Let Me Go, I’m Not Pregnant - Chapter 54

The angry Madame Gu is even more terrifying than Gu Xingzhi.

 

Luo Shen dared not speak, allowing Madame Gu to lead him back to the room and pick out a set of women’s clothing for him.

 

As the gauzy skirt fell, Luo Shen was momentarily transported back to that night, his mind flashing with Gu Xingzhi’s face, causing his heart to beat faster.

 

Madame Gu said, “Your Majesty need not worry. This humble servant will ensure you do not encounter any danger.”

 

“And from now on, this humble servant will be in charge of Your Majesty’s meals.”

 

Absolutely no more stealing snacks!

 

Luo Shen pouted, displeased but not too unhappy.

 

He understood Madame Gu’s intention to ensure he ate well during his pregnancy, but he didn’t want to be restricted to the palace diet now that he was out.

 

But Madame Gu was truly frightening.

 

Luo Shen retracted his neck, thinking that when she got angry, even he dared not speak.

 

However…

 

He felt a subtle joy in his heart.

 

Aside from Gu Xingzhi, no one had ever spoken so loudly to him. Since he lost his mother at a young age and the only empress was scheming against him, this was his first experience with a “mother” figure. Thus, he was quite indulgent with Madame Gu’s reprimands.

 

The usually carefree emperor now shed his status and power, coming down to the mortal realm, like every child scolded by their mother, obediently picking up the clothes from the bed.

 

He ran his fingers through the gauzy skirt and blinked: “Um… I can dress myself.”

 

“Can Your Majesty dress?” Women’s clothing was more complicated than men’s, and Madame Gu was worried he might not know how. But Luo Shen shook his head.

 

“I can. Gu Xingzhi taught me how to dress last time.”

 

Madame Gu: “…”

 

She took a deep breath.

 

That rascal even taught His Majesty how to dress as a woman!

 

No wonder His Majesty didn’t like to interact with him before.

 

Madame Gu’s anger eased slightly as she spoke gently, “Then Your Majesty can dress slowly. If you don’t understand anything, call for me… I’ll teach him a lesson when we return!”

 

But she had completely forgotten she had also dressed Luo Shen as a woman.

 

Luo Shen laughed and nodded. After Madame Gu left, he slowly undressed, revealing his pale shoulders.

 

He was naturally fair-skinned, his skin as tender as tofu. If not for his skeleton still being different from an ordinary woman’s, his delicate face could easily deceive anyone.

 

After dressing in women’s clothing and putting on a loose cloak, his slightly bulging stomach was hidden, and it was hard to tell he was not a woman from the outside.

 

When he was ready, Madame Gu entered with rouge and powder. After applying some makeup, Luo Shen looked even more feminine, and it was hard to distinguish his gender.

 

Madame Gu stopped her actions and glanced at Luo Shen, sighing softly.

 

Luo Shen asked, “Why are you sighing, Madame?”

 

“I’m sighing about Xingzhi.”

 

Luo Shen: “?”

 

Sighing because he is not here?

 

Madame Gu continued, “In the previous life, he must have done some good deeds secretly.”

 

Otherwise, how could she have such a son with such exquisite skills,

 

How could he have married an emperor who is both delicate and well-behaved,

 

How could he…

 

Never mind, it’s just accumulated virtue!

 

Luo Shen chuckled and agreed, “He must have accumulated virtue.”

 

Seeing him happy, Madame Gu’s expression softened a bit. “Indeed, His Majesty only smiles when hearing about Xingzhi.”

 

Lately, he wasn’t without smiles, but they all seemed forced.

 

Looking at someone who seemed clueless but was secretly calculating, Madame Gu sometimes wondered when this seemingly carefree person began to ponder such matters.

 

Luo Shen was pretending to be clueless, and everyone could only play along while he baited people out.

 

Madame Gu often heard from General Gu that Luo Shen didn’t want to be emperor.

 

No wonder, being bound by so many things, calculating this and that every day, who would want that?

 

He had lived in the palace all his life and might have willingly given up the throne if not for Gu Xingzhi’s intrusion, ending up dying cluelessly in the palace.

 

So Madame Gu sometimes felt relieved, relieved that the late emperor had designed such a plot.

 

And she was also grateful that Gu Xingzhi really brought him some joy.

 

Madame Gu said, “Wherever Your Majesty is, that’s where we are.”

 

—

 

On the bustling street, despite Luo Shen’s mental preparation, he couldn’t help but feel nervous.

 

He wasn’t worried about being recognized as the emperor—after all, who would guess that the ruler would obediently wear women’s clothing and makeup?

 

His nervousness was entirely due to the many eyes fixed on him.

 

Whether old or young, everyone’s gaze seemed to be glued to him.

 

Luo Shen discreetly tugged on Madame Gu’s sleeve and asked quietly, “Is my makeup smudged?”

 

Madame Gu, seeing his expression, couldn’t help but laugh softly, “No.”

 

“Then do I look strange?”

 

Madame Gu shook her head again, “No.”

 

“Then…”

 

“It’s because you’re good-looking,” Madame Gu explained. “Before Young Master Luo arrived, the best-looking person here was Young Master Liu.”

 

Luo Shen sighed with relief, knowing it wasn’t his problem.

 

Then he looked up and saw a woman running over excitedly, calling out to Madame Gu, “Madame, wait!”

 

Madame Gu stopped, recognizing her as a woman who had been very attentive recently. She was cheerful and enthusiastic, and seeing Madame Gu’s unfamiliarity, she had volunteered to shop with her.

 

“Madame, what is it?”

 

“Why are you so late today?” The old lady stopped in front of them, grumbling at Madame Gu, and then looked at Luo Shen. “Is this your daugher-in-law or your daughter?”

 

Luo Shen: “…”

 

Madame Gu pulled at her lips and asked, “Why the sudden question? So this young man is your—”

 

“He’s my husband’s cousin. He came here to find a marriage partner, but the person he was supposed to marry changed their mind and even despised his condition, so he had to stay with us temporarily. I thought I’d take him out for a stroll; maybe he can find a good match.”

 

Madame Gu was somewhat surprised and scrutinized him, saying, “This young man looks quite refined. Why was he despised?”

 

Luo Shen looked over. The young man appeared somewhat thin and timid. When Luo Shen stared at him, he hurriedly looked away, nervously twisting the edge of his garment.

 

He had an uneasy suspicion.

 

A moment later, the old lady leaned close to Madame Gu’s ear and whispered, “He’s actually a Ge’er.”

 

Madame Gu’s expression didn’t change. “Was this not known during the initial talks?”

 

“The family knew all along. At that time, my family had a decent background, with some money from our ancestors. Fearing he would suffer in the future, we arranged this marriage. The other family, wanting to climb up socially, naturally agreed. Who would have thought that soon after, their family fell into decline, leaving things as they are now.”

 

The old lady said indignantly, “They’re a bunch of opportunistic scoundrels!”

 

Madame Gu nodded and then turned her gaze to the young man.

 

“His name is En Cheng. He has a younger brother who was a servant in the palace. However, he seems to have committed a crime recently and stopped sending money home. Now, with their family poor, they threw him out and pressured him to marry quickly. It’s truly pitiful.”

 

En Cheng had remained silent and showed little emotion, clearly having anticipated this outcome.

 

Upon hearing the term “Ge’er,” Luo Shen felt a sense of sympathy for En Cheng.

 

But the next statement made him feel a bit cautious.

 

“That servant in the palace…”

 

Seeing him speak, the old lady quickly replied, “Curious, little lady? That boy is still young and unmarried, named En Shu. He was found in the countryside by a noble and has been serving that noble ever since, until he entered the palace.”

 

Luo Shen thought to himself, as expected.

 

“Old lady, you can look for someone else.” Madame Gu furrowed her brow slightly. Although she didn’t know the boy, she was familiar with those around Luo Shen. Excluding Luo Shen, only Chang Qing was left.

 

Following someone like Chang Qing, even if nothing happened, there would still be the issue of avoiding suspicion.

 

She was about to pull Luo Shen away when the old lady grabbed her sleeve again. “Don’t be in such a hurry. Look at your family, you use such smooth fabric.”

 

The old lady, whose hand was brushed off, reluctantly touched her fingers. “En Cheng can be used in many ways and is quite good-looking. Since you and I have a decent relationship, I let you choose first. If you’re unwilling, there are others waiting to pick him!”

 

Madame Gu understood and realized the old lady was trying to force a sale.

 

She shook her head. “We don’t need anyone else.”

 

The old lady’s face changed slightly, and she sighed. “Fine, if you don’t need him, poor En Cheng. Nowhere seems to want him, except Mr. Zheng’s family, who said they would take him.”

 

En Cheng became alarmed. “Mr. Zheng? Zheng Chao?”

 

“Yes, that Zheng Chao who has relations with both men and women.”

 

Luo Shen, who was about to leave, stopped again upon hearing this name.

 

Zheng Chao? Luo Shen remembered that Zheng Chao had married Qin Tianke. Later, when the Qin family fell and Qin Huang was captured, he hadn’t paid much attention to Qin Tianke’s whereabouts.

 

Just as he was curious, the old lady blurted out, “The wife Zheng Chao married was very fierce, hitting any woman who came by, and hitting any couple who came by as well. Zheng Chao, tired of her disturbances, started playing with men.”

 

The old lady looked at En Cheng with pity. “If En Cheng were to go there, who knows what that woman would do to him.”

 

Luo Shen was confused. “Does he really have to marry?”

 

Can’t he live his own life?

 

The old lady looked at him and sighed. “Little lady, you don’t understand. If he were a normal person, of course he could choose not to marry. He could pursue the imperial examinations to become an official or open a small shop. But he is a Ge’er. Have you ever seen a Ge’er not dependent on others for survival?”

 

Even if he wanted to live his own life, once discovered, his condition would become a topic of discussion, attracting those who would either mock him or covet him.

 

This world has little sympathy for people like him.

 

The old lady clicked her tongue. “Even if he became an emperor, he’d likely be a puppet emperor, manipulated daily by the power holders. What’s there to hope for?”

 

Luo Shen’s face turned pale.

 

He stared at the old lady, startling her. She quickly pulled En Cheng back two steps. “I didn’t say anything about you. Why are you glaring at me?”

 

Madame Gu spoke sharply, “Is this the kind of talk you can just spout? Who gave you the courage to privately discuss the emperor? Aren’t you afraid of being reported to the authorities and punished?”

 

The old lady pouted. “The emperor isn’t here. What’s the harm in talking privately? Are you really going to report me? The emperor isn’t a god; why get so worked up?”

 

Madame Gu: “…”

 

Luo Shen was somewhat angry, but he couldn’t reveal his identity at the moment. Even if he did, he would likely be accused of using his power to suppress others, which would be akin to dealing with a commoner.

 

He frowned and said, “You insist on saying things that should not be said. It seems to me you are either trying to find him a good match or just using his condition for gossip.”

 

The old lady’s face turned pale. She glanced at En Cheng and saw him looking at her with suspicion. Angrily, she said, “How can you accuse me like this? A young girl with such malicious thoughts! En Cheng, let’s go! We won’t talk to them anymore!”

 

Once the two had left, Madame Gu withdrew her gaze and turned to see Luo Shen had summoned Chang Xin. “Have someone investigate their background to see if they have had any contact with En Shu.”

 

Chang Xin immediately took the order. “Yes.”

 

*”Ge’er” refers to a character who can bear children or, more generally, a person who adopts a female disguise, often for specific purposes such as deception or to blend into certain social situations. It is a traditional concept in some Chinese historical fiction and drama, where male characters might dress and act as women for various reasons.*