Reunion of a second chance

Chapter 7

The Emperor entertained the Blind Concubine for several more minutes. He was replying earnestly to all his questions while biting his tongue so he would not speak aloud. It was very stressful for him to not be able to talk. Even if it had been his own decision and no one else's.

The Blind Concubine's voice grew fainter and fainter as minutes passed. It really seemed like he was at the end of his rope and could faint again any moment. It only showed so much better the true extend of him not taking care of himself.

The Emperor shifted in his seat. It was time to end this leisurely conversation and do what he came here for. He had to convince the Blind Concubine to eat something.

He reached down to the small dish of fruit that he had cut during the Blind Concubine's slumber. He was hoping that the Blind Concubine would be willing to eat something sweet, juicy and fragrant. If not, he had also prepared a bowl of lightly scented and seasoned congee.

The imperial physician had warned the Emperor that since the Blind Concubine had been eating less and less for quite some time already, he would not be able to stomach just everything. The Emperor had taken the imperial physician's advice and had prepared things which would be appealing while being also exceedingly gentle on the stomach. He had chosen what the Blind Concubine loved the most in the past, hoping that those were still his favourites.

The Blind Concubine must have heard the Emperor moving because he stilled and tilted his head to one side. It looked very adorable.

"Are you leaving?" the Blind Concubine asked. His voice was so sad it was bringing tears into the Emperor's eyes. And the worst, the Blind Concubine was not trying to stop him, simply asking with sad resignation.

The Emperor quickly rang the chime twice. He wanted to reassure the Blind Concubine that he was still there and that he did not plan on leaving. At least not yet. He would of course have to go back to his duties, but those could wait for now.

"Is that so..."

The Blind Concubine's voice was barely a whisper, full of bone deep relief. It was clear that he was already dreading the moment when the Emperor would have to leave and he would be alone again.

And then, the Blind Concubine looked directly at him, or at least the Emperor had that impression, and the corners of his mouth rose ever so slightly. The Blind Concubine was happy. It made the Emperor's heart overflow with the same emotion.

"Oh... I still do not know how to call you. Do you have a name? Silly me, of course you do. But I would not be able to guess it. Nor could you write it down for me, my eyes cannot read it..." The Blind Concubine suddenly realized.

The faint smile left his lips and he looked sad instead. The Emperor quickly stood up and went to the Blind Concubine's side. He did not want to see him like that. He gently put his hand on the Blind Concubine's forearm and squeezed lightly. He felt the Blind Concubine's heartbeat palpating under his fingertips.

Out of a sudden urge, he withdrew him hand and then gently poked the Blind Concubine in his chest with a single finger. He hoped that the Blind Concubine would understand his intentions.

The Blind Concubine stilled for a second but then, the barely visible smile was back on his face. The Emperor did not know which of his actions exactly had accomplished it. Nevertheless, he was overjoyed and relieved at once.

"You want me to pick a name for you?" asked the Blind Concubine. He understood the Emperor's urging after all.

The Emperor smiled, the Blind Concubine was making all of this easier for him. He was grateful. He sounded the chime to show his agreement.

***

"Hmm..." the Blind Concubine was thinking deeply. He had to call his guest by some name. He would have liked to use the person's proper name, but there was truly no way he would be able to guess it. And it the visitor did not mind the Blind Concubine choosing an addressing for him, then he would do just that.

At the same time, the Blind Concubine was wondering whether this meant that the person would be willing to stay a little longer with him. Although they could not talk, not with words, the Blind Concubine still relished in the knowledge that there was someone by his side and that he could once again have a conversation. He had missed this so much.

"Then," he decided in the end, "I will call you 'Chime' if you do mind too much.

There was a ringing of agreement. The Blind Concubine was happy that the person did not reject his idea. He found it quite fitting really.

He opened his mouth to continue with their previous conversation. He was however stopped when he felt something being pushed into his hands and held there. He recognized that it was a bowl. He was a little curious what Chime wanted to give him.

He lifted the bowl to his face and smelled what was inside. It must have been fruit.

The Blind Concubine quickly lowered the bowl. Although he was hungry, he could not find it in himself to think about food. He was too lonely and he did not care about much at all. Not even his growling stomach could push him to eat anymore. He put the bowl down.

Or, that was what he intended to do. However, Chime had apparently other plans. He held the Blind Concubine's hands and pushed the bowl right back into them.

The Blind Concubine tried to refuse kindly: "Thank you, Chime, but I am not hungry."

At that exact moment, the Blind Concubine's stomach growled so loudly that even Chime must have heard it. The Blind Concubine's cheeks blushed as his lie had been discovered before his whole sentence was even said aloud.

He did not even close his mouth yet and a piece of fruit was pressed inside. With the food already being in his mouth, he had no other way but to eat it. If he did not want to be uncourteous and spit it out. Moreover, when the juicy flavour hit his tongue, the Blind Concubine realized just how hungry he had been.

He finished munching the piece of fruit in a matter of seconds. He had not even reached down to the bowl and there was another piece being pressed gently to his closed lips. He opened his mouth and accepted the food.

When it happened for the third time, the Blind Concubine reached out for Chime's hand and stopped him before he could be given any more.

"The fruit is very tasty, thank you. But, Chime, keep some for yourself. I cannot just eat your meal like that."

If the Blind Concubine's guess was right and Chime was someone from a nearby village, the Blind Concubine was afraid that he was most probably poor. The Blind Concubine had meals brought to him every day so Chime should not be spending his precious rations on him.

The Blind Concubine would have never expected that Chime would take one of his hands and put a piece of fruit into it. Then, Chime ate that very piece of fruit directly from the Blind Concubines hand.

If the Blind Concubine did not know any better, he would have sworn that Chime had kissed his palm in the process as well. But that was impossible, they were complete strangers. The Blind Concubine did not know what to do at such a moment.