たちが年配の女官に連れられて行った先は、広い一室だった。
しかしその部屋の窓の隙間から、煙が流れ出ている。
――なにあれ、火事?
だがそれにしては、女官が慌てる様子はない。
立彬
そんな雨妹たちに、先頭を歩く女官が振り向いて視線を寄越す。
「何を見ても騒がないように」
そう静かな声で言うと、音を立てないようにそっと扉を開けた。
「......!」
そして目に飛び込んだ光景に、雨妹は一瞬言葉を失う。
目に染みるほどに煙煙しく香が焚かれている室内で、
そしてそのむき出しの背中を、あの派手な女官が木切れで打っていた。
――なに、なによこれは!?
雨妹は頭に血が上っていくのがわかる。
「やめなさい、そこの幼児虐待犯!」
そして気が付けばそう叫びながら駆け出していた。
「あ、こら!」
隙を突かれた立彬がその行動を止めることが出来ないまま、雨妹は派手な女官の背中に跳び蹴りをかます。
扉が開いたことにも、雨妹たちがいることにも気付いていなかった彼女は、木切れを握ったまま床に倒れ込む。
「一人で突撃する奴があるか」
立彬が呆れた顔をしており、子良と年配の女官が呆気に取られているようだが、自分でも止められなかったのだから仕方がない。
「さあ、こちらに!」
雨妹はこの間に友仁皇子を部屋の外へ連れ出そうと、その顔を覗き込む。
「......なに?」
なにが起こったのか状況がわからないのだろう、大きく目を見開いて雨妹を見る。だがその姿は痛々しいの一言だ。
痛みを必死に堪えていたのだろう、唇は噛み締めすぎて血が出ており、顔は涙と鼻水でグシャグシャになっていた。
痛くて怖くて悲しかっただろう、その小さな身体を抱えた雨妹は、煙煙しい部屋から脱出すると、子良を呼ぶ。
「先生、治療を!」
「わかった! ああ可哀想に、血が出てるじゃないか」
子良が速やかに友仁皇子の手当てを始める一方、あの派手な女官がゆっくりと立ち上がる。
「誰、邪魔をしたのは」
そう呻きながら首を巡らせる彼女の前に、立彬が友仁皇子を隠すように素早く立ちふさがった。
彼女は自分を蹴ったのが立彬だと勘違いしたのか、その姿を憎々し気に睨みつける。
呪い払いの邪魔をするなんて、どういうつもり!?」
噛みつくように叫ぶ彼女の言葉に、雨妹はこめかみが引き攣るのを感じる。
――なにが呪い払いよ、自分の鬱憤払いの間違いでしょう!
雨妹は進み出て立彬の隣に並ぶと、声を張り上げた。
「友仁皇子殿下は呪いなんかじゃありません、ただの体質です!」
見知らぬ宮女を見たように眉をひそめる。
前回遭遇時には立彬の後ろに隠れていたので、こちらの存在に気付いてないのも無理はないだろう。
「下っぱ宮女は引っ込んでなさい、身の程知らずな」
唸るように言い捨てる彼女を、雨妹も負けじと睨み返す。
皇子殿下を世話するべき人が体質に気付かず、原因を見極めようともせずに安易な結論に飛びつくなんて、恥を知りなさい!」
雨妹が怒鳴りつけると、彼女は一瞬顔をしかめた。
――この人......
その様子を見た雨妹の中である確信が芽生え、さらにきつく睨みつける。
だが相手も黙っていない。
「私は皇太后陛下の意に従っているまで!
皇太后の名前を出せば、たいていの者が引き下がったのだろう。
彼女は今回も得意気に言ってみせた。
「何事であるか?」
そこに突然、低い男の声が響く。
雨妹は即座に立彬の横に並び、臣下の礼をとる。
それは子良も年配の女官も同様だ。
緊迫した空気の漂う中、胡昭儀に伴われ現れた人物を、彼女は呆然と見つめる。
「皇帝陛下......」
ゆったりと歩いてきた皇帝は、一同を見渡す。
「明賢から『友仁の一大事』と言われて来てみれば、これはいったいなんの騒ぎだ?」
「私は皇太后陛下のお言いつけを忠実に守っていたのです。
、陛下の前で大きな声を出すなんて、はしたないですよ」
胡昭儀が止めに入る。
そして胡昭儀は一歩前に出て皇帝に向かい合うと、この場の全員に聞こえる声で尋ねた。
「恐れながら陛下にお尋ねいたします。
Yui Mei and the rest were led by the maid to a wide room.
However, smoke was overflowing from the gaps in the window.
'What's that, a fire?'
Despite that, the maid didn't have a single trace of panic.
Both Libin and Ziliang also looked dubious when she glanced at them.
The maid who was walking ahead turned around and locked her eyes on them.
"No matter what you see, do not cause a fuss."
After whispering, she softly opened the door to avoid making a noise.
".......!"
Yui Mei was dumbstruck at the scene that emerged before their eyes.
Smoke filled the room lighted with incense and it stung their eyes; meanwhile, Youren was sitting on the floor with his upper body naked.
The gaudy maid was hitting his exposed back with a block of wood.
'What, what the heck is this!?'
It was only natural that Yui Mei's blood rushed to her head.
"Stop that, you child abuser!"
She yelled unwittingly as she dashed forward.
"Ah, hey!"
Libin closed the gap between them in an attempt to stop her, but Yui Mei already rushed forward and landed a flying kick on the maid's back.
The maid who didn't notice Yui Mei and the rest despite the door being opened, fell down while still gripping the wooden rod.
"Would a normal person attack by herself?"
Libin was exasperated, and he saw that Ziliang and the elderly maid were taken aback, but he couldn't do anything about it since he also didn't manage to stop her.
"Come, this way!"
Yui Mei peered into Imperial Prince Youren's face and tried to take him outside.
"...What?"
Youren stared at her like a deer in the headlight, seemingly confused at the current situation.
His face was smeared with tears and snot, and his lips were bleeding, possibly because he had been fiercely biting them as he desperately tried to endure the pain.
He must have been hurt, scared and miserable - Yui Mei carried his petite frame, dashed out of the smoke-filled room and called Ziliang.
"Doctor, treatment!"
"Got it! Ah, so pitiful, he's bleeding."
Ziliang promptly started to treat him; on the other hand, that gaudy maid slowly stood up.
"Who dared disturb us?"
While the maid moved her neck in a circle, Libin swiftly stood in front of Imperial Prince Youren as if to hide him.
She mistook him as the person who kicked her, so she glared at him with loathing.
"You again...! What are you planning by disturbing the curse removal!?"
Yui Mei felt her temples throb at the maid's scathing remarks.
'Curse removal, nonsense, you're wrong, you're venting out your frustration!'
Yui Mei stepped forward, stood beside Libin, and shouted.
"His Imperial Prince Youren is not cursed, it's just his constitution!"
She scrunched her brows at the unfamiliar court lady.
It was only natural, since the first time they met, Yui Mei was hiding so she didn't notice her existence then.
"Impudent, a lowly court-lady like you should butt out."
The maid roared, but Yui Mei glared at her without backing down.
"Who's the impudent one! As the person who should be taking care of His Highness the Imperial Prince, you didn't even notice his condition, didn't even try to determine the cause yet carelessly jumping to conclusions, shame on you!"
Yui Mei roared back, and the maid grimaced for an instant after being scolded.
'This person...'
When Yui Mei saw her reaction, her conviction was strengthened, so she looked daggers at the maid.
But her opponent wouldn't stay still.
"I am only following the will of Her Majesty the Empress Dowager! Telling me that it was nonsense and disturbing us, I will not forgive you!"
People would normally back down when they heard the name of the empress dowager.
She also said it now with a triumphant look.
"What is the matter here?"
A male's low voice suddenly resounded.
Yui Mei immediately stood beside Libin and respectfully did the servant's bow.
Ziliang and the elderly maid also did the same.
The maid stared dumbstruck at the person who arrived in the midst of the tension while being accompanied by Imperial Concubine Hu.
"Your Majesty the Emperor..."
The emperor sauntered in then looked around at everyone present.
"I heard from Ming Xian regarding 'Youren's important matter', but what on earth is this commotion?"
"I have been religiously following the orders of Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. That low-ranking court lady impudently barged in and falsely accused me..."
"Wenjun, raising your voice in the presence of His majesty is disgraceful."
Consort Hu intervened.
Consort Hu then stepped forward and faced the emperor, and then she asked him in a voice that everyone could hear.
"I am afraid I have to inquire about this, Your Majesty. Is it true that these people have been sent by Your Majesty?"
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