10話 消毒、消毒!
「というわけで、妃の宮女や女官は呪いを恐れ、主の看病をしたがらないんだよ」
の話を引き継ぎ、太子が女を太子宮に戻せない理由を語る。
上級妃嬪に付く宮女や女官は、妃嬪の実家から連れて来たり、いい家の出身である者が多い。
「それで先生、お願いできるかな?」
「......おい、
太子の前に立った雨妹は、腕を組んで告げた。
「殿下とそちらのお付きの方は消毒しましょう。
「消毒、かい?」
聞き慣れない言葉なのか、不思議そうな顔をする太子に説明する。
「消毒とは、身体に付着した菌――病気の元を退治することです」
元々雨妹は、アルコール消毒液を作るための工用酒精を手に入れに来たのだ。
ここで巡り巡って元の目的が生きてくるとは。
というわけで雨妹は子良に工用酒精を貰い、アルコール消毒液を作る。
作り方は簡単で、酒精と水を七対三の割合に混ぜるだけ。
保管を考えた場合、本当は余計な混じり物無しの精製水がいいのだが、今回は大量に作って保管するわけではないので、井戸水でよしとする。
「酒精の斬新な使い方だな」
酒精を傷口の消毒程度にしか使っていなかったらしい子良が、感心した風に言う。
雨妹が真っ先に消毒をする。
次に太子と宦官の番だ。
「私がしたやり方と、同じようにしてください」
二人に手の消毒の際、指輪や腕輪などの装飾品を外してもらう。
太子の了解を得たところで、次に雨妹は消毒液を全身に思いっきり振りかける。
「雨妹、お前すごいことするな......」
「病気の元を殺すのに、お茶はとても効果があるんです」
「へえ、そうなんだね」
雨妹の説明に、太子が一々感心する。
「お茶を良く飲む人ほど風邪をひかないのは、医者の間で言われていることです」
お茶の効能はこの世界でも発見されているようで、子良も雨妹の説を補強する。
「そう言えば父上の妃の間で今、部屋で湯を沸かすのが流行っていると聞いたな」
太子が思い出したように零す。
――そうか、流行っちゃったのか。
あの時はこんな状況だと思わなかったのだが、なにが幸いするかわからないものだ。
妃嬪たちは皆綺麗な器にいくつも湯を張り、せっかくだからと香油を垂らして楽しんでいるという。
高級な薬を取り寄せるのに比べれば、お手軽な手段であることも一因だろう。
「そういうことなら、私も宮に戻ってやってみようかな」
太子はなにやらノリノリだ。
「ところで、きみは名を雨妹というのかい?」
突然太子に聞かれ、雨妹は嘘を言うこともなかろうと素直に頷く。
「もしかして、雨の日に生まれたのかい?」
一方で一連の行為に乗り気な太子の様子を見た宦官の申し出に、雨妹はもう一本消毒液噴霧器を作ってやり、作り方も教えた。
というか、この宦官は少し違和感がある。
宦官は去勢された男であるため、ホルモンバランスが崩れて女性的な外見と声になる。
――深く考えないようにしよう。
そのあたりを突いたらいけないと、雨妹の華流ドラマオタクの魂が叫んでいる。
Chapter 10
"And so, the consort's maids and court ladies feared the curse, and they refused to nurse her."
The crown prince took over in narrating Ziliang's story, and he stated the reason why he didn't want the woman to return to his palace.
The palace maids and court ladies attending to a high ranking concubine were brought with her from her family home, or they may come from well-to-do families. Because of that, they naturally valued themselves more than their jobs. It was a harsh reality, but if the position of concubine was vacated, then it would also be their chance. It was not surprising that there were court ladies and maids who did not take the initiative to do their work.
"So, Doctor, can you do me this favour?"
"....Oi, Yui Mei."
Yui Mei crossed her arms before the crown prince, and declared.
"Your Highness, you and your attendant must be disinfected. If we do not do anything, you will become infected. You too, doctor!"
"Disinfect, is it?"
The crown prince looked bewildered upon hearing the unfamiliar word, so she explained further.
"Disinfecting means eliminating the bacteria--the source of illness that adhered to your body."
Yui Mei's original purpose was to obtain the utility sake that she needed to make the alcohol-based sanitizer.
After going in rounds, she finally reached her goal.
And so, Yui Mei got the utility sake, and started to make the sanitizer.
The formula was easy; she just had to mix 7 parts of alcohol and three parts of water.
She would have preferred if it was purified water for storage purposes, but since she would not be storing it, she made do with water taken from a well. She just had to put it inside a sprayer, and the preparation was complete.
"What a novel use of sake."
Apparently, Ziliang did not use alcohol to disinfect wounds, and so he was impressed.
Yui Mei disinfected herself first. It was not to demonstrate that it was not poison; Yui Mei prioritized herself since she did artificial resuscitation earlier.
It was the crown prince and the attendant's turn.
"Please do it exactly as I did."
Yui Mei instructed them to remove their rings and bracelets and other jewelry before giving them alcohol. She then advised them that it would be better if they refrain from wearing those things, unless absolutely necessary.
After getting the crown prince's consent, Yui Mei vigorously sprinkled the antiseptic solution on the prince's whole body. Ziliang quickly drew back in shock at the same time.
"Yui Mei, you sure have guts..."
"Tea is very effective in killing the source of the disease."
"Hmm, is that so."
The crown prince was impressed at Yui Mei's explanation.
"People who drink tea are less prone to catch colds. It is also known among the physicians."
Ziliang also supported Yui Mei's claims. Apparently, the properties of tea had also been discovered in this world. After Ziliang was also done disinfecting and gargling, Yui Mei sprayed the antiseptic solution on the handle of the clinic door, which was touched by everyone. She did this to prevent the spread of infection.
"Speaking of which, I heard that boiling water has recently become popular among Father's concubines."
The crown prince said, as if he just recalled it.
'I see, so it became a trend, huh.'
At that time, she didn't know the whole picture, so it might be considered as luck.
It was said that the concubines poured hot water in several beautiful containers, and since it's a good opportunity, they also dripped perfume oils in it to enjoy themselves. The lives of the concubines were also in danger should they get infected with influenza, so they must have been willing to try anything no matter how trivial it may seem.
Aside from that, this method was cheaper and more convenient compared to buying high-grade medicine. This was also one of the factors why it became popular.
"Then, it is also time for me to return to the palace."
The crown prince seemed to be in high spirits.
"By the way, you said your name is Yui Mei?"
Yui Mei was taken aback when the crown prince suddenly questioned her, so she wasn't able to come up with a lie, and just answered honestly.
"Were you born on a rainy day, perhaps?"
The eunuch was observing the crown prince's interested demeanor, so he requested Yui Mei to give him some. She obligingly made another container of sanitizer, and she also taught him the method.
But there was something strange about this eunuch.
Eunuchs were castrated males, and hormonal imbalances caused them to have feminine appearances and high-pitched voices. But this eunuch attendant of the crown prince, though possessing a beautiful face, was exuding an air of indomitable masculinity, and his voice was also attractive, albeit low.
'Let's not think about it too deeply.'
Yui Mei instincts, being the die-hard Chinese drama fan that she was, screamed that it was not something that she should meddle with.
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