The Flower Among the Flames

Chapter 14

Zhao Meng stared suspiciously at the cauldron that was being heated over the small stone oven in the corner of the room. The water was just beginning to boil, bubbles rising up to the surface with small popping noises. Then she looked at Shao Yen, who gave her a puzzled look. Zhao Meng stared at the other sister and then at Jiang Hua, being met with the same look of "I don't know what to say" and "What the heck was going on?" Well, this was an awkward situation.

"So," Shao Yen whispered. "Who...?"

"I don't know, I thought you told him," Zhao Meng shrugged.

"Me?" Shao Yen recoiled. "I thought she told him to do it!"

"Of course, I didn't!" Jiang Hua hissed quietly, hey eyes filled with fury. "Why would I ever ask him to do something for us! For all we know he could be plotting to kill all of us!"

"Would he do that?" Shao Li asked doubtfully.

"I don't know!" Jiang Hua stared daggers into her. "But I don't like this one bit!"

"Well...this is sort of strange," Zhao Meng admitted with a nod. They all turned their eyes towards the Man of Joseon.

Humming, Seulgi took out a small knife off the counter and began to cut some scallions and onions quietly. The room was filled with the sounds of the cauldron hissing, and the sound of a knife pounding on a cutting board. His back was turned to the women which was probably the best decision for him; he needed to focus after all. But Zhao Meng still couldn't help staring at the man with a mixed look of suspicion and awe. Jiang Hua, on the other hand, stared with narrowed eyes, her hand on the hilt of her dagger. One wrong move, and he's dead. She'd make sure if it. Between the eyes. I'm going to hit him between the eyes. She told herself. Zhao Meng, however, was thinking about something else entirely.

He was cooking. Cooking. Just what the heck? When did a man, especially a man of his position, ever learn how to cook? She decided to say something. Zhao Meng cleared her throat and gained the attention of everyone in the room. Flushed with the sudden three sets of eyes staring at her questionably, she asked tentatively, "So...what are you making?"

"Soup," Seulgi said plainly, as if it were matter of fact. Satisfied with the size of the scallion and onion bits, he scraped them into the cauldron, adding a pinch of salt as well. Taking out a ladle, he drew some of the warm liquid and brought it slowly to his lips. He drank it and, staring off into space, determined that it needed something else. Meat, he thought. Is there any meat?

"We can see that," Zhao Meng pursed her lip. "But...when did you..."

"Learn how to cook?" Seulgi completed her thought with an amused expression.

The three women nodded simultaneously.

"Why? Does it bother you?"

"No, it's not that," Zhao Meng answered quickly. It was odd for a man to bother with such a task. In Ming society, as well as Joseon society, women did the majority of the cooking in the household. So this was just another thing that made Seulgi such an oddball. What other surprises does he have in store, I wonder? she thought, trying to shake herself out of certain inappropriate thoughts. Zhao Meng continued, "It's not something we'd expect...a man to do."

"Really? Is that so wrong? Do any of you want to take over? If it bothers you–"

"We just said it doesn't! Are you deaf?!" Zhao Meng snapped, receiving raised eyebrows from the Man of Joseon. What a reaction, Seulgi thought in amusement. Normally, he'd cower at the sound of a woman screaming at him...but the subject matter took up most of his attention– forgetting his fears for a moment.