Conquering the Emperor

I looked down at the simple porridge that I made for him. It was indeed a far cry from the dishes that we were usually served in the palace, but I made sure that it had all the healthy ingredients, even adding in spices and herbs that I knew were good for the body.

I didn’t know what to cook for him and ended up deciding on the same porridge dish that I had cooked for him when he was wounded and a patient staying at my house. I cooked his meal for him every day back then and he seemed to enjoy his meal or, at least, he acted like he enjoyed it. I wasn’t sure if that would still be the case now that he was Ren the crown prince instead of Ren the trader, but it was the best idea that I had.

“I’ll eat it if you feed me,” Ren said almost emotionlessly. His face though was serious.

“I beg…your pardon?” I said, not believing my ears.

“I said that I’ll eat it if you feed me,” Ren repeated, slightly annoyed.

“…but…” I whispered hesitantly.

“Come over here. Sit next to me,” Ren said, waving me to his side.

I slowly got up from my seat and walked over to the seat next to his. I sat down, all the while feeling his gaze on me.

“Good. Now it should be easier for you to feed me,” Ren said with satisfaction.

“Umm…ok…” I agreed reluctantly.

I reached out to take the porcelain spoon in my shaky hands before scooping up some porridge. I’ve fed many people before when they were sick so I couldn’t quite understand why my hand is shaking so badly right now. I bit my lower lip in frustration at my own nervousness.

I didn’t dare look at Ren at all and kept my eyes on the spoon the whole time. Now what?

“Umm…Ren…” I called out to him softly as I summoned up all the courage that I had to turn towards him.

Finally, I was forced to look at him and saw that he was staring at my face. I felt myself blush and my heart beat faster as he stared at me with unwavering eyes. In that moment, I felt like everything was happening in slow motion as I extended the spoon towards him.

Then suddenly, everything stopped.

“Why are you so nervous?” Ren asked casually, his large hand had reached out to hold on shaky wrists, steadying it.

“I’m…not…” I denied; however, I didn’t sound convincing even to my own ears.

“Really? Your hand is shaking so much you’re about to spill everything in the spoon,” Ren teased before laughing a little.

With his hand holding mine, he guided the spoon towards his mouth. I watched, mesmerized, as the spoon entered his mouth and Ren tasted the porridge that I made. I held my breath in anticipation for his reaction to the food that I made. Then I realized that I had forgotten to blow on the porridge before feeding it to him.

“Ren…is it too…hot?” I asked, worriedly.

“Yes, it burned my tongue just now. I guess you have a long way to go before you’ll make a good wife,” Ren said sternly, his sharp eyes meeting mine.

“Oh…” I whispered as I looked down, feeling ashamed of myself.

Never mind not being a good wife and all that, blowing on porridge before feeding it to a patient was standard procedure and I completely forgot to do that. Ren was right, how could I ever be a good wife to any man.

“Don’t look so dejected. I was only toying with you…” Ren said with a gentle smile as his large hand patted the top of my head softly.

“Ren…?” I whispered his name questioningly.

“The porridge was warm, and it tastes amazing…just like the woman who made it,” Ren said as he smiled brightly at me.

“Really?” I asked, sounding more hopeful than I wanted.

“Yes, really. This taste really takes me back to the time when you were healing my injured arm…” Ren said as he seemed to think back to those days we spent together.

“So, you remember…” I whispered softly. I didn’t think that he would remember the food that I cooked for him.

“…I wish…” Ren mumbled softly but didn’t say anything more.

“Ren?” I said his name in wonder. I wonder what he was going to say…just now.

“Never mind. You’re a good cook and you have a warm heart; you’ll make some man a good wife for sure one day…” Ren said as he patted my head adoringly.

I couldn’t help but smile at his words. Ren’s compliments were as rare as diamonds and gems…if not rarer.

For a moment, I truly wondered what Ren was about to say. What was it that Ren wished for? Most of all, I wondered if his wish was the same as mine…

“Ren…” I called his name softly, but my question died on my lips. Ren probably noticed my hesitation because he did not press me to continue.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. You’re stuck with me for now…” Ren said playfully as he winked at me.

I couldn’t stop myself from laughing at him and at my own thoughts. In that moment, I forgot all about our previous arguments or what the future would hold for me, for him or for us. In that moment, I didn’t mind being stuck with him.

“Aren’t you hungry? You haven’t eaten, right?” Ren asked suddenly.

“It’s ok, I’m not hungry…” I replied.

“Here, let me feed you. Open wide,” Ren said as he took the spoon away from my hand and began directing it to my mouth.

“No…it’s really ok…” I said quickly.

“Hmm…maybe I’m the one doing it all wrong. Maybe…you want to be fed like this?” Ren said.

I watched quizzically as Ren took a spoonful of porridge into his own mouth. Before I understood what he planned to do, it was already too late. His fingers had already lifted my chin, tipping my face upwards towards him. I moaned softly when his warm lips pressed firmly against my own.

Without hesitation, Ren’s lips urged mine open and I slowly complied to his wish. So, this is what he meant by feeding me. I tasted the porridge that I made mixed with the taste of Ren’s kisses. I wasn’t sure if it was the porridge or his kiss that made my feel so warm inside.

--To be continued....