Let Me Go, I’m Not Pregnant - Chapter 73

The ministers were filled with indignation but dared not interrupt. They had just moved to approach when they caught sight of a shadow flashing nearby.

 

Being seasoned professionals, they immediately recognized the shadow as belonging to Gu Xingzhi’s people.

 

They exchanged glances, deciding to keep this matter suppressed until Luo Shen returned to court, then address it further.

 

Once they had left, Gu Xingzhi released Luo Shen.

 

He covered Luo Shen’s face with a veil again and carried the large bags of snacks he had bought on the street.

 

Luo Shen was munching on a candied hawthorn stick while holding a roasted sweet potato in one hand, his eyes fixed longingly on a fish ball soup stall next door.

 

Gu Xingzhi quickly stopped him, saying, “If you eat so much, you won’t have room for a proper meal when we get back, and you’ll get scolded.”

 

Luo Shen, smelling the tempting aroma, pouted a little in grievance and then got distracted by a small stall.

 

He tightened his grip on Gu Xingzhi’s clothes and said, “Let’s go see that.”

 

Gu Xingzhi followed his gaze and saw it was a stall selling fish fry. Despite it nearing winter, the little ornamental goldfish were swimming happily.

 

He bought two fish, and only then did Luo Shen agree to head home.

 

As they reached the front door, Luo Shen suddenly called out to Gu Xingzhi.

 

Gu Xingzhi looked down, and a candied hawthorn stick was shoved into his mouth. Instinctively, he bit down, and as he did, Luo Shen’s hand slipped, taking the bag with the goldfish and replacing it with half a roasted sweet potato.

 

Gu Xingzhi was stunned for a moment before he looked up to see Luo Shen quickly wiping his mouth and opening the door.

 

As the door swung open, they were greeted by the stern-faced Lady Gu standing at the threshold.

 

Luo Shen blinked innocently and said, “Lady Gu.”

 

Lady Gu’s eyes scrutinized Luo Shen. “Where have you been, Your Majesty?”

 

“I went to pick up Xingzhi,” Luo Shen moved aside to reveal Gu Xingzhi behind him.

 

“Why are you back so late?” Lady Gu was displeased. “It’s so cold outside.”

 

“Xingzhi wanted to take me out for a walk,” Luo Shen quickly explained. “I didn’t eat any of the snacks, they were all for Xingzhi. I was just enjoying the view.”

 

He turned to Gu Xingzhi, making a face.

 

Gu Xingzhi replied, “Yes, Mother, I bought these to eat.”

 

Lady Gu was about to expose Luo Shen’s scheme, but upon hearing this, she fell silent and asked, “Are you going to eat all of this by yourself?”

 

Gu Xingzhi nodded and bit down on another candied hawthorn stick.

 

Luo Shen, looking distressed, weakly said, “Eating so much isn’t good for your teeth.”

 

Gu Xingzhi smiled, “It’s better than making you envious.”

 

Luo Shen: “……”

 

He tightly gripped the bag, gritting his teeth, “We’re having dinner soon!”

 

Gu Xingzhi looked at Lady Gu.

 

Luo Shen quickly addressed Lady Gu, “Snacks aren’t a meal, right, Mother?”

 

Lady Gu’s face softened, and she struggled to hold back a smile, maintaining a serious tone as she said, “Xingzhi always knows his limits…”

 

Luo Shen, growing anxious, said, “He doesn’t know his limits! He’ll eat so much he won’t be able to eat dinner!”

 

Lady Gu turned to Gu Xingzhi. “What do you say?”

 

Gu Xingzhi avoided Luo Shen’s gaze, “If I don’t finish them, it will be a waste.”

 

Luo Shen understood and glared at Gu Xingzhi. He hadn’t expected Gu Xingzhi to be waiting for him to settle the score!

 

He huffed, “I won’t sneak snacks anymore, okay?”

 

He eyed the half sweet potato and half candied hawthorn stick, swallowed, and promised, “I promise I’ll eat them after dinner.”

 

Gu Xingzhi was skeptical. “You’re known for your whining.”

 

Luo Shen blushed, glaring, “I’m not! You’re being unreasonable!”

 

He then turned to Lady Gu. “Mother, I promise!”

 

Lady Gu was delighted by the “Mother” address and, feeling content, her tone lightened as she said, “I won’t interfere with you. Since Xingzhi is back, you handle it yourselves. I haven’t finished preparing dinner, so I’m leaving.”

 

Luo Shen: “……”

 

With Lady Gu, the only one who could manage Gu Xingzhi, gone, Luo Shen immediately changed his expression. He stormed up to Gu Xingzhi, shoved the goldfish back into his hands, grabbed the candied hawthorn and sweet potato, and started to run. He then turned back to grab the goldfish as well before striding inside with a proud look.

 

Gu Xingzhi found this amusing and followed him inside.

 

—

 

Since Changqing’s detention, Luo Shen had Gu Xingzhi notify General Gu and Liu Kuang to return and had launched a major purge of the rebellious factions, rigorously cleaning up the court and dealing sternly with everyone.

 

Soon, winter arrived with drifting snow.

 

Before Luo Shen had fully awakened, he felt a sharp pain in his abdomen. He quickly opened his eyes and grabbed the person beside him.

 

Gu Xingzhi, who had always been a light sleeper, was even more alert due to the approaching birth. As soon as he sensed Luo Shen’s movement, he immediately called Lady Gu and the midwife into the room.

 

Being a man with robust health and strength, Gu Xingzhi found childbirth easier than women typically do, and within half a day, they successfully welcomed a baby boy.

 

Lady Gu quickly wrapped the baby in cloth and brought him to Luo Shen.

 

Luo Shen looked at the wrinkled little face with some distaste and turned to find Gu Xingzhi. He glanced out the window, where snow was falling, and saw Gu Xingzhi standing by the window, his brow furrowed, his eyes filled with a mix of tenderness and joy. Luo Shen was momentarily choked up and, after a moment, smiled.

 

“It wasn’t too painful.”

 

He opened his lips, his voice barely audible over the baby’s cries, but Gu Xingzhi could hear every word clearly.

 

Gu Xingzhi’s brow twitched before he relaxed. He bent down and placed a gentle kiss on Luo Shen’s lips.

 

Fearing the kiss might be too intense, Gu Xingzhi softened it, making it as light as a feather, brushing against Luo Shen’s heart.

 

A couple of days later, Luo Shen was able to move around normally. The baby was fed by a wet nurse, and his face was no longer as wrinkled as before, occasionally revealing eyes that looked very much like Luo Shen’s.

 

Lady Gu was overjoyed but, finding it awkward to name the baby, brought him to Luo Shen to choose a name.

 

Luo Shen, sitting on the bed eating fruit, glanced at the baby and pondered for a moment.

 

Lady Gu reminded him, “This child was born during the first snowfall of winter.”

 

“Hmm.” Luo Shen thought for a moment and said casually, “Since he was born during the first snowfall of winter, let’s name him Luo Yichang.”

 

Lady Gu: “……”

 

She froze for a moment and turned to Gu Xingzhi, saying, “You get up.”

 

Gu Xingzhi didn’t care much about the baby’s name and casually replied, “We could call him Luo Dongyi.”

 

Lady Gu: “……”

 

She was angry and said coldly, “The clothes are ready for you. Put them on and go out for a day!”

 

Gu Xingzhi’s hand holding the fruit froze.

 

Luo Shen’s eyes lit up, and he quickly swallowed the fruit: “How about some powder?”

 

Gu Xingzhi: “……”

 

After only a few days, Luo Shen was getting bored: “I want to go out for a walk. Xingzhi can accompany me.”

 

He was already imagining the scene where he would hold Gu Xingzhi while going out, but Lady Gu ruthlessly interrupted: “Your Majesty, you’re too short. Holding Xingzhi while going out would attract too much attention. Otherwise, you both can dress as women and go out.”

 

Sisters going out together would be perfect!

 

Both of them frowned.

 

“By the way,” Lady Gu continued, “think of a good name while you’re out. If you can’t come up with one, you’ll continue tomorrow.” She gave them both a look and then picked up the baby and left.

 

Seeing her leave, Luo Shen looked sad: “Xingzhi, you’re so grown up, and yet you can’t even come up with a name?”

 

Gu Xingzhi: “……”

 

Half an hour later, they were both ushered out.

 

Luo Shen tightened his warm robe and turned to look at Gu Xingzhi.

 

Gu Xingzhi was tall, and ordinary skirts didn’t suit him, so Lady Gu had chosen a black-and-white outfit with a long cloak that covered most of his easily identifiable features, giving him a somewhat heroic appearance.

 

Luo Shen had thought it would be amusing, but now he thought, “I suddenly feel it would be better to just marry you dressed as a woman.”

 

That way, he could silence the ministers who kept nagging about him selecting a concubine.

 

Gu Xingzhi’s expression darkened upon hearing this.

 

Luo Shen, seeing he was unhappy, asked, “Don’t you like it? Then…”

 

“Aren’t you going to marry me as a male consort?” 

 

Men are men. Disguising as a woman to enter the palace would be discovered sooner or later, and explaining it would be difficult.

 

As long as he was with Luo Shen, he would accept it. But entering the palace this way, although it preserved his dignity, made their relationship seem secretive and always kept off the public stage.

 

He knew Luo Shen didn’t want to be wronged, just worried he wouldn’t be willing.

 

Luo Shen was taken aback and hesitated: “But… male consorts have a bad reputation.”

 

Being a high-ranking official with a male consort in the emperor’s harem would inevitably attract controversy.

 

Gu Xingzhi smiled, “You had Father monitor the implementation of new policies, starting with the common people, to make sure men’s rights are no longer hindered or despised, right?”

 

After doing so much, what was there to be afraid of?

 

Luo Shen was stunned and couldn’t help but laugh: “If you’re not afraid, what am I afraid of?”

 

He moved closer to Gu Xingzhi, as if in defiance: “When I return, the first thing I’ll do is marry you!”

 

Before he finished speaking, a hand from his warm robe wrapped around his waist, deliberately pinching him: “I’ll be waiting for good news.”

 

Two women hugging and being affectionate in the street left passersby dumbfounded.

 

They were stunned for a moment before realizing the couple didn’t care about the public’s gaze, quickly getting used to it. Some even settled into a nearby teahouse to watch, finding it quite a sight.

 

Unfortunately, they didn’t get to see the couple kiss before someone interrupted.

 

“Lady Luo—Lady Luo!” Changxin suddenly stopped herself mid-sentence, forcing the last two words to become “Lady.” She scrutinized Luo Shen’s face, noting his healthy complexion and normal state, and finally sighed with relief. “Lady Luo, you’ve gained quite a bit of weight recently!”

 

Luo Shen choked, calling out, “Changxin!”

 

Confused, Changxin was about to question why Luo Shen had found a “lady” outside and whether she had abandoned Gu Xingzhi, but then she met Gu Xingzhi’s gaze and froze.

 

“Gu…” Changxin quickly reached for her sword. “So it’s you, Gu Xingzhi, corrupting my lady!”

 

Before she could draw her sword, Gu Xingzhi pressed her back down: “Don’t jump to conclusions. We’re being punished.”

 

“Ah?”

 

Changxin looked at Luo Shen in confusion, who nodded helplessly: “Mother asked me to come out and think of a name for the baby.”

 

They had been wandering the streets for a while and still hadn’t come up with a name. With more and more onlookers gathering, the whole city might end up watching them.

 

Luo Shen felt embarrassed.

 

Changxin was excited: “You called her ‘Mother’?”

 

Luo Shen’s face reddened slightly, then he nodded: “In a month, when I return to the palace, I will propose.”

 

By then, he would quickly arrange the child’s affairs while the ministers were lost in doubt!

 

Changxin’s eyes brightened again.

 

“Changxin, in the future—”

 

Before Luo Shen could finish, his arm was suddenly grabbed. Changxin proudly lifted the corners of her mouth and raised an eyebrow at him, eagerly asking: “Your Majesty, should we call an older sister to hear it?”

 

“……”

 

Before Luo Shen could speak, Changxin turned to look at Gu Xingzhi.

 

Although she was reluctant, since he was her younger brother, she said begrudgingly: “You can reluctantly call me ‘older sister.’”

 

Gu Xingzhi: “……”

 

A new older sister, just like that.

 

When they returned home, Changxin, still excited, pulled the baby and said: “You can call me ‘master’ in the future.”

 

Luo Shen, puzzled, asked: “Why do you want to be a master?”

 

“My master said, the ‘Secret Guard’s Quick Training 108 Techniques’ must not be lost or passed on randomly, so passing it to the little prince is the best choice!”

 

She smiled contentedly, placing a book in the baby’s crib: “Behave, and when you grow up, I’ll teach you how to fight!”

 

Everyone: “……”

 

This is definitely not something to be taught!