Let Me Go, I’m Not Pregnant - Chapter 55
After accompanying Madam Gu to the market and returning home, General Gu and Chang Xin also gathered.
When General Gu saw Luo Shen in those clothes, his lips twitched, “Your Majesty… Go and change your clothes first.”
Luo Shen was indifferent; once you get used to something, it no longer bothers you. He didn’t mind wearing women’s clothing anymore, especially since his mind was still preoccupied with the favor he had just received.
To be honest, this was the first time in his life that he had encountered someone with a body similar to his own.
As he walked back to his room, his expression seemed somewhat desolate, which caused General Gu’s heart to clench. Unable to resist, he asked Madam Gu, “Why did you suddenly decide to take His Majesty out and even dress him like that?”
Madam Gu replied, “I was just too angry. I worked so hard to prepare breakfast for His Majesty, only for some irrelevant person to eat it instead. I was furious!”
“But you didn’t have to dress him in women’s clothing!” General Gu was a bit exasperated. It was one thing for Gu Xingzhi to trick Luo Shen, but why was Madam Gu doing it too?
Madam Gu gave an awkward laugh, “It’s just a habit. When Xingzhi was little and made mistakes, I used to make him dress like this.”
General Gu: “…”
Well… that explains a lot.
General Gu had nothing more to say and could only repeatedly remind her that she absolutely must not do this again.
Madam Gu was nodding in agreement when the door opened again. Luo Shen hadn’t changed out of those clothes; instead, he was holding a freshly written letter, which he solemnly handed to Chang Xin.
“Chang Xin, deliver this letter to the Shadow Guards and have them pass it on to Xingzhi.”
Chang Xin took the letter, the ink still wet and emitting a faint fragrance. She bowed her head in acknowledgment and turned to leave.
Luo Shen then looked up at General Gu, “I have something to say.”
…
Ten days later, the group arrived at Shahe Town.
Luo Shen chose Shahe Town as his second destination because it was where his mother had lived.
Years ago, the late emperor fell in love with his mother at first sight during a visit here and remained devoted to her for life.
However, even though the late emperor found his true love here, Shahe Town did not receive the special treatment that many had anticipated.
For some unknown reason, the number of Ge’er children born here was much higher than in other places.
As a result, Shahe Town was heavily oppressed by other towns. Even though it was close to the capital, its resources, manpower, and development lagged far behind other towns.
After several days of travel in the carriage, Luo Shen finally arrived at the town. Madam Gu stopped the carriage at an inn and lifted the curtain, saying, “Young Master Luo, we’ve arrived.”
Luo Shen blinked in confusion. Shahe Town was quite far from Luo Town, and they had slowed down to accommodate Luo Shen’s pregnancy. Plus, with all the eating, resting, and other activities along the way, the journey had taken over ten days.
Luo Shen’s face was pale, with dark circles under his eyes. He felt unwell, looked outside, and then extended his hand.
Madam Gu quickly supported him as he got out of the carriage.
“Young Master Luo.” Seeing this, Liu Kuang instinctively stepped forward and supported Luo Shen with his arm.
When Luo Shen’s feet touched the dusty ground, he felt as if he had finally descended from the clouds, and he let out a deep breath.
“The rooms are ready. Young Master, please go up and rest.” General Gu happened to come out from inside, handed the room key to Madam Gu, and then gave Liu Kuang a look.
Only then did Liu Kuang reluctantly let go of Luo Shen and follow General Gu.
“General Gu, General Gu, slow down,” Liu Kuang called out, unable to keep up with General Gu’s pace.
General Gu had to slow down, though he sounded a bit impatient, “Young Master Liu, don’t dawdle.”
Liu Kuang braced himself against the wall and took a few deep breaths before saying, “But rushing like this… it’s not as if he’s going to get lost.”
“When His Majesty gives an order, it must be carried out as quickly as possible,” General Gu said, clearly exasperated with Liu Kuang. First, because his feelings for Luo Shen were so obvious that even Chang Xin knew he liked Luo Shen. And second, because Liu Kuang was so physically weak that he was more of a hindrance than a help. If it weren’t for the fact that Luo Shen needed someone to help him with the pretense, General Gu would never have allowed Liu Kuang to accompany them.
Fortunately, Chang Xin had gone to fetch the human-skin mask they had prepared, so they could soon replace him.
Liu Kuang nodded, “But, but… what are we here to do?”
He still had no idea!
General Gu could only ask him, “Do you know what Shahe Town is?”
“Of course, this is where the late emperor’s most beloved concubine lived,” Liu Kuang said, knowing at least a little about it. For instance, Prime Minister Liu intended to use this place to present Liu E to Luo Shen.
“Yes, but why hasn’t this place improved over the years?”
Liu Kuang looked around, “Why?”
“Because the people here live in inequality,” General Gu explained. “Not in terms of wealth or status, but in their very bodies.”
Seeing Liu Kuang’s confused expression, General Gu realized he was completely clueless, “Most of the children born here are Ge’ers.”
Liu Kuang was shocked, “They’re ge’er?”
“His Majesty is compassionate and wants to improve their living conditions, so he sent us here.”
Liu Kuang asked, “So what do I need to do?”
General Gu smiled slightly and then pulled out a package from behind him, tossing it to Liu Kuang, “Here you go.”
Liu Kuang: “…”
He looked down at the soft, fleshy object on the ground, his pupils trembling in shock, “N-no way… Why, why don’t you do it yourself, General Gu?”
General Gu blew at his mustache, “I’d like to, but I’m a man in my fifties. If I got pregnant, would anyone believe it?”
Not to mention, I have such an imposing presence!
Liu Kuang: “…But I…”
“You have a certain charm,” General Gu said.
Liu Kuang: “…”
General Gu added, “His Majesty likes people who help him.”
Like my son.
Liu Kuang’s eyes lit up, “Then… I’ll do it reluctantly…”
General Gu countered, “Can you even afford to be reluctant?”
Liu Kuang: “…”
He took a deep breath, picked up the object on the ground, and then General Gu led him to an outhouse. General Gu watched as he strapped the fake belly around his waist and then slowly lowered his clothes over it.
With everything covered, he looked just like a real pregnant man.
At first, Liu Kuang didn’t feel much, but after taking just two steps, he started to struggle. “It’s… so heavy.”
“Heavy?” General Gu replied, “Good, it should be heavy.” The fake belly was designed to replicate Luo Shen’s experience and Madam Gu’s pregnancy—it’s as authentic as it gets.
Absolutely identical to a real pregnancy!
General Gu glanced at Liu Kuang’s pregnant belly and said, “From now on, you’re a pregnant man.”
Liu Kuang: “…”
He had played the role of a ge’er (a man who can bear children) before, but he never imagined that one day he would be “pregnant” himself.
And not only that—he’d be walking around with a pregnant belly, upholding justice?
Liu Kuang snapped back to reality and realized his foot had landed on a man’s stomach. He froze for a moment, then looked up at General Gu.
General Gu calmly walked over, stowing away the stick he had just used to knock out the man on the ground. He then cupped his hands in a gesture of gratitude and said pitifully, “Thank you, young master, for your help. If not for you, I would have lost my money pouch.”
Liu Kuang was stunned, and when he looked up again, he saw that General Gu had somehow changed into coarse clothing, stuck on a fake mustache, and sprinkled white powder in his hair, making him look much older. His voice, which he had deliberately made hoarse, completed the disguise. If Liu Kuang didn’t know who was under the costume, he would have thought General Gu was just a feeble old man.
“…”
Liu Kuang’s throat tickled; he wanted to laugh, but General Gu’s “Do you want to die?” glare forced him to hold it back. He had to pinch his palm to avoid laughing out loud.
“Young master?” General Gu called out pointedly.
Liu Kuang came back to his senses and responded in a deep, muffled voice, “Uh, you’re… welcome.”
He kicked the man on the ground aside, but accidentally lost his balance and started to fall backward.
General Gu’s eyes widened, and he instinctively reached out to catch him, but then remembered that he was supposed to be an old man. If he managed to catch Liu Kuang, it would be suspicious.
Plus, with so many people watching them, he couldn’t blow his cover.
He silently withdrew his hand and clumsily ran forward to catch him.
Luckily, the next second, Liu Kuang was caught by another man.
The man helped Liu Kuang to his feet and asked gently, “Young master, are you alright?”
Liu Kuang leaned against the man to stand up, feeling a bit dejected. “It’s… nothing… I just twisted my ankle.”
In all his life, he’d never suffered like this before.
General Gu exclaimed, “Benefactor, are you alright? How could you be so careless?”
Hearing this, the man raised an eyebrow, “He’s your benefactor?”
Finally, someone had taken the bait. General Gu eagerly explained, “Yes, yes! I was being robbed, and thanks to this young master, I got my money pouch back. Look, the culprit is still lying on the ground over there.”
The man on the ground was groaning, still unable to get up.
The man’s eyes showed some respect, but the next moment, his gaze shifted to Liu Kuang’s rounded belly. “Young master… you’re pregnant, yet you still managed to do such a noble deed. I’m truly impressed.”
Liu Kuang’s lips twitched. He shot General Gu a furtive glance, then reluctantly replied, “No… it was nothing… just a small effort.”
“If your ankle is twisted, why don’t I escort you back?” the man offered.
Liu Kuang hesitated and was about to refuse, but General Gu quickly said, “Thank you so much. I can’t escort my benefactor myself, and I just heard he’s staying at an inn in a nearby town.”
The man nodded in understanding. “There aren’t many inns in town. I assume the young master is staying at the Xi Lai Inn?”
Liu Kuang had an expression of wanting to die: “Yes.”
“Forgive me, young master,” the man said, and before Liu Kuang could react, he felt himself being lifted off the ground. The man had hooked his arm under Liu Kuang’s legs and secured his arm around Liu Kuang’s back, lifting him effortlessly.
Liu Kuang was shocked. “What… what are you doing?”
The man replied, “Please don’t misunderstand, young master. My own ge’er is also pregnant, and I know how hard it can be. Walking all the way back will only make your ankle swell up. This is the best solution.”
Liu Kuang was internally collapsing. He turned his head to glare at General Gu, but the person who should have been there had already vanished.
The man on the ground had also disappeared.
A gust of wind swirled past.
On the street, countless cautious and curious eyes were watching him.
Liu Kuang: “…”
He quietly buried his head in the man’s chest and muttered, “Thank… thank you.”
*”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.*
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