25話 呪い憑きの皇子
「でもなんかあれって、どっちが偉いのかわからないんですけど」
あの女官は、どう見ても皇子のお世話をする人の態度ではない。
昭儀の実家から付いてきた女官だからな」
女官は宮女から出世する以外に、妃嬪が実家から連れてくる世話係が女官として入る場合があるのだが。
貴妃の時といい、実家から派遣された女官というのはああいう人が多いのだろうか。
――まああの手の人材は、もしもの時の代わりって話も聞くし。
が死んでしまった場合、後釜を他家に奪われるのを避けるために、すぐに代われる代理を女官として従わせるそうだ。
前世のドラマでもその手のドロドロしたシーンを見たことがあるので、あの女官もそうやって送り込まれた女なのかもしれない。
「しかし逃げ出すだなんだって、話が不穏ですね」
雨妹は皇子の出て来た茂みに視線を向けた。
皇子が本当に逃げて来たのだとしたら、あんな場所から現れたのも頷ける。
あの女官の連れて行き方も強引で、まるで「絶対に逃がさない」と言わんばかり。
痩せていることといい、なにか事情があるのは間違いないだろう。
皇子の身の上を想像して思案する雨妹に、立彬が告げる。
皇子は、立場があまり良くない」
「というと?」
詳しい話を聞きたがる雨妹に、立彬は「これも知らないのか」と呟きため息をついた。
「友仁皇子は皇太后に『呪い憑き』とされてしまったせいで、危うい状況なのだ」
またまた『呪い憑き』ときた。
――呪いが好きだな、皇太后!
もしかして理解ができない現象は、全て呪いで片付ける類の人なのかもしれない。
それでは思考停止しているも同然で、上に立つ人間としてはどうなのだろう。
「っていうか、呪いってなんのですか?
雨妹が思いつく呪いの症状を上げてみると、立彬が嫌そうな顔をした。
「......それはそれで不気味だが、全く違う。
その様子を目撃した皇太后が、「呪い憑きだ」と断定してしまったのだという。
「食事の席で、ねぇ......」
子供・食事・痩せているとくれば、思い当たることがあるのだが。
「あの皇子殿下が食事をして具体的にどんな行動をするのか、詳しく知りたいんですけど」
この言葉に、立彬が軽く眉をあげた。
「どういうことだ、なにを知っている?」
当然の疑問だろうが、情報がない今の時点ではなにも言えない。
「知っているものなのかを、確かめたいんです」
まっすぐ見上げる雨妹に、立彬が「ふむ」と思案する。
「太子殿下ならば、皇太后が糾弾した場にも同席していたはずだが」
つまり、太子に話を聞くかと提案されているわけで。
今なら太子宮にいるはずだという。
「......そこって、おやつを食べても怒られません?」
雨妹は、懐にある饅頭の包みを気にした。
ダメならここで食べてから行きたいのだが。
まあ、茶ぐらいは出してもらえるか」
呆れた様子の立彬だが、それはつまりおやつの持ち込みOKということだろうか。
雨妹は俄然行く気になってきた。
「よぅし、さあ話を聞きに行きましょう!」
というわけで雨妹は太子宮へ向かう。
太子宮では綺麗な格好をした女たちが、大勢行き交っていた。
その回廊を下級宮女が太子付きの宦官に連れられて歩けば、目立つのは当たり前で。
「なに、あの娘」
「立彬様に連れられているけど」
あちらこちらから不躾にジロジロ見られてヒソヒソされる中、雨妹はそんな視線をものともせず、建物の観察に忙しい。
雨妹はキョロキョロとしながら、ポツリと零す。
案外落ち着いた、悪く言えば地味な内装は意外な気がする。
建物自体に施されている彫刻などの装飾はともかく、高そうな壺とか置物があまり見られないためだろう。
「そういう装飾は、殿下があまり好まれないからな」
「そうなんですねぇ」
――余計な置物がないと、掃除をする方としては助かるな。
そんなことを思いながら歩いてくと、やがてとある部屋へとたどり着く。
「ただいま戻りました」
扉の前で立彬が呼びかけると、中から「どうぞ」と太子の声がする。
扉が開かれると、正面の机で書き物をしている太子の姿があった。
室内は年配の女官が一人付いているだけで、他には誰もいない。
「お帰り......おや、雨妹じゃないか」
笑顔で迎えた太子がこちらを見て目を丸くするので、雨妹は頭を下げる。
「顔を上げなよ。雨妹がここに来るとは珍しいね、なにかあったのかい?」
「はい、実は......」
筆を置いた太子が雨妹に声をかけてそう問いかけるのに、代わりに立彬が説明してくれた。
Chapter 25
"Somehow, you can't see who's the master between them."
No matter how you look at it, that should not be the behavior of a person taking care of the imperial prince.
"It can't be helped, that's a maid that accompanied Consort Hu from her maiden family."
Aside from maids being promoted from their court lady status, there were also instances when they were brought along from the consort's family to serve.
Just like the case with Noble Concubine Jiang, there were many people like her among the maids deployed from the parental abode.
'Well, personnel like her must have heard about what would happen when the time comes.'
In order to prevent other households from snatching the position of second wife in case the concubine died, they would arrange the woman who could be the substitute to accompany the concubine as her maid.
Those kinds of muddy scenes were also depicted in the movies in her previous world, so she deduced that that maid might have been sent for that reason.
"But saying 'she won't let him run away' sounds disturbing, right."
Yui Mei looked at the thicket where the imperial prince emerged earlier.
If he really ran away, then it would make sense why he appeared from that place.
The way the maid took him was also overbearing, short of saying 'she won't ever let him go'.
There must be a reason why he was so thin, no doubt about it.
As Yui Mei contemplated the imperial prince's circumstances, Libin replied.
"Hey, don't get involved too deeply. Imperial Prince Youren's situation is not that good."
"What do you mean?"
"You don't know about this, too?," Libin grumbled and sighed.
"Imperial Prince Youren was branded as 'cursed' by the empress dowager, so he is currently in a precarious situation."
A curse again.
'That empress dowager really loves curses!'
Perhaps, she might be the type of person who would chalk it up to a curse if she did not understand something.
Then that was the same as refusing to think critically, but what would be the implication if it was an eminent person?
"Rather than that, what was the curse? Does he laugh suddenly, or break into a dance?"
When Yui Mei stated the symptoms of curses she recalled, Libin frowned.
"... That is also creepy, but it's completely different. Apparently, there were a lot of instances when Imperial Prince Youren would start behaving abnormally during meal times."
After the empress dowager witnessed it for herself, she declared that he was possessed by a curse.
"So it was during meal times, huh..."
With regards to children, food, and losing weight, she had an inkling as to what it was.
"I would like to know more about the imperial prince's specific behavior when he is having his meal."
Libin raised his brow at Yui Mei's words.
"What do you mean, do you know something?"
It was only natural to be asked like that, however, she did not intend to divulge information while she's still lacking information.
"I do have an idea, but I want to confirm it first."
Yui Mei stared directly at Libin as he said 'hmm' while he deliberated.
"If I'm not mistaken, His Highness the Crown Prince was also present when the empress dowager censured him."
In other words, he was suggesting they ask the crown prince.
He was probably in his office at this time.
"... Can I eat my snacks there?"
Yui Mei was concerned about the package containing manju hidden in her breast pocket.
If it was not allowed, then she planned to eat it before going there.
"You are... Well, we can at least serve some tea."
Even though Libin looked exasperated, he did give her the go- signal to bring her snack. Moreover, there would be tea, so it must be a splendid place.
Suddenly, Yui Mei became eager to go.
"Alright, let's go and listen to that story!"
And so, Yui Mei headed towards the crown prince's palace.
Crowds of beautifully dressed ladies went to and fro the crown prince's palace.
It was only natural that a low-ranked court lady led by the crown prince's attending eunuch would draw attention as they walked through the corridors.
"What's with that girl."
"She's being led by Libin, though."
She was being ogled and whispered at from all directions but Yui Mei ignored them all, as she was busy observing the building.
Yui Mei muttered as she looked around.
The furnishing gave off an unexpected vibe since they were surprisingly low-key, or in rude terms, plain.
It must be because apart from decorations such as engravings on the building itself, there were few tall vases and other ornaments that could be seen.
"His highness is not fond of such decorations."
"Yes, indeed."
'It's easier for the cleaner if there were no unnecessary ornaments.'
She walked while contemplating this, and they arrived at a certain room.
"We have returned."
Libin called out in front of the door, and the crown prince's voice resounded from within the room.
When the door was opened, the crown prince was sitting behind the front-facing desk, and his writing figure greeted them.
There was no one else inside the room except for the elderly maid attending to him.
"Welcome back...Oh, if it isn't Yui Mei."
The crown prince's eyes widened at her as he greeted them with a smile, so Yui Mei bowed her head.
"Raise your head. It's rare for Yui Mei to come here, did something happen?"
"Yes, the truth is..."
The crown prince put his brush down and asked Yui Mei, but Libin explained in her stead.
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