立勇が帰りの挨拶をするより先に、明賢がそう切り出してくる。
そして徐子のことは口実で、刑部の内部について聞きたいのだろう。
――まあ刑部という場所は、よほどのことがないと立ち入り許可が出ないからな。
刑部は秘密主義というよりも、仕事柄余所者を嫌う。
それで言うと、初対面の下っ端宮女ながらも徐子への付き添いでの立ち入りをあっさり許可された雨妹が、稀有な存在だと言える。
それはつまり、雨妹の身柄の安全性を保証する情報について、刑部が掴んでいるということに他ならない。
そして立勇自身は、雨妹が無茶をして刑部の中をひっかきまわした際の、責任を取らせるという意味合いで同行させられたのだと思っている。
雨妹自身は、好奇心が他人よりもかなり強めであるものの、無害な人物だと思うが、彼女の背後にいる存在が恐ろしいのだろう。
その気持ちは立勇にだってわかる。
「問題? まさか、刑部で事件でも起きたのかい?」
驚く明賢に、立勇はまさにその「まさか」が起きたのだと説明した。
秀玲が新たに淹れてくれたお茶を飲みながら、立勇が刑部での騒動について語ると、明賢も秀玲もあっけにとられていた。
目を丸くしてそう言う明賢に続いて、秀玲がため息交じりに話す。
「しかも雨妹が対処方法を知っていたことで大事に至らなかったからいいようなものの、知らなかったらと思うと恐ろしいね」
辣椒粉の被害に遭った官吏の状況に、明賢がそう述べた。
「雨妹が言うには、辣椒粉を浴びたことによる後遺症の心配はなく、あのまま洗い流さなくても自然と回復するとのことですが、そうであってもかなり長い間苦しんだだろうとのことでした」
立勇はこう告げながらも、あの辣椒粉を浴びてしまった官吏に同情する。
雨妹曰くそれよりもずっと痛いらしいので、出来れば味わいたくない痛みである。
あの後、あの場にいた者たちは皆沐浴場に集められ、冷水をひたすら浴びせられたという。
この寒い気候の中、風邪をひくこと間違いなしだ。
状況的に官吏、しかも多少の無理がきく立場の者に、東の国の間者がいる可能性がありますが、知れるのがこうも早ければ、足取りを追うのも容易でしょう」
それに雨妹が辣椒の名を知っていたことは驚きなのだけれども、先だっては
それでも、辣椒被害の対処法の知識の出所は謎なのだが。
陳医師も雨妹の不思議な知識の根源に興味がないはずがないのだが、どうやら追及する気はないらしい。
それに尋ねたところで、雨妹はきっと「旅人から聞いたのです!」と答えるのだろう。
本人とて無理のある言い訳だとわかっているようだが、もはやこの言い分で意地でも押し通す気概のようなものが窺えた。
立勇の思考がおかしな方向に逸れようとしていると。
「またしても東か。
「苑州はここ数年で、大公の首が次々にすげ変わっているのではなかったかしら?」
「今の苑州の大公は、確か成人してもいない子どもだと聞いたかな。
明賢はそう言って顎を撫でる。
長く平穏な時が続いていた皇帝志偉の治世だが、そこに荒風が吹き込もうとしているのかもしれない
Ming Xian immediately asked Li Yong without even greeting him first.
And apparently, asking Xu Zi was just on the surface; his real intent was to know what was going on within the penitentiary.
'Well, it's understandable, since you need a very good reason to step foot inside the penitentiary, after all.'
The Ministry of Justice wasn't actually secretive, far from it. It was just that they were inherently suspicious of people given the nature of their work.
In this sense, it was actually a rare case that Yui Mei, a lowly courtlady, was immediately allowed to accompany Xu Zi despite it being the latter's first interview.
The Ministry of Justice must've gotten their hands on some information that would guarantee Yui Mei's safety.
Moreover, Li Yong himself believed that he had been sent to accompany her so that in case she recklessly behaved inside the penitentiary, he would have to bear the responsibility, so he had been allowed to tag along.
Yui Mei was very inquisitive compared to other people, but she was still harmless despite that. Even so, they must've thought that the person backing her must be someone to be feared.
Li Yong also understood their sentiments.
"Problem? Did something happen in the penitentiary, perhaps?"
Ming Xian was taken aback. Li Yong confirmed that 'something' did happen.
He sipped the freshly brewed tea served by Xiu Ling as he explained the events that occurred in the penitentiary. Both Ming Xian and Xiu Ling's jaws dropped after hearing about the incident.
Ming Xian said with widened eyes, and Xiu Ling also remarked her thoughts with a sigh.
"What a relief Yui Mei knew how to handle the situation so it didn't turn into a disaster. Just the thought of what could happen if she didn't know is giving me the chills."
Ming Xian said when he heard about the accident that befell the government official because of the chili powder.
"According to Yui Mei, we don't have to worry about the after effects of getting doused in lajiao powder. They just have to wash it off and the affected parts will heal naturally. Still, the patient must've suffered for a long time."
Li Yong felt sympathy towards the official that took the brunt of the chili powder.
Yui Mei told them that that would be much more painful than just getting sprayed on, and it was an experience she didn't want anyone to go through with.
Afterward, they gathered all the people who had been in the crime scene when the incident happened, and they were all doused in cold water.
They would surely catch a cold in this cold weather.
"...Indeed. Based on the circumstances, it is highly probable that there are some eastern spies among the government officials, moreso if the position that could do the impossible. However, it would be easy to trace their footsteps and pursue them if they were exposed so quickly like in today's incident."
Although it was surprising that Yui Mei knew the name of that chili pepper, it should also be considered that Du, the suspicious 'eunuch', had brought some luxury moon cakes with chili before.
Regardless, the source of her knowledge on how to handle the damage caused by pepper was still a mystery.
There was no way Doctor Chen wasn't interested in the source of Yui Mei's mysterious knowledge, but it seemed like he didn't have any intention of pursuing the matter.
If one were to ask Yui Mei, she would probably reply that she heard it from a traveller.
She knew it was an absurd excuse, but she seemed determined to stand with this reasoning of hers.
Li Yong's thoughts were veering towards a strange direction.
"So it's the East again, huh. East's Enshuu will probably be in turmoil."
"Hasn't Enshu been changing the Grand Dukes one after another in the past few years?"
"I heard the current Grand Duke of Enshuu is a boy who hasn't come of age yet."
Ming Xian replied while rubbing his chin.
The current emperor's reign had continued peacefully for a long time, but it seemed that trouble was brewing soon.
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