Let Me Go, I’m Not Pregnant - Chapter 70

Minister Liu returned and immediately wrote a letter to Liu Kuang. However, Liu Kuang was already inspecting other locations with General Gu, and the letter was received by Gu’s shadow guard stationed in the town, who was skilled at imitating handwriting and lured Minister Liu out of the capital.

Upon receiving the letter, Minister Liu, seeing no denial from Liu Kuang, was so enraged that he suffered a heart attack. Without any doubt, he drove his carriage out of the capital.

Upon hearing this news, Chang Qing rushed to intercept Minister Liu but was ignored. “Don’t stop me, I need to see that ungrateful son!”

When did things become like this with Shuang’er?!

How could he not know anything?

He had been a normal young master when he was born!

Minister Liu’s mind was muddled and couldn’t fathom the abnormality of the situation. He was always on guard against his son getting other girls pregnant, but he never expected that one day his own son would be pregnant.

Consumed by rage, he didn’t listen to Chang Qing’s warning that it might be a trap and forcefully pushed him aside, urging the coachman to hurry.

Chang Qing stumbled, barely regaining his balance, and was hit by a cloud of dust as the horses galloped away, getting a mouthful of dirt.

On the side, En Shu stifled a laugh and asked, “My lord, what should we do next?”

Chang Qing, with a dark expression, turned around angrily. “Keep an eye on Minister Liu, and send someone to investigate who is currently inspecting in disguise!”

Even though Luo Shen was right here, someone outside was still issuing new orders. Who had the audacity to do this?

As long as they caught the person responsible, the lie about the inspection would be exposed, and they could also use this opportunity to suppress the Gu family.

Chang Qing mounted his horse, flames of anger burning in his eyes. “I’m going back to find Luo Shen!”

Watching Chang Qing’s retreating figure, Chang Qing worried about Luo Shen for a moment before turning to leave.

Meanwhile, Luo Shen was still wandering in the residence. 

A few days ago, pretending to be ill, he had asked Chang Qing to provide him with a wheelchair to sit outside and enjoy the sun. Today, since it was a day off, Gu Xingzhi could stay by his side early in the morning.

Luo Shen was in a great mood. Although he couldn’t remove his blindfold in public, in private, he could pull Gu Xingzhi down to massage his waist and secretly kiss him.

As for where the kiss landed, it was completely random. Sometimes on the neck, sometimes on the earlobe, and occasionally on the lips, which would lead to a passionate kiss that left him breathless.

Once finally released, Luo Shen took deep breaths, looking down at his collarbone, which was more pronounced. 

He was naturally thin, and with the child’s growth, he looked even thinner. Although the commotion bothered others more than him, Gu Xingzhi knew Luo Shen was just afraid of causing him concern.

“Ah Shen, we…”

“Luo Shen!”

Before Gu Xingzhi could finish, Chang Qing interrupted abruptly.

Luo Shen turned his head at the sound, displeased. “Chang Qing, what are you doing now?”

Chang Qing was even more enraged by the unwelcome tone. “Luo Shen! Don’t think you can play games here!”

He quickly walked over, pushing Gu Xingzhi aside and grabbing Luo Shen by the collar. “Do you insist on opposing me?”

Luo Shen tilted his head innocently and asked, “What’s wrong now, Chang Qing?”

“Again…” Chang Qing was enraged, but at this moment, Gu Xingzhi held his wrist and whispered.

“My lord, he is still weak. You must not be so rough.”

Chang Qing’s anger flared. After taking insults from Gu Xingzhi in the palace, he had to endure this here as well.

He glared at Gu Xingzhi. “You have no right to speak here! Go and take your punishment!”

Gu Xingzhi lowered his head but still held onto his arm. “The doctor said his condition is critical right now.”

Chang Qing: “…”

He raised his eyebrows angrily. “What are you implying? Should I give you more punishment?”

“Once you’re done, I can take mine,” Gu Xingzhi said fearlessly. He could even kill Chang Qing now if he wished.

His continued presence was solely to help Luo Shen expose everyone and suppress the Gu family.

But…

The more Gu Xingzhi looked at Chang Qing’s face, the more displeased he became. 

Luo Shen was due to give birth in less than a month, and staying here was detrimental to him. Gu Madam kept urging him to bring Luo Shen home quickly.

Everything was ready, just waiting for Luo Shen’s word.

Chang Qing, seething with rage, had never been so infuriated by a servant before. Luo Shen might irritate him with his soft approach, but Gu Xingzhi’s blatant disregard was infuriating.

These two…

Chang Qing looked at Gu Xingzhi and then at Luo Shen, his anger reaching a peak. “So what if he’s in poor health? I not only want to grab him like this, I will beat him and lock him up!”

Chang Qing shoved Luo Shen back into the chair, causing chains to clatter, and called for several servants to take Gu Xingzhi away for fifty lashes.

Hearing this, Luo Shen panicked. “If you beat him, who will take care of me?”

Chang Qing snorted coldly. “Take care? You should be grateful if you’re not taking care of others!”

Luo Shen felt a sense of impending doom. He shrank back, but his limited view prevented him from seeing where Gu Xingzhi was.

Gu Xingzhi was taken away and didn’t hear what was happening here.

He didn’t hear Chang Qing say, “If you want everyone to stop discriminating against Shuang’er and to be treated equally, you’re dreaming. Today, I’ll make you understand that Shuang’er should be our plaything, with no chance of ever turning things around!”

Luo Shen’s face turned pale. Although he had anticipated this, he had hoped to use the child to stabilize Chang Qing and be kept until the end.

He didn’t expect that the matter of Shuang’er would provoke such a strong reaction.

Confused, Luo Shen saw Chang Qing approach, his hand gripping his chin.

Chang Qing’s breath was suffocating. Luo Shen’s brows twitched.

Just as Chang Qing was about to kiss him, Luo Shen suddenly bent over and vomited.

The food he ate in the morning came up, most of it landing on Chang Qing’s and Luo Shen’s clothes.

Chang Qing’s face darkened, and he quickly let go of Luo Shen, stepping back a few paces.

Just then, En Shu arrived and, seeing the situation, quickly approached. “My lord, His Majesty is still in the early stages of pregnancy; morning sickness is normal.”

Chang Qing: “……”

Luo Shen nodded weakly and apologized, “In my current condition, I might not be able to serve you.”

Chang Qing glared at him. “Are you doing this on purpose?”

Luo Shen gritted his teeth and said, “Do you want to humiliate me and still expect me to cooperate? You want to harm the child in my womb, and I should be polite to you? Didn’t you say you would show the ministers my big belly? What, now you’ve changed your mind?”

Chang Qing was indeed enraged and said sternly, “That’s fine. I’ll be gentler with you. I’ll post a notice for everyone to come together tomorrow and invite Gu Xingzhi as well. Let him see just how obvious the marks on your body will be after our night together!”

En Shu was startled and quickly looked at Luo Shen.

From Chang Qing’s tone, it seemed there was no room for negotiation. Luo Shen gritted his teeth again and said, “I will make sure he stabs you to death with one sword!”

Chang Qing laughed angrily. “Fine! We’ll see whether he’s more angry with you or more willing to endure this.”

He turned to En Shu and ordered, “Take him away and give him a good bath!” With that, he turned and left to bathe himself.

Once he was gone, En Shu hurriedly dispersed the onlookers and asked, “Why did His Majesty provoke him like this?”

“I didn’t say anything out of line!” Luo Shen was also angry. “He’s clearly coveting me!”

En Shu, feeling a headache coming on, asked, “What will His Majesty do next? Are you really going to…”

Luo Shen shook his head. He naturally could not comply with Chang Qing’s wishes. Not only that, but he also needed to escape immediately.

“Tell En Cheng that Chang Qing wants me to be his favored concubine tonight and to announce me as the empress to all the ministers tomorrow.”

En Shu hesitated. “Your Majesty…”

“If it’s him, he will definitely be able to drive me out.”

Luo Shen had deliberately inflated En Cheng’s jealousy to set up this situation. 

In the entire residence, only En Cheng was unwilling to have Luo Shen appear in such a situation and to let Chang Qing touch him.

So, relying on En Cheng was the only way he could escape.

“And the key, did you give it to En Cheng too?”

En Shu nodded. “He found it himself.”

“Good.” Luo Shen sighed in relief and added, “Take me back to bathe.”

He frowned. “I’m a bit smelly.”

En Shu complied and took him back. On the way, they encountered Gu Xingzhi, so En Shu handed Luo Shen over and briefly explained Chang Qing’s demands, asking Gu Xingzhi to give Luo Shen a thorough bath.

Gu Xingzhi was immediately angered, his face darkening.

Luo Shen quickly shooed En Shu away and urged Gu Xingzhi to hurry back to the room.

Once back in the room, Luo Shen pulled off his eye mask and asked, “Did you get beaten?”

Although Gu Xingzhi looked vigorous, he should not have been beaten.

Gu Xingzhi’s expression was foul as he touched the small knife hidden at his waist. “No, the people Chang Qing called were all disguised female soldiers from the Gu family.”

Those were troops from Gu Madam’s time. She had taken a group of female soldiers with her when she went to war and could summon them anytime. When Luo Shen was kidnapped last time, Gu Madam was so furious she mobilized the troops and threatened to level Chang Qing’s residence.

It was only because Gu Xingzhi had persuaded her that the troops remained hidden nearby, ready to infiltrate the residence when the opportunity arose.

Gu Xingzhi had never expected that a few of the aunts could actually get in. When he was pulled down earlier, he had planned to take action, but instead, he was pinned down and called “Little Mother Consort” with a laugh.

“Little Mother Consort” was a nickname Gu Xingzhi received when he made mistakes during battles with Gu Madam and was punished by being made to dress as a woman. It was known only among the aunts.

Gu Madam had seen Gu Xingzhi in disguise and recognized him, so the aunts teased him for not dressing as a girl, which delayed things a bit.

Fortunately, after hearing Luo Shen’s words, Gu Xingzhi’s anger had subsided somewhat.

“I’ll tell them to take you out tonight.”

Luo Shen nodded.

Gu Xingzhi, satisfied, went to prepare hot water for Luo Shen’s bath and asked Gu Madam to bring a new set of clothes for him.

Soon, it was evening.

Luo Shen instructed Gu Xingzhi to return to his own room and continued to feign weakness from being beaten with fifty lashes. In reality, he joined the aunts in taking down all the thugs in the residence.

Meanwhile, En Cheng, stimulated by En Shu, had managed to escape from his room, holding the key and heading to find Luo Shen.

Chang Qing, coming out of the bath and wrapped in a brocade robe, was preparing to look for Luo Shen. At this moment, En Shu, standing by his side with his head bowed, suddenly spoke, “My lord, I have a doubt.”

Chang Qing thought he was asking about Luo Shen and, considering he was En Cheng’s brother, was naturally reluctant to see him getting close to anyone else. He responded harshly, “I’m just venting. Don’t overthink it. Even if I become emperor, there won’t be just one child in your brother’s belly.”

En Shu shook his head. “I’m thinking about why, at this particular time, someone from Shahe Town appeared in front of Minister Liu, and they all knew about Liu Kuang’s pregnancy?”

Chang Qing was taken aback and stopped in his tracks, looking back. “What are you trying to say?”

“I suspect that this might be a scheme to lure Minister Liu out.”

Chang Qing, knowing the truth, scoffed, “I thought you’d have something insightful to say. Isn’t it obvious?”

“If it were just to lure Minister Liu out, why use the easily exposed excuse of Liu Kuang’s pregnancy?”

Chang Qing gave him a sidelong glance. “Liu Kuang has caused many issues. It’s not a big deal. Minister Liu wouldn’t fall for it. What you’re thinking, the other side has naturally considered as well.”

“Then… When Minister Liu went to Luo Town, Liu Kuang was there, and the emperor was too. How did Liu Kuang end up in Shahe Town? I was the one who captured the emperor in Shahe Town.”

Chang Qing was stunned. He hadn’t felt much at first, but En Shu’s reminder made him realize there were too many coincidences.

“So you mean…”

“Minister Liu is a major asset for you. I just think that the other side isn’t merely trying to lure him out; there must be something more significant.”

Chang Qing wasn’t foolish. Hearing this, he immediately understood. “I see now. The person disguised as Luo Shen—”

He was suddenly struck with realization, his eyes widening. “Liu Kuang actually disguised himself as Luo Shen!”

In that case, if Minister Liu went after him, once he discovered Liu Kuang involved in such a deadly scheme, with General Gu as a witness, he wouldn’t dare betray Luo Shen!