85話 海賊退治
立勇の驚きに、男が鼻を鳴らす。
「ふん、最近暇をしておったのでな」
――皇帝陛下の影の統領である身で、暇なわけがなかろうに。
訝しむ立勇に、しかし男は飄々とした様子である。
「小難しいことなどないわ、ただ陛下にここへ行けと命じられたゆえ、やって来たのみよ。
そう言って、男はニヤリと笑う。
「あの娘御がどのような女であろうとも、憶えのある風貌であろうとも、我には関係のない事。
――陛下......。
志偉は思いもかけず自分の近くへ帰って来た娘が、気がかりで仕方ないようだ。
経緯を考えれば無理もないとは思うが、しかし統領を寄越すとは。
安全は堅いものとなるだろうが、いささかやり過ぎではなかろうか? それに志偉自身の安全を犠牲にするなど。
――自分の身よりも、張美人の忘れ形見の方が大事なのか。
頭痛を堪えたくなる立勇に、統領が告げた。
「とにかく、娘御の安全は保障してやるゆえ、小僧は好きにするとよい。
統領の言葉に、立勇は思案する。
利民は少々うかつな所があるものの、行動力のある男だ。
しかも民の事を良く見ている。
そしてその補佐を潘公主が担うことになれば、最良だ。
そうなるためには、利民と潘公主の仲を確かなものとしておくべきだ。
雨妹も心配していたが、あの二人は言葉を交わす時間が少な過ぎる。
その時間の確保をするためには、利民を海に縛り付ける原因となっている海賊を捕まえなければならない。
――太子の遣いが船に乗っているとなれば、海賊共もいきり立つか?
太子の遣いとなれば、黄家よりももっと大きな金蔓を引き当てる絶好の機会となる。
そして立勇がいなくなったとなれば、公主や太子の遣いをどうにかしようと隙を伺っている連中も、動いてくれるかもしれない。
連中を一網打尽にすれば、黄大公へのよい宣伝になるだろうか。
それから数日後、立勇は潮風の吹く海上にいた。
急に乗り込んできた太子の近衛を、乗組員たちは遠巻きにしている。
そんな中、ズカズカと近寄ってくるのは利民である。
「けどよぅ、本当によかったのか?
まさか立勇が「海賊退治に同行したい」と言い出すとは意外だったようで、利民は「本当に来るのか?」と何度も確認してきたものだ。
海へ出てしまってまでも聞いてくる利民に、立勇は肩を竦めてみせる。
「仕方ない、私が貼りついていてはあちらの方の動きが鈍いようですから。
立勇はそう言って、利民を見る。
「大丈夫、護衛はちゃんとおりますから、雨妹や潘公主の身については心配無用です」
雨妹にも自身の考えを伝えており、護衛は自分以外にもいると知らせてある。
護衛については気付いていたというか、察していたようで。
特に驚くことはなかった。
雨妹からは「お気をつけていってらっしゃいませ」とまるでそこいらに散歩に出かけるかのような調子で見送られてしまった。
太子サマが残したのは、やっぱりアンタ一人じゃなかったってことか?」
利民の指摘に立勇は答えることはせず、逆に問いかける。
「利民殿とて、これまで潘公主を屋敷に一人で置いておいたのでしょうに。
そう、この男は結局潘公主の心配をしているのだ。
立勇が屋敷にいることで、やはり安心していたのだろう。
これに、利民は一瞬ムッとしたような顔をして、しばらく間を置いて口を開く。
「一応な、信頼のおける腕の立つ奴を、屋敷に張りつかせているんだよ。
なるほど、直接的な危険には気を配っていたということか。
「まあ雨妹がついてますから、家人との軋轢などは上手くやることでしょうし。
――ここのところ身体がなまっていたところだ、一つ存分にやるか。
船の上で立勇は一人、不敵に笑った。
Chapter 85
The man snorted, when Li Yong expressed his surprise.
"Hmpf, just got too much free time the past few days."
'There's no way the big boss of the emperor's shadow guards could afford to have that much time in his hands.'
Li Yong stared at him dubiously, but the man looked nonchalant.
"Hey, it's not something torturous, you know. His Majesty just ordered me to come here, so yeah. No idea why, and didn't ask questions either. I just had to carry out my duty."
The man grinned.
"That young lady looks familiar, but it doesn't have anything to do with me. Was ordered to protect her, so protect her, it is. Besides beating up those ruffians is just a piece of cake. Still, it's been a while since I saw that fervent gaze from His Majesty, you know."
'Your Majesty...'
Zhi Wei must have been concerned about his long-lost daughter that had unexpectedly returned to his side, so it can't be helped that he was probably flustered, now that the daughter in question had traveled somewhere out of his sight.
Well, it was understandable given the flow of events, however, for him to lend the head of his shadow guards....
Sure, he must be feeling super secured about himself, however, wasn't it overkill for him to do this? Besides, Zhi Wei was putting his own safety at risk here.
'Was Lady Zhang's memento more important than his own life?'
Li Yong felt a headache incoming, so the big boss further explained.
"Anyway, this young lady's safety is guaranteed, so kiddo, you can do whatever you want. There are things you can do precisely because you're out in the open."
Li Yong ruminated on the big boss' words.
Li Min might be airheaded in some aspects, but it couldn't be denied that he had the ability to take action.
Besides, he had been watching over his people carefully.
If Princess Pan was the one to become his pillar, then how great it would be.
Thus, it was imperative that Li Min and Princess Pan's relationship be strengthened.
They were spending too little time together, and Yui Mei was also worried about this.
It was important to eradicate the threat of the pirates, which was the main reason for Li Min's absence.
'Will the pirates act rashly if the Crown Prince's envoy joined Lord Li Min on the ship?'
They would probably think they could latch on a golden thigh that was far more superior than the Huang family if they got ahold of the crown prince's envoy, so that would be the ideal situation for them if that happened.
And if Li Yong was gone, those who wanted the crown prince and the princess' people out of the picture would probably make their move, too.
If they could catch all the pirate bunch, then it would also aid Grand Duke Huang's publicity.
A few days passed.
The crew surrounded the crown prince's aid, who suddenly joined them without rhyme and reason, from a distance.
Li Min strode towards Li Yong.
"Hey, you sure it's really alright that you're going out of your way to come here?"
Li Min never expected that Li Yong would tell him that "I want to participate in the eradication of the pirates", so he had been continually asking "Are you really coming" over and over again.
Li Min didn't stop questioning him even though they were already out in the sea, so Li Yong shrugged.
"I can't help it, they told me that they're having a hard time moving around when I'm there. I also don't want to spend too much time staying here."
Li Yong stared at Li Min as he said that.
"It's alright, there are guards protecting Yui Mei and Princess Pan, so there's no need to worry about them."
Li Yong already informed Yui Mei that there were other guards beside him.
She seemed to have noticed about them already, or she probably guessed it.
She wasn't even surprised.
Yui Mei said "Take care" nonchalantly, as if he was about to take a stroll outside.
"Ha! So Lord Crown Prince didn't leave you alone here, huh?"
Li Yong ignored Li Min's comment, and asked him instead.
"Lord Li Min, didn't you leave Princess Pan in that mansion all by herself until now? Don't you think it's too late to worry?"
Indeed, this man had been really worried about the Princess.
He was probably at ease when Li Yong had been staying in the mansion.
Li Min stiffened for a moment, then he started to talk after a while.
"You know, I left reliable guys I trust over there just in case. But they're not a refined bunch of people who could move elegantly around the mansion, and even if they do well in fighting, they don't have any idea how to handle stuff like how the bigshots do."
So that was the case. He did consider the immediate danger and acted accordingly.
"Well, Yui Mei is with her, so she can handle any discord with the servants over there. We just have to focus on achieving a grand victory to bring home to them."
'I'm feeling rusty lately, so let's do it with a bang, shall we?'
Li Yong smirked daringly as he stood on the ship.
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