116話 明の反応
「旦那様は、夜にきちんと寝所で休んだのがよかったのか、今朝から顔色も機嫌もよろしゅうございましてね」
将軍の前を行く老女がそう話しながら、寝所へと案内してくれる。
やがてある部屋に近付いたところで、酒臭さが鼻につきはじめた。
がいるようだが、臭いでわかるというのも嫌なものだ。
「酒狂いの臭いがしやがる。
李将軍がそんなことを漏らす。
まずは、老女が一人中へ入って明へ話しかける。
「旦那様、昨夜に介抱してくださったお方が、またいらしておりますよ」
「なにぃ?
中から明のものであろう声が聞こえてきた。
立勇の名前が出たのは、昨夜は二人して名乗りはしなかったものの、雨妹が呼んだ名前を老女が覚えていたのだろう。
「生憎と、立勇じゃあねぇんだな」
そこへ、李将軍がズカズカと入っていく。
「将軍閣下......!? なぜここへ!?」
これには明がビックリ仰天というような声を出すが、生憎と雨妹の視界からは李将軍に隠されて明が見えない。
寝台の上にいる明は、ぐしゃぐしゃな寝具の上にだらけた格好で座っていて、ただポカンとした顔で李将軍を見ていた。
確かに、昨日よりもマシな顔色である。
――やっぱり睡眠は大事だね。
雨妹が頷いたその瞬間、明と目がバチッと合う。
そう叫んだかと思ったら、「ヒィッ!」という短い悲鳴と共に、身体を小さく丸めてしまう。
「すまねぇ、勘弁してくれぇ!」
雨妹がこの謎の行動に首を捻るのに、明はただただそう叫ぶばかり。
「なんだなんだ? なんの話だ?」
これには李将軍も驚いて尋ねてくるが、こちらとてさっぱりわからないため、雨妹は首を横に振るしかできない。
「旦那様、どうなされたのですか!?」
老女が身体を揺すって尋ねるのに、明は「すまない、すまない」と涙交じりに繰り返すばかり。
しばらく様子を見守っていた李将軍が、やがて大きく息を吐いた。
雨妹もこうも怯えられては、話ができなそうだと納得する。
「おい明、しばらく酒は飲むんじゃねぇぞ!
李将軍が怯える明にそう叫ぶと、その場から退出した。
「わざわざご足労いただいたのに、申し訳ございません」
追いかけてきた老女が深々と頭を下げる。
「いいってことよ、また出直すわ」
ヒラヒラと手をふる李将軍の横で雨妹は笑顔を見せて、屋敷を後にした。
それからしばらく、二人無言で歩いていたのだが、角を曲がって屋敷が見えなくなってから、李将軍が立ち止まって振り返る。
「明のあの様子を知れば、さぞ陛下も悲しまれようなぁ」
李将軍が惜しむようにそう言った。
「皇帝陛下が、ですか?」
まさかの名前が出て来て雨妹がギョッとするのに、李将軍が顎を撫でながら話す。
「あの明はな、かつては皇帝陛下お気に入りの御付きだったんだよ」
聞いた内容に、雨妹は眼を瞬かせる。
「それって、太子付きの立勇様みたいなものですかね?」
将軍の覚え目出度いとは立勇から聞いていたが、まさか皇帝からも目をかけられていたとは驚きだ。
「陛下はよほど信頼していたのか、お忍びにも明を付き添わせていたもんだ」
「それは......、えらく信頼されていたんですね」
雨妹は李将軍にそう応じながら、以前に太子から聞いた「お気に入りを連れてのお忍び外出」の話を思い出す。
そしてもう一点、気になるのは。
先程の明の叫んだ「慧」とは、雨妹の母――すなわちかつての張美人の名前なのである。
Chapter 116
"Master apparently had a great night's sleep since he was properly lying down on his bed. His complexion and mood are both great this morning."
The old woman chattered while leading Yui Mei and General Li to the bedroom.
The stench of alcohol started to cloy to their nostrils as they drew nearer.
It seemed Ming was really here, but it was a bit unpleasant to be identified with that odor.
"He reeks, really turned into a booze- crazed guy, huh. This is a lot more severe than what I've heard."
General Li muttered.
The old woman entered the room first and started talking to Ming.
"Master, the person who tended to you last night is back."
"Whaaat? Liii Yooong?"
A voice that was obviously Ming's floated from inside the room.
Yui Mei and Li Yong didn't introduce themselves last night, but the old woman remembered his name when Yui Mei called out to him.
"Unfortunately, it is not Li Yong."
That's when General Li barged in.
"Your Excellency!? Why are you here!?"
Ming blurted out in surprise. Unfortunately, General Li was standing in front of Yui Mei and she couldn't see what was going on. Nevertheless, she was curious about his complexion since the old woman mentioned that it was better, so she poked her head out from behind General Li.
Ming was sitting on the bed. He looked disheveled and listless as he blankly stared at General Li.
Indeed, his complexion was a lot better compared to yesterday.
'Yup, as expected, sleep is essential.'
The moment Yui Mei nodded, her eyes met Ming's.
He suddenly shrieked, and at the same time, he curled himself into a ball.
"Sorry, forgive me!!!"
Yui Mei could only tilt her head in confusion at his strange behaviour, while Ming kept on screaming the same thing over and over again.
"What's this, what happened? What is he talking about?"
General Li was also taken aback, so he asked, but Yui Mei could only shake her head, because she didn't have an inkling about this.
"Master, what happened!?"
The old woman shook Ming, but Ming only muttered "sorry, sorry" while tears streamed down his face.
General Li had been observing the situation, but he eventually sighed deeply.
Yui Mei also agreed that they wouldn't be able to have a proper conversation, given how frightened the poor soul was.
"Oy, Ming, stop drinking for a while! I'm watching you!"
General Li bellowed at the cowering Ming before leaving that place.
"I am deeply sorry, even though you went out of your way to visit him."
The old woman ran after them, bowing deeply in apology.
"It's fine, we'll come again."
General Li waved his hand in dismissal and Yui Mei smiled, then they left the mansion.
Silence reigned between them for a while as they strode on. Theyhad turned a corner, and the mansion was no longer in sight, when General Li suddenly stopped and turned around.
"Pretty sure His Majesty will be depressed if he learned about Ming's state."
General Li reluctantly muttered.
"His Majesty the Emperor...!?"
The sudden mention of the unexpected name gave Yui Mei a jolt. General Li rubbed his chin as he continued.
"That Ming was once His Majesty the Emperor's favorite attendant."
Yui Mei blinked in surprise when she heard that.
"Is that like how it is with Li Yong, the Crown Prince's attendant?"
Yui Mei heard from Li Yong that Ming was so excellent that even the generals eyed him, but she didn't expect that he even caught the eye of the emperor himself.
"His Majesty had great faith in him, and he even made the shadow guards escort him."
"That's... the emperor regarded him highly and relied on him, then."
Yui Mei responded to General Li with such words while thinking about the story the crown prince told her.
There was also another point that bothered her.
'Hui', the name that Ming shouted earlier...that was Yui Mei's mother -- in other words, it was Lady Zhang's former name.
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