154話 対処の仕方
とはいえ、実際にそうした中毒者に遭遇したら、逃げるわけにはいかない。
放っておくと、なにをしでかすかわからないからだ。
「その中毒になっている連中を見つけたら、どうすりゃいいのか。
はこれに「そうですねぇ」と考えつつ答える。
「基本は同じです。
その間、かなり暴れるでしょうけれど」
「その興奮状態が長く続くと考えてもらうのが、近いかもしれません」
これを聞いて、楊はさらに面倒そうにしかめっ面をする。
「そんな様子を万が一大勢に見られでもしたら、それこそ道士が出てきて大騒ぎさ」
――あの人たちかぁ、確かに出てきそう。
雨妹が度々対立する羽目になった道士たちだが、彼らとて世の中に必要な仕事ではあるのだ。
暦を作ったりしている真面目な道士たちには罪はない。雨妹はただ、皇太后の権威を笠に着る威張り散らしている道士が嫌いなだけだ。
仮にあの道士たちがしゃしゃり出てきて「呪いだ!」と断定したところで、呪い祓いの祈祷をするのがせいぜいで、根本的な解決ができるとは思えない。
長時間祈祷をしている間に薬が抜けて一時的に理性が戻ることはあるだろうが、太子にも説明した通り、薬物中毒者はもう元の正常な脳には戻らない。
ケシ汁を取り上げ、これは害悪なのだと告げて手を出してはいけないと丁寧に教え諭さないことには、患者本人はケシ汁が悪いのだと気付かないだろう。
さらにはケシ汁のせいだとわからないままで「呪いだ!」とされてしまうと、前のインフルエンザでの呪い騒動よりも、もっと酷い事態になるのが目に見えるようだ。
なにしろケシ汁中毒患者とそうではない人とは、ぱっと見では変わりないように見えるのだから。
都合の悪い人たちを全て「呪い憑き」だと断定し、前世での魔女狩りのような事態になっては最悪だろう。
――ダメダメ、そんなの!?
雨妹はブルブルっと頭を振り、嫌な想像を追い出す。
「道士が出てくる案件になる前に、速やかになんとかしたいです!」
そうなると、おかしなのを一旦とっ捕まえて隔離しておける、牢みたいな場所がいるかもしれないねぇ」
この国での牢とは、前世であるような鉄格子の嵌った部屋などではなく、地面に井戸のような深い穴を掘っただけもので、かなり居住性が良くなかったりする。
雨妹としては牢という響きは少々物騒だが、いわゆる隔離病棟的な、他人に迷惑をかけない場所として使うのはアリだと思う。
――まあ、そういうのは偉い人が考えることだよね。
「小妹、見慣れない相手や変な訛り言葉が気になったら、すぐに言うんだよ?」
「訛り言葉、ですか?」
なんの話なのか? と首を捻る雨妹に、楊は顔を寄せると声を潜めて言葉を続ける。
「そのケシ汁とやらは他の国から取り寄せているんだろう?
「おお、なるほど!」
雨妹はポン! と手を叩く。
――なんか、推理小説っぽいよ!?
不謹慎なのだろうが、雨妹は華流ドラマオタクの血が騒いで、若干ワクワクしてしまうのだった。
Chapter 154
However, you couldn't just run away if you actually encounter such an addict.
There's no telling what they would do once they were left alone.
"What should I do if I find an addict? Is it the same when catching a drunk when he's acting violently and making him sober up?"
Yui Mei thought about it for a moment before answering.
"Well, yes, that's true, it's basically the same. Just like how you confiscate wine from the drunkard, you also deprive the poppy juice addict and wait until they become decent. They will likely rage during that period of time, though."
"You do know how troublesome those drunkards can get when they become violent because there are times when you get out of control, right?"
"True enough. Perhaps it's closer to being in a state of excitement for an extended period of time."
Yang frowned, more annoyed now.
"If that person was seen at that state by any chance, it will surely attract the Taoists, and there will be an uproar."
'Oh yeah, those guys will probably appear.'
Yui Mei had frequently butted heads with those Taoists, but even they have their own job in this world.
Those proper Taoists who created almanacs were blameless. Yui Mei just hated the domineering Taoists who act all high and mighty because they're being backed by the Empress Dowager and they would misuse that authority and influence.
They would crash events, shrieking "it's a curse!" without proof, and they would actively promote the exorcism of that curse through offering prayers. Because of their intervention, it was highly unlikely that the problem would be solved fundamentally.
It might be possible that the drug would eventually be expelled from the body during extended periods of prayer, leading to the person recovering his reason for a period of time. Nevertheless, just as Yui Mei had explained to the crown prince, the drug addict's brain could no longer return to being normal.
Drug addicts wouldn't realize that the poppy juice is bad if you didn't take it away, tell them that it is harmful, and politely explain that they shouldn't be involved with it anymore.
Moreover, if it was treated as a curse without understanding that it was due to poppy juice, it would probably turn into a situation that was a lot worse than the previous flu fiasco.
That's because at a glance, poppy juice addicts didn't seem any different from people who weren't.
If all the people who feel unwell were identified and lumped together as being cursed, it might lead to something similar like the witch hunt in Yui Mei's previous life, and that would be the worst.
'No, no, that can't be!!'
Yui Mei shook her head in an attempt to drive away those unpleasant thoughts.
"We have to do something about this before those Taoists intervene!"
"Yeah, that's for the best. In that case, there must be a place, something like a prison perhaps, where we can isolate those guys temporarily after catching them."
The prison of this country didn't resemble the ones with iron bars in Yui Mei's previous life. It is just a deep hole dug in the ground, much like a well, and it wasn't quite habitable.
Yui Mei was a bit bothered when she heard 'prison', but she agreed that it might be possible to use it just like an isolation ward so that they wouldn't bother other people.
'Well, I guess it's up to the bigwigs to think about that.'
"Xiao Mei, if you notice an unfamilar person or if their accent bothers you, you have to tell me, alright?"
"Accent?"
What is that all about? -- Yui Mei was perplexed, so Yang leaned her face towards her and whispered.
"That poppy juice must have been imported from the other kingdoms, isn't it? In that case, there might be someone from those countries who mingles with us."
"Whoa, I see!"
Realization dawned at Yui Mei as she clap her hands.
'Sounds like a detective novel!'
It might be imprudent of her, but she couldn't help but look forward to it because her Chinese drama otaku blood was boiling in excitement.
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