「......今の声は」
勢いよく顔を上げた徐はキョロキョロと目をさまよわせ、やがて朱の姿を視界にとらえた。
「......! まさか」
驚きで大きく目を見開いた徐は演奏で体力を使ったのか、力の入らないらしい足でよろりと立ち上がり、縋るように琵琶を抱きしめたまま、朱の方へと一歩一歩歩み寄る。
「お歳をとって、やつれていらっしゃるけれど......あなた様はもしかして」
徐はそう言いながら朱の元まで来ると、彼の前に同じように跪き、膝でにじり寄って顔を間近で覗き込む。
言葉遣いも昔に戻っているようだ。
「なにを言うのですか
朱はそう言って徐を抱きしめようとして、その手の中にある白菊に気付く。
「あなたの琵琶の音が、私を取り戻してくれたのです。
朱が語りながら差し出した白菊を、徐は彼の手ごと握りしめる。
「ずっとずっと、お戻りを待っておりました。
互いの存在を確かめ合った後はもうなにも言葉が出ないようで、泣きじゃくる徐と朱は、実におおよそ十年越しに再会の約束を果たしたのだ。
その様子を見守っていた一同からは戸惑う声が上がりはするものの、なんとなく事情を察したらしく、おおよそ二人に同情的な雰囲気であり、「よかったな」と再び拍手が盛り上がった。
も拍手を送る一人であった。
――白菊って、花言葉は「真実」だったっけ。
それは前世での意味であり、この国では花言葉なんてものは聞いたことがないけれども、誰の選択か知らないが白菊を選んだのはあの場にぴったりだと、雨妹は思う。
目に感動の涙を溜めながら手を叩く雨妹の目の前に、隣からすっと手巾が差し出される。
「感激するのはわかるが、涙はともかく鼻を垂らすな、見た目的に問題がある」
手巾の持ち主である、いつの間にか朱から離れていた
がそんなことを言ってくるのに、雨妹はムッとして言い返す。
「仕方ないじゃないですか、涙と鼻水はひとそろいで出ちゃうんですぅ!」
この手巾は洗って返すことにしよう。
が見ていたようで、「ふん」と鼻を鳴らした瞬間に立勇が肩を跳ねさせる。
――そんなにビビらせなくてもいいじゃないのさ。
拍手に包まれる場の中で徐と朱に歩み寄った太子が、二人の前で立ち止まり手をあげたことで、拍手が止んだ。
「徐子、素晴らしい琵琶の演奏だった。
太子にそう声をかけられた徐は朱と共に向き直ったものの、彼女がなにか言おうとするより先に、太子が言葉を続ける。
「徐子よ、皇帝陛下より恩赦が下された。
"... That voice just now..."
Xu abruptly raised her head and looked all round her in a fluster, before finally spotting Zhu's figure in the midst of the crowd.
"...! No way..."
Her eyes widened in shock. She tried to stand up, but she staggered to her feet, probably because she had given all her energy to perform with great gusto. Still, she didn't let that deter her, and she made her way step by step towards Zhu while clutching her lute.
"You seemed to have aged and gaunt, but... Is it really you?"
Xu slowly approached Zhu until she finally reached him. She then kneeled so that they would be on the same eye level, before peering closely at his face.
Her manner of speaking had reverted back to its polite way from how she spoke in the past.
[What are you saying, Xu Zi, Ah Zi, you are truly beautiful from back then and even now!  ] 
Zhu was about to circle his arms around her, when he noticed the white chrysanthemums in his hand.
[The sound of your lute brought me back. Indeed, I can attest that you are truly my beloved fairy of music!  ] 
Zhu reached out and offered the white chrysanthemum, which Xu then grasped along with his hands.
[I've been, I've been waiting for your return all this time. Welcome home, Lord Ren!  ] 
Xu and Zhu choked with tears, unable to utter any more words after they confirmed each other's identity. Ten years had already passed, but they finally fulfilled the promise of meeting each other once again.
The people around them who witnessed the scene were baffled initially, but they grasped the situation soon after. Cheers of "good for you guys", "what a relief"  and applause rang in the air, probably because they're also caught up in the mood, and felt sympathetic to the two lovers.
Yui Mei was also one of those who applauded.
'I'm not really sure, but doesn't white chrysanthemum mean 'Truth' in flower language?'
It was a meaning given to the flower in her previous world; she hadn't heard any mention about the language of flowers in this world. Nevertheless, even though it was unknown who chose this particular flower, Yui Mei thought it was perfectly fitting for the situation.
Yui Mei's tears of joy welled up as she emotionally clapped her hands, when somebody handed a handkerchief in front of her.
[I know you're so touched so the tears are understandable, but do something about that snot, it's really unsightly.  ] 
Li Yong, who left Zhu from who knows when, stood beside Yui Mei and offered his handkerchief.
Yui Mei retorted with a pout, but she gratefully accepted the handkerchief and blew her nose on it.
[Can't be helped, you know tears and snot go out as a set!  ] 
She would just wash it before returning it to him.
Du, who had been watching Li Yong and Yui Mei's exchange, snorted, making Li Yong jump out of his skin.
'You don't have to scare him like that.'
While this was going on, the crown prince approached Xu and Zhu, and the applause stopped the moment he stopped and raised his hand in front of them.
"Xu Zi, it's been an extremely beautiful rendition of the lute. It would have surely reached the souls of the soldiers who traveled to the Realm of the Dead."
The crown prince declared with a loud voice, and Xu and Zhu righted their postures to face him properly. They were about to say something, but the crown prince continued speaking.
[Xu Zi, amnesty has been granted by His Majesty the Emperor. Xu Zi will be released from her identity as the palace courtesan from this moment henceforth.  ]
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