ずり落ちそうになる明を何度目か背負い直した立勇が、しかめっ面になる。
「......酒臭い」
そう漏らす立勇に、雨妹も苦笑する。
「そうですね、体臭がもうお酒の臭いですものね」
こう話す雨妹はというと、距離を取って酒臭さがやってこない場所まで逃れており、立勇から恨めしそうに見られた。
それはともかくとして。
繰り返すが、一般的に飲まれている酒とはほぼ水だ。
なのでよほど酒を受け付けない体質でもないと、ここまで酔っ払ったりせず、酒の臭いが体臭になるなんてこともない。
度数の高い質の良い酒をこんなになるまで飲めるとは、よほどの金持ちである。
――まあ、近衛の偉いさんだから金持ちなんだろうけどね。
その明を背負った立勇と、雨妹は適度な距離を保ちつつ、外城から内城へ入るための門を通る。
しかし内城へ出た際に通った門ではなく、その東側に位置する酒などの物資を運ぶための門であった。
何故こちらなのかというと、単純に近いからだ。
それにしても酒を運ぶ門から酒臭い酔っ払いを運び入れるとは、妙に面白くて笑いがこみ上げてくる。
雨妹が一人笑いを堪えていると、立勇が近衛である証を見せ、雨妹は宮女のお仕着せで特に調べられることもなく許可された。
そしてあっさりと門を通過して、内城へと入る。
その先で見えた景色は、例えるならば高級住宅地であった。
道幅が広いのは、よく軒車が走るからであろう。
余裕で軒車二台がすれ違えるほどで、その道に面した家々は、どれも庭園が整備されている邸宅である。
――うーん、空気がお金持ち! って感じがする!
初めて見る内城の中に興味津々な雨妹がキョロキョロしていると。
「こちらだ、行くぞ」
おそらくは、早く酒臭さから解放されたいのだろう。
背負っているせいで肩にきている明の顔から発せられる酒臭い呼気が、立勇の鼻を直撃しているようなので、辛いに違いない。
いっそ荷物担ぎにしてしまえば息の酒臭さからは逃れられると思われるが、そうすると荷担ぎ抱きの弊害である「オエェップ!」現象が待っている。
かといって横抱き運びはもっと臭う。
それらを考えて、結果現状になっているのだろう。
きっとあの服にも、酒の臭いが染みついてしまっていることだろう。
そんな立勇がさすがに可哀想になった雨妹は、己の好奇心をひとまず納めて、早歩きの立勇に小走りをして付いていく。
この歩いている間に、明についても聞いた。
という名で、軍で大佐として活躍し、将軍たちからも名をあげられる人物であるという。
将軍たちの覚え目出度いとなるとよほど有能なのだろうが、今は酒臭い残念な男に成り下がっている。
仕事はどうしたのかと思って尋ねると、「お身体を悪くされて、休養中だ」とのことだ。
――じゃあこの人は、休養中であるにもかかわらず、飲んだくれているということか。
なんというか、とんだ駄目大人だ。
からの頼まれ事である肝心な話を聞く。
「身体を悪くとは、具体的にどういうものなのですか?」
これに、立勇はチラッと背後を見てから、声を抑えて答えた。
なるほど、軍は復帰を望んでいるということか。
「けど、こんな生活をしているのなら、治るものも治りませんよね」
「その上、医者にもかからないお人でな」
雨妹のツッコミに、立勇もそう言って大きく息を吐く。
立勇曰く、近衛でも色々と世話を焼こうとしたが、本人が頑固に受け入れずに現在に至るのだそうだ。
――ふぅむ、状況はわかった。
楊が心配するわけだ、と雨妹は一人頷く。
普段仕事以外の事を言ってきたりしない楊が、珍しく頼んできたので興味が出て引き受けたのだけれど、これは余計なお節介をしたくなるだろう。
そんな話をしていると、やがて一軒の屋敷にたどり着いた。
他と比べても立派な部類の屋敷であった。
There were several times when Ming almost fell off, and Li Yong had to repeatedly adjust his position.
"...He's stinky."
Yui Mei smiled wryly when Li Yong grumbled.
"You're right, even his body odor reeks of alcohol, too."
Yui Mei said that, but she was keeping her distance away from the obnoxious smell of alcohol, and Li Yong could only look at her reproachfully.
Anyway, let us set that aside.
To reiterate, most of the liquor that was generally available was usually toned down until it was almost water.
Thus, unless a person had a constitution that couldn't tolerate alcohol, it was almost impossible to get drunk to the point that even the body odor itself would reek of booze.
He must be a very wealthy person since he could drink high quality liquor until he became like this.
'Well, he's probably rich since he is probably one of the high ranking imperial guards.'
Yui Mei kept a reasonable distance away from Li Yong as he carried Ming on his back. They passed through the gate that separated the Outer City from the Inner City.
However, it was not the gate that they passed through earlier when they left the Inner City, but the one on the eastern side, used to transport goods such as liquor.
The reason for that was simply because it was closer.
Yui Mei thought it was strangely amusing that they were bringing in a drunkard reeking of booze through a gate that was used for liquor transportation. She couldn't help but laugh.
She tried to hold back her giggles as Li Yong presented his imperial guard identification. They let Yui Mei in without further ado because she was wearing her court lady uniform.
They entered the gate without a hitch, and finally they were inside the Inner City.
The scenery that greeted them was akin to an exclusive residential district.
The reason why the streets were wide was because carriages were frequently running here.
There was enough space for two carriages to pass by each other. No matter where she looked, the houses that lined the streets were all mansions with well maintained gardens.
'Hmmm, even the ambiance is oozing with weath! That's how it feels!'
It was Yui Mei's first time to set foot in the Inner City proper, and she was taking it all in with deep interest as she looked around.
"This way, come on."
Apparently, he wanted to get rid of the stink of alcohol as soon as possible.
He must be suffering from the odor. Ming's face rested on Li Yong's shoulder as he carried him, and the stinky breath would hit his nose whenever Ming exhaled.
If he carried Ming as if he was a baggage, then he would be able to escape from the smelly breath; but then, the classic repercussion of "blehhh" would be waiting for him.
Carrying him in his arms would definitely be more stinky.
Thus, it was decided that he would carry Ming this way after considering that.
Even his clothes must have soaked in the booze stink by now.
Yui Mei couldn't help but pity Li Yong now that she thought about it, so she suppressed her curiosity and quickened her pace, almost running behind him.
She also asked a few questions about Ming while they were walking.
Ming's full name was Ming Yong, and he was one of the major players in the army as the captain, and even the generals recognized him.
He must be very capable if even the generals remembered him, but now, he has become a disappointing wreck of a drunkard.
Yui Mei was curious about his work, so she asked Li Yong, but he only told her that "he is on leave because his body is not well."
'So does that mean that even if he's on leave, he is still wasting his time being drunk?'
How to say this, what a good-for-nothing person.
Yui Mei further asked about the fundamental issue that Yang entrusted to her.
"You mentioned that his body isn't well, but what do you mean by that? Can you be more specific about it?"
Li Yong shot a glance behind his back, before answering in a hushed voice.
So, the troops were waiting for him to return.
"But he won't heal at this rate even if he can, if he's going to live like this."
"He doesn't like mingling with doctors, to boot."
Yui Mei pointed that out, while Li Yong heaved a deep sigh.
According to Li Yong, the imperial guards also tried to take care of him, but the person himself was too stubborn, and didn't welcome any of that, choosing to remain in this state.
'Hmm, I think I get his situation now.'
So that's the reason why Yang was worried about him, and Yui Mei agreed.
Yang normally didn't say anything beyond the job, but because it was an unusual request for her, Yui mei decided to accept it out of sheer curiosity, but now, it made her want to poke her nose and meddle a bit.
They finally reached his residence while talking about it.
It was a splendid mansion of a different caliber compared to the other mansions so far.
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