152話 異変
「輸入というと、佳が思い浮かぶけれど」
も流通路として佳を考えたらしく、そう告げてきた。
「あちらについては、陛下を通して
「そうなるでしょうね」
明賢の意見に、
百花宮内でのことを黄徳妃を通さずに黄家へ繋ぎをとるのは、確かによくないだろう。
佳のことは、それでいいとして。
「しかし私個人の考えでは、東の国が怪しいのではないかと思っている」
明賢は少々声を潜めて告げた。
「東、ですか」
最近東からどうのという話を聞いたばかりである
明賢の言葉に、立勇と秀玲は顔を見合わせる。
主の懸念は、仕える者にとっての道筋となる。
「わたくしも、実家にそれとなく東について聞いてみますわ」
こうして、主従の話し合いはなされていく。
一方、ちょうどその頃。
宮城の外では、
見覚えがあるように思える場所やものを一つ一つ確かめて、気になった場所で「自分のことを知らないか?」と道行く人に声をかけてみる、ということを繰り返している。
――今日も、成果はなしか......。
実はあの娘の言っていた音楽というものが気になって、流しの琵琶師がいるあたりをうろついてみたことがある。
けれど東は、なにか気になるどころか妙な焦燥感に駆られてしまい、早々に立ち去ってしまった。
自分はなにか、琵琶というものにこだわりがあったのだろうか?
もしや自分は琵琶師であったのかと一瞬考えたのだが、生憎と琵琶を弾ける気がしない。
完全に自分探しに行き詰ってしまった東が、一人トボトボと歩いていると。
「そこのお前」
ふいに横手から声をかけられ、東は立ち止まって振り向いた。
そこに立っていたのは、異国を感じさせる容貌の知らない男である。
しかし同時に、どこかで見たことがある気もする相手であった。
「なんでしょうか?」
もしや自分と同じく都に疎く、なにかを尋ねたくて声を上げたのかと思ったのだが、あちらは何故か止まった東に驚いている様子である。
「......とぼけているのか?
なにやらブツブツと言っていた男が、片手を振り上げた。
その手の先には、日の光をきらめかせているモノが握られていて――
新たな声と、金属音が男と東の間に割って入った。
割って入った者の正体は、東が世話になっている家の主だ。
その手には、剣が握られている。
「チッ、邪魔が入ったか」
あちらはしかめっ面をすると、すぐにこの場から去って人込みに紛れてしまった。
こうなっては追うのは難しいだろう。
いや、東は追うどころか、驚きのあまりに足が固まってしまっているのだけれども。
――今のは、一体なんだったのだろう?
東は謎に思いながら、とりあえず助けてくれたらしい明に礼を言う。
「明様、助けていただきありがとうございます。
「医者帰りだ。アイツは誰だ?」
明は剣を仕舞いながら東の質問に短く答え、さらに問い返してきた。
その様子を見て、明は眉をひそめていた。
「あれは、東風の顔立ちであったか?」
その呟きは、東の耳に入らなかった。
Chapter 152
"Kai comes to mind when talking about importation."
Ming Xian said, apparently thinking of Kai as a possible distribution channel.
"For that matter, we must inform His Majesty, so that through him, we could request Huang Shufei to persuade the Huang Family."
"Indeed, that will be the case."
Xiuling agreed to Ming Xian's comment.
It would be in bad taste if they were to contact the Huang Family without informing Pure Consort Huang first.
And so, they decided to proceed with this for Kai's matter.
"This is just my personal opinion, but I find the eastern kingdom suspicious, too."
Ming Xian lowered his voice.
"East, is it?"
Li Yong just heard some news about the east, so he gulped for a bit when that place cropped up in this conversation..
When Ming Xian stated that, Li Yong and Xiuling exchanged glances.
The master's concern would become the route that the servants would take.
"Yes, I will also ask my maiden home for any news regarding the east."
And so, the master and servants' conversation ended on this note.
While they were having that conversation, in a different place --
Dong, the freeloader staying at Ming's house, was once again loitering in the marketplace outside the palace.
He would check all the places that seemed familiar to him one by one, and if there was a place that bothered him, he would call out to the passersby, asking "Do you know me?". He repeatedly did this today.
'No success for today, either.....'
Actually he had been curious about music that the girl was talking about, so he tried wandering around the area where the lute players were said to be.
However, rather than curiosity, what Dong felt was a strange sense of unease, so he hastily left that place.
Perhaps, did he have some kind of obsession with this so-called lute?
The thought that perhaps he might be a lute player crossed his mind for an instant; unfortunately, he didn't feel like he could play it.
Dong was completely stuck on this search for self-discovery, and now he was walking despondently all alone.
"You there."
Somebody called out to him, so Dong stopped and turned around.
A foreign-looking, unknown man with exotic features stood there.
But at the same time, a feeling of familiarity surged within Dong, as if he had seen this guy before.
"What is it?"
He thought that this guy must also be new to the capital like him, and he must have wanted to ask something. However, for some reason, the guy looked shocked that Dong stopped in his tracks.
"...Are you playing dumb? Well, doesn't matter anyway, you not running away is easier for me."
The guy was mumbling something to himself, then he suddenly raised his other hand.
He was gripping something that reflected the light --
The clashing of metal rang in the air between Dong and that man, accompanied by a new voice.
The one who interfered was no other than the master of the house who took Dong in.
A sword was gleaming in his hand.
"Tsk, somebody got in the way."
The man scowled fiercely before hurrying out of that place, blending with the other people.
It would be difficult to chase him now.
No, Dong was frozen from shock, so he wouldn't be able to chase after him.
'What on earth just happened?'
Dong was confused, but he didn't forget to thank Ming who saved him.
"Lord Ming, thank you very much for saving me. But, may I know why you are here?"
"I just returned from the doctor. Who was that?"
Ming put his sword away while replying to Dong, then he questioned him too. Dong was also worried about how to reply.
Ming furrowed his brow as he stared at Dong.
"Is that how the folks in Dongfeng look like?"
Ming muttered under his breath, but Dong didn't hear him.
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