Let Me Go, I’m Not Pregnant - Chapter 64

The person Enshu called back to the palace was none other than Qin Cheng himself.

 

Luo Shen asked Qin Cheng for a favor, to help him out of the pool and change into dry clothes.

 

As Qin Cheng dried Luo Shen’s hair with a towel, he began talking about the happenings in the palace.

 

“So, Master Gu’s plan is to further escalate the conflict between the two of them when he returns,” Qin Cheng said, carefully gathering Luo Shen’s wet hair in his palm and drying it bit by bit. “The moment Master Gu returned today, he summoned all the secret guards in the palace.”

 

“What is he planning?” Luo Shen was puzzled, but Qin Cheng shook his head, indicating that he didn’t know either. “I asked, but Master Gu said I don’t need to know for now.”

 

“Okay,” Luo Shen pouted slightly, thinking to himself that Gu was probably not telling him because Qin Cheng had to interact with him. He wasn’t that naive.

 

Qin Cheng wanted to say more, but Luo Shen had already changed the subject: “You, take off this blindfold for me.”

 

He reached up to tug at it, but it didn’t budge, leaving him extremely uncomfortable.

 

It might have been fine if it was just Enshu, but the people he was about to face were Changqing and that Encheng. If his eyes were still covered, he wouldn’t be able to enjoy watching their expressions.

 

Hearing this, Qin Cheng quickly complied and removed the blindfold.

 

Having not seen anything for a while, Luo Shen felt a strange sense of unfamiliarity when he opened his eyes and saw Qin Cheng.

 

He couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise, “Qin Cheng, why do you look so worn out?”

 

Qin Cheng: “…”

 

He thought to himself: If it weren’t for running around for you, how could I look so haggard?

 

On the surface, he tried to explain, “I just haven’t had time to shave.”

 

Luo Shen stared at his beard for a few more moments, making Qin Cheng increasingly uneasy. “Your Majesty, why are you staring at me?”

 

Surely he hasn’t just now realized how good-looking I am?

 

Luo Shen said indifferently, “I was just wondering, when Xingzhi takes on your appearance, does he also attach this beard?”

 

Qin Cheng: “…”

 

He was speechless. “Of course not. This beard is a masterpiece that can’t be replicated.”

 

“Oh.” Luo Shen understood. “So, if you two switch identities often, it’s quite easy for others to notice?”

 

Qin Cheng fell silent, and then, with growing alarm, he asked, “Your… Your Majesty, you don’t mean to…”

 

“Qin Cheng,” Luo Shen said with a slight smile, “Before you grew the beard, you were eight parts handsome, but now with the beard covering half your face, only four parts are left.”

 

Qin Cheng: “…”

 

Really? He skeptically touched his beard.

 

He hadn’t had it for long, so it wasn’t very long, just a bit of stubble.

 

“Hmm.” As Luo Shen spoke, he suddenly remembered something. “How is your wife doing lately?”

 

“She’s resting at home, preparing for childbirth,” Qin Cheng said with some grievance, “I haven’t been home to see her in a long time.”

 

When he finally goes back, he’ll probably have to kneel on the washboard again.

 

“Do you want to get back home quickly?”

 

Qin Cheng: “…Yes.”

 

So…

 

“I’ll go shave right away.”

 

Luo Shen smiled, running a hand through his hair, which felt almost dry. Then he remembered something else: “It seems I haven’t eaten yet?”

 

Hearing this, Qin Cheng immediately went out to get food.

 

But after a short while, he returned with only a plate of steamed buns, a bowl of porridge, and a few pieces of green vegetables.

 

He even had to ask Enshu for the lard used to fry the vegetables.

 

Luo Shen: “…”

 

He was shocked. “Seriously? Changqing is coming back, and this is how I’m being treated?”

 

Qin Cheng was equally stunned. “They said this has been your regular meal during this time?”

 

Luo Shen: “???”

 

But hadn’t he been eating large drumsticks and drinking millet porridge the past few days?

 

Luo Shen suddenly realized, feeling a bit disgruntled, “Doing something like that right under someone’s nose—”

 

Poor Xingzhi, making sure he had a tough time. He didn’t even allow him to eat some bland food.

 

“Then where did my usual meals go?”

 

Qin Cheng replied, “I’m not sure, but they said that every meal was taken back completely finished, so they assumed you ate it all. So did Master Gu eat it himself? Or did he throw it away?”

 

Luo Shen chuckled. There would have been traces if the food had been thrown away. Xingzhi must have eaten it all himself and then secretly prepared food for him.

 

He had already braced himself to endure hardships. Although he was the Emperor, he didn’t insist on eating delicacies. But to feel so clearly that someone had been going out of their way to pamper him…

 

Wasn’t bad at all.

 

He pursed his lips and said, “You can leave now, wait until Xingzhi comes to take over.”

 

Judging by the time, it was about right.

 

Qin Cheng immediately complied and turned to leave.

 

Luo Shen picked up the porridge and steamed buns on the ground and slowly ate them with the vegetables.

 

Just as he finished putting down the dishes, Changqing pushed the door open.

 

The sudden flood of light made Luo Shen squint uncomfortably. As he looked through his lashes, he saw a familiar figure at the door that he hadn’t seen in a long time.

 

“Brother Emperor, long time no see.” Changqing smiled as he entered the room, glancing around with a menacing look.

 

Luo Shen simply sat down on the blanket, crossing his legs, and picked up the last half of the steamed bun, tearing it apart slowly as he ate. “Since it’s been so long, and you’re here now, why didn’t you bring anything with you?”

 

Changqing: “…”

 

He continued to smile. “This room is the gift I have prepared for you, my brother.”

 

“Oh,” replied Luo Shen. There was only one luminous pearl in the room, making it hard to see clearly. He asked, “Does that include myself?”

 

Changqing stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the heavy iron shackles on Luo Shen’s wrists. He smiled and said, “Brother, doesn’t this gift suit you perfectly?”

 

The once spirited young emperor now sat with a swollen belly, reduced to a prisoner in Changqing’s grasp. The sight stirred a thrilling excitement in him, making his blood surge.

 

Luo Shen watched the smile on Changqing’s face, but it reminded him of something sticky and disgusting, so he took a half-step back in distaste. “Don’t smile like that—it’s too ugly.”

 

He clutched his chest, shaking his head. “I’ve been feeling quite nauseous lately.”

 

Changqing’s face immediately darkened. No matter how foolish he was, he could hear the sarcasm in Luo Shen’s words.

 

Frowning in displeasure, he forced a sinister smile. “Brother, if you don’t want to suffer, just hand over the imperial edict. I promise to spare your life and let you deliver your child safely, living out your days in peace.”

 

Luo Shen stared at that smile for a moment, then chuckled softly.

 

Changqing, sensing that Luo Shen was up to no good, asked irritably, “What’s so funny?”

 

“I’m laughing at how different people can be,” Luo Shen said. “Good-looking people look good no matter how they smile.”

 

“Are you talking about yourself?” Changqing was even more displeased. He threw out a careless remark, only to see Luo Shen’s eyes light up instantly, revealing a genuine smile.

 

That smile was sincere. “You may not be good-looking, but your taste isn’t bad.”

 

Changqing was speechless. Was that a compliment or an insult?

 

He grew angry. “Luo Shen!”

 

Changqing grabbed Luo Shen’s collar, warning him, “I’m not in the mood to banter with you! If you don’t hand over the imperial edict, do you believe I can send you to a brothel in a few days, where even the lowest slaves can have their way with you?”

 

Luo Shen seemed frightened, his face pale, his eyes trembling in disbelief. He stammered before finally speaking, “After all these years, how could you do this?”

 

Changqing was momentarily stunned. He looked down at Luo Shen, then laughed, as if hearing something amusing. “You’re so naive, Luo Shen…”

 

He had never seen someone, after being captured, still try to talk about friendship with the kidnapper.

 

“When you wanted to drive me away back then, you weren’t talking about friendship.”

 

Changqing continued, “If you want to continue this friendship and have me protect you, then hand over the imperial edict. You must understand, only I can protect you now.”

 

With Luo Ming’s return to power, half the court was pushing for Luo Ming to ascend the throne. Given the enmity between Luo Ming and Luo Shen over the former empress, Changqing didn’t think they could possibly cooperate.

 

Similarly, Luo Shen would never choose Luo Ming.

 

Luo Shen was incapable of protecting the throne on his own. He would have to find a new ally, and looking around, Changqing was his only option.

 

“Think carefully—will you wait for Luo Ming to triumph and drag you out to be executed, or will you work with me and help me rise to power?”

 

As Changqing expected, Luo Shen turned pale, clutching his sleeve in fear. “That’s absolutely impossible!”

 

“If that’s not what you want, then cooperate with me!” Changqing squeezed Luo Shen’s face, surprised by how soft it was, and laughed. “This face is so delicate—what a waste it would be if Luo Ming killed you. Gu Xingzhi is lucky to have had the pleasure of it—”

 

Luo Shen’s eyes flickered with disdain. “Changqing, are you also into men?”

 

Changqing was quite candid. “I have a boy in my household. He’s pregnant, just like you. But don’t worry, Your Majesty, I will treat you much better.”

 

“Won’t he mind? He’s carrying your child, after all.”

 

Changqing laughed again. “Your Majesty probably doesn’t know—those boys are just playthings. What right do they have to mind? I’ve arranged such a good life and a comfortable place for him.”

 

He paused, then added, “Besides, being able to live with you is a blessing for him.”

 

“In that case, could you help me take these things off?” Luo Shen said, looking around the room. “And there’s not even a bed in here—”

 

Before he could finish, Changqing readily agreed. “That’s easy. Just hand over the imperial edict, and I’ll arrange everything.”

 

Luo Shen thought hard about the offer, but his brows remained furrowed. After a long moment, he finally said, “I can’t remember where I put the imperial edict—it might be in my sleeping quarters.”

 

The imperial sleeping quarters were off-limits. During his stay in the palace, Changqing had gone everywhere except for the Imperial Study and the sleeping quarters, never finding an opportunity to enter.

 

He had already suspected it might be in one of those two places. Since Luo Shen said so, he felt it was worth another visit.

 

Oh, right.

 

Changqing remembered something and said to Luo Shen, “Gu Xingzhi has been loyally guarding the palace for Your Majesty, not letting even a fly in. Perhaps you could write him a letter asking him to let me in. If I retrieve it, I’ll arrange for you two to fly away together, how about that?”

 

Luo Shen’s eyes quickly flashed with expectation, but he quickly suppressed it. Even so, Changqing noticed and smirked. “Gu Xingzhi is quite good-looking. I saw a few ministers presenting him with albums filled with self-portraits of their daughters recently. If you don’t act quickly, he might have a child with someone else.”

 

Luo Shen instinctively grabbed his hand, gritting his teeth. “I’ll write it!”

 

Changqing was surprised at how smoothly things were going. He let go of Luo Shen and didn’t rush him. “Take your time, Your Majesty. I’ll go arrange for some lights, ink, paper, and a good meal.”

 

Luo Shen sat on the bedding, still scanning the room with a panicked gaze.

 

Seeing him like this, Changqing became more lenient. “Take your time to think about it, brother. I’ll come to collect it tomorrow.”

 

With that, he opened the door and saw Enshu and Gu Xingzhi standing outside. He gave them a look.

 

Enshu raised his hand and pushed Gu Xingzhi inside. “Continue watching him as before, understood?”

 

Gu Xingzhi responded in a low voice, then walked toward Luo Shen.

 

As Changqing passed by Gu Xingzhi, he couldn’t help but think of Gu Xingzhi’s face and how similar his build was. Looking back at Luo Shen, he noticed how Luo Shen’s eyes lit up when he saw Gu Xingzhi, pretending to be reserved yet eagerly reaching out to tug at his clothes.

 

After thinking for a moment, Changqing understood. As he walked away, he laughed, “So that’s why he hasn’t thought of Gu Xingzhi until now—he’s had a stand-in this whole time. I’ll be sure to remind Gu Xingzhi tomorrow. I wonder how sour his face will be!”

 

Just the thought of it filled Changqing with excitement.

 

He never once considered the possibility that the person in the room was actually Gu Xingzhi himself.

 

And now, Gu Xingzhi, who was preparing to hear about how he had been cuckolded, was crouching in front of the bedding, watching Luo Shen showing off.

 

“I didn’t hurt myself at all, but I knocked him down with a bang! Isn’t that impressive?”

 

Gu Xingzhi looked down, unable to suppress a smile.