164話 見本はある意味貴重です
「なによそれ、私を誰だと思っているの......!?」
宮妓は喚き散らすが、あのやせ細った身体で抵抗などろくにできるはずもなく、そのまま連れられて部屋の外へ出されていく。
「私にこんなことをして、許されないわよ!」
宮妓のそんな叫びが廊下に響く。
宮妓が連れて行かれて声が遠ざかっていくと、男は廊下に顔を出して外にいる誰かと小声で会話をしている。
はその様子を横目に、「プハァ~」と深呼吸を繰り返す。
なんとなく呼吸も抑え気味にしていたので、気が付くと息苦しかったのだ。
「なるほど、アレがケシ汁の中毒症状か」
も多少は緊張していたのか、首をグルグルと動かしながらそう言った。
「お前が説明が難しそうであったのが今なら理解できる。
これに雨妹も頷く。
「そうなんです、アレばっかりは実際に見てもらうのが一番なんです。
前世でも言葉だといまいち響かないせいで薬物禁止の啓蒙活動で苦労していると、警察の人がぼやいていたものだ。
かといって動画にすると「大げさに演技しているんだろう」と疑われてしまうらしい。
人に伝えると言う行為は難しいのである。
雨妹がそんなことを考えている傍らで、立彬が難しい顔をしていた。
「だが、あんなのが宮城中で湧いたならば大事ではないか。
この立彬の懸念はもっともだ。
――確かに、物が煙草だけにうっかり吸っちゃいがちだもんね。
あの臭いが障害となるだろうが、逆に「珍しい煙草」という呼びかけで珍しいもの好きが寄ってくるのかもしれない。
「楊おばさんも、どうやって宮女を調べるかが悩ましそうでしたよ?」
「そうであろうな、全く頭の痛いことだ」
雨妹の言葉に、立彬はそう言ってこめかみをグリグリしている。彼も太子宮で調べる方法を案じているのだろう。
「でも私としては、この件のせいで薬としてのケシ汁の使用が禁止されたりしないか心配です。
「なるほど、では兵士はその薬をよく使っているかもしれんな」
雨妹が懸念を口にすると、立彬もそう言って眉をひそめる。
するとそこで、廊下での会話が終わったらしい男がこちらに戻ってきて、雨妹をひたりと見つめた。
が目覚めたようだ」
そう話す男に、雨妹は若干脱力気味だった全身に力を入れ直す。
――そうだ、私がここに来た目的は徐さんなんだよ。
決して、あの中毒患者を観察するためではない。
「ではこれから、お前には予定通り立ち会ってもらう」
「はい!」
男にそう告げられ、雨妹は片手を上げて返事をした。
ということで、早速徐のいる所へ移動となり、雨妹は男の後について行く。
しかし、一つ気になることがある。
「立彬様、帰らないんですか?」
そう、何故か立彬が雨妹の隣を歩いているのだ。
どうやら一緒に行くつもりらしい。
問われた立彬が、雨妹をジロリと見てくる。
「お前、一人で帰れるのか?
Chapter 164
"What, who do you think I am...!!"
The courtesan continued ranting and raving, but she couldn't resist with her body being withered as it was. She was taken outside the room.
"You'll never be forgiven for doing this to me!"
The woman's shrieks resounded through the hallway.
Her voice faded into silence as they got further away. The man then went outside the hall and talked to another guy in hushed tones.
With their figures in her peripheral vision, Yui Mei repeatedly took deep breaths.
She had unconsciously held her breath, so she felt suffocated by the time they noticed it.
"I see, so that's the symptoms of poppy juice addiction, huh.
Libin was also a bit tense, and he remarked while shaking his head.
"I get why it has been so difficult for you to explain it. It's hard to understand without seeing it for oneself."
Yui Mei agreed to what he said,
"Yes, it is still best to see that in person. It will definitely be taken lightly if it was just explained with words."
In her previous world, the police officer had also blurted out that they were having a hard time doing awareness campaigns against drugs because words weren't effective enough.
On the other hand, if they were to film a video, people would only suspect that "they are just exaggerating their performance".
Indeed, conveying the message to the people was such a hard thing to do.
Yui Mei was lost in those thoughts, when Libin commented with a complicated expression.
"Still, wouldn't it turn into a serious matter if someone like that appeared in the imperial palace? The Inner Palace won't be able to suppress this ruckus if that happened."
Libin's worries were actually justified.
'True enough, it's actually easy to smoke tobacco accidentally.'
That stench could be a hindrance, but if it was labelled as being rare, it would definitely attract the interest of people craving for novel things.
"Aunty Yang is also worried about how to investigate the court ladies, right?"
"Yeah. Goodness, it's giving me a headache."
Libin massaged his temples while replying to Yui Mei. He was also searching for a way to check the crown prince palace.
"But you know, I'm worried that poppy juice will be banned as a medicine because of this. It's an excellent painkiller, after all."
"I see, then the soldiers must've used that medicine frequently."
Yui Mei expressed her concern, and Libin frowned in response.
The man returned at that moment, probably done talking to his subordinate in the hallway. He then stared intently at Yui Mei.
"Xu Zi is awake."
When the man said so, Yui Mei roused her somewhat exhausted body.
'Oh, right, I came here because of Xu.'
She didn't come here to observe that drug addict patient.
"Alright, you're going to be the witness as planned."
"Yes!"
The man said, and Yui Mei raised her hand in response.
And so, they immediately went to where Xu was, with Yui Mei following after the man.
However, there was something that bothered her.
"Lord Libin, aren't you going back?"
Libin was walking beside Yui Mei for some reason.
It seemed that he was intent on joining them.
Libin glared at Yui Mei when she pointed it out.
"You, can you go back by yourself? The guys here aren't so kind as to escort you back to where you were previously, you know?"
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