198話 いよいよ
その日は薄曇りな空模様で、冷たい風が強く吹いていた。
宮城の外廷側にある、戦いによって亡くなった兵士を弔うために建てられた廟の前には、多くの人が集まっていた。
徐
がいる。
そう、徐は今からここで葬送の琵琶を弾くこととなったのだ。
集まったのは主に軍の関係者で、
は集団の端の方から観察していた。
百花宮の外であるのに、何故宮女である雨妹がこの場にいるのか? それは、隣にいる人物に連れ出されたからである。
「ふむふむ、よき天気ではないか。
徐の「亡き恋人のために葬送の曲を弾きたい」という願いを小耳に挟んだ皇帝が、「ならば片隅でひっそりとせずに、冥府に届きやすい場で弾くとよい」と言ってこの場が設けられたという話だ。
雨妹もこの話については徐から聞いていたが、様子を見守りたくても場所が百花宮の外なだけに無理かと思っていたところ、当日になって突然この杜に声をかけられたというわけである。
――この人、なんかやることがいちいち心臓に悪い!
掃除の途中にいきなり現れて、有無を言わさず連れてこられたこちらの身にもなってほしい。
杜は立彬と違って、やることの想像がつかないので怖いのだ。
「......この行事、皇帝陛下は参列されないのですかね?」
この問いに、杜は口の端を上げてニヤリと笑う。
杜はそう言って最後に太子を顎で指す。
太子に向かってその態度とは、普通の宦官ならば不敬で捕まるのではないだろうか?
しかも、この場には軍関係者がわんさかといるのだ。
それでも不思議なことに、この皇帝陛下のそっくりさんな宦官を、誰も見ようとしない。
それこそ、不自然なほどに目を逸らされている気がする。
もしかしてこのバレバレなお忍び姿は、関係者の間では広く知られているのだろうか?
それではその隣にいる雨妹の立ち位置は、お忍びに巻き込まれた憐れな新人宮女といったところか。
――私、なんか可哀想じゃない?
雨妹が一人ひっそりとため息を漏らしていると。
「それよりも、あちらから目を離すでないぞ?」
杜が真面目な声でそんなことを言ってくる。
そう、杜はなにも親切心のみで雨妹をここへ連れてきたわけではなく、ちゃんとお仕事なのだ。
仕事内容は、とある相手を観察すること。
その相手とは、明が連れている兵士である。
場違いな自分の存在におろおろしている東を、明がなだめすかしてこの場に居させようとしているのが見て取れる。
「都で一番の琵琶師を拝みたくないか?」
明が東にそう言ってここまで連れてきたということなので、来てみれば誰かの弔いの儀式なのだから、戸惑うのも当たり前だろう。
これは東が何者なのかを確かなものにできるかどうかという、ある種の勝負なのである。
このようにして、様々な思惑が入り混じった弔いの場で、徐が太子の隣から一人前に進み出て座る。
Chapter 198: Finally
Clouds dotted the sky and the cold wind blew with force.
Many people were gathered in front of the mausoleum that had been erected for the soldiers who lost their lives in war.
Xu was finally well enough to play the lute once again.
______
Indeed, Xu was about to play the flute for the burial rites that was about to be held.
The people gathered were mainly military personnel, and General Li and Ming were also among the crowd.
Yui Mei observed everything from the sidelines.
This place was already outside the Hundred Blossom Palace, so what was a court lady like Yui Mei doing here, one might ask. The reason was no other than the person beside her, the one who took her along with him.
"Hm, hm, what a nice day we have here. If the weather is bad, it will give a gloomy atmosphere, but having too much sun would be quite a mismatch to the solemn mood. Yes, this much is right."
The news that Xu wanted to play for the burial rites reached the emperor's ear, and he then declared that it would be better for Xu to play in the frontlines rather than secretly behind the scenes. The emperor then prepared the stage for her to do so.
Yui Mei also heard about it from Xu herself, but even if she wanted to do so, the venue was outside the Hundred Blossom Palace. She already accepted that it would be impossible for her to attend, when Du suddenly approached her on the day of the rites.
'Ack, everything this guy does is bad for the heart!'
He suddenly appeared while she was busy cleaning, and she was forced to accompany him willy-nilly.
Du was different from Libin; he would often do unimaginable things so it was quite terrifying.
"....Won't His Majesty the Emperor participate in this event?"
Du smirked in reply.
He then pointed with his chin towards the crown prince.
What an attitude-- if it's an ordinary eunuch, wouldn't he be captured and dragged out already for blatant impudence?
Moreover, this place was teeming with people related to the military.
And yet, wonder of wonders, nobody would even meet the eyes of this emperor doppelganger of a eunuch.
It was precisely because of that that Yui Mei had a feeling that people were awkwardly averting their gaze, eyes darting around anywhere but here.
'Eh, wait, don't tell me this obvious disguise is already widely known within his circle?'
Then, could it be that Yui Mei's current position was that of a poor greenhorn involved in this sneaky business?
'Aren't I quite pitiful?'
Yui Mei quietly sighed.
"Set that aside, and don't move your eyes away from that, alright?"
Du said seriously.
Indeed, Du didn't take Yui Mei with him out of the kindness of his heart; she was here for work.
As for the job -- she had to observe a certain person.
It was the soldier that Ming took with him.
Ming was trying to calm and assure Dong, who was embarrassed for his out-of-place presence in this event, that he could stay here.
"Don't you wanna see the number one lute musician of the capital?"
That was what Ming told him when he took Dong with him, so it was understandable that the man was confused to see that they were in a mourning ceremony for someone else when they arrived at the venue.
This event was actually a test whether Dong would be able to recall who he really was.
And so, in this venue filled people who had with various thoughts swirling in their minds, Xu, who was standing beside the crown prince, stepped forward and sat down.
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