183話 徐と彼女
平民の娘が身分というものに疎くて夢を見るのならばともかく、彼女は豪族の娘ならば、身分のつり合いというものをわかっていたのではないのだろうか?
それとも己の身分が宮妓であるということを、未だによくわかっていないのかもしれない。
彼女を憐れんだ皇帝が後宮で保護してくれた、くらいに考えているとしたらあり得る話だ。
「そんな夢を見る暇があるなら少しでも琵琶を弾いていろって、アタシは思うんだけどねぇ。
曰く、彼女には琵琶の音そのものの張りや、感情を感じさせる音色というものが全くできていないのだそうだ。
「あの娘は覚えがよかったから、ちゃんと修練を積めば一流の琵琶弾きになれるだろうけれど、どうにも根気がない。
宮妓たちはお偉方の目に留まることで、立場がガラリと変わるのだという。
そして目に留まるためには、己の宮妓としての腕前を磨くことのみなのだ。
そうなると底辺暮らしどころか、役立たずだと認定されて宮妓としての身分を失ってしまう。
宮妓でなくなるということは、妓女になるということであり、そうなると宮女もやらないような過酷な労働が待っている。
そう、彼女が宮妓として働くことを拒否していたら行きついたであろう身分だ。
向上心は、宮妓であり続けたかったら持っていなければならない気持ちなのだという。
徐が悲しそうな表情でそう告げる。
ちょうどその頃から徐は風湿病を患い始め、以前のように弾けなくなっていたそうだ。
この徐の衰えも、彼女を増長させる一因だったらしい。
『徐子よりも私の方が、完璧に曲を弾ける』
しかし徐には琵琶が弾けずとも作曲という才能があった。
そちらの腕も高く買っていた教坊は、徐が琵琶を弾けなくなってもなんら問題なく、教坊に琵琶の師範として残って曲を作り続けることを期待してくれていたそうだ。
「ほう、師範であれば屋敷を賜ることができるだろう。
「そうなんですか?」
男が述べた内容に、
どうやら教坊の師範とは、宮妓としては大出世であるようだ。
一芸で宮城入りした身分であるので、尼寺行きか、皇帝からの下賜による婚姻でしか解放が叶わない妃嬪と違って、そうした方法で宮城の外に出ることができるらしい。
「......商人の娘でしかなかったアタシには、身に過ぎたことさ。
そう話す徐の表情は柔らかい。
徐にとっては出世よりも、ただ恋人を待つ時間が残されたことが大事だったのだろう。
一方で、徐の師範への出世の話を聞いた彼女が不満を爆発させた。
あのくらい私にだってできるのに、ただそちらが徐を贔屓して使わないだけでしょう!?』
そう喚いた彼女だったが、残念ながら彼女と同意見だと言う仲間はいなかった。
このことで彼女は孤立し、さらに意固地になっていく。
「けどね、ある日急にあの娘の琵琶の音が変わったんだ」
Chapter 183: Xu And That Woman
It would make sense for a peasant daughter to dream of something so estranged from her, but she was a noble's daughter, so shouldn't she be aware of the balance that exist?
Or was it such that she still didn't understand her status as a palace courtesan?
Well, it was a plausible story if the emperor took pity on her and brought her to the palace to keep her safe.
"I thought that if she is free enough to dream that nonsense then she could've just practice the lute more. Well, she won't listen. Besides, her finger tip skills might have improved, but that's just how it appears to be."
According to Xu, that girl totally didn't grasp the tension brought about by the sound of the lute and the tone that could invoke emotions.
"If that girl's memory is good, then she could've been a top-notch lute musician with proper training, but yeah, she doesn't have an ounce of patience. She's already satisfied as soon as she could barely play it. She didn't have the desire to master it. I guess that's fine for a lesson for a little princess, but that shouldn't be the case for the palace courtesans."
It was said that the status of palace courtesans could change drastically if she caught the eye of the bigwigs.
In order to get their attention, they had to polish their skills as courtesans.
If they fail to do so, they would be overtaken by others. If that were to happen, not only would they end up being at the bottom of the status ladder, they would be deemed as worthless and might even end up losing their status as palace courtesan.
Once they lose that status, they would then become mere prostitutes, and they would have to toil harder than when they were palace courtesans.
Indeed, such would be her ending had she refused to work as the palace courtesan.
She must possess ambition if she wanted to continue being a court courtesan.
Xu looked sad as she continued talking.
It was right around that time that Xu began to suffer from rheumatism, and she could no longer play the way she used to.
IT seemed that Xu's decline was also one of the factors that caused that woman to become more impudent.
"I can play the piece more perfectly than Xu can."
However, even if Xu could no longer play the lute, she still had the talent for composing music.
That ability was prized by the Jiaofang, too, so they didn't have any problems with her not being able to play the lute. They still expected her to stay as a lute teacher and to continue composing music.
"I see, you can be granted an estate if you are an instructor. Moreover, if you are that talented, you can also ask the emperor to release you from being a palace courtesan as your reward."
"Really?"
Yui Mei's eyes went round in amazement when she heard the man's remarks.
Being a teacher in Jiaofang was such a prestigious promotion for a palace courtesan, apparently.
Since she entered the palace as a performer, she could get out of the palace through this route, unlike the emperor's consorts and concubines who could only be released by going to the nunnery, or being bestowed to the emperor's subjects through marriage as a gift.
"...It's too much for me, being only a mere merchant's daughter as I was. However, I was glad that I still had a place where I could wait for him, even if I could no longer play."
Xu's expression was tender as she uttered those words.
For Xu, the time she had left waiting for her lover was far more important than a successful career.
On the other hand, the woman was thoroughly vexed and she exploded in frustration when she caught wind of Xu's promotion.
"It's just a piece of music!  I can do that much, too, so why are you keeping on favoring Xu instead of using me!"
She grumbled on, but unfortunately for her, no one shared her opinion.
She was isolated because of this, making her more obstinate.
"But then, that girl's lute music suddenly changed one day."
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