Untouchable Lovers

Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Sour, Sweet, Bitter, Spicy, Salty (Lifted Ban)

Chu Yu returned to the mansion as the sky dimmed at dusk. After a day full of setbacks, she felt somewhat exhausted but did not rest. Instead, she asked for Rong Zhi’s whereabouts and went straight to find him in his courtyard without even changing her clothes.

On the carriage ride, she had already detected the hidden agenda behind the events. Recalling the peculiar expressions of the palace attendants she encountered, she had an epiphany, realizing that the palace would likely be abuzz with rumors tomorrow.

But she did not care.

Not having found Rong Zhi in the house, Chu Yu returned to the bamboo forest. This time, Rong Zhi was not sitting on the green stone platform which one could see upon entering the forest. The stone platform was deserted and cold to the touch when Chu Yu laid her hand on it.

Surely, Rong Zhi’s heart was not at peace, just like hers. The goal of three years had suddenly vanished, and such an abrupt turn of events would be hard for anyone to come to terms with.

Rong Zhi must be in some hidden corner, silently pondering.

Just as she was about to turn around and search elsewhere, Chu Yu caught a whiff of a faint aroma, seemingly of grilled meat. Her heart stirred, and she walked deeper into the bamboo forest. As she walked, the scent grew stronger, reminding her that she had hardly eaten anything that day with all the to-and-fro to the palace.

At the corner of the garden, by the edge of the bamboo forest, Chu Yu unsurprisingly saw Rong Zhi. He was sitting casually on the ground, with a fire burning in front of him and a wooden rack supported over it. A tree branch was suspended across the rack, with a bird skewered on it, slightly smaller than a chicken and roasted to a golden brown, though she couldn’t tell what species it was.

The fragrance originated from this barbecued bird.

Her heart suddenly felt at ease, though she wasn’t sure if it was because of the bird or the person.

Rong Zhi’s handsome and refined face was expressionless, with his white clothing stained with a bit of soot. The flickering firelight danced, failing to illuminate his eyes as dark as ink. It seemed like any light that entered his gaze was completely absorbed.

Even while grilling, he appeared calm and graceful, his movements fluid and natural.

Picking up a bottle next to him, he sprinkled some powder on the bird, and the aroma immediately became irresistibly enticing. Chu Yu couldn’t hold back any longer, and quickly approached, sitting across from Rong Zhi, laughing, “Let’s share half on meeting.”

Rong Zhi glanced at her, not surprised, and smiled faintly, “Is the Princess sure she really wants to eat?”

Chu Yu laughed, “Are you suggesting you’ve poisoned this spot?”

“Of course not.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

Gazing at Chu Yu for a moment, Rong Zhi revealed a peculiar smile. He moved the wooden rack with the roasting meat aside, cooled it for a moment, then drew a slender knife, no longer than a palm’s length, from his sleeve. He sliced off a piece of meat from the bird’s leg, about half the size of a palm, skewered it on the blade, and handed it to Chu Yu, “We lack proper utensils at the moment, so I hope the Princess will make do. Eating this way also has its own unique charm. The Princess might wish to try it.”

The slice of roasted meat was less than half an inch thick, one side browned and dripping with juices, and the other side white and tender. The sight and smell were so tantalizing that Chu Yu took the knife handle, blew on the meat carefully a few times, making sure it wasn’t too hot before she put it in her mouth.

After a moment, Chu Yu stopped chewing expressionlessly. Rong Zhi gave a knowing smile and pointed to the fire, signaling her to spit it into the fire, then casually took the knife from her hand as well.

Chu Yu hesitated momentarily but ended up forcibly swallowing the morsel, then looked at Rong Zhi, considering her words, “Did you… use the wrong seasoning?” The meat itself was perfectly grilled, the skin crispy while the insides remained tender and delicious to the bite, but the problem lay with the seasoning that had infused the meat.

The flavor of the roast wasn’t outrageously off, not like those of novices who over-salt or under-season their dishes. There was just a subtle distortion, with an inexplicable bitterness and sweetness mixed into the saltiness permeating the meat. These conflicting tastes combined to create a strange sensation on the palate.

It was like mixing colors incorrectly, where green should have been the result, but inadvertently, red and yellow pigments were mixed in, creating an odd overall hue.

Given Rong Zhi’s intelligent appearance, he didn’t seem to have the makings of a culinary novice, so how could this happen?

Rong Zhi smiled lightly, not offering any explanation. He examined the knife, with most of the piece of roast Chu Yu had left untouched still on the blade. He did not discard it but instead bit off a small piece from it gently.

Nibbling on the thinly sliced meat elegantly, Rong Zhi ate with great composure and enjoyment, as if he was not at all perturbed by the bizarre taste.

Chu Yu looked at him and suddenly thought of a possibility, “You… can’t taste anything?” If that were the case, then it would make sense. Just as someone who is colorblind has trouble with perfect color coordination, a person without taste wouldn’t know what real delicacy is and naturally would find it difficult to make delicious meals.

But as soon as she voiced her guess, Chu Yu refuted her own speculation, “No, that’s not right. If you can’t taste anything, why would you season the food? Is there something wrong with your taste… I mean your tongue?” Chu Yu pondered aloud.

Rong Zhi lowered his head to bite off the last piece of meat from the knife blade, the firelight casting a soft, moist glow on his pale lips. His eyelids drooped like a fan, and a few strands of his black hair fell, partially covering his face.

When he raised his head again, he looked to the side and smiled, “Yue Jiefei, could you do me a small favor? Please tell the cook to bring only the wild rabbit they’ve prepared.”

Yue Jiefei was usually inseparable from Chu Yu, following her like a shadow; however, as a guard, he often hid himself in inconspicuous places, hard to detect. Hearing Rong Zhi’s request, he first glanced at Chu Yu, and after seeing her nod, he turned and left.

After Yue Jiefei had left, Rong Zhi resumed speaking, “My tongue…” he paused, as if pondering how to phrase his next words, “The flavors I taste are somewhat different from others. What others find bitter, I taste a hint of sweetness, and what is said to be sour, I feel is a bit salty. What I find delicious is not necessarily the same for others.”

He gave a slight shrug of his shoulders. His tone was resigned yet indifferent, “That’s just how it is.” The cooks at the Princess Mansion were all aware his preferences differed from others and would prepare a separate dish just for him, but they didn’t know the reason why.

Chu Yu was astonished and after a moment, she asked, “Who else knows about this, besides me?”

Rong Zhi smiled faintly, and carefully picked another small piece of meat from the now slightly cooled bird. His right arm, which had been broken, no longer required a sling, but still couldn’t bear too much force. Yet his uninjured left hand was exceedingly nimble, and his movements were as light and agile as a swift, “No one else has ever inquired about it. They just think I have unusual taste preferences, so only the Princess knows the real reason behind it.”

Chu Yu frowned, “How could this be?” With his sense of taste, wouldn’t dining with others be very inconvenient?

Rong Zhi let out a laugh and licked his lips, now glossy with grease, “Actually, it used to be normal like everyone else’s when I was a child. Perhaps after trying too many poisons, it somehow changed to this. I don’t know how to cure it, but since it doesn’t cause much trouble, I’ve lived with it over the years.” As he couldn’t eat what others made, he had taught himself to cook, inadvertently developing a good culinary skill, which could be considered an unexpected gain.

Rong Zhi spoke lightly, but Chu Yu understood that his “living with it” had not been so pleasant. Seeing he preferred not to talk more about it, she didn’t pry and changed the subject, “Why hasn’t Yue Jiefei returned yet?”

Looking at Chu Yu momentarily, Rong Zhi swept his gaze playfully around her surroundings and then smiled enigmatically, “I’m afraid he won’t be able to return anytime soon.”

Indeed, as Rong Zhi had said, the cleaned and gutted rabbit had been delivered by the kitchen servant, but Yue Jiefei had not yet returned.

Rong Zhi efficiently skewered and cut the rabbit, placing it over the fire. As he turned the meat and seasoned it with salt and sauce, a delicious aroma soon wafted through the air.

Chu Yu glanced at the bird by him, which he had barely eaten, and couldn’t help but ask, “How much do you plan to eat in one meal?” Was one bird not enough?

Rong Zhi smiled, “This is prepared for you, Princess. Though my preferences may be unusual, preparing ordinary meals isn’t difficult. Please wait a moment, Princess, it will be ready soon.”

After Rong Zhi finished roasting the rabbit and extinguished the fire, he handed it over to Chu Yu. She found it extremely delicious and decided to have her supper right there.

By the quiet bamboo grove, as dusk deepened into darkness, a man and a woman, a bird and a rabbit, each with their own, smiled at each other. The scene was peculiar but had an endearing charm to it.@@novelbin@@

After the two had eaten their fill and rested for a while, Yue Jiefei returned with an expression of joy, as if he had learned some pleasing news. Rong Zhi gave him a slight smile, glanced at Yue Jiefei, then at Chu Yu, and stood up. He dusted the ash off his robe with a flick of his wide sleeve and said, “Princess, your timing is perfect. I have something to tell you. Please come with me.”

Chu Yu instinctively inquired, “What is it?”

Rong Zhi smiled, “Have you forgotten, Princess? The three tasks you assigned me the other day, the first one…” has now been completed.

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In collaboration with the Qidian event, three chapters have been unlocked~~~