112話 熊は偉かった
「行ってきたというか、飲み屋でとっ捕まえてきたと言いますか」
「はぁ~、やっぱり相変わらずか」
に話を聞いて熊男が大きくため息を吐くと、熊の唸り声のように聞こえる。
それにしても熊男が誰なのか、会話に手がかりが出てこない。
将軍だ」
予想外の身分が出てきた。
衛将軍とは確か聞くところによると、現在の軍の最高戦力ではなかったか?
戦時などの非常時には大将軍などのもっと上の将軍職があるものの、平時では皇帝直属の軍を率いる衛将軍が実質軍の最上位だ。
そして現在皇帝は侵略をやってもやられてもいないため、臨時の将軍職をもうけてはいなかったはず。
なにせ玉の輿を狙っている宮女たちから出世頭の情報は聞くともなしに流れてくるため、雨妹にはこうした情報が自然と蓄積されるのだ。
そんな軍の最上位なお人が、今雨妹の目の前でとっくりから手酌で酒を飲んでいる。
これにはある意味、皇帝に出くわした時よりも驚きがあった。
なにせ皇帝は後宮に住んでいるのだから、運が良ければいつかは会うとわかっていた。
しかし将軍となると、戦いの場に赴かないと会えないものではないのか?
それがどうして一般兵と大して変わらない格好でここにいるのだろう?
そんなわけで想像より上の身分が出て来て、雨妹は慌てて礼をとろうとしたものの、両手に湯の器と包子を持っていて邪魔だったため、一人アワアワとしてしまう。
「落ち着け、まずは食い物を卓に置け」
「堅苦しいのはよせよせ、ここだとただの飲んだくれだよ」
立勇の忠告に被せるように、熊男、もとい李将軍がそう言ってヒラヒラと手をふる。
このような一般兵の使う食堂ではなく、もっといい店でいい酒を飲めばいいだろうに。
言ってはなんだが、ここで飲まれている酒は安酒だ。
不思議そうにする雨妹の考えが読めたのか、李将軍がニヤリと笑う。
「酒ってのはな、なにを飲むかじゃなくって、誰と飲むかなんだぜ?
なるほど、一理ある。
どうやら外で飲むと色々な輩が寄ってくるのが嫌らしい。
「将軍様って、顔が売れているんですか?」
そもそもの話を確認すると、立勇が頷く。
知らないのはお前のように田舎から出てきたばかりの者くらいだろう」
どうやら李将軍を知らなかったことで、雨妹が田舎者なのが露見してしまったようだ。
そこは事実であるし、別段恥じることでもないので気にしないが。
とうとう李将軍に尋ねられたが、雨妹としては出来れば偉い人に名乗りたくない。
「将軍様に名乗るほどの身分ではありませんが、お察しの通り下っ端宮女でございます」
雨妹がそう説明するのに、立勇は「そんな失礼な言い方があるか!」などという文句を特につけてくることはない。
けれど、李将軍はなにかピンとくるものがあったようで、身を乗り出してマジマジと眺めてきた。
顔が近くなると、余計に熊っぽくなる気がする。
そして李将軍がパン! と手で膝を打つ。
もしやうっすらと聞いたことがある、最近なにかと騒がせている宮女ってのは、おめぇか?」
何故か妙な露見の仕方をしてしまった。
Chapter 112
"Actually, rather than saying we went to his house, it's more accurate to say we captured him in a pub."
"Hah...He is still the same as ever, huh."
The bear guy heaved a deep sigh when he heard Li Yong, and it sounded like the groan of a bear.
Still, there was no hint regarding the identity of the bear man in their conversation.
"Oh, didn't I tell you? This is General Li, of Defense."
His status was totally unexpected.
Yui Mei heard about this 'General of Defense', but wasn't he the strongest person in the present military troops?
There were higher ranked military positions such as supreme commander during times of crisis such as wars, but because the present era was peaceful, the army was directly under the emperor's control. spearheaded that army, so he was considered to have the highest position in the military.
The current emperor wasn't interested in expanding his territories by raid and invasion, so that meant he didn't receive any special positions.
Yui Mei naturally knew about these things thanks to the information from the gossipy court ladies who dreamed of marrying into wealth. They would talk about the most successful people with great gusto even without being asked.
This man, who was supposedly at the pinnacle of the army, was casually pouring himself a drink and gulping it down right before Yui Mei's eyes.
Yui Mei was more shocked than when she met the emperor for the first time.
At any rate, she already expected that she would sooner or later bump into him if she was fortunate enough, because the Inner Palace was his home.
However, people would only meet generals in the battle-field, wasn't that so?
So what was this person doing here, clad in the garb of an ordinary soldier?
Yui Mei was flustered, and she hurriedly tried to pay her respects to this unexpectedly distinguished person. However, she was holding the soup bowl on one hand and the baozi on the other, and they were in the way, so she became even more flustered on her own.
"Calm down, put your food on the table first."
"Don't be too formal, I'm just an ordinary drunkard here."
The bear man -- General Li waved his hand as he said that, as if to cover up Li Yong's advice. Yui Mei put the soup bowl on the table promptly, then she timidly asked General Li.
He could've drank wine in a better place instead of the cafeteria for the ordinary soldiers.
It might be weird saying this, but the liquor here was the cheap kind.
General Li grinned, as if he read Yui Mei's mind as she wondered about it.
"Hey, for booze, it doesn't really matter what you're drinking, but who you're drinking it with, you know? If I go outside to drink good wine, the guys will go "Lord General, Lord General" nonstop. Too noisy."
He had a point there.
Apparently, different kinds of people would flock over him, and he didn't like that.
"So you're popular, Lord General?"
Yui Mei wanted to confirm. Li Yong nodded.
"In the capital, yes. The only guys who don't know anything are those who just came from the country like you."
It seemed that Yui Mei's country bumpkin background was exposed because she didn't know who the general was.
It was the truth, and there was nothing to be ashamed of, so Yui Mei didn't care.
In the end, General Li also asked about her, but Yui Mei didn't want to introduce herself as much as possible to the higher-ups. She wasn't sure about the person's connections, and her personal history might be discovered.
"I am just a humble person not worthy of naming myself before you, Lord General, but just as you said earlier, I am indeed a low-ranking court lady."
Yui Mei thus explained, and Li Yong didn't have any complaints like "How can you be so rude!".
General Li, on the other hand, seemed to have thought of something, because he leaned closer to peer on her face.
The feeling of being in the presence of a bear became stronger when he drew his face closer to hers.
General Li suddenly hit his knee.
"Hoh? Don't tell me, are you the girl I've been hearing so much about lately, the one who always raises a ruckus?"
What a weird revelation to make.
Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Palace
百花宮のお掃除係～転生した新米宮女、後宮のお悩み解決します。
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/housekeeper-of-the-hundred-blossom-palace/
Fantasy Romance Shoujo Slice of Life
Adapted to Manga Ancient China Complex Family Relationships Different Social Status Female Protagonist Imperial Harem Love Interest Falls in Love First Reincarnated in Another World Royalty
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4104ev/
黒辺あゆみ