The Chef's Immortal

Chapter Six

Nusa woke to find Ruolan and the 4th Prince gone.  She slept for a day and a night.  The Prince prepared porridge for her and watched her closely, worried.  Nusa was deteriorating more and more by the hour.  It was as though after seeing Shunyuan, she lost her soul.  He wasn't sure what made the Princess lose her feisty spirit, but he refused to allow her to fall apart now.  She just escaped death, now was the time to live.  

After breakfast, Yinxiang disappeared for a few hours, while the Princess lay back down for a little while.  She woke to the sound of clanging pots and laughing.  When she went to check out the commotion, she found the 13th Prince and Shunyuan setting up ingredients to prepare lunch.  There was a boar hung in a tree just outside the camp.  Apparently, someone went hunting.  Spices, vegetables, sauces, and rice were set up a few feet from the fire.  The 13th Prince and Shunyuan turned to the Princess smiling and bowed.

"Your kitchen, Your Highness," the Prince informed her while motioning towards the cooking supplies.  "Would you grace us with your talents for lunch, Princess?"

Nusa smiled, "So, you were listening after all."

"You will be sorely disappointed, Your Highness.  My sister has never cooked in her life."  Chuluun announced.

"We'll see about that," the Princess glared at her brother.

As she set about preparing lunch, she felt that giddiness deep inside just as she always did.  This was her joy, the kitchen.  The Princess ignored all the young men, losing herself in the preparation of dishes.  She was in the zone.  Taking the dagger the Prince gave her early in the week, she began cleaning, dressing, and marinating the boar.  Even if the ingredients were primitive, she was confident in her skills to hammer out excellent food.  The young men watched her work, amazed at her ability.

Mongolian Princesses were not allowed to step foot in a kitchen, it was considered unlucky.  But this young woman had no qualms about getting her hands dirty.  In fact, she excelled at food preparation.  By the second hour, the boys' mouths were watering.  Just the smells coming from the firepit were enough to drive a man insane.  The Princess set out dish after dish of delectable food.  All three young men waited patiently, preparing themselves for the moment she said dig in.

There was a roasted boar belly, dripping with fat.  Boar chops, thick and juicy.  And a nice, lean loin.  Two types of cabbage, one cooked with the other raw, washed leaves.  Sauteed spring onions sat to one side with bits of roasted garlic mixed in.  Sauteed zucchini.  She fried fish in the excess fat from the boar meat.  And steamed buns sat to the left of the fish.  There were different sauces lined up.  And the final touch was a large bowl of sticky rice.  The smells were heavenly. The group sat before the small feast, anticipating the flavors.

"Let's eat," the Princess declared, and the boys devoured the food that was set before them.  In less than thirty minutes they were staring at empty bowls, stuffed.

"Where did you learn to cook that way," the Prince asked, rubbing his bloated belly.

"My secret," she answered slyly.

"You've never been allowed in the kitchen, MeiMei (little sister)," Chuluun looked at her questionably.

"Just because Father didn't allow me to do something, doesn't mean I didn't find my own ways," she said.

"Well, Your Highness, that was absolutely amazing.  Allow me to clean the mess for you," Shunyuan began clearing the table and made his way to the stream with the bowls and pans.

"You are incredible, Princess," the 13th Prince blurted out before he could catch himself.

Nusa blushed and began helping Shunyuan clean.  There were many depths to this Princess that Yinxiang was excited to discover.  And his plan worked, there was color in her face once again.  Cooking revived her.  He knew he would have to put in some effort to appease the Princess but he didn't mind one bit.  After they finished cleaning, the small group moved beside the fire and began discussing living arrangements.  At the very least, they would be here for a few months, so they needed to plan ahead.