必死の形相の潘公主に、太子は「何故?」という疑問を口にできないようだ。
太子がその後ろに控える雨妹に、視線を向けて来る。
「雨妹は、それでいいのかい?」
これに、雨妹は大きく頷く。
「はい、太子殿下。
この答えに、太子が「やれやれ」と零す。
のためだ、しばらく雨妹を貸そうじゃないか」
「......! 殿下、ありがとうございます!」
それに合わせて、雨妹も慌てて跪くと。
立勇
と共にここへ残り、玉の憂いを晴らしてくれ」
思わず顔を上げる雨妹に、太子が意味ありげな微笑みを浮かべていた。
の屋敷へ到着した日の夕刻、屋敷の広間では歓迎の宴が催された。
しかし玉は昼間のやり取りで疲れたということで、欠席である。
そしてそれ故に別献立となる玉の夕食指導を、雨妹が厨房に細かく伝えていたりする。
「奥方様に料理の味がわからなかったなんて。
そう嘆いた料理人の男が、雨妹と玉のためになる料理について話し合っていたと、その場に立ち会った利民から聞かされた。
「あの雨妹という娘、実に博識ですね。
感心しきりの利民であったが、生まれも育ちも辺境であるはずの雨妹が、海の食材に詳しいとは不思議である。
――それにここまでの道中も、雨妹は海に感激した風であっても、驚いた様子はなかったな。
海を見たことがない者は、どこまでも続く水溜まりに驚くものなのだが。
実際、昔の明賢がそうだったように。
この疑問を、試しに雨妹にぶつけてみたのだが。
「......昔、旅の者に聞いたのです」
雨妹はそう言い張った。
目が泳いで怪しいことこの上なかったが、ここで追及するのはやめておく。
海の食材について知っているからといって、なにか悪事に繋がっているわけではないのだから。
案外食い意地の張っている雨妹のことだから、いつか海に行って食べたいものを調べていた可能性もある。
その雨妹はというと、自分はここで座っているので美味しいものを食べておいでと勧めたところ、料理が並ぶ卓へと弾丸のように跳んで行った。
どうやら海鮮料理を楽しみにしていたらしい。
そんな雨妹の様子を微笑ましく観察していると、背後から声がした。
「殿下、自分がここへ残ってよろしいのですか?」
振り返ると、護衛として控えている立勇が眉をひそめていた。
「本当は私も残れたらいいのだけれど、宮を長く離れるのは危険だからね」
明賢はそう言って肩を竦めて見せると、声量を落として続ける。
「海の支配者たる黄家の勢力は、父上も一目置かれている。
だからこそ、雨妹の味方になってくれれば、心強いだろう?」
楊
が上手い具合に雨妹の存在を隠しているが、その内必ず表舞台で注目されるはず。
なにせ、雨妹本人は一応目立たないように行動しているようだが、困っている者を見つけると、途端にそのあたりの理性が吹き飛ぶ傾向がある。
それにあの医術に対する知識の豊富さ。
医師ですらうっすら聞いたことのある程度の異国の医術についてを、雨妹は詳しく語るのだという。
『ありゃあ一体、どんなお人に育てられたんでしょうかね?』
この国にあんなに医術に詳しい者が、都の外にいるものだろうかと、陳医師も首を傾げていた。
当然、雨妹を育てたであろう尼達が、それほどに医術に詳しいとは考えられない。
もしそれほどの知識を持つならば、辺境の尼などにならずとも、それなりに大きな場所で身を立てられるからだ。
――案外、雨妹の旅人に聞いたという話は正しいのかもな。
異国で国の支配者の不興を買って追放された医者が、辺境に流れてきて戯れに雨妹に知識を授けた。
物語のような話だが、あり得なくもないことだ。
このまま何事もなく、健やかに過ごしてほしい。
「頼むよ、立勇。あの娘を守っておくれ」
明賢の心からの願いに、立勇が「仕方ない」といった顔になる。
「......承知しました、全力を尽くさせていただきます」
そしてそう言って頭を下げた。
The crown prince couldn't ask "Why?" after seeing the princess's desperate expression.
The crown prince turned back to look at Yui Mei.
"Yui Mei, are you fine with that?"
She vigorously nodded.
"Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince. If that is alright with you, please allow me to stay here for a while."
The crown prince groaned at Yui Mei's answer.
"It's for Yu's sake, so there's no helping it, I'll lend Yui Mei to you for a while."
"...! Your Highness, thank you very much!"
Yui Mei also hurriedly kowtowed.
'Eh. Li Yong too??'
"Alright, Yui Mei, you remain here with Li Yong, and relieve Yu's anxiety."
Yui Mei abruptly raised her head, and the crown prince smirked, his smile full of hidden meaning.
A banquet was held that evening at the hall of the mansion.
Princess Pan did not attend, apparently tired from the excitement during the day.
Yui Mei explained the separate menu for the princess's evening meal in great detail to the cook.
"I didn't know that the Lady couldn't taste the dishes. If I learned about this earlier, I could've done something to improve her meals."
The head chef heard it from Li Min who had been there while he and Yui Mei were talking about the meal plan for the princess.
"That Yui Mei girl is really an erudite. To think that she knew so many things about seafood, even though she's not a fisherman from the port city of Kai..."
Li Min was thoroughly impressed, but it was only natural that he found it puzzling, given that Yui Mei grew up in the borderland.
'Besides, although Yui Mei was moved by the sea on our way here, she wasn't surprised to see it.'
People who had never seen the sea before would usually be shocked by the water that seemed to continue on without end.
In fact, Ming Xian was also like that before.
He tried asking about this to Yui Mei.
'...I heard it from a traveling person long ago.'
That was what Yui Mei said.
She suspiciously averted her eyes, but Ming Xian decided not to pry further.
Just because she was knowledgeable about seafood didn't mean it was a bad thing.
Since it's the glutton Yui Mei they're talking about, there's also the possibility that she had gone to the sea before to check the food she wanted to eat.
Speaking of, since he told her that he'd be sitting here and she must also enjoy the delicious food, she had already rushed off like a bullet as soon as the dishes were lined up.
Seemed like she was excited about the seafood cuisine.
The crown prince beamed as he watched her, when a voice called out to him from behind.
"Your Highness, are you sure you would like me to remain here?"
When he turned around, Li Yong, who was acting as his escort, was standing there with a brow raised.
"Actually, I also wanted to stay here, but it'll be dangerous to leave the palace for far too long."
The crown prince shrugged, then lowered his voice.
"The emperor is also keeping an eye on the influence of the Huang family, who governs the sea. Of course, the empress dowager isn't turning a blind eye, either.
That's why, I'd be more relieved if you are here to be Yui Mei's ally, you know?"
He didn't want Yui Mei to be alone when the time came.
Yang was doing a great job hiding Yui Mei's existence, however, she could still be discovered since she was in the political center stage.
At any rate, Yui Mei was also trying to be inconspicuous, but when she discovered someone in trouble, that vigilance would fly out the window right in an instant.
Add to that, she had that abundant medical knowledge.
Yui Mei was very well versed with the medicine of foreign countries that even Doctor Chen was only slightly familiar with.
'Well, it's intriguing, what kind of person raised her?'
Doctor Chen was also perplexed when he answered that 'perhaps the person who was very knowledgeable in that kind of medicinal art was someone living outside the capital.'
Yui Mei was raised by the nuns, and it was highly improbable that they had any kind of medicinal knowledge.
If that person was that erudite, then rather than staying in the borderland's nunnery, it would be more profitable to establish the reputation in a bigger place.
'Perhaps, that story about the travelling person Yui Mei talked about might be true.'
Maybe that person drew the ire of the people governing the foreign country, so he was banished. He then found his way to the borderland, where he taught Yui Mei.
It's like a tale, but it was also plausible.
That's why he wanted her to live safely and healthily.
"I beg you, Li Yong. Protect that girl."
Faced with Ming Xian's heartfelt plea, Li Yong could only make a helpless expression.
"...I understand. I will devote all I have to fulfill your order."
He bowed his head after saying so.
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