は一歩前に出て、自己紹介をする。
「どうも、私は百花宮で宮女をやっております、
「私はその付き添いだ」
雨妹が名乗らないのはともかく、
糕
を食べることになった。
もちろん、雨妹自身が食べる分もちゃんとあるのだ。
皆で部屋に入って卓を囲むと、しばらくして老女がお茶と温め直した糕を取り分けて配った。
雨妹は幸せの味を堪能してお腹が落ち着いたところで、本題に入った。
「実は、東さんの事情を聴いたのです。
雨妹が尋ねるのに、東は近所の住人から聞かれ慣れているのだろう、特に構えることもなく「はい」と頷く。
さらなる質問に、これにも頷く東が「ですが」と続ける。
「ぼんやりとなんですが、都に行かなければならないという思いがありまして。
「へぇ、そうなのですね」
雨妹は東が本当に全くなにも覚えていないわけではないらしいことに、少し安心する。
記憶障害は前世でも事故後の患者にたまにあったのだが、ほんの少しでも思い出す手がかりがあると、やりようが広がるのだ。
「都に行くことを覚えていたってことは、都によほど大事な用事があったんですかねぇ?」
雨妹の指摘に、東は少し考えるようにして応じる。
「大事な用事......はい、とても大事な事だったと思うのです。
そう話す東は、苦しそうに見えた。
――うーん、思いつめているみたいだなぁ。
思いつめると心労が続いて、思い出すのがより困難に陥るだろう。
心労はあらゆる障害をややこしくするものであるので。
「東から来られたという話だが、どのあたりにおられたので?」
どうやら彼もそれなりに興味があるらしい。
「隣国との国境に近い里だと、御厄介になった里長に言われました。
東の話を聞いた立勇が、眉を上げて少し思案するような仕草をしつつ明に視線をやると、明が軽く頷くのが見て取れた。
二人でなにやら通じ合ったようだ。
――なんだろう、すごく気になるんだけど?
雨妹はまさに華流ドラマの始まりのような状況であることに、若干ドキドキしながら、とりあえず気持ちを落ち着けようと老女が淹れてくれたお茶を口にして、予想以上に美味しいことに驚く。
この老女、実は若い頃は優秀な女官だったのだろうか?
その美味しいお茶で気分を洗われたところで、雨妹は敢えて明るい表情で東に告げた。
「東さん、失くしものというものは、案外探していると見つからないものみたいですよ?
「......そうなのですか?」
雨妹の言葉に、東が目を丸くする。
だから東さんは思いつめずに、のんびり気楽にしましょう」
雨妹がそう語ると、しかし東は「いいえ」と首を横に振る。
明が東にそう言ってやるが、しかし東の表情は晴れない。
――そう思っちゃうのも、わからなくはないけどねぇ。
自分が存在した時間の記憶や意味、目的がないと、「ここにいていいんだ」という安心感が得られず不安なのだろう。
Yui Mei stepped forward and introduced herself.
"Hello, I am a court lady from the Hundred Blossom Palace, and the subordinate of Ming's old friend."
"And I am her escort."
It actually didn't matter that Yui Mei didn't say her name, but Li Yong didn't bother to give it, too.
And so, they enjoyed the gao with everyone.
'Hm, Mei Na's gao are so yummy, no matter when, where and who you eat it with!'
Of course, Yui Mei also had her share.
Everyone sat around the table. The old lady reheated the gao and distributed it with the tea that she had prepared.
Yui Mei happily had her fill, then they moved on to their real purpose.
"Actually, we heard about Mr. Dong's condition. It seems that you lost your memories?"
Yui Mei was direct to the point, but Dong didn't stiffen, seemingly used to being asked by the people around him. He nodded, instead.
Yui Mei probed further. Dong nodded before replying.
"But, there's a persistent thought that I should go to the capital at all costs, although it is quite vague. I decided to go for it since I don't have anywhere else to go, and that's how I reached this place."
"Hmm, is that so."
Yui Mei gauged that Dong didn't seem to have completely forgotten everything and it made her feel relieved.
She also dealt with patients suffering from post-traumatic amnesia after getting involved in accidents from time to time. As long as they had the tiniest clue about their memories, their treatment options would also increase.
"Since you remembered that you have to go to the capital, there must be something urgent and important business that you have to do here?"
Yui Mei pointed it out, and Dong seemed to reflect on it while he replied.
"Important matters...Yes, I think it is indeed something tremendously important. That's why I wanted to remember what it is as soon as possible, and I tried several things in order to hasten my recollection. I also considered the possibility of remembering it if I walked around the city, but to no avail; I still can't remember anything."
Dong seemed miserable as those words spilled from him.
'Mmmm, seems like he's brooding over it...'
When a person brooded over it, remembering would become much more difficult, and the person might become more anxious.
Anxiety would complicate all illnesses.
"It was mentioned that you came from Dong; where is it, precisely?"
It seemed that he was also curious.
"The village head told me that my own village was somewhere near the provincial borders of the neighboring country and this empire. He told me that he picked me up because I had collapsed in the mountain."
Li Yong seemed to be deep in thought after hearing Dong's explanation. Yui Mei saw him exchanging glances with Ming, who lightly nodded when the two men's eyes met.
It seemed that they had a tacit understanding.
'What's up with that, I'm itching to know what's going on...'
Yui Mei's heart was pounding a bit, because it seemed that something was about to unfold like the situations in Chinese dramas. She tried to calm herself by taking a sip of tea that the old woman poured for her, when her attention was suddenly caught by the unexpected deliciousness of the tea.
Perhaps, this old woman was actually an excellent maid when she was young?
Yui Mei felt refreshed after having that tasty tea, then she turned to Dong after deliberately plastering a bright smile on her face.
"Mr. Dong, did you know that lost things seem harder to find the harder you look for them? There's also a chance of unexpectedly recalling them just when you forgot all about searching."
"...Is that true?"
Dong widened his eyes in surprise at Yui Mei's words.
"Yes, that's how it is. That's why, Mr. Dong, don't brood over it and just take it slow."
Yui Mei said, but Dong shook his head.
Ming refuted Dong's words, but he still looked gloomy.
'Well, it's not like I don't understand how he feels...'
Without memory, purpose and meaning, it would be easy to fall into the feeling of security,'Oh, it's okay to stay here', so he must be feeling anxious about that.
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