その顔を一目見ようと思うのだが、いかんせん立彬の押さえつける手の力が強い。
――痛い、もう少し顔を上げさせて!
「まあ陛下、こんなお時間に珍しいですわね」
「少々、お前と茶を飲みたくなってな」
皇帝はお茶のために突撃訪問したらしい。
としての位が低いために後宮の端にある王美人の屋敷だが、案外皇帝の寵愛度は深いのかもしれない。
――だったら、あの汚屋敷放置も納得かも。
王美人から皇帝の足を遠ざけたい者の仕業だろう。
の所の者ではないか」
そして隣の立彬に声をかけた。
立彬は太子付きの宦官であるので、皇帝に顔を覚えられていてもおかしくはない。
皇帝に存在を気付かれた立彬が、少し顔を上げた。
目的が王美人ではないことを明らかにするためであろう、立彬が告げる。
――太子付きの宦官が皇帝の妃嬪に近付くって、聞こえが良くないもんね。
そう思いながら、立彬の意識が皇帝に向かって手の力が緩んだ隙に、雨妹も少し顔を上げて皇帝を見る。
そして最初に目に入ったのは、皇帝の青い目だ。
青い目の意味について思考が纏まりかけた時、皇帝とバチッと音がするかのように目が合う。
雨妹が慌てて頭を下げるのと、立彬の手の力が復活するのが同時であった。
雨妹の「うおぉ」という低い呻きが聞こえたのか。
立彬が若干手の力を緩めたおかげで、九十度までお辞儀の角度が修正された。
「陛下、温かいお茶を用意しますからこちらにどうぞ」
皇帝がこの場を去らないと雨妹たちが動けないと察したのだろう、王美人が屋内へ誘導する。
残された二人はしばし頭を下げたままだったが、しばらくして雨妹は膝から力が抜けるように地面にへたり込んだ。
「うぉお、ビビったぁ」
後宮に皇帝が住んでいるとしても、実際にその姿を見ることができるのはほんの一握りでしかない。
――いや、でも医局で太子に会うよりは、まともな遭遇の仕方かも。
皇帝が己の妃嬪の元に通うのは、至って普通のことだろう。
それにしても、驚いたら余計にお腹が空いた。
「お饅頭、食べていいのかな?」
なので今の関心ごとは、皇帝の訪れでおやつの行方がどうなったのかだ。
「いや、饅頭の事以外は特にないかな」
なにか言いたそうだがそれをぐっと飲み込んだような立彬に、雨妹はヒラヒラと手を振る。
「会えて幸運くらいは思ってるって、明日はいいことがあるかなぁ」
結論を言えば、王美人のお供の人がちゃんとくれたので、美味しくいただいたのだが、立彬と二人で食べることとなる。
「美味しいね~」
「普通に饅頭の味だな」
微妙に静かなおやつタイムであった。
そして夕食時、雨妹は食事を盛ってくれる
「今日、陛下を見ちゃいました」
「まあ、運がよかったね
お玉で汁物を掬いながら美娜が返す。雨妹同様、皇帝陛下の扱いがまるで幸運グッズのようだ。
だが皇帝なんて存在とは縁遠い宮女の認識なんて、こんなものである。
Yui Mei wanted to steal a glance at the person's face, but Libin's hand exerted strength to prevent her from doing so.
'It hurts, let me raise my head for a bit!'
"Oh, Your Majesty, it is rare for you to be here at this hour."
"I wanted to spend a while and drink tea with you."
Unexpectedly, the emperor rushed to visit because of tea.*
It seemed his affection might run deep, considering she was a concubine with a low status, and she had been staying near the edge of the Inner Palace.
'In that case, it's only natural that her place was left dirty.'
It must be the work of somebody who wanted to distance her from the emperor.
"Aren't you someone from Ming Xian's place?"
He addressed Libin, who was beside her.
It was not surprising that the emperor was familiar with him, since he was a eunuch attending the crown prince, after all.
Libin slightly raised his head, since the emperor already noticed him.
Libin explained, apparently making it clear that he did not come here for Lady Wang.
'It's poor taste to hear the crown prince's attendant being close to the emperor's concubine , after all.'
Taking advantage of the moment Libin's hands loosened while he was talking to the emperor, Yui Mei slightly raised her head. The first thing that she saw was the emperor's blue eyes.
Yui Mei only met two people who had blue eyes in her entire life. First was the crown prince, and second was the emperor.
Just when Yui Mei was stupefied at the possible meaning behind those blue eyes, the emperor turned. It was like a spark flew between them as their eyes met.
Yui Mei was flustered and she hurriedly bowed her head; at the same time, Libin's strength seemingly returned. Because of that, her forehead almost touched her knees.
Did the emperor hear Yui Mei's groan?
Libin retracted some of his strength, so Yui Mei was able to revert back to a 90 degree bow. Unfortunately, the emperor was staring hard at her.
"Your Majesty, I have prepared warm tea, so please come in."
Lady Wang invited the emperor inside the residence, since she realized Yui Mei and Libin won't be able to get up as long as the emperor was still there.
The remaining two people had their heads bowed still, only raising them after a while had passed. Yui Mei lost her strength, and she collapsed on the floor.
"Whoah..So scared..."
Although she knew the emperor lived in the Inner Palace, only a handful of people could see him in person. A lowly court lady should prepare her heart first before meeting the noblest personage.
'Ah, but compared to meeting the crown prince back at the clinic, this encounter was quite ordinary.'
It was natural for the emperor to visit his own concubine. Yui Mei was caught by surprise, but that was only because she had been careless.
Nevertheless, the shock made her hungry.
"Is it alright to eat the manju?"
As for the matter of interest and concern, what happened for her to become this way when it came to choosing between manju and the emperor.
"Ah nope, I don't think there's something else other than manju."
Apparently, Libin wanted to say something, but he ended up swallowing his words. Yui Mei waved her hands to him.
"I thought it was good luck that we met. Will there be anything good for tomorrow?"
As for the conclusion, Lady Wang's maid gave them their share of manju, so she decided to eat it with him.
"It's really delicious, right."
"It's just the ordinary taste of manju, though."
The conversation ended. It was a subtle, calm time suitable for eating snacks.
Afterward, Yui Mei talked to Mei Na as the latter plated food for her during dinner.
"I saw His Majesty today."
"Oh, you're lucky, Ah Mei. Something good will happen, for sure."
Mei Na replied as she ladled soup into the bowl.
Just like Yui Mei, she treated the emperor as a lucky charm. However, that was the only thing they could do with regards to the emperor. His existence for them only amounted to such. It couldn't be helped, since their status as emperor and court lady was like heaven and earth.
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