20話 噂はすぐに広まるもので
こうして元物置部屋に引っ越した明くる日。
美人からの指名で、屋敷の掃除をしていた。
「おっそおっじしっましょ~♪」
自分の生家かもしれない建物なので特別に思い入れがあるため、鼻歌を歌いながらも念入りに綺麗にする。
やがて掃除具合に満足した雨妹が、道具を片付けていると。
「おい、雨妹」
男の声に呼びかけられた。声のした方を振り向けば、庭園に険しい表情の
「立彬様、こんなところでどうしたんですか?」
太子宮から王美人の屋敷まで結構な距離があり、たまたま通りがかったとは思えない。
「お前、同僚にいじめを受けているというのは本当か?」
そしてこんなことを聞いた。
――えーと、いじめ?
「......違うのか?」
思っていたような様子ではないと感じたのか、立彬のぎゅっと寄っていた眉が若干解れる。
「立彬様、どういう話を聞いたんですか?」
私、物置に引っ越しました」
「は!?」
話を肯定する雨妹に、立彬が目を丸くする。
「やっぱり個室って気兼ねしなくていいですね」
「待て待て。部屋とは物置だろう?」
物を置いていない物置って、人が入ったら普通に部屋じゃありません?」
逆に言えば、人が生活するために作られた部屋でも、物を詰め込んでしまえば物置となる。
「だが、物置だぞ?」
「それがなにか?」
こんな質疑応答を繰り返すことしばし、ようやく立彬は雨妹が引っ越しに満足していると納得してくれた。
「なにか、必要なものはあるか?」
そしてさらには立彬がこんなことまで聞いてくる。
「そんなことなら、見繕っておいてやろう」
立彬の答えに、また部屋改造が一歩進むと、雨妹がニンマリした時。
「雨妹、掃除が終わったらおやつがあるわよ」
「ありがとうございます、もう終わりました!」
その姿を見て、王美人が首を傾げた。
太子付きの宦官と掃除が仕事の下級宮女とのつながりがわからないのだろう。
「でしたらせっかくなので、一緒にお饅頭を食べていかれてはいかが?」
王美人の申し出に、立彬が一礼する。
――おやつのお饅頭、食べて行くんだ。
そんな気持ちが顔に現れていたのか、立彬にジロリと睨まれた。
「断る方が失礼だろうが」
雨妹は純粋にお腹が空いているのと美味しいのとで、貰っているのだが。
「まあ、仲が良さそうなお二人ね」
そんな風にひそひそ話をしている様子を、王美人が微笑ましく眺めている。
「どうぞ、いまお茶も用意させますからね」
王美人の好意に、二人揃って礼を言った時。
「なにやら楽しそうだな」
またも庭園から声がしたのでそちらを向くと、四十代後半くらいの男が、供を連れて歩いてきていた。
「......!」
突然、立彬に頭を押さえつけられた。
突然の暴挙に抵抗しようとする雨妹を、立彬はなおも強い力で押さえにかかり。
「黙れ、皇帝陛下だ!」
Chapter 20
It was a bright day after Yui Mei moved out to the storage room.
Yui Mei was cleaning Lady Wang's mansion as per her request.
"Let's do some cleaning~"
She had special feelings toward the place, since it could be her birth home. She hummed as she vigorously cleaned the place.
Yui Mei was satisfied with her own handiwork. She tidied her cleaning tools.
"Oi, Yui Mei."
A male voice called her out. She turned towards the direction of the sound, and she found Libin standing in the garden with a grim expression on his face.
"Libin, what brings you here?"
The crown prince's palace was far from Lady Wang's residence, so it must have taken him quite some time. She wanted to ask Libin why he came to see her, when Libin wordlessly strode towards her.
"Is it true that you were bullied by your colleagues?"
He interrogated her.
'Eh, bullied?'
"...Is that a mistake?"
Libin realized that it was different from what he imagined, so his tightly crunched brows somewhat relaxed.
"Libin, may I know what kind of story you heard?"
"Indeed. I transferred to the storage room."
"Huh!?"
Libin's eyes widened at Yui Mei's affirmation.
"Really, I don't have to be so reserved when getting my own room, after all."
"Wait, wait. The room you're talking about is the storage room, right?"
"Everyone's so fussy about that place. If there's nothing inside that storage room, then wouldn't it be just an ordinary room?"
On the contrary, if things were placed inside a room meant for a person, then it would also turn into a storage room. In short, the perspective and intent were all that would matter with how a room was used.
"But that's the storage room, you know?"
"So what?"
After the repeated bouts of asking and answering questions, Libin confirmed that Yui Mei was really satisfied in moving out.
"Is there anything that you need?"
Libin finally asked.
"In that case, then I'll choose one for you."
Yui Mei beamed in satisfaction when Libin said that. She thought that her remodeling project progressed one step further.
"Yui Mei, I have some snacks for you when you are done cleaning."
"Thank you very much, it is already finished!"
Lady Wang saw them. She was surprised.
He pointedly looked at Yui Mei. Lady Wang batted her eyes. A eunuch attending to the crown prince, and a court lady whose duty was cleaning - it was difficult to see any relation between the two.
"Well then, since it's a rare opportunity, would you like to eat a manju with us?"
Libin bowed at Lady Wang.
'So he came to eat manju.'
Yui Mei thought he was somewhat reserved, though. Her thoughts were written in her face, so Libin fiercely glared at her.
"It's rude to refuse!"
Yui Mei genuinely thought he agreed because he was hungry, and that he thought it would be delicious.
"Well, you two look like you get along pretty well."
Lady Wang pleasantly smiled at the sight of them whispering together in low voices.
"Please come in, I also prepared some tea."
The two of them respectfully gave thanks to Lady Wang's favor, when suddenly, a person came.
"Seems fun."
A voice called out in the garden, and a man, who seemed to be forty-five years of age, walked towards them along with his attendants.
"........!"
Libin suddenly forced Yui Mei to bow down.
Yui Mei hissed as she tried to resist Libin, but he pushed her head down with greater strength.
"Shut up, it's His Majesty, the emperor!"
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