Unbridled Medical Expert Consort: Demon Prince, Be Good - Chapter 59-2

Chapter 59b: Exceptional Delicacy

“What are you going to do?” Behind her, Nalan Ye’s inquisitive voice transmitted. 

“Just wait and you’ll find out. What’s the rush? Don’t tell me that you’re still worried that I’ll run away?” Head still not turning around, Luo Qing Luan kept walking straight ahead.

She walked within the forest in all earnestness, silver needles already well-prepared between her fingers. She carefully observed each place she stepped on. 

There were lots of trees. Basically, they were all at least the diameter of a rice bowl. Some were particularly ancient, and were already large enough to wrap one’s arms around. Wild weeds were quite deep and vines could be seen everywhere. The ground was also covered by a layer of dead leaves. Now and then, she could even find some herbal medicines and wild fruits. It appeared that she should be able to find the things she’s looking for within this forest.

Going deeper into the forest, the humidity became denser, and she could even see a thin layer of moisture covering the leaves. Luo Qing Luan squat down and looked under each stone. Not finding what she wanted, she continued to move forwards.

Nalan Ye didn’t enter the forest. He only stood by the forest watching Luo Qing Luan’s figure. She was dressed entirely in white and was distinctly visible beneath the diluted and mottled moonlight. Watching her busy manner, he didn’t understand what she was looking at when she squatted down from time to time.

Was it possible that she’s looking for mushrooms?

Otherwise, what other edible thing could there be in this forest? Even if there were wild hares, they would’ve already been scared off by her. Moreover, he also didn’t feel that she had the ability to catch these small animals. 

However, if she made a request, it’s also not like he wouldn’t make a move.

Thinking about how, in a moment, he would be able to taste the food she personally cooked and prepared food, Nalan Ye suddenly found himself looking forward to it with expectations. His previous low spirits from Luo Qing Luan and Nangong Qing going out to eat together also vanished like smoke into thin air.

After waiting for quite some time, Nalan Ye still hadn’t received Luo Qing Luan’s request, so he became even more curious. What in the world was this girl doing? She still needed to make him satisfied, that was a little problematic. She couldn’t just randomly make do by finding some wild fruits to give him.

After waiting again for some time, Luo Qing Luan still had not returned. Nalan Ye became a bit impatient. 

He also didn’t deliberately want to make things hard on her. As long as she casually made something, he would also take the chance to go with the flow and give his consent. But why hadn’t she come out in such a long time? What in the world was she doing? If she wanted to find something edible, as long as she opened her mouth to ask him, he could easily catch a few pheasants, or shoot down a few wild birds, these are not difficult to do. Or else, within this river, there would definitely be fish. What was she doing, ignoring what’s close by and looking far away instead? If it wasn’t for the fact that he could see through the small cracks between the trees and had always been able to see that white silhouette moving back and forth, Nalan Ye probably would’ve suspected that she took advantage of the situation to escape.

Just when he could no longer bear it and wanted to yell out, Luo Qing Luan finally came back.

“You left for so long. What were you looking for?” Seeing that she came back in such a leisurely manner, without a speck of dirt on her body, without even stepping on some dead leaves, Nalan Ye couldn’t understand what food ingredient she was looking for.

“Don’t come over. Wait until I finish making it a call you.” Luo Qing Luan turned to the river bank and walked straight there. As she walked, she even added, “To avoid you getting disgusted upon seeing it and then have trouble eating.”

Nalan Ye became even more curious. Luo Qing Luan clearly came back empty handed. What in carnation was she making for him to eat? 

No matter. In any case, he’ll just wait. She couldn’t have really just gather some leaves and wild fruits, right?

In the darkness, Luo Qing Luan’s movements were skilled and fast. 

Very quickly, a ball of fire blazed. Nalan Ye relaxed. It seemed that this girl even brought some matchsticks* along with her, so the food must be something to be cooked, not wild fruits.

Luo Qing Luan’s rear figure blocked his view, so he couldn’t see what she was making. Even though she didn’t make large movements, very quickly the sound of a cooking fire could be heard. Even though they were separated by seven or eight meters, Nalan Ye very quickly smelled a faintly sweet yet savory fragrance.

(*TN: Chinese matchsticks were created over a thousand years ago using pine wood sticks dipped in sulfur.)

Sensing that it’s not bad, he started to look forward to it.

A girl with such an eye for quality, what kind of delicacy would she make for him to taste in the end?

After patiently waiting for about the amount of time it took to drink a cup of tea, Luo Qing Luan apparently finished cooking and called him over. “Alright. Come and taste it now.”

Her sweet-sounding voice was similar to a pearl falling into a jade plate. Nalan Ye smelled a trace of an aroma of meat in the air. Unexpectedly, he also felt a bit hungry. He sauntered over and stood behind her while asking, “What did you make?”

Luo Qing Luan extended her hand. He only saw a branch in her hand. On the branch was a slender strip of delicate looking meat. It looked luscious and translucent, just like a prawn. It was roasted over a fire until it emitted a trace of fat and also a savory aroma. Nalan Ye received it and sniffed it. Immediately, the aroma assailed his nostrils and stirred his appetite big time. 

What a special smell, should not be bad?

Probingly taking a nip, Nalan Ye immediately felt the tender and slippery, fresh and delicious taste. Even though it had a salty smell with a rather sour and sweet taste that he wasn’t ordinarily accustomed to eating, this crispy strip of meat was fresh, delicate and tasty, containing a flavor with surprisingly stood out from the masses!

This strip of meat was merely as long as two fingers and wasn’t even enough to fit the spaces between his teeth.* Nalan Ye finished it in an instant. Not only did he want more, a pang of hunger even attacked him. He asked, “Just this little bit? No more?”

(*TN: ‘Not enough to fit the spaces between teeth’ is a common Chinese expression which meant that the quantity of food is too little.)

“How’s the taste? Is your lordship the Prince of Chu satisfied?” Luo Qing Luan didn’t reply, but asked him instead. “If you’re satisfied, there’s naturally more. If you’re not satisfied, then you don’t have to eat any more.”

Unable to help it, he laughed. This bad girl. She obviously wanted him to say that he’s pleased. Nalan Ye also didn’t plan on making an issue out of it. With delicious food before him, let’s eat before speaking. He replied, “Mn, still edible, just that there’s not much of it.”

“Since you’re satisfied, then has Your Lordship also agreed to help me. Help me look into my mother’s cause of death?” Luo Qing Luan questioned carefully.

Pausing slightly, Nalan Ye was still able to hold his temper and replied, “I won’t go as far as to deceive you. Since you made food which I’m satisfied with, I’ll just agree, that’s all.”

At long last, having obtained the answer she was satisfied with, Luo Qing Luan finally couldn’t help but laugh. “Your Lordship Prince of Chu. There’s still more here that I’ve prepared for you. Please enjoy them well.” 

After she finished speaking, she passed a few more branches over, but with one look, Nalan Ye’s expression changed greatly. “What’s this?”

Luo Qing Luan answered smilingly. “Isn’t this what you ate just now?” 

As she spoke, she placed the branch under her nose and smelled it. She breathed in deeply and said, “Mm hm, not bad. Barbecued centipede is indeed a delicious delicacy. These haven’t been skinned. I don’t know whether the Prince of Chu will still be able to swallow it down?”