49話 お呼びがかかりまして
花の宴が過ぎれば、季節はだんだん暖かくなってくる。
暖かくなると、ツルンとしたのどごしの食べ物が恋しくなるもので。
豆花とは大豆から作ったプリンのようなものである。
甘い煮豆や果物を盛ったり、蜜をかけて食べるのだが、一方で辛く味付けしておかずにしたりもできるという万能な食品だ。
「美味しい~」
雨妹はプルンとした豆花を口に入れて悶える。
本日はいい感じに快晴で、しかもお休みの日。
だらだらしながら食べる豆花は一段と美味しい。
こうして文字通り幸せを噛みしめている雨妹だが、花の宴の後で環境が変わったかと言えば、全くそんなことはなく。
太子に己の素性が知られているのかと思うものの、あれ以来そんな話をされたこともない。
と遭遇するが、世間話をするくらいで、いたって平和な毎日である。
――まあ、平和が一番だけどねぇ。
雨妹は現在の生活に不満があるわけではないので、なにも言われないのはむしろありがたいと思っていた。
今だって、そのおかげで美味しいおやつにありつけているわけなのだから。
「う~ん、甘くて幸せ」
雨妹が豆花の美味しさにとろけそうになっていると。
おばさんの声がしたので、慌てて石から立ち上がる。
休みなのでだらけていても問題ないのだろうが、上司の前となると条件反射でこうなってしまう。
普段、雨妹が饅頭を食べていても欲しがらない楊おばさんが、豆花に目を細める。どうやら甘い豆花が好物のようだ。
「あの、私になにか御用でしたか?」
「ああ、それを食べてでいいからついて来な」
尋ねるとそんなことを言われるが、ここで「あ、そうですか」とのんびり食べるわけにもいくまい。
豆花を急いで口の中にかき込む。
――あぁ、もっと味わって食べたかった......。
また今度美娜に作ってもらおうと心に決めつつ、器を台所へ返して戻って来る。
「じゃあ行くよ、こっちだ」
そう言われるがままに楊おばさんについて行き、回廊を歩いてとある小部屋に入ると、中には先客がいた。
「あれ、立彬様?」
何故ここにいるのかと目を瞬かせる雨妹に、立彬が告げた。
「俺がお前を呼んでもらったのだ」
「......そうなんですか」
ならば一体何用で呼ばれたというのか。
立彬と会った時は、いつもなにかが起きるのだ。
思わず身構える雨妹に、楊おばさんが言った。
「太子殿下が外出されるお供として、
――外出のお供?
後宮に暮らす女たちは基本的に、外には出られない。
しかし例外があって、皇帝や太子の外出へ付き添う形だと、後宮の外へ出ることができる。
だがそのようなことになるのは、当然皇帝や太子に近しい女たちに限られる。
まったくもって近しくない、下級宮女である雨妹に巡って来るような幸運ではないだろう。
「なんでですか?」
外出のお供くらい、太子宮にも連れて行く人はそれなりにいるだろうに。
わざわざ立彬をよこして雨妹を指名する意味がわからない。
「お前は、普通ここは喜びはしゃぐ場面だろうが」
「そんなこと言われても困ります」
だいたい雨妹はそんな機会など巡って来ないと思っていたし、後宮は広いため、息苦しさもあまり感じない。
都で不自由なく育った者は違う意見だろうが、少なくとも不自由だらけな辺境に比べれば、足りている生活だ。
――欲を言い出せばキリがないし、外へ出ても日本みたいに便利なものが手に入るわけでもないし。
ゆえに、外への憧れというものがさほど強くないのである。
このように現状をすっぱりと割り切っている雨妹だったが、立彬や楊おばさんにとっては奇異に見えるらしい。
「変わった娘だねぇ」
「全く同意します」
楊おばさんの少し失礼な言葉に、立彬が深く頷いている。
――変わってないし、個性的なだけだし!
ともあれ、雨妹が太子のお供をするのは決定事項らしい。
「これを着て来い」
みすぼらしい格好で連れて行くわけにはいかないということで、外出用の服を手渡された。
「さあ、太子殿下をお待たせしないように、さっさと着替えな」
それから言われた通り一旦部屋へ帰り、与えられた服装に着替える。
貰った服は木綿の生地だが、お仕着せに比べるとちょっとお洒落な意匠である。
――おお、可愛いんじゃない?
雨妹だってお洒落な服を着れば多少は心が浮き立つというもので。
貰った服に着替えた雨妹は、周囲の視線を集めつつ、約束の時間に後宮と外朝との境へ行く。
Chapter 49
The season gradually warmed after the Cherry Blossom Viewing Banquet passed.
One would naturally wish for cold drinks during a hot day.
Douhua was a pudding-like food made from tofu.
Sweetened boiled beans and fruits could be added; one could also pour honey in it. On the other hand, it could also be seasoned to be a spicy side dish. It was a truly versatile dish.
"So yummy~"
Yui Mei squirmed as she scooped the pudding-like douhua into her mouth.
It was a great day. The sky was clear as it can be, and on top of that, it was her day-off too.
The douhua tasted more delicious as she slowly savored it.
Yui Mei was in cloud nine. If one were to ask whether her circumstances changed after the Cherry Blossom Viewing Banquet, no such thing happened.
Even though she suspected that the crown prince already knew her identity, they didn't talk about it.
She also saw Libin from time to time, but they only made some small talk, so her days passed peacefully.
'Well, peace is still the best, after all.'
Yui Mei didn't have any dissatisfaction in her current life. She was even grateful that they never said a thing.
Thanks to that, she could also enjoy delicious treats just like now.
"Hmm, so tasty, so happy!"
Yui Mei felt she was going to melt because of the douhua's luscious taste.
Aunty Yang called to her, so she hurriedly stood up from the stone.
It was her day-off, so there should be no problem even if she lazed around. Of course, she couldn't slack off in front of her superior, though.
Aunty Yang usually ignored it when Yui Mei ate manju, but she narrowed her eyes at the douhua; maybe she liked it.
"Ahm, is there anything I could help you with?"
"Yeah. It's fine, finish that first then come to me."
She got that reply to her question, but that didn't mean she could say 'Alright' and continue taking her time eating it.
She hurriedly gobbled the douhua.
'Ahh, I had wanted to savor it more...'
She was determined to request Mei Na to make it again for her next time. She took her bowl back to the kitchen then returned back here.
"Alright, let's go. This way."
Aunty Yang led her through the corridor to a small room where a guest was already waiting.
"Eh, Libin?"
Yui Mei was perplexed why he was here. Libin replied.
"I'm the one who called you here."
"...Is that so."
Then for what purpose?
Stuff always occurred when she met up with Libin.
Yui Mei unwittingly became guarded. Aunty Yang spoke.
"His Highness the Crown Prince wanted Xiao Mei to accompany him as his attendant during his trip, apparently."
'Attendant during the trip?'
Basically, women of the Inner Palace could not go out.
However, there were exceptions. They could leave the Inner Palace if they were to accompany the emperor or the crown prince.
Of course, that was limited to the women within their vicinity.
A lower-ranking court lady like Yui Mei, who didn't even serve nearby, normally did not have this kind of luck.
"May I ask why?"
If it's just attendant, then there were plenty of people who could do so within the crown prince's palace.
Yui Mei didn't understand why the crown prince went out of his way to send Libin over just to summon her.
"You, normally people would be over the moon at this time."
"I'd be troubled if you say it that way."
It was just that Yui Mei did not expect this opportunity to land on her lap, and she did not feel suffocated within the Inner Palace, probably because of its sheer size.
A person born in the capital would beg to differ since they did not experience being destitute, but compared to the poverty-stricken rural areas, this lifestyle was already good enough.
'There's no end to the things you'll want if you start focusing on it. Besides, there's no convenient stuff like the ones in Japan even if I went out.'
Because of that, her desire to leave wasn't that strong.
It was clear to Yui Mei, but Libin and Aunty Yang found it strange.
"What an odd girl."
"I totally agree."
Libin wholeheartedly nodded in agreement to Aunty Yang's slightly rude observation.
'I'm not odd, it's just a personal preference!'
And so, it was decided that Yui Mei would accompany the crown prince.
"Come after you wear this."
There's no way they would take her along in a wretched state, so a suitable outfit was handed to her.
"Go on, hurry up and change. Don't make the crown prince wait."
She returned to her room and did as she was told.
The clothes were made out of cotton, but it had a stylish design compared to her uniform.
'Whoa, isn't it cute?'
Even Yui Mei would also get excited wearing a fashionable outfit.
Yui Mei changed into the clothes she received, garnering attention from her surroundings as she headed towards the border between the Inner Palace and the Outer Court at the appointed time.
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