Reunion of a second chance

Chapter 16

The Blind Concubine had a plan. However, he never got to actually execute it. He had envisaged pretending to fall down and let himself be caught in Chime's arms. From then, he would somehow – and emphasis on the somehow, he had no idea if he would actually be so brave to touch Chime – the Blind Concubine had wanted to make Chime look at him differently. He had wanted to express his feelings by subtle actions.

The Blind Concubine had found it fitting to not only confess aloud. Due to Chime's lacking ability to speak, he did not think it appropriate to speak about his feelings. He knew that he personally would have not appreciated if someone would be showing him something he would not be able to see and be insensitive enough to even expect a reaction from him. The same went for Chime.

The plan though flew out of window one day, just like that.

It was not truly the Blind Concubine's fault, at least he did not think so. He had only waited way too long. He did not know when would be the perfect opportunity and he kept missing it entirely. Perhaps he was just a coward but he was still afraid of Chime's reaction.

Today, they were having a nice meal together. It was in the beginning of spring again, the ninth spring since the Blind Concubine had come to live here, in the middle of the lotus lake. And the seventh spring since he had first met Chime.

It seemed a little like destiny that once again, it was the seventh year which brought upon a change. The Blind Concubine had been previously imprisoned for seven years by the Emperor. And now it was seven years from making acquaintance with Chime. Gods could sometimes have a sense of humour really.

As the meal was progressing, the Blind Concubine was starting to fee funny. He was feeling a little hotter with every bite and it was getting hard for him to control his heartbeat.

It occurred to him that it was not just from the weather. After all, it was still pretty chilly outside, the night must have come as well. There was a fire being lit in the Blind Concubine's house, Chime had been tending to it. But it should still not be getting this hot, should it?

Suddenly, he caught himself sweating as well. Small salty beads appeared on his forehead and he was starting to feel a little funny deep inside.

Was he getting sick perhaps? Had he unknowingly gotten a fever when he had been on a walk with Chime? The Blind Concubine was damning his weak constitution. Now he was going to create even more trouble for Chime.

The Blind Concubine stopped eating and put his hands into his lap. He was trying to pretend to be alright, he did not want to worry Chime too much. He was sure that with a little rest, he would be able to recover by morning.

However, as seconds passed, he realized that it would most probably not happen. This sickness of his was progressing way too quickly. And he was getting the hottest in an unusual location for a normal fever.

The Blind Concubine's hands which were resting in his lap twitched. Something hard was suddenly touching them. And the Blind Concubine could not pretend to not know what it was. He was a man so he knew exactly what was happening. Why was he getting horny at a time like this?

It was getting harder and harder to control himself. He was losing his composure. He was also getting so hot and his head so fuzzy that he could not stop a little whiny noise escaping his lips.

***

The Emperor suddenly stopped eating when he realized that there was apparently something wrong with the Blind Concubine. He was sitting in place, fidgeting slightly and looking very flushed. He was trembling as well. Had the Blind Concubine caught a cold?

It had been quite a while since the Blind Concubine had been last sick. The imperial doctor had speculated that it was because he was now well taken care of and eating all his meals, together with having a healthier lifestyle. And more happiness and less worries were surely helping in ameliorating his condition as well the Emperor believed.

Today though, it did not look like the Blind Concubine was in perfect health.

The Emperor got worried at once and quickly reached out his hand to touch the Blind Concubine's forehead. He had to check for fever.

Although he gave the Blind Concubine no warning that he was going to touch him, he had thought it would be just fine. Lately, they had gotten even closer and the Blind Concubine was definitely not jumpy anymore. He was fine with being approached.

As the Blind Concubine had once told the Emperor, he could hear the rustling of clothes and feel the shift of the wind. So it was apparently fine if the Emperor did not ring his chime every time as a warning.

However, something seemed to be really off, the Emperor realized a second later. Before he could even check for the fever, the Blind Concubine gave out a little sound. To Emperor's ears, it was the most painful sound ever. The Blind Concubine was in distress.

The Emperor immediately got up and circled the table so he could kneel by the Blind Concubine's side. He started fretting over him. He could not tell what was happening but he could see the Blind Concubine was getting worse and worse with every second.

And then, a wave of internal heat hit him. He almost staggered at its intensity. Now he knew what was wrong, both he and the Blind Concubine had been poisoned. The Blind Concubine just got affected faster because of his frail constitution and health.

The Emperor immediately started panicking.

Who could have gotten to poison their meal? The ingredients had as always been delivered to the Blind Concubine's steps and they had cooked the meal together. He would have known if something had happened during the cooking process. So it was the ingredients which must have been tampered with.

This was bad, the Emperor had to quickly go get the imperial doctor to look at the Blind Concubine. He did not feel too bad, only his head and body were feeling funny. However, the Blind Concubine seemed to be suffering. He was now trembling more than before and his cheeks were completely red.

Another wave of heat hit the Emperor. It coursed through him until it reached his groin and made itself at home there. It intensified with every breath the Emperor took. He got hard almost without noticing it.

Suddenly, the Emperor realized just what was going on. It was no poison that he and the Blind Concubine had just eaten. It was without a doubt an aphrodisiac. And a fairly strong one at that.

The Emperor also immediately knew who had put it in their meal. Or who had ordered it to be done to be more precise.

His mother had been getting more and more insistent about him taking a wife and getting himself an heir in the near future. She must have heard the rumours about the Emperor's secret concubine and must have thought she would help him. Apparently, she had no idea that the Blind Concubine was in reality a man. He had guarded the truth perhaps too well.

The Emperor gave out a rasped and humourless laugh. Understanding the situation was good, he would have to talk with his mother once all of this was over. Now thought, he had a different problem.

The Blind Concubine gave out another whine, and this time, it was more of a moan really. The Emperor licked his lips, his self-restraint was snapping. He was also horny beyond belief; the aphrodisiac must have been a really a very strong one.