33話 皇子の診察
そんないざこざがあったものの、雨妹と子良は友仁皇子の診察に取り掛かる。
皇子殿下、腕に触ります」
子良は友仁皇子の座った椅子に近寄り、一言断ってからその腕を取ると、先程卵と牛乳を水で薄めたものを腕の内側に一滴ずつ落とす。
「ちょっとだけ針で刺しますから、痛かったら言ってくださいね」
雨妹はそう告げて液で濡れた箇所を針で軽く刺し、しばし待つ。
今雨妹たちが試みているのは、アレルギーの皮膚テストだ。
これは短時間で結果が出る方法で、当然事前に雨妹たち自身で試験済みである。
雨妹は卵・牛乳・小麦のどれも反応なしで、子良も同様だった。
さらにそこいらをうろつく宦官に捕縛しつつも協力を要請してみたところ、牛乳にうっすらと反応したのが二人いた。
彼らには牛乳で炎症を起こす体質であることを告げると、「どうせそんな高級品を飲むことは滅多にない」と言いつつも、今後一応気を付けるとのことだった。
そして友仁皇子はというと、牛乳は変化なしだが、卵の方の変化が早い。
針で刺した箇所が、みるみる赤く腫れあがっていくのがわかる。
「腫れるのが早いですね」
「しかも腫れ方が酷い」
雨妹は子良と囁き合う。
痛々しいくらいに腫れてしまい、明らかに重症を示していた。
友仁皇子も痛痒いのを堪えているのか、顔をしかめている。
「先生、薬を」
「そうだな」
子良は針で刺した箇所を拭うと、腫れを抑える薬を友仁皇子に処方する。
その間に雨妹は、この一連の様子を見守っていた一同を見渡す。
昭儀は、その異様な腫れ具合に顔色を青くし、皇帝は純粋に驚いていた。
「今、皇子殿下は腕に卵液を塗ってこうなりましたが、体内でも同様の症状を引き起こします。
雨妹の言葉に、友仁皇子本人も呆然としている。
自身の苦しみの原因がようやく判明したことに、理解が追い付いていないのだろう。
「卵だなんて、食卓によくあがるものだわ」
さすがそこそこ位の高い妃嬪ともなれば、卵を常食しているらしい。
「友仁殿下は食が細いですから、少量でも栄養があるものをと考え、むしろ卵をお出しする回数は多かったはずです」
年配の女官が気遣わしい表情で胡昭儀を見る。
知らなかったからとはいえ、食が細くなっている原因を押し付けるも同然の行為だ。
きっとこの話を聞く屋敷の台所番は、顔色を青くすることだろう。
衝撃を受けて気落ちする胡昭儀たちに、雨妹は助言する。
「食物の過敏症は、成長と共に症状が緩和されることが多いので、あまり不安に思い過ぎないことです」
「......本当に?」
胡昭儀が小さく問うのに、雨妹は大きく頷いてみせた。
幸いなことに牛乳には反応しなかった。
牛乳は栄養がたっぷり含まれているので、積極的に飲むといいだろう。
胡昭儀がゆっくりと歩み寄ると、友仁皇子の前で屈んでその両手を取った。
「あなたの苦しみを理解してあげられなかった愚かな母に、詫びさせてちょうだい。
「......母上」
痛みを堪えるものではない涙が、友仁皇子の目から零れ落ちる。
これまで胡昭儀たちの様子を見守っていた皇帝が、ふいに椅子から立ち上がった。
皇帝がそう告げて友仁皇子を見る。
「友仁よ、もっと早くに他の医師を寄越すべきだった。
「そんな、僕は......」
謝罪を口にした皇帝に、友仁皇子が狼狽える。
この瞬間、友仁皇子の「呪い憑き」という評価は消えた。
後は雨妹が交流のある宮女たちにこの噂を流せば、きっと悪い評判もあっという間に塗り替えられる。
むしろ過敏症という症状を世に知らしめた人物として、名を遺すかもしれない。
――とりあえずは目的達成!
雨妹的には「これにて一件落着!」と言いたくなるような、大団円の室内であったが。
そんな中一人、蚊帳の外にいる人物がいた。
「こんなことって......」
文君は忌々し気に呟くと唇を噛み締め、胡昭儀が友仁皇子を抱きしめる姿を憎々しげに睨む。
その姿を、雨妹は静かに見つめていた。
Chapter 33
Even with all that commotion, Yui Mei and Ziliang were finally able to examine Imperial Prince Youren.
"Your Highness Imperial Prince Youren, I will now touch your arm."
Ziliang drew nearer to where Imperial Prince Youren was seated, and after a brief notice, he took his arm, and put a drop each of the water-thinned milk and egg respectively onto the inner side.
"I will be inserting a needle for a bit, please tell me if it hurts, okay."
After saying that, Yui Mei injected a needle in the skin with the mixture, then she waited for a while.
Currently, Yui Mei and Ziliang were conducting an allergy skin test.
This method yielded results in a short period of time, so Yui Mei and the rest could examine them for themselves right before it would occur.
Yui Mei did not have any reaction towards eggs, milk and wheat, and so was Ziliang.
They further asked the cooperation of eunuchs who were sticking around, and two of them reacted slightly from the milk.
When they were told that they had a body constitution that was hypersensitive to milk, they said 'no matter, drinking such expensive food as milk is a rarity for us' but they did agree to be more careful from now on.
As for Imperial Prince Youren, he did not have any reaction to the milk, but the response to eggs was fast.
The area that was pierced by the needle started to turn red and swell, and it was obvious.
"The inflammation occurred rapidly, right."
"And the manner of swelling is also terrible."
Yui Mei and Ziliang whispered to each other.
It continued to swell painfully, obviously showing that it was a severe case.
Imperial Youren scrunched his face in an attempt to endure the painful itch.
"Doctor, the medicine."
"Yeah, right."
Ziliang wiped the place where the needle was inserted, then he applied medicine that would reduce the inflammation.
During that time, Yui Mei turned to face the people who were observing them.
Color drained from the face of Imperial Concubine Hu, while the emperor was greatly surprised upon hearing the words of Yui Mei.
"Currently, we smeared the egg mixture onto Imperial Prince Youren's skin, but the same inflammation occurred in his body, too. If the internal organs swell like this, the pain he suffered must have been unimaginable.''
Imperial Prince Youren was also dumbfounded at Yui Mei's words.
Apparently, he could not keep up now that the source of his condition was finally identified.
"Eggs are frequently served in his meals."
As expected of a high-ranking concubine, eggs were part of their regular diet.
"Imperial Prince Youren is picky about his food, so eggs were frequently served since they believed that it still provided nutrition despite the small amount."
The elderly maid looked at Imperial Concubine Hu with an anxious expression.
It was only natural that they would impose something if they did not know that it was the cause of his pickiness.
The palace's kitchen staff would probably turn blue if they heard about this.
Yui Mei counseled Imperial Concubine Hu, who was crestfallen after receiving shock.
"Symptoms of food allergy are often alleviated as they grow, so please do not worry about it too much."
"... Is that true?"
Yui Mei nodded vigorously when Imperial Concubine Hu whispered her query.
It was fortunate that he did not react with milk.
Milk was very nutritious, so it would be good if he drank it proactively.
Imperial Concubine Hu slowly drew nearer, then she knelt in front of Imperial Prince Youren and took his hands.
"Please forgive your foolish mother for not understanding your suffering. From now on, I will do my best to prepare food that you can eat, so please get well as soon as possible and be healthy."
"...Mother."
Imperial Youren could no longer endure his pain, and tears overflowed from his eyes.
The emperor who had been watching over Imperial Concubine Hu and the rest, stood up from his chair.
The emperor said that, then he turned his gaze towards Imperial Prince Youren.
"Youren, a different doctor should have been sent to you sooner. Zhen apologizes for taking so long."
"No, I..."
Imperial Prince Youren was unnerved by the emperor's apology.
From this moment on, Imperial Prince Youren was relieved from being assessed as 'cursed'.
Afterward, Yui Mei also spread this gossip among the court ladies she interacted with, so his bad reputation was also instantly whitewashed.
He might also leave a mark in history as the person who let the world know about a condition called hypersensitivity. Yui Mei wished that Imperial Prince Youren who suffered from a tender age, would grow into a compassionate person.
'Anyway, goal achieved!'
For Yui Mei, it was a grand finale worthy of saying 'case closed'.
Meanwhile, there was a person being excluded among them.
"This kind of thing...."
Wenjun muttered provokingly as she bit her lip tightly, and she glared with hatred at Imperial Concubine Hu as she hugged Imperial Prince Youren.
Yui Mei silently stared at her figure.
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