昭儀も例外ではなく。
日も高く昇った頃にようやく起き出し、のんびりと朝食をとるのが通例だ。
であるからして屋敷の主に合わせて働く宮女や女官たちも、夜明けとともに行動を始める宮女に比べて、比較的ゆったりと行動しがちである。
しかしこの日はそんなのんびりとした朝の時間、屋敷に騒音が響いた。
まだ胡昭儀が夜着から着替え終えたばかりで、朝食を食べる前のことだ。
「なんですかあなた方は、どういうつもりなのです!?」
騒音の発生源である屋敷の入り口で、年配の女官が招かれざる客をギロリと睨む。
そこにいるのは、三人組の男女だ。
その一歩後ろで、雨妹は俯いて控えていた。
これが一昨日に太子宮で出された作戦、「友仁皇子の健康診断」である。
こそこそと探るのではなく、大義名分を手に入れて堂々と調べればいいというわけだ。
ちなみに今の雨妹の立場は子良の助手だった。
頭巾をきっちりと被り、布マスクだって装着済み。
雨妹的にはいつものスタイルだったが、相手の女官からすれば怪しいことこの上ない格好らしく。
胡散臭そうな視線が頭上に注がれるのがわかる。
そして立彬は、皇帝の使いという立場でここにいる。
雨妹と子良だけだと、話を聞いてもらえず追い返されるかもしれないが、太子付きの立彬がいれば信頼性が上がると、太子に言われたのだ。
ならばいつもの侍医殿を寄越されるはずでしょう?」
疑わしい顔の女官に、立彬はきっぱりと述べる。
嘘ではない、本当に太子が皇帝から許可を貰って来たのだ。
けれど相手は当然、それを素直に信じたりはしない。
「こちらで確認させます、結果がわかるまで屋敷に入ってはなりません」
陛下から速やかに行動するように、と言われております」
女官の言葉に立彬が即座に反論すると、二人の間で見えない火花が散った。
怪しい一団の侵入を阻止しようとする女官と、押し通ろうとする立彬とが舌戦を繰り広げようとしている時。
「どうしたのですか?」
彼女の登場に女官がスッと頭を下げ、立彬も礼をとったので、雨妹も慌てて続く。
「あの方が胡昭儀だ」
どうやら騒ぎを聞きつけた屋敷の主が、様子を見に来たらしい。
女官にそう尋ねる胡昭儀は美人なのだろうが、派手な容貌ではない。
どちらかというと線の細い女だった。
美人寄りでギリギリ皇帝の好みそうなカンジ。
だから皇子が生まれたのだろう。
下世話な推測をしている雨妹を余所に、立彬は交渉相手を胡昭儀に変える。
「我々は皇帝陛下のご命令で、友仁皇子殿下の診察に参りました」
頭をあげてそう言う立彬を、胡昭儀が疑うというより不思議そうな様子で聞いてくる。
「......あなたは、太子殿下付きの宦官ではなくて?」
「太子殿下を通じて、皇帝陛下に命令を受けましたので」
経緯の前後はさて置くとしても本当のことなので、立彬の言葉によどみがない。
――それにしても立彬様、「皇帝陛下」を連発するなぁ。
使える大義名分をとことん使う気らしい。
「ただいま真偽を調べさせておりますゆえ、待つように申しております」
「けれど我々としても、陛下のご命令を速やかに実行しなければなりません」
女官が胡昭儀に告げるのに、立彬が即座に反論する。
二人の静かな戦いを見て、胡昭儀がおっとりと首を傾げる。
「どちらにせよ、友仁が必要ということですね。
この胡昭儀の質問に、年配の女官がついっと視線を下に逸らす。
「......今朝も『呪い』を発せられましたので、ただ今処置の最中かと」
「そうなの」
「しまった、遅かったか」
話を聞いた立彬が小さく呟く。
雨妹たちは胡昭儀の朝の行動パターンを調べて、朝食前に突撃をかけたつもりだった。
だがどうやら友仁皇子は、先に食事を済ませてしまったようだ。
――だったら、余計に早く助けてあげなきゃ!
「処置」という言葉を聞いた時の胡昭儀の表情からして、その内容はろくなものではないと想像がつく。
「失礼ながら、申し上げます!」
控えている背後から発言した雨妹に、胡昭儀たちの視線が集中する。
「私たちはその『呪い』の正体を明らかにするために、ここへ遣わされたのです。
雨妹は頭を上げ、真っ直ぐに胡昭儀を見た。
頭巾と布マスクで顔が隠れている中で青い目だけが、まるで光を放つかのように強い意志を感じさせる。
「......!」
その目を見た胡昭儀が、何故か息を呑む。
そしてしばらくすると。
胡昭儀がそう告げたのだった。
Imperial Concubine Hu was no exception.
Customarily, she would wake up when the sun was already high in the sky, and she would eat her breakfast leisurely.
Because of that, the maids, ladies-in-waiting and court ladies who worked according to their mistress' schedule led an easier life compared to the court ladies and maids who had to work at daybreak.
However, today, that leisurely morning time was broken by the noise resounding throughout the mansion.
It was just before breakfast and Consort Hu had barely finished changing from her nightdress.
"You people, what is it that you want and what do you mean by this!?"
An elderly maid stood at the entrance where the commotion was coming from, and she was glaring at the uninvited guests.
A group of three people - a tall eunuch, a petite court lady and a physician stood there.
Yui Mei was also one step behind them, bowing her head and restraining herself.
This was the plan they hatched with the crown prince the other day, known as 'Medical Examination for the Health of Imperial Prince Youren'.
Instead of sneaking around searching, it would be better to get a good pretext and then imposingly demand to examine him.
By the way, Yui Mei's position was Ziliang's assistant.
She covered her head tightly with a scarf and wore her cloth mask completely.
It was Yui Mei's characteristic style that she always wore, but for the maid, her appearance was absolutely shady.
It was understandable that she was thoroughly eyed with suspicion.
Libin was also here as the emperor's messenger.
The crown prince told them that if it was only Yui Mei and Ziliang, it was possible that they would be driven away without a chance to explain, but with Libin - the crown prince's attendant, their credibility would also rise.
"Under His Majesty's orders, you say? Then aren't we supposed to summon the usual court physician?"
Libin resolutely replied to the maid's dubious face.
It was not a lie, the crown prince did ask for permission from the emperor.
Naturally, however, the other party did not believe that to be true.
"We will confirm this first; until we get the results, you will not be permitted to enter."
"Then we will be troubled. His Majesty ordered that we move with haste."
Libin refused outright, and invisible sparks flew between the two of them.
A war of words was about to unfold between the maid who obstructed the entry of the suspicious bunch and Libin who wanted to push his way through. It was at that time.
"What's happening here?"
The maid bowed her head with her entry, and even Libin bowed, so Yui Mei hurriedly did the same.
"That person is Imperial Concubine Hu."
Apparently, the commotion reached the mistress of the palace, so she came to check the situation.
Imperial Concubine Hu asked the maid. She was a beauty, but her physical appearance was not flashy.
One might even say she was the slender type.
'Ahh, compared to Lady Wang, she seems to be His Majesty's type, though at the very limit.'
Perhaps that was the reason she gave birth to an imperial prince.
Libin, indifferent to Yui Mei's gossipy musings, turned the conversation towards Imperial Concubine Hu.
"Under the orders of His Majesty the Emperor, we have come for the medical examination of His Highness the Imperial Prince Youren."
Instead of interrogating Libin when he raised his head and said that, Imperial Concubine Hu stared at him in wonder as she listened.
"... Aren't you His Highness the Crown Prince's attending eunuch?"
"His Majesty the Emperor gave his order through His Highness the Crown Prince."
Setting aside the sequential order of events, it was indeed the truth, so there was no flaw with Libin's words.
'Even so, Libin-sama, you kept on running the words 'His Majesty' continuously, huh.'
Apparently, he would thoroughly use a pretext that he could use.
"I have requested that they wait while we verify the authenticity of their words."
"However, His Majesty ordered that we should execute this matter immediately."
The maid reported to Imperial Concubine Hu, but Libin immediately rebutted.
Imperial Concubine Hu watched the two's silent fight, then she tilted her head in thought.
"Either way, Youren is needed, from what I understand. Where is Youren?"
At Imperial Concubine Hu's question, the elderly maid averted her eyes .
"...The 'curse' acted again this morning, so treatment is currently on going."
"Is that so?"
"Darn it, we're too late, huh."
Libin muttered under his breath as he listened to their conversation.
Yui Mei and the rest studied Imperial Concubine Hu's behavioral pattern, and they planned to charge in before breakfast.
Unfortunately, Imperial Prince Youren had already eaten his breakfast.
'In that case, all the more we should save him!'
Based on Imperial Concubine Hu's expression when she heard the word 'treatment', she got the impression that it must be something disagreeable.
"Please pardon my rudeness, but I have to say this!"
Imperial Concubine Hu and the rest of them trained their eyes on Yui Mei when she said this, as she had been restraining herself earlier at the back.
"We have been commanded to come here so that we could clear the truth about that 'curse'. Please grant us an immediate audience with His Highness the Imperial Prince Youren!"
Yui Mei raised her head, and she stared directly at Imperial Concubine Hu.
Though her whole face was covered with the kerchief and the cloth mask, only her eyes were seemingly blazing with strong determination.
".....!"
Imperial Concubine Hu unwittingly gasped when she saw those eyes.
A moment passed.
Imperial Concubine Hu then said.
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