After Breaking Free From The System's Control - Chapter 10

After Jin Tang’s unhurried yet ruthlessly pointed barrage of retorts, the System was finally rendered completely speechless.

The noisy battlefield inside his mind abruptly fell silent.

Jin Tang could almost sense that cold consciousness curling into a corner in furious helplessness, radiating resentment in vain yet unable to organize another effective attack.

He had won.

It was only temporary, and only a victory of words.

But the silence he had earned through his own will cleared his mood like a sky emerging from beneath heavy storm clouds.

He kept his eyes closed and tilted his face toward the sunlight and warm breeze.

Yet the corners of his lips slowly rose beyond his control, forming a faint but genuine smile.

The smile gradually widened until it became a soft laugh that dissolved into the crabapple-scented wind.

At first, he merely sat there and allowed the swing to sway gently.

Then he began tapping the ground with the tips of his feet, sending it into a wider arc.

The movement was small in the beginning, lifting him only a few inches above the ground. It was slow and leisurely, nothing more than a peaceful diversion.

But as the swing rose and fell, the subtle alternating sensations of weightlessness and pressure reached him, accompanied by the wind growing clearer beside his ears.

A primitive, liberating exhilaration spread through him like tiny currents of electricity, traveling from every part of his body touching the wooden seat and flowing through his entire being.

It had been so long since he had felt anything like this.

When was the last time he had swung so freely, without the slightest restraint?

It seemed like another lifetime.

No—it had been another lifetime.

Beneath the old locust tree at the orphanage, there had been rusted iron chains and an aging wooden seat that creaked with every movement.

Yet it could swing so high that it seemed one only had to release their grip to touch the sky.

Later, he grew older.

He became busy surviving, busy earning money, busy struggling through a jungle of reinforced concrete.

He had long since forgotten such simple happiness.

And after that…

He had been held hostage by the System, trapped within this heavy body clothed in imperial robes.

Every step had been taken as though walking upon thin ice, and every act of resistance invited punishment.

How could he have dared think about swings?

About freedom?

But things were different now.

The System had temporarily fallen silent.

His body had recovered some strength.

The sunlight was perfect, and the flowers were in full bloom.

Why not?

Jin Tang pushed harder against the ground.

The swing’s arc grew wider and higher.

The wind began to roar in his ears.

It was no longer a soft caress, but a forceful pull that swept all the loose strands of hair away from his forehead.

His robes snapped and billowed around him as though trying to break free of some invisible restraint.

His view widened, rising and falling.

At the highest point, it seemed that he could reach out and touch the interwoven crabapple branches above his head.

He could even see the glazed tiles atop the more distant palace walls, glittering beneath the sunlight in fragments of gold.

Then he plunged downward.

His heart seemed to hang weightless along with him, only for the ropes to catch him firmly at the lowest point and send him flying upward once more.

Again.

And again.

In the wind, beneath the dazzling sunlight, surrounded by pale pink and white petals shaken loose by the motion of the swing, Jin Tang felt like a bird that had finally escaped its cage and was clumsily learning how to fly.

The System.

The missions.

The tyrant.

The illness.

The crushing burden of the realm and its people—

At that moment, the rushing wind tore all of it apart and flung it far behind him.

It was as though he had no worries at all.

…

When Xiao Li entered the courtyard, this was the sight that greeted him.

The young emperor wore a simple set of everyday robes.

His black hair was loosely secured with a plain jade hairpin, and as the swing rose high into the air, his hair and sleeves flew together, tracing a breathtaking arc through the endless shower of pale blossoms.

Sunlight passed through the drifting petals and wrapped Jin Tang in a warm glow.

The young man’s eyes were closed, but his lips bore a bright, unrestrained smile untouched by gloom.

It was the freedom of someone who had cast off his shackles.

He seemed almost like a different person from the pale, sickly young emperor of the previous day.

Xiao Li stopped involuntarily beneath the moon gate at the courtyard entrance.

The stern lines of his face softened as naturally as a frozen river thawing beneath the spring breeze.

A faint trace of surprise crossed his deep eyes, soon replaced by a gentle smile he himself did not notice.

As though unwilling to disturb such a beautiful scene, Xiao Li stood there quietly without approaching.

Perhaps only a moment passed.

Perhaps it was much longer.

Jin Tang reached the highest point of the swing once again.

His eyelashes trembled, and he opened his eyes.

His gaze swept casually toward the courtyard entrance—

And met Xiao Li’s deep eyes, still holding the remnants of a smile.

It was Xiao Li.

When had he arrived?

The smile on Jin Tang’s face instantly froze.

Then it vanished like a bubble being pricked.

A mixture of embarrassment and shyness surged through him, burning his ears hot.

It was over.

Xiao Li had seen everything!

He was already a grown man, not to mention the ruler of an entire nation, yet here he was playing wildly on a swing like a child!

And swinging so high!

It was utterly—

Utterly undignified!

What would Xiao Li think?

Would he find Jin Tang too immature?

Too lacking in imperial bearing?

Jin Tang’s thoughts dissolved into chaos.

His first instinct was to get off the swing immediately and stop giving Xiao Li something to laugh at.

However, he had forgotten that the swing was currently at the highest point of its backward arc.

Its speed had not diminished.

Its momentum remained.

In his panic, Jin Tang almost instinctively released his grip on the ropes and tried to jump down—

“Your Majesty!”

The gentle smile on Xiao Li’s face froze the instant Jin Tang let go, replaced by horror.

His pupils contracted sharply.

Like an arrow released from a bowstring, he shot forward with astonishing speed, bringing a rush of wind in his wake.

The expected scene of Jin Tang crashing awkwardly to the ground—possibly injuring himself—never occurred.

Jin Tang only felt something tighten around his waist.

A powerful, steady force instantly caught his falling body.

Then he collided with a firm, warm embrace.

The impact made the person holding him stagger half a step before regaining his balance.

A clean, cool scent surrounded Jin Tang, mingled with the faint fragrance of ink.

It was Xiao Li.

Xiao Li had caught him securely, gathering him fully into his arms.

Through the thin layers of their spring clothing, Jin Tang could clearly feel the rapid heartbeat pounding inside Xiao Li’s chest, accelerated by the sudden exertion and fright.

Thump. Thump.

Thump. Thump.

The strong rhythm struck against Jin Tang’s eardrums.

He could also feel the firm, tightly drawn lines of muscle in Xiao Li’s arms and chest—the body of a grown man who had practiced martial arts and commanded armies for years, filled with restrained strength.

For some reason, it made him feel safe.

Xiao Li had been terrified.

Only after he truly and completely caught Jin Tang, feeling the real weight and warmth of the person in his arms, did his heart—nearly leaping from his chest—slowly return to its proper place.

But what followed was a wave of belated fear that left him weak.

The arm wrapped around Jin Tang’s waist tightened unconsciously, as though he feared that the moment he released him, Jin Tang would once again “fly” away before his eyes as he had on the swing—

Or shatter.

Xiao Li even forgot the distinction between sovereign and subject.

He forgot that he should immediately release Jin Tang, step back, and beg forgiveness.

He merely lowered his head, lingering alarm still visible as his gaze remained fixed upon Jin Tang’s face.

His voice was especially low and hoarse from tension.

“Is Your Majesty all right? Are you hurt anywhere?”

Jin Tang remained enclosed in his arms, his cheek nearly pressed against Xiao Li’s chest.

He could feel the vibration in that chest whenever Xiao Li spoke.

The excessively intimate posture made Jin Tang uncomfortable all over.

The heat that had only just faded from his face surged back again.

He hurriedly shook his head, his voice tightening with embarrassment.

“I—I am fine. I am unharmed. It is all thanks to Royal Uncle.”

He truly had not lost even a strand of hair.

He had merely been startled.

Just then, Wang Zhong returned after completing his errand.

The instant he stepped into the courtyard, this was what he saw.

His emperor was being held tightly in Prince Xuan’s arms.

Xiao Li was tall and broad-shouldered, nearly a full size larger than the slender Jin Tang.

He almost completely concealed the emperor within his embrace, leaving visible only the edge of a robe and a length of black hair.

Wang Zhong’s steps stopped.

His elderly face stiffened instantly.

His eyes widened as he blurted out instinctively,

“Your Majesty? Your Highness? What happened?”

His voice struck like thunder, jolting the two people still embracing each other back to awareness.

Xiao Li abruptly returned to his senses.

Realizing what he had done, he released his arms swiftly yet carefully, as though burned.

He steadied Jin Tang gently, stepped backward, swept aside his robe, and prepared to kneel.

“This subject behaved improperly and offended Your Majesty. Please punish me!”

His movements carried unmistakable haste.

Jin Tang had also regained his balance.

Seeing that Xiao Li was about to kneel, he hurriedly reached out as though to stop him.

Before Wang Zhong could form any strange misunderstanding, he quickly explained,

“It was my own carelessness. I fell from the swing. Fortunately, Royal Uncle reacted quickly and caught me. Otherwise, I certainly would have suffered a serious fall.”

His voice carried genuine gratitude and lingering fear.

The gaze he turned toward Xiao Li was clear and sincere.

“Royal Uncle saved me. What crime could there possibly be? Please rise at once!”

This man was his indispensable right hand, the Regent of Great Zhao, and the person who had just saved his life.

Jin Tang could not allow such a small accident to leave any misgivings in the heart of his loyal old attendant.

Hearing Jin Tang’s urgent explanation, Xiao Li paused.

He raised his eyes and looked at Jin Tang.

Seeing that Jin Tang was truly unharmed and held not the slightest blame in his gaze—only straightforward clarification and protection—something stirred faintly in Xiao Li’s heart.

He took the opportunity to stand straight again and lowered his eyes.

“It is enough that Your Majesty is unharmed. This subject arrived too suddenly and startled you.”

Listening beside them, Wang Zhong finally understood.

It had only been a false alarm.

Prince Xuan had saved His Majesty.

He hurriedly patted his chest and agreed, his face filled with lingering fear.

“Oh, you frightened this old servant to death! It is good that you are unharmed. Truly, it is all thanks to Your Highness’s swift reflexes! Your Majesty, this swing is terribly dangerous. Perhaps this old servant should have someone dismantle—”

“There is no need!”

Jin Tang immediately interrupted him.

“It was my own carelessness. What does it have to do with the swing? Leave it.”

He still wanted to use it again next time.

Naturally, he did not say that aloud.

After all the commotion, the atmosphere in the courtyard became somewhat awkward.

The sunlight remained bright.

Crabapple petals continued drifting down in endless flurries.

Yet the three people beneath the flowering tree each had different thoughts.

Jin Tang brushed at nonexistent wrinkles on his robes in an attempt to recover some imperial dignity.

The tips of his ears, however, remained faintly red.

Xiao Li stood with his hands lowered.

His face had returned to its usual stern composure, but whenever his gaze flickered toward the top of Jin Tang’s head, a trace of lingering concern remained hidden in its depths.

Wang Zhong looked at one of them and then the other.

The wrinkles on his face gradually relaxed, ultimately settling into a relieved smile.

No matter what else had happened, His Majesty looked far more alive than he had in recent days.

That was what mattered.