「まあ雨妹、いらっしゃい」
玉秀はすっかり元気になった様子で、雨妹を笑顔で迎える。
「顔色が良さそうですね、これはお見舞いの品です」
「まあ、美味しそう!」
玉秀はまだ温かい蒸しパンをとても喜んでくれた。
「はい!」
宮女は、ビシッと背筋を伸ばしてお茶の用意を始めた。
「私、最近後宮に来たばかりの新人なの。よろしくね」
だから緊張しなくていいと言いたかったのだが。
「あ、はい、よろしくお願いします!」
宮女はやはりビシッと背筋を伸ばして頭を下げた。
――こういう性格なのかも。
オドオドしているのも、小動物っぽくて和むかもしれない。
病人で胃が弱っているだろうという想定で、選定されたおやつだった。
――江貴妃が喜んでいたって、後で美娜さんに教えてやろう。
雨妹がおやつの出来栄えを気にしていた美娜を思っていると。
「貴妃になって豪華な食事を出されるけれど、出来立てを食べる機会は減ったのよ」
玉秀が蒸しパンを食べながら、寂しそうに告げた。
――偉い人って、案外窮屈なんだな。
自分の母親も温かいものを食べられずに辛かったのだろうかと、雨妹はふと思いながら蒸しパンに齧り付いていると。
「ちゃんとありますよ、どうぞ」
子良に雨妹はもう一つ包みを出して見せる。
「江貴妃は予定通り明日まで医局にいてもらい、明後日に宮に戻れると、太子にもお伝えしてある」
「まあ、そんなものでしょうね」
子良の見立てに、雨妹も頷く。前世でもインフルエンザは熱が下がって二日は自宅待機となっていた。
「よかったですね、玉秀様」
太子宮に帰る日取りを聞かされ、喜ぶ宮女に玉秀も頷く。
確かにインフルエンザは頭が茹るかというような高熱に、身体の節々の痛みや倦怠感、頭痛に吐き気との闘いと、このまま死ぬのではないかという気持ちになる、らしい。
太子の話からすると、玉秀はお世話もされずに放置されていたようなので、余計に苦しかったことだろう。
「今回死ぬ思いをしたけれど、あなたという人に会えたことは幸運だと思っているわ。改めてありがとう、雨妹」
改めてそう言われ、雨妹は微笑む。
「光栄です、江貴妃」
「太子宮に戻るまでの間は休暇だと思って、医局でゆっくり過ごすといいですよ。美味しいおやつもありますから」
ここには値踏みする人は誰もいないのだから、心行くまでダラダラとして、英気を養うといい。
「まあ、雨妹は面白い言い方をするわね。病気を休暇だなんて」
病気に罹るのは悪いことだと思いがちである。
玉秀が千切った蒸しパンのかけらを食べ、目を細める。その様子は表情豊かで、可愛らしい女性だと思う。
――そうか、兄(仮)はこういうのが好みか。
"Oh, come here, Yui Mei."
Yu Xiu was in better spirits, so she greeted Yui Mei with a smile.
"Thank goodness, your Ladyship's complexion looks better. Please accept my gift."
"Oh my, they look so delectable!"
Yu Xiu was thrilled with the warm buns. Her appetite was proof that she recovered.
"Yes!"
The court lady straightened up, and started to make tea. She gave the impression that she was also a novice, rather than someone seasoned with experience.
"Nice to meet you. I'm a novice, and I just entered the Inner Palace recently."
Yui Mei tactfully expressed that there was no need for her to be so nervous.
"Oh, yes, please take care of me too!"
The court lady straightened her back, rigidly bowed, then replied with formal words.
'Maybe it's her personality.'
She was trembling like a leaf, reminiscent of a small animal, so it was easy to feel soft towards her. Maybe the selection was done to recruit unexpectedly soothing personnel. The crown prince was also someone who cannot be taken lightly.
Yu Xiu was fond of Mei Na's deluxe mushipan. It was carefully selected with the patient's weak stomach in mind.
'I'll tell Mei Na later that Honored Consort Jiang was elated.'
Yui Mei thought about how Mei Na paid careful attention to the quality of her snacks.
"I was always served lavish dishes since I became a consort, but the opportunity to eat freshly made food lessened."
Yu Xiu sadly recounted as she ate the bread. After the kitchen finished cooking her meals, they passed through a lot of hands before they were served to her. The carriers were obviously part of those, but it also took time to test the food for poison. Yu Xiu was relieved from such formalities while being in the clinic.
'Bigwigs truly live a constrained life.'
Perhaps, her mother was the same. It must have been hard for her, not being able to taste warm foods. Yui Mei contemplated as she sank her teeth into the bread.
"No worries, here you go."
Yui Mei took another package out and handed it to Ziliang. The four of them sat together as Ziliang laid out the plans for Yu Xiu.
"Noble Concubine Jiang will be staying in the clinic until tomorrow, as planned. She will return to the palace the day after. I already informed the crown prince regarding this."
"Well, it is as expected."
Yui Mei nodded at Ziliang's medical judgement. In her previous world, the patients could return to their own homes to do self-quarantine two days after the fever abated. The disease was most contagious during the recovery period, so it would be a wise decision.
"What a relief, Lady Yu Xiu."
The court lady was ecstatic that the discharge date was set, and they could return to the palace. Yu Xiu nodded at the maiden's happiness.
Certainly, one suffering from influenza would have high fever, and it would feel as if their heads were boiling from the elevated temperature. The whole body and joints would also feel painful, and there would be a feeling of extreme fatigue, nausea, and splitting headaches. It was only natural that one would think they were on the brink of death. Yui Mei never contracted the flu in her previous life, but she did hear about how it felt from her patients.
According to the crown prince, nobody tended to Yu Xiu, having neglected her, so she must have suffered needlessly.
"I had a near-death experience, but I believe it is a great fortune that I was able to meet a person like you. Again, thank you. You have my utmost gratitude, Yui Mei."
Yui Mei smiled after being thanked again.
"It is my honor, Honored Consort Jiang."
"Please treat your stay in the clinic as a vacation, and rest leisurely until you return to the crown prince's palace. There are plenty of delicious snacks, too."
There was nobody here with prying eyes, so it would be good if she were to relax to her heart's content, and to nurture her strength.
"Yui Mei, you really say such amusing words. To treat a disease as vacation.."
It was apt to think of a disease as a misfortune. However, an ill person should rest, so it would be good if she were to do so with her heart at ease.  There was no rule that said one should mop around when sick.
Yu Xiu narrowed her eyes in bliss as she ate another piece. Her appearance was truly adorable, full of expressions. She was a very pretty woman, indeed.
'So, (provisionary) elder brother's type was someone like her.'
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