が言った「音楽を聴いてみるといい」という提案を実行しているらしく、出かけては流しの琵琶師を聴き歩いているらしい。
だがどの琵琶の音を聴いても「もっといい音がある」と首を捻るのだという。
徐の琵琶を聴いたものは、その音色に夢中になると同時に価値を見出し、己が財産にしようとする。
それでは徐自身が、まるで人を惑わす麻薬のようだ。
いや、正確には、周りの欲をかいた大人達が、彼女の素晴らしい琵琶の音色を麻薬にしてしまった。
――いやいや、徐さんが害にしかならないケシ汁煙草と同じ存在だなんて、あるはずないじゃない!
だが、雨妹はすぐにそう自分の考えを打ち消す。
けれどそんな純粋な徐の気持ちは、悪い大人たちに踏みにじられたのだ。
徐はもしかするととうの昔に、自分から大切な全てを奪った琵琶のことが嫌いになっていてもおかしくはない。
けれど恋人の存在が、辛うじて琵琶と繋げていたのかもしれない。
恋人と会えないままどれほど月日が流れても、琵琶の音色で自分を見つけてくれるはずだと信じていたと考えるのは、雨妹の夢見過ぎだろうか?
しかし恋人が死んだと知らされ、徐は琵琶を続ける目的を失ってしまった。
けれど、その恋人がもし生きていたら? そうなると徐の琵琶は、再び彼女に意味をもたらすものになり得るだろう。
だが問題は、その東が本当に徐の恋人の男なのか? という点である。
「杜様は、東さんが徐さんの恋人の方であると思いますか?」
「わからん。なにせ我はその男を知らぬゆえな。
聞けば恋人と離れ離れになって十年であるらしい。
恋人だった男は、そもそも徐を捨てて他の女に走ったかもしれないし、それこそ本当に戦地で死んだかもしれないし、「戦場こそが己の生きる場所!」と思って戦地に居座っているかもしれない。
色々な可能性があるし、その中で「徐をいつまでも思って帰ってきた」という可能性は、他と比べるとごくごく細い可能性である気がする。
「だがもし東とやらが徐子の恋人ではなかったとしても、その者の記憶を取り戻させることは必要だ」
杜によると、詳しくは言えないようだが、国境のあたりが少々キナ臭く、東はなんらかの事件に巻き込まれて記憶を失くしたのではないかと考えているという。
It seemed he had taken Yui Mei's words to heart when she told him that "it might be good if you listen to music". He had been walking around listening for the sound of lute.
However, even if he did hear the lute's music, he would only shake his head while saying "there's better music out there".
Those who hear Xu play the lute would become immersed in its sound, and they would discover her true worth, leading to them trying to get their hands on her and possess her.
It was as if Xu was a drug that could delude people.
No, accurately speaking, those who covet what wasn't  theirs would turn her wonderful music into their drug.
'Wait, wait, there's no way Miss Xu's existence is the same as that pest opium tobacco!'
Yui Mei immediately denied her earlier thoughts.
However, scum adults had trodden on feelings, instead.
It would not be odd if Xu hated the lute after all she went through in the past, thinking that it destroyed all that was dear to her.
However, the existence of her lover must have barely connected her back to her lute.
Perhaps, she might even have thought that no matter how many months passed without meeting her lover, he would find her back through the music of lute. However was Yui Mei deluding herself too much with these thoughts?
Unfortunately, Xu's lover died, so she lost the motive for playing the lute.
But then, what if he was still alive? In that case, Xu might find the meaning of her lute once again.
However, they also had to consider whether Dong was really her lover or not.
"Lord Du, do you think Dong is Miss Xu's lover?"
"I don't know. I don't even know who he is. Besides, he had spent a long time in the battlefield, so his appearance must've changed, too. Even if he was a former aquaintance, I'm not even sure if I'll recognize him..."
Ten years had already passed since they got separated.
There was the possibility of the guy abandoning Xu for another woman, or he could have truly died in battle. He could've also decided that the battlefield was where he belonged, thereby staying there for good.
There were many possibilities, and among them, the chance that "he returned because he pined for Xu since forever" was quite slim compared to the others.
"Even if that Dong guy isn't Xu's lover, it is still necessary for him to recover his memories."
According to Du, he couldn't divulge the details, but apparently, there was something fishy going on in the borderlands, and he thought that Dong might've been involved in some kind of incident that caused him to lose his memory.
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