157話 連行されましょう
どうやら連行されるのは、雨妹ではなく
そしてそう言い直して、ついでのように後半を付け足す。
「なにかと言われても......」
「この娘は最近ちょいと顔を合わせたことのあるってだけの間柄だ。
思いもよらないことを語る徐に、雨妹は「はぁ!?」と思わず叫び声を上げる。
――そんなわけないじゃん! いや、あるのかな!?
徐からケシ汁中毒者の気配は見られないが、手に入れてばら撒いただけならば、自身は中毒者にならずに済む。
それに雨妹は、徐のことを詳しく知っているわけではない。
大混乱の雨妹が男と徐の間で視線を往復させていると、男が「なるほど」と頷く。
「刑部へ届いた手紙は間違いなく本人のものというわけか?」
「そういうことだから、アタシをさっさと連れて行っておくれよ」
男が確認するのに、徐がそう言って急かす。
今の会話からすると、徐が刑部に対して手紙を出したということで、それは懺悔の手紙だったのだろうか?
――刑部がわざわざ動いたのは皇帝陛下からの命令の他にも、理由があったってこと?
こうした大まかな流れにどういう背景があるのか、雨妹にはわからない。
徐が本当にケシ汁を持ち込んだ犯人なのかどうかは、雨妹にはわからない。
それは、悪事が明るみになった故の諦めたというよりも、もっと深い、それこそ人生を諦めているかのような雰囲気を感じる。
「ではいくぞ」
「はいよ」
男が促すように、徐が足早に去ろうとした時。
「ハイ! 私、付き添いを希望します!」
雨妹は勢いよく片手を挙げて、主張した。
「......なんだと?」
男が眉を上げてこちらを見てくるのに、雨妹はキリッとした顔をする。
――このまま徐さんを行かせると、良くない気がする!
雨妹は鼻の詰め物でフガフガしないように、ハキハキと告げた。
今の徐さんは心身が不安定のように見受けられるので、知らない人にずらっと囲まれると、うっかりあることないことを言って捜査を混乱させてしまうのではないでしょうか!?」
絶対について行くぞという気迫を込めて述べる雨妹に、徐が嫌そうな顔をした。
「アンタだって知らない相手じゃないか」
「私、焼き芋を一緒に食べたくらいに仲良しです!」
雨妹は徐のもっともな指摘をまるっと無視して、男に主張する。
男は雨妹と徐をしばし眺めると、「同行くらい、別に構わない」とあっさりと許可を出す。
「どのみち、お前からも詳しく話を聞きたかったところだ。
「やった、行きます! 情報提供します!」
ハイハイ! と両手を上げる雨妹に、男は呆れ顔で言った。
「ただ、自ら刑部へ行きたがる輩は初めて見たがな」
――そうなの?
雨妹は前世で刑事ドラマも好きだったので、いつか警視庁を見学しに行きたいと思ったものだ。
この夢は叶わなかったが、その代わり今世で刑部の見学をする機会に恵まれたのだから、これを逃す手はない。
というわけで、雨妹は刑部へ行くことになった。
そして今日も、掃除が半端になってしまう。
――申し訳ない、明日こそは頑張るから......!
雨妹は教坊の建物がガッカリしているように見えて、心の中で謝った。
Chapter 157
It seemed that the one to be taken wasn't Yui Mei but Xu.
He clarified, then added the last sentence as if it's an afterthought.
"Even if you say that..."
"I just frequently encountered this girl recently. She saw me digging around here, so I knew I won't get away with this. I'm the one who got that thing, everything is all my fault."
Yui Mei shouted "huh?!" in shock when she heard Xu's unexpected declaration.
'There's no way that's true! Oh, wait, maybe!?'
Xu didn't seem like she was a poppy juice addict, but it's possible that she wouldn't be an addict if she was just a pusher spreading it around without using it herself.
Besides, Yui Mei didn't know Xu that well.
She turned her gaze towards the man, then back at Xu while being thoroughly perplexed. The man nodded and said "I see".
"So, there's no doubt you're the person who sent the letter to the Ministry of Justice, right?"
"Yeah, so hurry up and drag me away."
The man sought to confirm his guess. Xu urged him in reply.
Based on their conversation just now, she sent a letter to the Ministry of Justice -- then was that a letter of confession?
'So, there's another reason why the Ministry of Justice got involved aside from His Majesty's order, then?'
Yui Mei didn't know the entire background story about this huge commotion.
She wasn't sure whether Xu was really the criminal who brought poppy juice to this place. However, based on her expression and tone, it was as if she had already given up, as if she was already resigned to whatever was to happen.
It was far more profound than a criminal giving up after he had been exposed -- no, it was as if she had given up on life itself.
"Well then, let's go."
"Yeah."
Xu briskly strode on when the man prompted her.
"Yes! I, also want, to go, with you!"
Yui Mei insisted while energetically raising her hand.
"...What did you say?"
The man raised his brow as he turned towards Yui Mei, but she looked back at him with a stern expression.
'I got a feeling that something bad will happen if I just let them drag Xu away!'
Yui Mei stressed each word to make it clearer even if she had her nose covered.
"I want to accompany Miss Xu! I can sense Miss Xu's insecurity, so if she's surrounded by unknown people, she might thoughtlessly spout a mixture of half-truths and lies, and it might be a hindrance to the investigation, wouldn't it?!"
I'll definitely follow you! Yui Mei stubbornly said, while Xu disapprovingly scowled at her.
"Hey, I don't know you, either."
"We're close enough to eat roasted sweet potatoes together!"
Xu actually had a point, but Yui Mei ignored her and she insisted her will to the man.
He stared at Yui Mei and Xu for a while, then he readily gave his approval by saying "if it's just accompanying her, then I don't mind."
"Either way, I also wanted to ask you for the details. I considered doing it at a later date, but if it's your wish then it's fine to do it today."
"Yehey, yes, I'll go! I'll provide you with information!!"
Yes yes!  Yui Mei raised both of her hands. The man looked at her with awe.
"It's the first time I saw a fellow willingly go to the Ministry of Justice."
'Really?'
Yui Mei also loved detective dramas in her previous life; she even wanted to go on a field trip to the Metropolitan Police Department one day.
This dream didn't come true, but in return, she was granted the opportunity to visit this life's Ministry of Justice, so there was no way she would let go of this chance.
And so, it was decided that Yui Mei would also go to the Ministry of Justice.
Once again, she left her cleaning job halfway through.
'I'm so sorry, I'll definitely do my best tomorrow!'
Yui Mei somehow imagined the Jiaofang building being depressed, so she apologized in her heart.
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