Reunion of a second chance

Chapter 10

The Emperor was more and more convinced that bringing the cat for the Blind Concubine was indeed the best decision he had ever made. With a new companion, the Blind Concubine thrived. He was as lively as ever and it was great to see him so happy.

A long time had passed since the Emperor had first started taking care of the Blind Concubine and spending his days with him. Before he knew it, it had become three years since the moment he had first come to the island in the middle of the lotus lake.

Those three years were perhaps the happiest ones in his life. But also the hardest ones.

The Emperor was still a little worried how the Blind Concubine would react to finding out he was the one who had caused him so much pain. He was afraid that the Blind Concubine still hated him and that should he come to know about the Emperor's true identity, the Blind Concubine would withdraw into himself again.

And this time, perhaps it would be for good. Even before, it had been bad and the Emperor had only managed to coax the Blind Concubine to start living again by promising to move him out of the palace.

He had failed that promise. If the Blind Concubine would learn about this, the Emperor just knew that he would feel betrayed and hurt. The Blind Concubine would never want to have anything in common with him.

That was why, for three years already, he played a mute servant. The Emperor was only able to achieve this because of how accommodating the Blind Concubine had been all this time. He wanted to somehow repay him, he wanted to make him even happier.

He knew what would help the most. The Blind Concubine had always wanted to go out into the town and walk around in the lively streets.

The Emperor would have liked to give him just that, but he could not. He was too terrified of the Blind Concubine finding out about his deception. In the past, he had once taken the Blind Concubine for a stroll in the city and he still remembered how happy it had made the other feel. However, he could not do the same thing again.

The Blind Concubine would recognize that they were still in the capital. Since he had been told he was now living far away from the city, the Blind Concubine would surely come to suspect something.

Realizing this, the Emperor thought about another solution. He could take the Blind Concubine to another city. However, this would require to travel in a carriage which was not an option either. The only possibility remaining would be bringing the city to the Blind Concubine.

Of course not in a literal sense of the world. But he was the Emperor, if he could not make this happen then who could?

In the end, after discussing his idea with his advisors and after a long fight with them, he finally got what he had wanted. There was a small space cleared in a faraway corner of the garden. Several stalls were set up there and some models of houses and establishments as well.

All that was missing was people. That was also no problem for the Emperor. To make things more authentic and rural looking and sounding, he invited villagers from the area around the capital to come and pretend like they were having a market in the imperial gardens. He promised them a hefty sum if everything would go well. They were only too quick to agree.

With everything set, the Emperor headed towards where the Blind Concubine resided. He hoped that today would go well and that nothing bad would happen. He was already looking forward to the Blind Concubine's smile.

***

The Blind Concubine was sitting on a blanket on a ground behind his house. He was playing with the cat he had gotten from Chime. It was no longer the kitty he had gotten; the cat had grown up in the year it had been with him.

The Blind Concubine found it amazing how he could have been given a kitty which, according to his questions that Chime had done his best to answer, looked the same as his previous cat. So he called it the same name.

The only difference were their personalities. Where his previous cat had been mischievous and moody, not wanting to be restricted in any way and often running away, this kitty was the exact opposite.

It loved spending time with the Blind Concubine and snuggle with him. It was energetic, all babies were, but it still did not run around too much. It preferred to keep the Blind Concubine company and he was glad for that. And when it left for a short while, the Blind Concubine could always hear it meowing nearby and it came back to him whenever he called its name. Such a well behaved cat really.

The Blind Concubine loved it the most when he could bury his fingers in the cat's fur and just pet it for hours. It was so relaxing. He could also talk to the cat whenever Chime was not there with him and the cat would meow in response. It was the perfect companion.

The Blind Concubine was very happy that Chime had brought him such a good friend. He had thanked him several times, but Chime just brushed it off. The Blind Concubine could not really ask from where the cat came, Chime would not have been able to answer him.

But it did not matter, the important part was that the cat was here with him and hopefully would not leave him for many years to come.

The Blind Concubine was getting restless now and even petting his cat could not calm him down as per usual. He was waiting for Chime to come, and the other was late. Or at least the Blind Concubine supposed he was late because he was getting hungry. He had been waiting to eat together today.

Luckily, he did not have to wait for too long. He soon heard Chime's footsteps.

The Blind Concubine jumped up to his feet and grabbed his walking stick in the process. He had by now gotten very good at using it and he could walk around the little island with ease. He also did not trip over anything for several weeks already; he was almost feeling like a normal person again.

The fact that he could not see still stayed and it was not like he had forgotten about it. He still resented the Emperor for taking his sight away from him. But the Blind Concubine was slowly finding ways to come to terms with his situation and learning how to live his life to the fullest.

It was a new concept for him. The Blind Concubine had never tried it in the past. He had first been confided in the Cold palace for seven years and there had been no way for him to learn how to be independent. There was also no need for that. He had his trusted servant and he was being taken care of in every aspect of his life.

Later, when the Emperor had brought the Blind Concubine out of the Cold palace, he had tried for a while. However, the Blind Concubine had been too devastated by the discovery that he had unknowingly fallen in love with the Emperor, the very person who had deprived him of the ability to see. The Blind Concubine had no will to try and live. He loathed the Emperor and was only too glad to live outside of the palace now.

The Blind Concubine only got the courage for that after he had met Chime. That was why, he was glad for the continued visits and for the walking stick he had gotten. He was finally starting a new life. Although he had missed most of his childhood and a big portion of his young years as well, he was still healthy and could build a life for himself now.

He even considered asking Chime to take him to the village where he lived so the Blind Concubine could try to interact with more people and perhaps to even find a job he could do.

That could all wait though. Chime was here now and the meal the Blind Concubine had prepared was waiting for them to eat it.