Untouchable Lovers-Chapter 142 - 130: The Royal Descendant Can Stay by Himself_3

Chapter 142: Chapter 130: The Royal Descendant Can Stay by Himself_3

Having skillfully swished the slices of meat, Wang Yizhi had already mixed another bowl of condiments for her. Chu Yu dipped a piece into it and popped it in her mouth. The tender slice curled in the boiling soup, coated with a thin layer of the mix. Once bitten, the soft meat parted, and its fragrance spread on the tip of her tongue, complemented by the sauce that was subtly spicy with a slight hint of sweet and sour from the vinegar.

After eating a slice of meat, Chu Yu was about to reach for more when she suddenly saw Wang Yizhi mixing another bowl of condiments for Rong Zhi. She hurriedly reached out to intercept it and, getting up, stuffed it into Tian Rujing’s hands, who was standing a few steps away, “Tian Rujing, this bowl is for you, come join us.”

Contrary to Chu Yu’s expectations, who thought she would have to invite him repeatedly, Tian Rujing sat down at another empty spot next to the hot pot as soon as she finished speaking. With Tian Rujing sitting down, Yue Jiefei also scooted over next to him, and Xiao Bie, unable to stand alone, joined them at the pot as well.

Chu Yu handed an empty bowl to Rong Zhi, “Help yourself.”

Although others didn’t know, Chu Yu still remembered that day in the bamboo forest when Rong Zhi had told her about his unique sense of taste, which was complicated to explain, and Chu Yu didn’t bother elaborating it to everyone.

Accepting the bowl, Rong Zhi slightly stunned, then a smile crept up the corner of his mouth.

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Eating hot pot was a lively affair. Even though there weren’t many people present and some were withdrawn, driven by the atmosphere, they couldn’t help but merge into it, listening to Rong Zhi, Wang Yizhi, and Yue Jiefei discuss their past experiences in foreign lands.

Meanwhile, the servant brought over wine, and Chu Yu and the others drank along with the hot pot. Chu Yu didn’t remember how much she drank; the alcohol was steamed up by the heat of the hot pot, causing her blood to boil and prompting a reckless impulsiveness.

Xiao Bie was the first to leave the vicinity of the hot pot. He’d eaten very little, and seeing Chu Yu flanked by Rong Zhi to the left and Yizhi to the right unsettled him. Stepping away, he sat down cross-legged, took out the ancient zither from its case, looked up at the starry sky, and began to play.

As the melancholic melody of the zither rose, Wang Yizhi, spurred by the alcohol, tapped his chopsticks against the edge of his bowl and harmonized with the zither’s sound, singing, “Do you not see…” Just as he started, Chu Yu loudly joined in, “Do you not see, the waters of the Yangtze come down from the heavens, rush to the sea and never return!”

Wang Yizhi was startled and turned to look, only to see Chu Yu’s graceful face flushed with a coral-like glow, stunningly beautiful. Her eyes, reflecting the stars, didn’t notice Wang Yizhi’s surprise and she continued to sing, “Do you not see, in the high halls the sorrow at white hair mirrors the morning’s black hair turning to evening snow!”

Rong Zhi couldn’t help but turn his head. At that moment, Chu Yu, smiling, grabbed his hand and loudly declared, “Life should be fully enjoyed, do not let the golden goblets face the moon in vain. Heaven made me thus I must have purpose, a thousand gold pieces spent comes back again. Boil sheep, slaughter oxen, let’s have fun, for we shall drink three hundred cups!”

She sang along with the zither, though not quite in tune, her voice carried an unfettered and freeing essence. Caught in the moment, Chu Yu grabbed a pair of chopsticks and mimicked Wang Yizhi tapping on the edge of her bowl and sang, “Song of the Wine, do not stop the cups! Let me sing you a song, lend me your ears to hear.”

Ever since Chu Yu had arrived, she had carefully controlled her drinking, never getting drunk or losing composure, but today, she was drunk.

Perhaps it was the beauty of the night, or maybe because she had relaxed suddenly, or maybe because the hot pot was so festive, but she was a bit drunk, not only drunk but also sang a poem that would not appear until hundreds of years later.

Even in the most flourishing age of poetry, this “Song of the Wine” still dazzled brightly, and even if time was rolled back a few hundred years, it still radiated its unrestrained charm.

After singing it once, Chu Yu felt it wasn’t enough and began to sing it again, but this time, Wang Yizhi joined in, following Chu Yu’s lead, they both sang, “Do you not see, the waters of the Yangtze come down from the heavens…”

“You do not see, the high hall’s mirror laments the white hair…” Rong Zhi softly sang along, “Morning like black silk turns to snow by evening…”

Yue Jiefei drew out his Longsword and sang heartily as he struck the blade, “In the joy of life, let us drain every pleasure; let not the golden goblet face the moon alone. I was born with a purpose surely to be fulfilled, thousands spent will return once again…”

Chu Yu laughed as she sang, “Song of the Wine, let the cups not stop.” Pointing her bamboo chopsticks toward Tian Rujing, her eyes shimmered with drunken radiance. By the light of the fire, they appeared so clear and beautiful that it was beyond description. Tian Rujing’s heart skipped a beat, compelled to drink the wine in his hands.

Exactly! Let’s get drunk today, for we have wine today.

Chu Yu, joyous at heart, forgot all her caution and gripped Rong Zhi’s hand unreservedly, looking up to sing, “Song of the Wine, let the cups not stop. Sing a song with me, lend me your ear to hear… From ancient times, the sages were all lonely, only the drinkers leave their names… Hold sons, exchange them for fine wine, to erase eternal sorrows with thee!”

“Ah ha! To erase eternal sorrows with thee!”

Upon repeating the final phrase, she struck down with her chopstick and the porcelain bowl cracked crisply.

Chu Yu, without a glance, tossed away the chopsticks and looked up again at the sky.

The stars in the ink-blue firmament twinkled brilliantly, captivating Chu Yu. She suddenly raised her hand toward the sky and asked, “Hey, do you know that this starlight has traveled from billions of years ago to reach us?”

Compared to the age-old stars, human life is so brief, so minuscule as to be nearly insignificant.

As she gestured with her hand, everyone looked up; billions of stars, beautiful and profound, filled their sight, glimmering like countless gems emitting a moving radiance.

Perhaps in the future, they would part ways, turn against each other, entertain hatred, even face death, but this moment, like a gem in memory, would remain unforgettable even if buried in the dust.

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Another note:

Although I initially intended to use poetry from the Southern and Northern Dynasties or earlier, I spent the past two days almost entirely immersed in the library of poems, and I received suggestions from readers, but I couldn’t find anything that felt completely right: it needed to be catchy, not somber or melancholic, easy to comprehend, and preferably well-known…

In the end, I had no choice but to opt for Li Bai’s “Song of the Wine.” The plot was adjusted accordingly. This poem is truly marvelous, flowing freely like a river, completed in one breath, with a style bold and unrestrained (HCing…)