his legs nearly giving way. “M-my lord… I-I swear I’m not lying!”

Gu Xingzhi had intended to draw his sword, but when he reached for his waist, he remembered the sword was already broken. He dragged the servant to the edge of the courtyard pool and assessed the situation. “Do you want to jump in yourself, or shall I throw you?”

The palace servant was terrified and struggled, but he was no match for Gu Xingzhi’s strength. With a splash, he was thrown into the water.

The nighttime pool water was bone-chillingly cold, and the palace servant, who couldn’t swim, felt the water flooding his face and entering his nose and mouth. The suffocating fear spread, and he frantically called out to Gu Xingzhi for help.

Gu Xingzhi stepped into the water and pulled him out. “Whose medicine is it?”

The palace servant stammered, “It’s the emperor’s.”

Gu Xingzhi asked again, “Who sent you?”

The palace servant trembled, “It was Prince Ping who sent me. I-I was just fetching the medicine! My lord, please spare my life!”

Gu Xingzhi’s eyes were colder than the pool water. “Did he order you to do anything else?”

“N-no, I only handle this. I don’t know anything else!” The palace servant’s voice was hoarse from crying, terrified that Gu Xingzhi might let him fall back into the pool.

Seeing that the servant had nothing more useful to say, Gu Xingzhi was about to discard him when something occurred to him. He looked at the servant and was silent for two seconds.

The palace servant’s hair stood on end. “M-my lord, you’re not thinking of…”

“You’re not involved anymore,” Gu Xingzhi said, tossing the servant aside. He then submerged himself in the pool, swimming to the bottom before climbing out and dragging the servant toward Luo Shen’s bedchamber.

Inside the bedchamber, Chang’an breathed a sigh of relief seeing Luo Shen had finished eating. He stepped forward to clear the dishes, casually remarking, “Lord Gu has some talent in cooking. It seems the emperor enjoyed the pickled radishes.”

Luo Shen glanced down, noticing the empty dish that had held the pickled radishes.

His thoughts wandered briefly before he asked softly, “Did Gu Xingzhi… return?”

Chang’an had anticipated this and replied, “Lord Gu refused to leave, saying he wanted to learn how to serve the emperor. Since you didn’t dismiss him, I found him a room to stay in for now. Should I arrange for him to return to his old quarters?”

Luo Shen hesitated, unsure of how to respond. At that moment, a noise came from outside, and a eunuch reported that Gu Xingzhi had returned.

Chang’an: “…”

He looked at Luo Shen. “Do you wish to see him?”

Luo Shen frowned, and Chang’an quickly said, “I’ll go persuade him to leave.”

Not waiting for Luo Shen’s response, he rushed outside. Just as he was about to tell Gu Xingzhi to leave, he saw him and was shocked. “Lord Gu, how did you end up like this in such a short time?”

Gu Xingzhi threw the palace servant in front of him. “I caught him stealing the emperor’s used medicinal dregs in the passageway. He said Prince Ping ordered it. Chang’an, we need to inform the emperor.”

Chang’an was momentarily stunned before he understood. His scrutinizing gaze swept over the trembling servant on the ground, and he called for two guards to take him away.

“Send him to the punishment hall for interrogation and await the emperor’s decision!” The palace servant was taken away. As for Gu Xingzhi—

Chang’an asked, “Lord Gu, do you understand medicine?”

Gu Xingzhi’s grip tightened on the medicinal dregs. “Chang’an, these drugs… are they for treating the stomach?”

Chang’an was taken aback. “The stomach?” Then he seemed to realize something and sighed in relief. “You’re right, my lord.”

Gu Xingzhi lowered his gaze. “Then these drugs…”

“Give them to me,” Chang’an said, stepping down the stairs to take them. Just as he was about to grab the dregs, Gu Xingzhi suddenly let go, causing Chang’an to fumble to catch them while Gu Xingzhi quickly headed towards the bedchamber.

The door was pushed open, and Luo Shen looked up in confusion, his pale face showing a bit of surprise when he noticed Gu Xingzhi was soaking wet and dripping water. “Gu Xingzhi, what happened to you?”

Seeing him, Gu Xingzhi’s expression softened. He stepped forward, but as soon as he did, the sound of water dripping onto the floor made him stop.

He hesitated, then slowly, very slowly, put his foot back down.

“Your Majesty, I have come to claim a reward.”

Luo Shen: “…”

He looked at Gu Xingzhi. “What merits do you have to claim a reward?”

Gu Xingzhi replied, “I caught the person who stole the emperor’s medicinal dregs.”

Luo Shen: “…”

He asked, “You want to claim a reward for that?”

Gu Xingzhi nodded earnestly. “If I don’t come to claim a reward, how can I see the emperor?”

Luo Shen raised his eyes and furrowed his brows again. “Gu Xingzhi!”

“At your service!” Gu Xingzhi lowered his head, his gaze sweeping over Luo Shen. “Please, Your Majesty, don’t be angry.”

Luo Shen felt stifled and glared at Gu Xingzhi. “If you didn’t come, I wouldn’t be angry. Go back!”

Gu Xingzhi looked up, pitiful and incredulous. “Is Your Majesty really sending me back?”

“What else?” Luo Shen retorted. “Do you really expect me to reward you?”

Gu Xingzhi shook his head and then, seemingly unintentionally, said, “I wouldn’t dare, but there’s no place to bathe in that room.”

Luo Shen frowned.

Gu Xingzhi made exaggerated movements, splashing water everywhere. “Your Majesty, I have no clothes to wear.”

Luo Shen: “…”

“Your Majesty, I also have no blanket to sleep with.”

Luo Shen: “…”

He rubbed his forehead. “Move back to your courtyard to sleep!”

Gu Xingzhi looked up again, still pitiful. “I can’t sleep without seeing Your Majesty.”

Luo Shen: “…”

His breath was unsteady. “Gu Xingzhi, don’t go too far!”

Gu Xingzhi then took a step back. “I can sleep in the outer room.”

Luo Shen was exasperated. He glared at the man at the door, thinking how a grown man could resort to such pathetic tactics. How shameless!

Feeling irritated and confused, Chang’an finally squeezed into the room. “Your Majesty.”

Luo Shen sighed with relief upon seeing Chang’an. “Prepare a better room for Lord Gu, arrange a bath, and provide some clothes. Tomorrow—”

Before he could finish speaking, the man at the door suddenly collapsed.

Both were stunned. Luo Shen instinctively got up to help, but Chang’an quickly stopped him. “Your Majesty, he’s cold. Don’t touch him!”

Luo Shen pressed his brows, seeing the man lying pathetically on the ground. He couldn’t bring himself to be harsh. “Chang’an, tidy up the outer room. Have some palace servants clean him up, change his clothes, and send him there.”

Chang’an glanced at the man on the ground, sighed, escorted Luo Shen back to his room, then walked to the door and said to Gu Xingzhi, “Lord Gu, wake up. The emperor wants you to sleep in the outer room.”

Gu Xingzhi remained motionless. Chang’an sighed, closed the inner room door, and Gu Xingzhi immediately opened his eyes, getting up on his own and heading to the outer room.

Chang’an followed him, whispering, “Didn’t you just say you wouldn’t use a pity ploy?”

Gu Xingzhi replied, “That was the old me.”

Chang’an: “…”

He silently watched the man’s back.

After bathing and changing clothes, Gu Xingzhi saw that Luo Shen was already asleep. To prevent him from disturbing Luo Shen, Chang’an stayed in the room, saying he’d leave once Gu Xingzhi was asleep.

Gu Xingzhi asked him, “How much do you know about Prince Ping’s affairs?”

Chang’an couldn’t say much: “Lord Gu, I’m just a palace servant.”

Gu Xingzhi stared at him, and Chang’an didn’t back down. They stood in silent confrontation until the candle flickered. Chang’an then spoke again, “Lord Gu, please rest well. I will take my leave.”

With that, he immediately withdrew to the door.

Gu Xingzhi’s gaze turned back to the inner room.

In the still of the night, the wind swirled outside. Gu Xingzhi’s breathing suddenly grew heavy.

The inner room door opened easily. He walked in and immediately saw the person lying quietly asleep on the bed.

He approached the bed, and by the moonlight, saw that even in sleep, Luo Shen’s thoughts seemed troubled, his brows tightly knit. Gu Xingzhi instinctively reached out his hand but recalled his fingers were cold from the water, so he held back the impulse and withdrew his hand.

Inside the room, a sword was pointed at him. Gu Xingzhi paid it no mind and simply sat by the bed, watching Luo Shen.

The events of the day had been overwhelming, so much so that he momentarily forgot why he had returned.

He nearly forgot that last night, Luo Shen had hosted a banquet for Prince Ping.

He nearly forgot that Luo Shen had intentionally sent him away to keep him from attending.

Gu Xingzhi sat there until the sky began to lighten. As Luo Shen’s dreams seemed to improve and his brows relaxed, Gu Xingzhi finally got up and left.

Inside, someone had held a sword all night. Seeing Gu Xingzhi leave, they slowly lowered it.

Early in the morning, Luo Shen woke up and saw Chang’xin dozing off at the table.

Not only her but even Chang’an looked like he hadn’t slept.

Luo Shen: “What were you two doing last night?”

Chang’an angrily complained, “It’s all Lord Gu’s fault!”

Chang’xin also pointed and exclaimed, “That Lord Gu, tsk tsk tsk!”

Luo Shen: “…”

He blinked, and the two immediately began to complain. It took him a while to understand them, his brow smoothing out with resignation. “Is he up?”

Chang’an replied, “He went out early, said he was going for a walk.”

Chang’xin’s eyes widened. “Didn’t he stay up all night?”

Luo Shen glanced at her, a flicker of worry in his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it. “Did he say where he was going?”

Chang’an thought back, his expression slowly becoming serious. “Your Majesty, Lord Gu didn’t say, but the direction he went… it seemed to be towards Prince Ping’s residence…”

Luo Shen’s heart skipped a beat.

Elsewhere…

“My lord, Lord Gu requests an audience.”

Changqing was taken aback by the message. The servant sent to fetch the medicine last night hadn’t returned, and the spy placed near Luo Shen had gone silent. He guessed they’d been caught and expected Luo Shen to come this morning.

 But he hadn’t expected Gu Xingzhi to arrive first.

What was he here for?

Could it be that General Gu had told him, and he intended to ally with him before Luo Shen arrived?

Changqing frowned and went out to meet him.

Outside, Gu Xingzhi, dressed in black, stood before a wall, admiring a painting.

The painting was personally crafted by Changqing, depicting a wild tiger plotting its prey, its eyes fixed on a pitiful cat atop a hill. The cat’s fur bristled in fear, its posture vivid and meaningful.

“Lord Gu has come to see me; what brings you here?” Changqing approached, asking knowingly, noting Gu Xingzhi’s interest in his artwork. “My humble work, forgive any shortcomings.”

“Your Highness has great skill in painting,” Gu Xingzhi complimented with a slight tug of his lips, bowing to Changqing. Despite having urgent questions, he acknowledged the prince’s status.

Changqing smiled calmly. “Lord Gu, you were absent from the banquet yesterday. Today, we should have a good chat.”

“Your Highness,” Gu Xingzhi’s expression turned serious, his attitude unmistakable.

Changqing’s smile faded as he directly questioned, “Is Lord Gu here because of last night?”

Gu Xingzhi replied, “Your Highness has entered the palace and should assist the Emperor in state affairs. There’s no need to concern yourself with the Emperor’s private matters.”

He lifted his gaze to meet Changqing’s eyes squarely. “If any mishaps occur with the Emperor, Your Highness cannot escape blame.”

“Are you threatening me?” Changqing raised an eyebrow, staring at Gu Xingzhi. “Lord Gu, perhaps being in the palace for so long has blinded you. You should venture out more.”

Gu Xingzhi furrowed his brow. “May I ask, Your Highness, what do you mean by that?”

Changqing inwardly confirmed that Gu Xingzhi, being young, might be swayed by Luo Shen’s influence. “I know you’re young and energetic, just returned to the capital and not fully informed of all matters. But surely you understand why the Emperor recognized my status?”

He glanced at Gu Xingzhi’s expression, seeing his face gradually turn pale and his lips twitch. “Lord Gu, you are young and promising. How you choose will define your future. I believe Lord Gu knows the score and will make the right choice.”

Though lacking real power, Changqing understood that since Luo Shen chose to abdicate, he wouldn’t reveal his intentions outright.

Therefore, Changqing had to seize the opportunity to align himself with those he could.

With his gaze lowered, he saw Gu Xingzhi clenching his fists, mocking slightly, “Lord Gu, you’re late to meet the Emperor, and I’m very moved. But as we proceed, you need to look forward.”

That useless Emperor, how could he be worse than him?

A waste who could be caught in the palace. If Gu Xingzhi was smarter, he should understand whose side to stand on.

Changqing confidently said, “Lord Gu, if you decide, you can contact me anytime.”

Gu Xingzhi composed himself and coldly replied, “Your Highness, I can respond to you right now.”

Pleased, Changqing said, “Lord Gu is indeed straightforward.”

Gu Xingzhi looked up, staring at him with eyes like sharp swords. “I have only one Emperor in my heart. If anything goes wrong with him, Your Highness, I will hold you responsible!”

Changqing’s face changed suddenly.

Gu Xingzhi left these words behind and turned to leave. His imposing manner was so heavy that the bystanders dared not approach.

Changqing’s face alternated between green and white, gripping his palms tightly. He glared at Gu Xingzhi’s departing figure and shouted, “Guards, seize him!”

But the guards stepped forward only two steps before being deterred by Gu Xingzhi’s gaze.

He forgot that the ones with power were Gu Xingzhi and Luo Shen, not him.

Changqing could only watch helplessly as Gu Xingzhi left, unable to do anything. His chest heaved violently twice, filled with anger. “Enshu, go tell the Emperor that Gu Xingzhi injured me!”

Having said that, he walked to a guard and pulled out his long sword, stabbing himself.

The terrified young eunuch who had been summoned fled in panic, screaming upon seeing Gu Xingzhi.

Luo Shen glanced over, reassured by everything appearing normal, his worried expression easing slightly. Then, he quickly realized something was amiss and his face turned cold. “Since Lord Gu has recovered, perhaps it’s best you return to your residence.”

Gu Xingzhi hurriedly rebutted, “Your Majesty, today I…”

Before he could finish, a sobbing voice came from behind, “Your… Your Majesty, help! Your Majesty!”

Upon hearing this, Luo Shen looked up and saw a trembling figure, asking, “What happened?”

“Your Majesty, please save us! Just now… Lord Gu went to Prince Ping’s palace and injured him!”

The faces of everyone present changed.

Gu Xingzhi frowned, “I did not do such a thing!”

Luo Shen glanced at him, his brow slightly furrowed, then immediately rushed to Changqing’s palace.

Inside the palace was chaos; when Luo Shen entered, he saw debris scattered everywhere, with items cut in half, including the painting.

Seeing him enter, the palace attendants all kneeled.

Changqing lay on the bed, his face pale, showing a pitiful look. “Your Majesty… forgive… forgive my inability to get up… to… to greet you.”

Luo Shen’s eyes flashed sharply. He glanced at Gu Xingzhi, then at Changqing. “What’s going on here?”

Gu Xingzhi looked at Changqing coldly. “I came to see Prince Ping to inquire why last night he sent someone to steal remnants of your medicine. Prince Ping implied that this kingdom is about to change hands and asked me to choose sides. I refused, got angry, and left.”

Changqing immediately weakly rebutted, “Nonsense! I… I never said such things!”

He looked pitifully at Luo Shen. “Your Majesty, please, please adjudicate on my behalf!”

As he spoke, he touched his wound, causing him to wince in pain.

Luo Shen scanned the wound; it was on Changqing’s waist. Judging from Changqing’s ability to argue loudly just moments ago, the wound shouldn’t be deep. He walked over and said, “Changqing, refrain from speaking for now.”

Changqing, seeing Luo Shen’s brow furrow tightly, bit his lip pretending to be weak.

Luo Shen reached out, his slightly cool fingertips pushed aside Changqing’s clothing, slowly revealing the bandaged waist.

Luo Shen asked, “Let me see the wound, alright?”

Changqing nodded, reaching out to remove the bandage himself.

After a moment, the bloody wound came into view.

Luo Shen’s stomach churned, the bloody smell almost making him nauseous. He clenched his fists to suppress it, then looked up, his expression changing gradually.

He asked, “Changqing, do you really think I don’t understand?”

Changqing froze, staring at Luo Shen in terror. “Your… Your Majesty…”

“The wound inflicted by someone else, and the one you inflicted on yourself, I can distinguish between them.” Luo Shen’s eyes turned cold. “Changqing, for plotting against the court’s officials, even though you’re a prince, you can’t escape imprisonment.”

Changqing’s heart sank; this was wrong. He had used this trick before, and back then, Luo Shen clearly didn’t understand.

Why the sudden change—

He looked at Luo Shen in horror. “Your… Your Majesty, brother did not lie!”

But Luo Shen didn’t want to hear him out. He turned and started to leave. In his desperation, Changqing grabbed Luo Shen’s wrist. “Your Majesty! Considering my late father’s face, please, please spare brother!”

Luo Shen angrily shook off his hand, his face growing colder. “Changqing, I have spared you several times!”

Only this time, he didn’t want to spare him!

Seeing this, Gu Xingzhi, regardless of Changqing’s condition, hurried forward to support Luo Shen. Seeing his pale face, Gu Xingzhi’s heart clenched again. He turned and glared at Changqing.

He had promised that if Luo Shen made any mistakes, he would hold Changqing accountable.

Changqing was stunned, his hand still feeling the touch of Luo Shen’s wrist from earlier. A strange suspicion formed in his mind, swirling like a storm. His thoughts raced, and his lips trembled uncontrollably. “I… I acknowledge my mistake. Please, Your Majesty, spare me from imprisonment. I will stay in the palace and faithfully abide by my duties, never… never cause trouble again.”

Luo Shen stared at him for a moment, then closed his eyes briefly. “Imprisonment or exile, you decide.”

Changqing climbed down from the bed and knelt on the ground, his voice shaking. “I… I will strive to reform myself in prison.”

Luo Shen brushed his sleeves and left.

The guards in the room were withdrawn, leaving only Enshu by his side, anxiously saying, “Your Highness, they… they are outside now. What should we do, Your Highness, ugh…”

Changqing looked up, staring in the direction Luo Shen had left. Even though the person had already left, it seemed as if he could still see someone standing there.

After a while, he smirked to himself. “I knew it. How could Gu Xingzhi be so loyal to His Majesty… originally…”

What His Majesty really thought about him.

He remembered chatting with Luo Shen when they were young, discussing the differences between boys and girls. Naive Luo Shen had once curiously asked him why he was different from others, wondering if he was a girl.

Although he didn’t understand the meaning of those words back then, today he understood.

He also had to thank the late emperor for sending him on travels to avoid staying in the capital and forcing him to learn some medical skills along the way.

He stood up, slowly rewrapping the bandage, then instructed Enshu, “You should be kept separate from me. If the former Prime Minister’s people come to you, just tell them that I have learned a major secret about the emperor and they should lend me their support.”

Enshu looked puzzled. “Do we really have to cooperate with them? What if His Majesty finds out?”

Changqing chuckled cynically. “Silly Enshu, if we don’t cooperate, do you think the current emperor will willingly hand over the throne to me?”

He had long changed his mind.

He kept Changqing around just to let him take the brunt.

“As for this throne… it’s better to seize it myself.”

Changqing smiled as he walked out of the palace, seeing soldiers prepared to escort him. He switched to a grateful and obedient look, leaving with the crowd.

Enshu followed cautiously behind, looking at him with concern. Passing a certain spot, he noticed Luo Shen and Gu Xingzhi in the garden. His eyes briefly flashed with sharpness before returning to his usual clueless demeanor.

The conversation between Luo Shen and Gu Xingzhi paused briefly.

Luo Shen sighed as he watched the departure, realizing that Changqing’s personality had become corrupted since his travels, no longer as pure as before. If this throne were given to him, who knew what troubles he might cause.

Initially, Luo Shen had intended to let him take the throne and focus on having children, living a peaceful life. But now, it seemed that Changqing was beyond redemption. If he didn’t correct himself this time, Luo Shen would have to find someone else.

As for Gu Xingzhi…

He rubbed his forehead. “Do you understand what you did wrong today?”

Gu Xingzhi lowered his head in apology. “I know I was wrong. I shouldn’t have rashly gone to see Prince Ping, giving him the opportunity to harm me.”

If someone else had been in his place, unable to tell that the wound was self-inflicted, most likely the blame would have fallen on Gu Xingzhi.

Furthermore, even if Luo Shen had discerned the truth, there were reasons to bring charges against Gu Xingzhi.

First, Changqing was appointed as Prince Ping by the late emperor, a successor.

Second, Gu Xingzhi held military power, which could be used to remove him from office.

If Luo Shen and Gu Xingzhi hadn’t bonded, Changqing’s move would have been to help Luo Shen and hand him a knife, so why not use it?

It was only because Luo Shen was willing to stand by Gu Xingzhi that he cut off Changqing’s path.

He wanted to scold him, but then he remembered why Gu Xingzhi had gone, and his heart softened.

“This kind of thing, I only allow it to happen once.” Luo Shen’s throat rolled.

He gave up Changqing, and only then did he find Gu Xingzhi.

After all, this child also had a share, and he couldn’t be uninformed.

“Gu Xingzhi, there’s something I need to tell you.”

Gu Xingzhi heard the sound and immediately stood up straight, looking at the person seriously, and then his eyes softened, like an abandoned big dog that had finally been picked up by its owner, with a cautious and hopeful look, the expression was a moment of shock for Luo Shen.

After a moment, he continued, “I have something of yours…”

Before the words could be finished, a figure ran over and bowed to him. “Your Majesty, I have something to report!”

He looked up, and the familiar face flashed past. Seeing that the atmosphere between the two was not quite right, his face twitched, and his voice was weak, “I, Qin Cheng… have urgent news to report.Q