57話 突然の問診
やがて部屋にお茶が運ばれてきて、席に着いた太子と
「ではまずは、こちらの品を受け取ってほしい」
太子がそう言うと、ぞろぞろと様々な品を持った人たちが入ってくる。
「このような殿下の心配り、大変うれしく思います」
そう告げた利民と一緒に、潘公主が首を垂れる。
は風邪だと聞いていたのだけれど、もっと重い病だったのかい?」
心配する太子に、潘公主が弱々しく微笑む。
「いいえ、ただの風邪でございます。
利民もこの状態を放置していたわけではないと説明するものの、困り果てている様子である。
雨妹には思い当る病気が一つだけ思い浮かぶけれど、それにしても疑問な事があるのだが。
雨妹が顎に片手を当てて「ふぅむ」と思考を巡らせていると、不意に太子が後ろを振り向いた。
「雨妹、君はどう思う?」
利民や潘公主を前にズバリと尋ねる太子に、雨妹は目を丸くした。
雨妹の今までの行動を見て来た太子から、なんらかの意見を求められるのは理解できるのだが。
――え、今ここで聞いちゃうんですか?
利民も潘公主も、供の娘に発言を促す太子に目を見張る。
それはそうだ、こういう場での雨妹のような下っ端宮女は、空気のようなものなのだから。
けれど、太子は押しが強い。
「気になる事があるなら、言ってごらん?」
再度そう促されるが、本当に意見を述べていいものか。
戸惑う雨妹が救いを求めて隣を見れば、
こうなったら太子は引かないと知っているのだろう。
――ええい、どうなっても知らないからね!
雨妹が本当に発言を始めたので、潘公主は驚きながらも応じる姿勢を見せた。
太子が促した会話を、拒否するのは失礼だからだろう。
太子の威光があるうちに、雨妹は質問をする。
「潘公主はお食事が、美味しく感じられますか?」
これに利民がムッとした顔をする。
「もしやこの屋敷で出される料理が、玉殿の口に合っていないと言うつもりか!?」
利民に反論されるが、雨妹はそういうことを言いたいのではない。
私が問題にしているのは潘公主の味覚――味を感じる能力なのです」
意味が分からないという様子の利民に対して、太子の方は気付いたようだ。
「雨妹、味が分からなくなる病気というのがあるのかい?」
太子がそう尋ねてくるのに、雨妹は頷きを返す。
風邪をひいた後の後遺症として、味覚障害や風味障害が出ることがあるのです」
「味覚障害に、風味障害ですか......?」
「はい、簡単に言えば味や香りを感じられなくなる病気です。
雨妹のよどみない説明に、利民は眉をひそめた。
「恐れながら殿下、そのような話を私は聞いたことがございません。
前半を太子に、後半を雨妹に言った利民は、もしかして詐欺の手合いを心配しているのかもしれない。
この国でも重い病であることを告げて怪しげな壺を買わせるという商売が、あちらこちらで成り立っているのだから。
「利民はこう言っているけど雨妹、確認する方法はあるのかい?」
「もちろんございます。
そう告げた雨妹が言った内容のものを、利民が半信半疑ながらも屋敷の者に雨妹が告げた通りのものをすぐに用意するように命じる。
かくして雨妹の前の卓の上には、いくつもの小皿が並べられた。
Chapter 57
Soon enough, the tea was brought in and served to the crown prince and the Huang couple.
"First, please have these."
At the crown prince's words, several people carrying various gifts came into the room.
"We feel utmost gratitude for receiving such care from Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Li Min and Princess Pan bowed their heads in unison as he said that.
"I heard that you caught a cold, Yu, but perhaps it was a more severe illness?"
The crown prince was worried, and Princess Pan just smiled weakly.
"No, it is just a common cold. However, I lost my appetite, and after dragging things around, I became this thin."
Li Min also explained that he did not neglect Princess Pan, and it was apparent that he was very worried about her.
Only one possible condition struck Yui Mei, but she also had her doubts.
She stroked her chin, lost in her thoughts. The crown prince abruptly turned to face her.
"Yui Mei, what do you think?"
Her eyes widened when the crown prince suddenly asked her in front of Li Min and Princess Pan.
Her previous actions didn't escape the crown prince's keen eyes, so it's only natural that he thought she was contemplating something.
'Eh, you're asking me right here, right now?'
Li Min and Princess Pan Yu both turned their gaze on Yui Mei.
But of course, a low-ranking court lady like her was treated as air in this kind of situation, after all.
But the crown prince was persistent.
"If there's something bothering you, feel free to talk about it."
He urged her once again, but was it really fine to say whatever was on her mind?
Perplexed, Yui Mei turned to Li Yong for help, who then said "It's fine, so speak" while nodding.
Then that meant the crown prince won't back down.
'No, don't blame me then!'
Yui Mei was really going to speak up, so Princess Pan was shocked, but nevertheless, she still listened.
It would be rude to ignore the conversation that the crown prince started.
Under the crown prince's authority, Yui Mei started to interview her.
"Princess Pan, do the dishes served to you taste delicious?"
Li Min scowled when he heard those words.
"Are you implying that the dishes served in this mansion doesn't suit Lady Yu's taste!?"
Li Min rebutted, but that was not what Yui Mei meant.
"That is not true. I am concerned about Princess Yu's sense of taste - her ability to taste the food."
Compared to bewildered Li Min, it seemed that the crown prince grasped her meaning.
"Yui Mei, is there an illness that would cause you to have difficulty distinguishing the taste?"
The crown prince asked, and Yui Mei nodded in return.
"Indeed. It is the aftereffects of having a cold. Taste disorder and loss of taste might possibly occur after such illness."
"Taste disorder, and loss of taste...?"
"Yes, in short, it's an illness that makes you have problems in taste and smell. Colds are considered one of the culprits when taste impairment happens, and because the nostrils are inflamed, you also have difficulty distinguishing the scents."
Li Min's brow shot up when she heard Yui Mei's fluent explanation.
"Please pardon me, Your Highness the Crown Prince, but I have never heard of such a thing. Isn't that girl just spouting nonsense? In the first place, how would you confirm such things about 'taste'?"
He declared the first part to the crown prince, and the latter part to Yui Mei. Maybe he was worried that the crown prince was being involved with a quack.
Fraudulent merchants who sell questionable items in the name of curing severe illnesses also spread far and wide in this country.
"You heard what Li Min said. Do you have a way to verify that, Yui Mei?"
"Of course. In line with these, there are some things we need the mansion  to prepare."
And so, Li Min ordered the servants of his residence to follow all the instructions that were stated by Yui Mei.
Thus, several saucers were arranged on the table in front of her.
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