139話 野次馬に行こう
その翌日。
に明が記憶喪失の男を拾ったらしいという話をしたところ、「じゃあ様子を見ておいで」と告げられてあっさりと外出許可が出てしまったのだ。
「あたしゃあ生憎忙しくてあの男の顔なんざ見に行く暇がなくてね。
――なんだかんだで、楊おばさんも話のネタに飢えているんだろうなぁ。
なにせ百花宮は閉ざされた場所なので、話題に上がる内容が偏っているのだ。
宮廷の醜聞話には事欠かないが、そればかりだと少々飽きる。
なのでこうした真新しい話題が出ると食いつきたくなるのだろう。
のことも気になるが、それはそれとして焦っても仕方がないので、好奇心を優先させた雨妹であった。
もちろん、手ぶらで野次馬しようというわけではない。
「全く、お前たちは物見高いな」
そんな事情を背負った雨妹のお供にと声をかけられた立勇が、若干呆れ顔だ。
雨妹は正直、お供役が熊......もとい李将軍ではなかったことにホッとしている。
明を訪ねる際には李将軍が出張って来る印象があったので、今回も若干警戒していたのだ。
百花宮の外へのお使いは、たまに発生する宮女が外に出れる貴重な機会だが、決して一人では出られず、誰かしらが見張りにつくのが決まりだ。
その見張りとは普通ならば一般兵なのだろうが、雨妹は何故か李将軍が高確率で現れるという、謎仕様であった。
それはともかくとして。
雨妹たちは、もはや見慣れた明の屋敷に到着した。
「おや、お嬢さんかい、久しぶりに見るね」
玄関から呼びかけると、あの家人の老女がそう言って出迎えてくれる。
そして「旦那様なら、庭にいますよ」と語り、老女は明の意向を伺うこともせず、さっさと雨妹達を中へ案内してしまう。
――この家の中での権力構造がわかっちゃうよね。
自由な老女の後について行きながら、雨妹は一人頷く。
人間関係とは、身分ある者が真に偉いとは限らない。
すなわち、明はこの老女に敵わないというわけだ。
そうして庭に行くと、そこで木の棒を振っている男がいた。
逞しい身体つきとキリッとした顔の、なかなかの男前だ。
さてはこの男が噂の客人か? と雨妹が考えていると。
「明様、お客様でございますよ」
老女が男にそう声をかけた。
――え、明様?
目を丸くして驚く雨妹をよそに、男――明がこちらを向く。
「客人が来るとは聞いていないぞ?」
「はぁ、急に参りましたもので」
明の暗に「先に知らせろ」と言いたげな問いかけに、老女がしれっとそう返す。
「......えっと、明様? 本当に?」
その陰で、雨妹は立勇の脇腹を突いて尋ねた。
これに立勇が眉を上げる。
「言いたいことはわかるが、この方が明様だぞ」
「嘘だ、全然違いますって!」
「人を見るなり、失礼だなお前らは!」
このやり取りが聞こえたらしい明が腹を立てているが、雨妹はそんなことを気にしていられない。
以前の明は髪や髭がボサボサで、寝不足と暴飲のせいで顔色も悪く全身たるんだ身体つきという、いかにも不健康そうな身なりをしていた。
それが寝不足で張り付いていた目の下の隈を取り除き、悪かった顔色を直し、たるんだ頬を引き締め、むくんでいた全身を絞って程よく筋肉を付けたら、なかなかの男前な中年が出来上がっていた。
つまり、はっきり言って以前とは全く別人なのである。
雨妹としては前の明が近衛だと言われてもにわかに信じがたかったが、今のコレで近衛だと言われれば納得である。
木の棒を振っているところを見ると、どうやら痛風もそれができる程度には改善してきているようだ。
「すごい! よくコレをあそこまで悪化させましたね!?
心底感心する雨妹に、明は逆に心底嫌そうな顔をする。
「やめろ! 本当にあの医官が調べに来そうだ。
「奇跡の生還を果たした事例として、珍しいのに」
文句を喚く明の態度に、雨妹は呟く。
そんな二人の様子を見て、立勇がそう零した。
Chapter 139
The next day --
When Yui Mei informed Yang about the amnesiac man that Ming picked-up, she told her to "go and check up on him" and immediately gave her permission to go out.
"Unfortunately, I'm too busy right now, I don't even have time to see that guy. So, Yui Mei, just go in my stead, and bring home some interesting news at your discretion, okay."
'Sounds like Aunty Yang's starving for some gossip, huh.'
At any rate, the Hundred Blossom Palace was a restricted place, so the conversation topics that would come up were usually biased.
There was no shortage of scandals in the royal court, but it was also tiresome if all they did was talk about that.
Thus, when a brand new, fresh topic such as this came up, everyone would want to gobble it up.
The matter of Xu also bothered her, but she couldn't do anything about it even if she was anxious, so Yui Mei decided to prioritize her curiosity.
Of course, she didn't plan to go there as an empty-handed rubbernecker.
"Really, you guys are so nosy, huh."
Li Yong was tasked to accompany Yui Mei, who took up this responsibility, so he was somewhat exasperated.
Actually, Yui Mei was relieved that she didn't have to go with Bear...er, General Li.
Every time she visited Ming, she had that impression that General Li would be the one to accompany her, so she had put her guard up a bit.
Going on an errand outside the Hundred Blossom Palace was considered to be a rare opportunity among the court ladies; however, they must be strictly accompanied by someone to monitor them. They were never allowed to go out without a chaperone.
The ordinary guards would normally accompany them, but for some reason, the probability of General Li's appearance was quite high, so Yui Mei found it quite mysterious.
Anyway, on to the matter onhand.
Yui Mei and Li Yong finally arrived at Ming's mansion that had already became familiar to her.
"Oh, it's you, Missy, it's been a while."
The old woman welcomed them once again when they called out from the entrance.
The old woman didn't even ask Ming's permission and just let Yui Mei and Li Yong inside. She guided them to the garden.
'It's easy to guess what the authority framework is inside this house.'
Yui Mei nodded to herself as they followed the free-moving old woman.
In human relationships, it wasn't always true that those with status have the upper hand.
In other words, Ming was no match for this old lady.
And so, they walked until they reached the garden. They found a man waving a wooden stick there.
He was a handsome hunk with chiseled features.
'Is this the rumoured guy?' -- that was what the Yui Mei thought.
"Lord Ming, you have guests."
The old lady called out to the guy.
'Eh, Lord Ming?'
Yui Mei was stupefied in shock when the man -- Ming turned to face her.
"I didn't know that I'd have guests, though?"
"Indeed, they suddenly came."
Ming's dark tone hinted "say it earlier" as he posed his question, but the old woman just nonchalantly replied.
"...Er, Lord Ming? Seriously?"
She poked Li Yong's side while asking as they stood behind the old lady.
Li Yong raised his brow.
"Yeah, I know what you want to say, but yeah, this person is Lord Ming."
"That's a lie, he's totally different!"
"You guys, stop being so rude as soon as you see me!"
Ming was annoyed; he heard their conversation, apparently, but Yui Mei ignored him.
Previously, Ming's hair and beard had been really shaggy, and because he lacked sleep and was drinking heavily, he looked extremely unhealthy with his waxy complexion and flabby body.
However, he had undergone an extreme makeover after the dark circles under his eyes due to lack of sleep were gone. He no longer had that extreme pallor, and his sagging cheeks had also become tighter. His swollen body had also become ripped, with just the right amount of muscles. Thus, he had turned into a very handsome middle-aged man.
To be clear, he looked like a completely different person compared to before.
Yui Mei had found it hard to believe that the previous Ming was truly an imperial guard, but she could see it now.
Based on how he swung the wooden sword, it seemed that even his gout had improved by quite a lot.
"Amazing! Can't believe you deteriorated from looking like this to your previous state, huh? Really, it makes me want to study more deeply about how neglecting one's lifestyle can lead to that!"
Yui Mei had been thoroughly moved to the depths of her heart, but Ming was also thoroughly disgusted, on the other hand.
"Stop it! That doctor will really come at that rate! Did you know, that guy really had my portrait painted when I was at that state!?"
"Tsk, you're a rare case of being a miracle survivor, you know."
Yui Mei muttered at Ming's complaints.
Li Yong grumbled while staring at them both.
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