144話 お仕事ですね!
掃除が滞っている場所を指定されるのは、たまにあることだ。
けれど今回は、なんとなく楊の表情が気になった。
――どことなく意味深な顔である気がする。
「いいですけど、どこなんですか?」
多少の警戒心を抱きつつ問う雨妹に、楊が告げる。
「教坊だよ」
「行きます!」
雨妹が間髪入れずに即答するのに、楊がため息を吐いた。
「まあ、食いつくだろうとは思ったけれどね。
雨妹の勢いを、楊がそう窘める。
「うぐっ......、気を付けます」
確かに、どんなことでも前情報というのは大事だ。
そして今回の願ってもない仕事でも、疑問がある。
「なんで教坊の掃除が不人気なんですか?
そう、教坊の掃除が嫌われているなんて話を、雨妹はこれまで聞いたことがなかった。
というか、教坊という場所が話に上がったことがなく、だから教坊という場所があることを知らなかったのだ。
だから教坊のことを知っても、そこの掃除にこれまで回されてないことから、楽器などの高価なものが保管されているだろうと考えると、新人宮女が入れない特別な場所なのだろうと思っていたのだが。
雨妹がそうした仮説を脳内で整理していると、楊が難しい顔をした。
「そういう連中が一部いることは確かだが、別に宮妓と近しく接する必要もないし、それほど今まで厭われる場所じゃあなかった。
この楊からの説明を聞いた雨妹は目を瞬かせて、さらに質問する。
「理由はなんでしょう?
そう言って首を捻る楊にも、理由がさっぱりわからないらしい。
立彬とも話したが、宮妓は誰かが所有していた妓女を贈られたとか、潰れたお家の生き残りであることがほとんどだ。
贈られた妓女だとて宮城での作法ができる人物であることが必須で、すなわち宮妓とは元々裕福な生まれである女が多い。
ゆえに自ら掃除をするだなんて、したことがない人たちなのである。
だから掃除の手が入らないとなると、雨妹が最初に掃除した王美人の屋敷のようになっているのではないだろうか?
――保管してある楽器が埃を被っていたりとかしないかな......。
雨妹はそんな心配が湧いてきて、ぜひ掃除をしに行きたくなった。
「お前さんばかりに嫌な場所を押し付けるのは申し訳ないがね、ちょいと掃除に行って、どんな具合なのか見てきてくれるかい?」
「つまり、掃除と、他の人たちが教坊を嫌う理由の調査ですね?」
こんな妙な事をしてくれそうなのは、小妹くらいしか思い当らなくてね」
雨妹の確認に、楊は困ったような顔で告げる。
なんだか、風向きがおかしな方向になってきたではないか、と雨妹は不謹慎かもしれないが、ちょっとワクワクしてきた。
――これって、探偵モノっぽい話じゃない!?
雨妹は前世で、推理ドラマもそこそこ好きだった。
自分が事件の当事者になるのは御免被るが、調査だなんて心が躍るというものだ。
「まあ、野次馬根性は程々にしておきな。とにかく頼んだよ」
力強い雨妹の宣言とは逆に、楊は少々不安そうな顔になるのだった。
Chapter 144
She was also assigned to places where cleaning work had stagnated from time to time.
However, Yang's expression this time around bothered her.
'That's quite a deep expression she's making, somehow.'
"I'm okay with it, but may I know where it is?"
Yui Mei was on her guard as she asked Yang, who then answered.
"It's Jiaofang."
"I'll go!"
Yui Mei replied in a flash, which made Yang heave a sigh.
"Well, I already knew you're going to take that bait. Xiao Mei, you should ask first for more information, you know."
Yang chided Yui Mei for going head-on.
"Urk...Yes, I'll be more careful."
Indeed, getting information was crucial before doing anything.
Besides, she also held some doubts regarding this job that fell on her lap without asking for it.
"Why is the cleaning duty at Jiaofang so unpopular? Is it because of the courtesans?"
It was the first time that Yui Mei heard about how people didn't like cleaning Jiaofang.
Well, to be precise, Jiaofang had never cropped up in their conversations, so she didn't know that such a place existed prior to this.
When she finally knew what Jiaofang was, she assumed that the reason why she hadn't worked there before was because novice court ladies weren't allowed entry, due to the expensive stuff such as musical instruments.
Yui Mei was wrapping her head on such a theory, but Yang just made a complicated expression.
"Yeah, there are a bunch of guys like that over there, but there's no need to interact with those courtesans in the first place, so there's really no reason for the court ladies to loath that place, either. On the contrary, they even thought that they could be carefree without fear of being scolded since there are no higher-ups over there. A lot of people don't like that so we're getting a lot of complaints from Jiaofang."
Yui Mei blinked her eyes in confusion when she heard Yang's explanation, so she posed another question.
"Then what is the reason, if I may ask? Is it like the case with cleaning around the chestnut tree? Did something bad happen?"
Yang shook her head. Even she didn't know the answer.
Libin also told Yui Mei that those courtesans were harlots that were formerly owned by somebody else and sent as gifts, or else they were survivors of fallen families.
Even if that harlot was a gift, she needed to follow the etiquette of the palace, so there were a lot of those harlots who were born into wealthy families.
In short, these courtesans probably had never done any cleaning themselves.
If nobody came to clean this place, then wouldn't it be like Lady Wang's place back when Yui Mei cleaned it for the first time?
'I wonder if the instruments are now covered all over with dust...;'
Yui Mei became worried about that, so her desire to clean that place became stronger.
"Sorry for always pushing those unwanted places to you. But, can you clean that place while checking the situation?"
"In short, I'll go investigate the reason why the others don't like that place while cleaning it?"
"That's right. I can only think of Xiao Mei when it comes to odd jobs like this."
Yang looked worried when Yui Mei tried to confirm what's expected of her.
Yui Mei sensed that the wind's going in an unexpected direction. It might be inappropriate, but it's making Yui Mei's nerves tingle in excitement.
'Wait, isn't it like I'm doing detective work like a sleuth!?'
Yui Mei was also fairly interested in the mystery and thriller genre in her previous life.
She didn't want to be a person directly related to the case, but she's thrilled to be part of the investigation party.
"Well, just keep that "spirit of curiosity" in check, okay. Anyways, I'm leaving it to you."
Contrary to Yui Mei's lively declaration, Yang seemed to be uneasy.
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