Let Me Go, I’m Not Pregnant - Chapter 56

The man left Liu Kuang at the Xilai Inn and then took his leave.

 

Liu Kuang had to hobble to a table by himself, pull out a chair, and sit down.

 

As soon as he sat down, he felt several pairs of eyes on him.

 

Liu Kuang, sweating on his forehead, scanned around and asked, “W-what’s going on?”

 

One of the men slammed the table and shouted at the waiter, “Waiter! How can there be a pregnant man here?!”

 

The waiter was startled and hurried over. “W-well, sir, he’s also a guest!”

 

“Hmph, a normal person is a guest. We don’t want to eat with a filthy sow who lies beneath others!” The man shot a scornful glance at Liu Kuang and added, “Are you still doing business with decent people?”

 

“B-but…” The waiter looked awkwardly at Liu Kuang. The county magistrate had emphasized that even if a person was a ‘Ge’er’, they should be treated with equal respect. However, because of the presence of ‘Ge’ers’, Shahe Town had long suffered from discrimination. In Shahe Town, normal people’s resentment towards ‘Ge’ers’ was even more intense.

 

In the inns of the town, most did not accept ‘Ge’ers’, so only the owner of the Xilai Inn was willing to take them in. But now…

 

The waiter apologetically smiled at Liu Kuang. “Um… sir, you…”

 

“Ha, ‘sir’?” The man was unforgiving, using his burly physique to intimidate the waiter, making it hard for him to breathe. Liu Kuang originally didn’t want to get involved, but now that people were looking at him sympathetically, it was as if they were saying,

 

“You’ve already made the waiter so distressed, and you’re still drinking tea?”

 

Liu Kuang: “…”

 

He cleared his throat and said, “This gentleman.”

 

The man paused and glanced at Liu Kuang. “What do you want to say?”

 

“Why do you have such hostility towards us?”

 

The man snorted disdainfully and said, “Don’t you know? You’re just a sow. Get out of Shahe Town with your illegitimate offspring!”

 

“Sow? Who are you referring to?”

 

The man, infuriated, said, “Of course I’m talking about you. Can’t you hear?”

 

“I’m a man, and so are you. If I’m a sow, then so are you?” Liu Kuang had been in business for years and wasn’t afraid of this small fry.

 

Liu Kuang looked up, smug and assertive.

 

The man was furious and cursed, “Don’t compare me with you! How can I be like you? Look at yourself!”

 

Hearing this, Liu Kuang picked up his teacup and said languidly, “Who knows if you are or not? Just because you say you’re not doesn’t make it true. Among so many people here, if you’re the only one jumping, doesn’t that mean you’re more self-conscious and are trying harder to distance yourself because you’re hiding the fact that you’re also *a sow*?”

 

The man’s face turned pale and then flushed red. He was so angry that he crushed a whole teacup.

 

With so many people around, he naturally couldn’t undress and show everyone. Being so vain, he wasn’t going to do such a thing.

 

His face reddened with anger as he stepped forward and grabbed Liu Kuang by the collar. At that moment, he noticed all eyes were on him.

 

It was clear that Liu Kuang’s words had affected them.

 

Liu Kuang, unhurried, continued, “Furthermore, you’re so noble and different from others, and yet you bully a weak man like me? I went to save someone with my pregnant belly, and what about you?”

 

He tilted his head back, his eyes sparkling as if expecting the man to say something good.

 

But the man’s ears turned red, and his voice weakened. “I-I…”

 

“Oh, you didn’t do anything, right?” Liu Kuang didn’t wait for a response. “You consider those you deem inferior to be living hard lives, while you oppress them. How are you nobler than them? Is it your knowledge, wealth, or power?”

 

The crowd shifted their gaze, and Liu Kuang scoffed, “A bunch of chickens pecking at each other.”

 

Then he shook off the man’s hand, lightly dusted off his clothes, and asked the waiter, “If I insist on staying here, will it be a problem?”

 

The waiter was hesitating when another man walked in from outside, speaking loudly, “Young master, please feel free to stay.”

 

Liu Kuang looked up to see that the newcomer was the one who had carried him in earlier.

 

At that moment, the man was supporting a pregnant man as he entered.

 

The man had a somewhat sharp appearance, but his sharpness softened due to the pregnancy.

 

Nevertheless, his voice remained cold. “I thought who would dare act wild on my territory.”

 

His icy gaze swept over everyone, then fixed on the man beside Liu Kuang. “Zhao Wusan, if you cause any more trouble, don’t come back.”

 

Zhao Wusan’s lips twitched, and he cursed under his breath, “Do you think I want to come?”

 

“Then it’s just as well.” The young master chuckled lightly and said, “Chen Sheng, throw him out.”

 

The man next to him stepped forward, easily restraining the resisting Zhao Wusan and tossing him out the door. “From now on, Xilai Inn does not welcome you.”

 

Zhao Wusan: “…”

 

He stormed off angrily.

 

Chen Sheng, seeing that Zhao Wusan was gone, turned back to support the young master. The young master walked over to Liu Kuang, glanced at his prominent belly, and smiled. “I’m Liu Ping. If you are alone, do you have any family with you?”

 

Liu Kuang instinctively tried to hide his belly and then said, “I’m Liu… Liu Kuang. My friend is already upstairs.”

 

“At my Xilai Inn, you are free to do as you please.” Liu Ping could see that the belly was fake, but since the purpose of coming here was to change the situation, he let it be.

 

“If you encounter more people like Zhao Wusan who cause trouble, feel free to tell Chen Sheng to handle it.”

 

Liu Kuang didn’t quite understand but still nodded in thanks.

 

He looked at Liu Ping’s pregnant belly with curiosity.

 

Although he had heard from General Gu on the road that many people here were ‘Ge’ers’ who could become pregnant, he had never seen or heard of it before.

 

Seeing it for the first time, he was quite intrigued. “To be honest, I came from outside, and it seems I’ve never heard of the people of Shahe Town…”

 

Liu Ping smiled knowingly. “That’s right. In our town, ‘Ge’ers’ are the lowest people, mere playthings. Naturally, they cannot be publicly acknowledged. Privately, they are often bought and sold for those purposes. You, of course, wouldn’t know.”

 

Chen Sheng discreetly pinched Liu Ping’s fingertips and then said, “If you want to change the situation, it cannot be done merely by acting heroically.”

 

They all knew that to truly change the status quo, it required cooperation from below as well as drastic measures from above.

 

In the following days, Liu Kuang continued to appear in public with General Gu.

 

Shahe Town’s discrimination against men with unusual bodies was very direct. Every household had to clearly register births and check for abnormalities. Although this list was directly submitted to the county magistrate and not shown to them, how could neighbors not know what kind of children were born?

 

Rich families could afford to keep such children, but poor families often sent them to brothels or, after raising them, used them as gifts to wealthy families as entertainment. Few were treated as normal people, taught to read and write, and raised to adulthood.

 

After some investigation, General Gu realized that there were not many indigenous residents of Shahe Town. Most of the people in this situation were formerly displaced populations, rumored to have settled here from foreign lands, but due to scant records, the specific situation was unknown.

 

Because of their unique condition, they reproduced quickly. Initially, the native residents got along well with them, but since the arrival of the previous emperor, Shahe Town gained fame. Other places learned about their situation and developed disdain. The people of Shahe Town faced obstacles everywhere and took out their frustration on them.

 

General Gu reported this to Luo Shen.

 

At this moment, Luo Shen was reading a letter from General Gu.

 

The letter mentioned that Chang Qing had returned to the capital with Liu Chao. He had temporarily detained him, but Liu Chao had strongly defended Chang Qing, saying that he would decide upon his return.

 

Also, General Gu had pried information from Luo Ming about former officials of the previous prime minister.

 

[The net is now cast. Please return quickly.]

 

Luo Shen looked at the black ink and, as his thoughts stirred, felt the suppressed longing inside him surface.

 

Fortunately, just as his thoughts were about to overflow, he heard General Gu calling him.

 

“Your Majesty, what should we do?”

 

Luo Shen came to his senses, glanced at the letter again, pressed his lips together, and said, “I’ve already sent Chang Xin to deliver a letter to the county magistrate here. We have obtained a list of all officials involved in the indecent activities. After we leave, they will be investigated and prosecuted for human trafficking. Additionally, several letters have been prepared. General Gu, I hope you can deliver these letters to the local officials at each place.”

 

General Gu took the stack of letters, paused, and said, “This task will take four or five years to completely eradicate. Your Majesty, are you truly committed to this?”

 

Luo Shen nodded seriously, “I am the luckiest among them, yet also the one who avoids the most. If I weren’t the emperor, I might have been imprisoned somewhere by now…”

 

He pulled at his lips, thinking of the tragic conditions he had seen secretly. His face paled slightly.

 

“Your Majesty,” General Gu said with concern, “the mask has been prepared. It would be best for you to return to the palace as soon as possible.”

 

Luo Shen nodded, “Once I return to the palace… I will initiate new legislation.”

 

His eyes were now filled with more than before. The Luo Shen from earlier had been pure, with only concerns about his future. But now his eyes held the lives of the common people, not just those around him, but ordinary citizens.

 

General Gu felt reassured, stood up, and helped him, “The carriage is ready, and everything has been loaded. My wife is already waiting for you.”

 

Chang Xin was still on her way to Luo Town and might not return in time, so before leaving, Luo Shen had arranged for her to meet them in Luo Town.

 

Luo Shen nodded. Before getting into the carriage, he casually asked, “What is the relationship between Chang Xin and General Gu?”

 

General Gu was taken aback and looked at Luo Shen.

 

Luo Shen smiled slightly, “I heard that General Gu’s wife had a daughter many years ago?”

 

General Gu sighed and briefly explained.

 

Luo Shen understood after hearing this and reflecting on the care the two had shown Chang Xin along the way. He assured General Gu, “Once this matter is resolved and I return to the palace, I will help you reunite.”

 

With this assurance, General Gu felt a heavy burden lift from his heart. He cupped his hands in gratitude, “Thank you, Your Majesty!”

 

Luo Shen smiled and nodded, then climbed into the carriage. Madame Gu, who had been tired from the previous day, was now resting on the table. Luo Shen, concerned, helped her onto the couch and carefully covered her with a blanket.

 

As the carriage moved, shaking slightly, Luo Shen sat by the window, pulling back the curtain to look at the scenery, watching the lush green trees pass by from the town to the countryside.

 

Just as Luo Shen was about to lower the curtain, the person who was supposed to be resting behind him suddenly sat up, grabbing the long sword from the table.

 

“Your Majesty, step back!”

 

As the words were spoken, an arrow suddenly shot toward Luo Shen.

 

*“Sow”* is used metaphorically. The term “公豬” (gōng zhū) literally translates to “boar” or “male pig,” but it is being used here to derogatorily refer to Liu Kuang as a “filthy” or “lowly” person. This is part of the character’s attempt to insult Liu Kuang by comparing him to something considered impure or degraded in their society.