24話 皇子と女官
「一体なんですか?」
「あだっ!」
「妙ないざこざに巻き込まれてはおるまいな?」
そう小声で言いながら目線で指すのは、あの皇子だ。
「たまたま遭遇しただけですけど、あれって皇子殿下でしょう?」
雨妹の主張に、立彬が深く息を吐く。
「そう、皇太后派の
説明を聞いた雨妹はしばし考える。
胡昭儀の名は初耳だが、皇太后とはあのインフルエンザ騒動を悪化させた張本人ではなかったか。
同士で揉めたとしても、彼女らに後宮追放なんてことができるはずがなく。
決定したのは後宮の支配者である皇太后以外にあり得ないのだ。
雨妹としては微妙な気持ちを抱く相手ではあるが、最大派閥の主であることに変わりなく。
その派閥の皇子なら、好待遇を受けているものではなかろうか。
――なのにこの痩せようって、おかしいよね?
雨妹が思考を巡らせていると。
「......殿下、
回廊の向こうから、甲高い女の声がした。
「......あ」
その声が聞こえた途端に、皇子がオロオロとした態度で慌て始める。
「友仁殿下」というのは、恐らく彼のことなのだろう。
もしや妙な場所を通って来たのは、あの声から逃げてきたせいか。
――なんか、可哀想なくらいにオドオドしてるんだけど。
雨妹は気持ちとしては放っておけず、どこかに隠してあげたくなる。
けれど皇子が一体どういう理由で逃げたのかわからないため、迂闊なことはできない。
「これ、どうすればいいんですか?」
「どうもしない。全く、面倒にならなければいいが」
あまり関わり合いになりたくない、という本心が透けて見えた。
――まあ、無理ないか。
宮女の噂話によると、太子は皇太后と仲が良くない。
というより、険悪らしい。
そんな皇太后派の皇子が逃げ隠れしている場所に、太子の宦官が居合わせれば、いらぬ疑いをかけられるかもしれない。
その太子付きの宦官と一緒にいる雨妹も、同様にいらぬ疑いを向けられる可能性があるわけで。
「えーと、じゃあ私は......」
雨妹はどうしようかと一瞬考え、立彬の影に隠れるように移動する。
隠れる壁代わりにされた立彬は、嫌そうな顔をしていたが。
「殿下、そんなところに!」
上等な服を来て、宝飾品で煌びやかに飾っているところを見ると、位が高いのか実家が裕福なのか、あるいは両方だろうか。
そして皇子を見つけたならば、当然雨妹たちの姿も視界に入るわけで。
「お前は......」
その女官は立彬を睨みつける。太子付きの宦官をお前呼ばわりとは、よほど気位が高いらしい。
――私は影、私は空気!
心の中でそう唱える雨妹を余所に、彼女は立彬に関わっている間も惜しいとばかりに前を通り過ぎ、ズカズカと皇子に詰め寄る。
「友仁殿下、逃げ出すとは何事ですか!」
威圧的に怒鳴られ、皇子が小さく震える。
「このままではどうなるか、わかっていますよね?」
なにも言えなくなった皇子の腕を、彼女は無造作に掴む。
その勢いに皇子がよろめくが、気にした様子は見られず。
「行きますよ!」
そう告げて皇子の腕を掴んだまま大股に歩くため、引っ張られる方は小走りになって必死に付いて行くしかない。
「余計なことを言うと、どうなるかわかっているでしょうね?」
この態度に忌々しそうな顔をすると、皇子を引きずってズカズカと歩き去って行く。
そして、姿が完全に見えなくなった後。
「行ったぞ」
立彬が背後の雨妹に声をかけた。
懸命に空気に徹していた雨妹は、大きく深呼吸する。
文句は立彬だけに言われていたので、どうやら隠れることに成功したらしい。
この男が体格のいい宦官で助かった。
「なんか、色々な意味で凄そうな人でしたね」
あの女官について述べる雨妹に、立彬は眉間を指でグリグリと揉んでいる。
「あの女のせいで聞きそびれていたが、どうして皇子と一緒にいた?」
「だから、たまたま遭遇したんですよ。
雨妹の説明に、立淋は頭痛を堪えるような仕草をする。
「今度は皇子に遭遇するとは、実は面倒が好きなのか?」
そんなことを言われても、雨妹だって困るのだが。
「人聞きが悪いですね。偶然ですよ、偶然」
Chapter 24
"What is it?"
"Ouch!"
"Are you involved in another weird matter?"
Libin whispered while staring at the prince.
"We met by chance, but isn't that His Highness the Imperial Prince?"
Libin sighed deeply at Yui Mei's statement.
"Indeed, he is the imperial prince born by the Consort Hu - the Lady of Bright Deportment of the empress dowager's faction."
After hearing his explanation, Yui Mei pondered about it.
This was the first time she heard about Consort Hu, but wasn't the empress dowager the one who aggravated the influenza turmoil? Incidentally, she was also the one who drove out Yui Mei's mother, according to the gossip of the nuns.
At that time, even if she was involved in a dispute with her fellow concubines, they should not be able to chase her out of the Inner Palace.
The one who made the decision was no other than the master of the inner harem -- the empress dowager.
Though Yui Mei harbored complex emotions against her, it did not change the fact that she was the leader of the largest political faction.
If it was a prince that belonged to that faction, then he should have received great treatment.
'And yet he's so thin, isn't it weird? Why would a blessed child like him become malnourished?'
Just as Yui Mei ruminated --
"...Your Highness, Your Highness Youren!"
A woman's shrill voice was heard from the corridor.
"......Ah"
The imperial prince started to quiver the instant he heard that voice.
Apparently, 'His Highness Youren' referred to him.
Perhaps, the reason why he passed through a strange place was because he was running away from that voice.
'Somehow, he is trembling pitifully, though.'
Yui Mei felt she couldn't leave him alone, and she wanted to hide him somewhere else.
However, she did not know the reason why the imperial prince ran away, so she couldn't act carelessly.
"How should we handle this?"
"Nothing. Really, it would be good if this doesn't turn into something troublesome."
She could see right through him that he didn't want to get involved.
'Well, that's understandable.'
According to the rumors of the court ladies, the crown prince was not on good terms with the empress dowager.
Rather than that, they were at odds with each other, apparently.
Unnecessary suspicions could arise if it was known that the crown prince's attending eunuch happened to meet the imperial prince, who was part of the empress dowager's faction, in the place where he ran away.
Yui Mei, who was together with the crown prince's attending eunuch, would also be at the receiving end of those unnecessary rumors, as well.
"Ahm, then I..."
Yui Mei thought for a second about what she should do, then she tried to hide in Libin's shadow.
Libin had a sour face for being treated as a wall substitute.
"Your Highness, so you were there!"
She was wearing high-quality clothes, and she was resplendently decked with jewels. She was obviously either someone with a high status or a person who came from an affluent family; perhaps, it could also be both.
Of course, when she discovered the imperial prince, it was only natural that Yui Mei and Libin's figures also entered her field of vision.
"You are..."
The maid glared at Libin.
'I am a shadow, I am the air!'
Yui Mei inwardly chanted, but the maid ignored her, and went past Libin, acting as if she did not have the time to spare on them, and briskly strode towards the imperial prince.
"Your Highness Youren, what do you mean by running away!"
The imperial prince who was fiercely scolded trembled.
"You do know the consequences of this, right?"
She carelessly grabbed the arm of the imperial prince who was not able to utter a single word.
The imperial prince staggered at her force, but she did not even bat an eye.
"Let's go!"
Keeping hold of his arm, she walked in large strides, and the imperial prince could only desperately trot to keep up with her as she pulled him.
"You'll know what will happen if you say something unnecessary, right?"
She was annoyed at his attitude, so she pulled the imperial prince and strode away.
When they could no longer see their figures --
"They're gone."
Libin called out to Yui Mei.
Yui Mei took a deep breath. She had been holding her breath with utmost effort.
The complaint was directed to Libin only, so it seemed she had successfully hid herself.
Thank goodness this eunuch had such a great physique.
"Somehow, she's amazing on so many levels."
Libin pinched and rubbed between his brows when Yui Mei said that about the maid.
"We were interrupted because of that woman, but why were you together with the imperial prince?"
"As I said, I met him by chance. I finished cleaning, so I was about to eat my snack on that stone, when he suddenly came out from the thicket."
At Yui Mei's explanation, Libin looked like he was enduring a headache.
"This time you met the imperial prince. Really, do you like looking for trouble?"
Yui Mei was also bothered after being told off.
"You're making me look bad. It was accidental, accidental, I said."
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