After Breaking Free From The System's Control - Chapter 12

The hall was so quiet that even the faint crackling of the candle flames could be heard.

Xiao Li’s firm declaration—“This subject obeys”—fell heavily into the stillness.

He remained kneeling on one knee, his straight back inclined slightly forward like a silent mountain bearing the young emperor’s unspeakably heavy trust.

Jin Tang looked at him.

The enormous stone that had weighed upon his heart for so long seemed to have been caught and steadied by that mountain, loosening at last.

He released a quiet breath. The nerves that had remained taut finally relaxed, and he lifted a hand in a gesture of support.

“Royal Uncle, please rise.”

Only then did Xiao Li stand and return to his seat.

Yet his brows remained faintly furrowed. Jin Tang’s order that he need not obey had clearly stirred tremendous confusion and doubt within him.

He simply observed the proper conduct of a subject and asked no further questions.

【He suspects something now! Ha! Just wait, Jin Tang!】

The System’s sinister voice rang out with malicious delight, attempting to disturb Jin Tang’s mind.

Jin Tang acted as though he had heard nothing.

Let Xiao Li be suspicious.

That was still better than having no one stop him if the System someday controlled him and forced him to issue absurd orders.

He trusted Xiao Li’s character and ability.

For now, that trust was the only thing Jin Tang could place in another person’s hands.

The days that followed seemed to enter a strangely peaceful period.

Under the effects of medicine and the rare opportunity to rest properly, Jin Tang’s body recovered at a slow but visibly steady pace.

He was still far from healthy, but at least he no longer seemed so fragile that he might shatter at any moment.

He could rise without assistance.

He could walk in the courtyard for nearly half an hour.

He could even sit beneath the crabapple tree, enjoying the warmth of the spring sun while reading several pages of a leisurely book.

All affairs of state were entrusted to Xiao Li.

The newly appointed Regent displayed astonishing energy and skill.

Contrary to what some had predicted, he did not rush to install his own supporters or eliminate political opponents.

Instead, he handled the mountain of accumulated state affairs with almost severe impartiality and efficiency.

Every day, he entered the palace before dawn and often remained in the Imperial Study until the palace gates were about to be locked for the night.

Whenever an urgent military report or particularly difficult matter arose, he would even stay overnight in a temporary duty room prepared for him inside the palace.

Jin Tang was happy to be free of the burden, and he genuinely trusted Xiao Li.

Each day, he listened as Wang Zhong reported a general summary of how Xiao Li had handled state affairs.

Sometimes he reviewed the neatly organized political summaries Xiao Li had ordered to be delivered to him.

With every report, Jin Tang felt more at ease.

His appetite gradually returned as his health improved.

At lunchtime that day, Jin Tang looked at the imperial dishes being served, all still prepared in a light and mild style, and suddenly found himself longing for rich, deeply flavored food.

For once, he took the initiative and ordered several dishes.

“Today, I want braised pork with spring bamboo shoots. It should have both lean and fatty meat and be stewed until tender and thoroughly flavored. Add an Eight-Treasure Duck as well, and… a fresh fish and tofu soup.”

Wang Zhong was delighted at first.

His Majesty had chosen dishes on his own—and rich ones at that.

Surely this meant his health was truly improving.

Then hesitation appeared on his face.

“Your Majesty, the imperial physicians instructed that since your health has only just begun to recover, your meals should remain mild and nourishing. Would these dishes not be somewhat too rich?”

Jin Tang waved a hand, clearly in a good mood.

“It will be fine. I feel much better today, and everything has tasted bland for so long that I want something with flavor. Have them prepare only small portions. I will merely taste a few bites of each.”

“Yes. This old servant will go at once!”

Seeing that Jin Tang truly seemed energetic, Wang Zhong stopped trying to persuade him and hurried away joyfully to deliver the order.

Thus, when Xiao Li finished the morning’s affairs and came as usual to accompany Jin Tang for lunch, he stepped through the doors and immediately caught a rich, savory aroma completely unlike the usual light scent of medicine and rice porridge.

He raised his eyes.

Several enticing dishes had already been arranged across the dining table.

The braised pork with spring bamboo shoots gleamed with a rich reddish-brown sauce.

The Eight-Treasure Duck was plump and full.

The fresh fish and tofu soup was an inviting milky white.

The meal was not extravagant, but every dish was substantial enough to stir the appetite at a glance.

Jin Tang was already seated beside the table.

He wore simple everyday robes, and his black hair was loosely held by a plain jade hairpin.

Perhaps because the hall was warm, an unusually healthy flush colored his cheeks.

His eyes were bright as he looked at the table with clear anticipation.

For a moment, he resembled an ordinary young man waiting eagerly for a meal, with a hint of hunger and greediness in his expression.

The stern lines around Xiao Li’s eyes softened involuntarily.

If Jin Tang could eat such dishes, then perhaps he truly was recovering well.

The realization allowed the tension Xiao Li had carried through days of political work to ease slightly.

“This subject greets Your Majesty,” Xiao Li said according to proper etiquette.

“Royal Uncle, you are here. Sit quickly.”

Jin Tang was in an excellent mood, and his voice was lighter than usual.

“I had them prepare something different today. Royal Uncle should try it as well.”

The two took their seats and began eating quietly.

Jin Tang’s appetite was excellent.

The braised pork had been cooked until exceptionally tender, melting the instant it entered his mouth. It was savory with a trace of sweetness, rich without being greasy.

Even the apparently ordinary tofu was so flavorful it seemed capable of making one’s eyebrows fall off.

With the dishes, Jin Tang ate nearly half a bowl more rice than usual.

Xiao Li ate silently beside him, but his gaze drifted toward Jin Tang from time to time.

Seeing him eat with such enjoyment, his cheeks moving slightly as he chewed, looking focused and satisfied, brought warmth and happiness into Xiao Li’s own heart.

Just as Jin Tang picked up a piece of braised pork coated in sauce and prepared to place it in his mouth, perhaps because he moved too quickly or because the sauce was especially thick, a dark drop stained the corner of his pale lips.

Jin Tang did not notice.

He continued concentrating on the delicious food.

Xiao Li’s gaze, however, fixed upon that conspicuous spot of sauce.

Instinctively, his body reacted before his reason did.

He set down his silver chopsticks and naturally reached out.

With the pad of one finger, he gently brushed across the corner of Jin Tang’s lips and wiped away the sauce.

The movement was so quick that it was almost like brushing aside a fallen petal.

Jin Tang froze.

He stopped chewing and raised his eyes toward Xiao Li in confusion.

He could feel the brief touch of that slightly calloused finger against his skin with startling clarity.

Xiao Li froze as well.

He stared at the hand still suspended in midair and at the trace of sauce upon his finger, which seemed to carry a scorching heat.

Only then did Xiao Li abruptly realize what he had done.

That was the Son of Heaven.

He had behaved with such presumption.

Such… impropriety.

Wang Zhong, who stood nearby serving the meal, stared so hard that his eyes nearly bulged from their sockets.

The fly whisk in his hand almost fell to the floor.

He opened his mouth, but it felt as though cotton had been stuffed into his throat.

Not a single word emerged.

Prince Xuan…

This—this…

His Majesty might be one generation below him in seniority, but their ages were not so far apart!

Why had he suddenly put his hand on him like that?

Wang Zhong’s mind became completely chaotic.

He was genuinely stunned into silence.

Xiao Li swiftly withdrew his hand and curled his fingers into his palm.

Yet the faintly damp sensation lingered stubbornly.

He shot to his feet, stepped backward, and swept his robe aside, preparing to kneel and ask forgiveness.

His voice was tight.

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

Only then did Jin Tang return to his senses.

Seeing Xiao Li react as though facing a mortal threat caused the slight awkwardness and inexplicable acceleration of his heartbeat to fade somewhat.

He waved his hand and tried to make his voice sound natural and casual.

“It is nothing. Royal Uncle meant well. But I am not a three-year-old child. Next time, simply remind me.”

Jin Tang’s tone was light, attempting to dissolve the awkward atmosphere.

Yet an uncontrollable layer of red quietly spread across the tips of his ears.

Being treated like a child—especially by Xiao Li, who was only ten years older yet possessed a far more mature and steady presence—was truly rather embarrassing.

Seeing that Jin Tang genuinely had no intention of blaming him, Xiao Li’s expression eased slightly.

Even so, he lowered his eyes.

“This subject overstepped.”

Only then did he sit again.

For the remainder of the meal, however, the atmosphere carried several additional layers of indescribable subtlety.

【Heh. Hehehe…】

The System’s cold voice sounded at just the right moment inside Jin Tang’s mind, filled with mockery.

【Look at that. It has already begun. A little meaningless sweetness, a little deliberately caring physical contact, and you are already fooled? Jin Tang, you are hopelessly stupid! He is testing your boundaries. He is using gentleness to dismantle your caution! Once his position is secure and his power fully established, his next step will be to drag you from the throne, kill you, and become emperor himself!】

Jin Tang was already somewhat unsettled by the accidental contact.

Hearing the System attempt to provoke him only made him feel intensely irritated and speechless.

Moreover, the System seemed to have forgotten that he was not the young emperor Jin Tang who had grown up in the palace and regarded imperial power as his life.

He was Jin Tang from the twenty-first century—

A wandering soul whom the System had deceived after his death.

He had never cared about who sat upon the dragon throne.

What he cared about was whether the people of Great Zhao could live and work in peace.

He cared about whether the realm would be plunged into chaos because of his incompetence or the System’s coercion.

As for whether he himself remained emperor…

Jin Tang raised his eyes.

His gaze passed over Xiao Li, who sat upright opposite him, a trace of lingering regret still visible between his brows.

Jin Tang felt perfectly calm.

He did not care at all whether he himself remained emperor.

Giving the throne to Xiao Li might actually be quite good.

Besides, was it not the System’s punishment that was truly shortening his life?

The System’s behavior left Jin Tang with nothing but speechlessness.

Too lazy to respond to its furious shouting, Jin Tang finished the final bite of rice.

He accepted the warm damp cloth offered by a palace attendant and calmly wiped his hands and the corners of his mouth.

The faint ripples caused by the accidental touch had already settled.

He looked toward Xiao Li and naturally began discussing official business, as though the earlier incident had never happened.

“Royal Uncle, were there any memorials submitted today that require particular attention?”

Seeing Jin Tang behave so normally, Xiao Li quickly gathered his thoughts as well and suppressed the lingering discomfort in his heart.

He began reporting in a grave voice.

“Your Majesty, regarding the spring planting in Jiangbei…”

The afternoon sunlight streamed quietly through the lattice windows.

The aroma of food mingled with the voices of sovereign and subject discussing affairs of state, creating a strangely harmonious sense of ordinary life.

Spring was at its height.