12話 祝・回復
台所に行くと
を見るなり、美娜が出てきて肩を抱いてきた。
雨妹が溺れた妃嬪を助けた話は知られているらしい。
雨妹が尋ねると、美娜はにっこりと笑った。
「ああ、看病っていうのは腹が減るからね」
美娜の気持ちに感謝をしつつ、今回の用件を告げる。
「病人用の汁物を一つ、作って欲しいんですけど。ついでに私と先生の朝食を二人分も」
ところで阿妹その布、息苦しくないかい?」
美娜が頷いた後、雨妹の顔を覗き込む。
そう、雨妹はマスク布を外していなかった。
「慣れればそれほどでもないですよ」
雨妹はひらひらと手を振って見せる。
持ち出しの朝食だったね、ちょいと待ってなよ」
そう言って美娜が台所に戻る前に、持ち歩いている消毒液噴霧器で彼女の手を消毒したのは言うまでもない。
に起き上がっており、雨妹の用意した経口補水液を自分で飲んでいた。
「お待たせしました」
雨妹は自分たちの朝食を卓に置くと、汁物を盆に乗せたまま床几の上の玉秀に渡そうとするが。
「あ、毒見は必要ですか?」
偉い人たちには毒見役がいることを思い出し、雨妹は玉秀に聞く。
「いいわ。こんな時くらい温かいものを食べたいもの」
けれど微笑みを浮かべた玉秀は、まだ温かい汁物の器を受け取る。
――こういうところが、太子の皇后候補筆頭の理由なのかも。
ただ美しいだけの女では駄目だということか。
「まあ、楽しみに待っているわ」
雨妹が告げると、玉秀は本当に嬉しそうに言った。これはおやつを厳選する必要があるだろう。
――美娜さんに相談だな。
そうして医局から戻った雨妹を、今度は
「はい。熱も下がりましたし、朝は起き上がって自分で汁物を食されました」
「そりゃよかった。太子宮が荒れずに済む」
雨妹の話を聞いた楊おばさんが、ホッとした顔をした。
「小妹は徹夜だったんだろう? 今日と明日は仕事を休みな」
楊おばさんはさらに、そんな嬉しいことを言ってくれた。
――やった、初めての休みだ!
休日を言い渡された雨妹は、徹夜明けながら跳ねるような足取りで大部屋に戻る。
大部屋の中では、後宮に来た初日の時同様に数人が寝ていた。
――これ、寝ている夜勤の人じゃないよねぇ。
一昨日まではそう思っていたが、子良の話を聞いた今ならわかる。
これはインフルエンザにかかって寝ているのだ。
というわけで、雨妹は寝ている人たちを邪魔しないようにひっそりと掃除して、窓を開けて換気をする。
屏風で仕切られていて手間とはいえ、広さ的には妃嬪の屋敷より断然狭い。
――そうだと思いたいわね。
「お水、飲むなら持って来るよ?」
一人に声をかけると掠れ声で頼んで来たので、軽く脱水しているようではあるが、意識はしっかりしている。
「手伝ってあげるから、ほら、飲める?」
少しづつ急須の中の水を注いでやると、三人とも思いのほかゴクゴクと飲み干す。
Chapter 12
Mei Na was in the kitchen when Yui Mei arrived.
Mei Na approached Yui Mei as soon as she saw her, and she patted her shoulder.
Apparently, Mei Na also knew the story about how Yui Mei rescued the consort who drowned. There were a lot of rubberneckers, so it was only natural that the story spread in a blink of an eye.
Mei Na beamed broadly at Yui Mei's question.
"Yeah, nursing a patient makes one hungry, after all."
Yui Mei thanked Mei Na, and she relayed her agenda.
"I would like to have some soup suitable for a sick person, and can we have breakfast for two along with it, please?"
"Alright, got it. By the way, Ah-Mei, isn't it difficult to breathe with that cloth on?"
Mei Na nodded, then she peered at Yui Mei.
Indeed, Yui Mei did not remove her mask. She cannot remove it. Although she took the medicine from Ziliang, a nurse in her previous world, she did not want to be a source of infection.
"It's not like that once you get used to it."
Yui Mei waved her hand.
"Hmmm. Alright, wait a bit for your breakfast takeaway."
Needless to say, Yui Mei disinfected Mei Na's hands with the sprayer containing the antiseptic solution, before she returned to the kitchen. Currently, Yui Mei was a walking pathogen.
When Yui Mei returned to the clinic, Yu Xiu was already sitting and drinking the oral rehydration solution by herself.
"Please pardon me for being late."
Yui Mei placed their breakfast on the table, and then she moved to hand the tray with the soup bowl when it struck her.
"Ah, does your Ladyship need a poison tester?"
Yui Mei suddenly remembered that dignitaries had poison testers, so she asked Yu Xiu.
"No need. I want to have something warm, just this for this occasion."
Yu Xiu received the warm bowl of soup with a smile. She took her time and finished the soup. She did not vomit, so it seemed they passed the critical stage. Yui Mei was relieved from her duty, since Yu Xiu could already eat on her own. When they informed the crown prince that she woke up, he sent an announcement that someone would take over to care for her while she was at the clinic.
'Maybe this is the reason why she was the prime candidate for the crown prince's future empress.'
Certainly, beauty alone was not enough. On the contrary, it might be a point that would irritate and annoy the other concubines who were fighting for the empress's position.
"Well, I am looking forward to that."
Yu Xiu looked genuinely happy when Yui Mei said those words. This would warrant a careful selection of snacks.
'Let's consult Mei Na.'
Aunty Yang was waiting for Yui Mei when she returned from the clinic.
"Yes. Her fever went down, and she ate her soup by herself when she woke up in the morning."
"Ah, what a relief. The crown prince's palace managed to evade a storm."
Aunty Yang looked relieved when she heard Yui Mei's story.
"Xiao Mei, you stayed up all night, right? Rest, you don't have to work today and tomorrow."
She also said gratifying words.
'Hurray! It's my first day-off!'
Yui Mei was so happy she was practically skipping on her way back to the lodging room, despite her lack of sleep.
The few court ladies, who were in the room when they first came here, were still sleeping.
'This...They're not night-shift court ladies, I guess.'
She already had her doubts the other day, and it was confirmed after she listened to Ziliang's story.
They were sleeping because they had influenza.
And so, Yui Mei quietly cleaned the room without disturbing the sleeping people. She opened the window to improve ventilation.
Though it was being partitioned by folding screens, this room was way smaller than the concubine's residence.
'As I thought.'
"Would you like me to bring you some water?"
She called out to one of them. The person replied in a hoarse voice, so she might have been slightly dehydrated, but at least she was conscious. The other two also answered in the same way, so Yui Mei went to the kitchen to make some oral rehydrating solution. She used a teapot in lieu of a feeding cup, and brought it over.
"I'll help you, can you drink it?"
She tipped the teapot to gradually pour water, but the three women unexpectedly finished all.
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