が出かけて行ったのは、戦勝の宴が終わってすぐのことだった。
雨妹としては、わざわざ立勇のいない間に屋敷を抜け出してやりたいことがあるわけでもなし。
それよりもこの宴へ向けての準備で、バタバタと忙しかったために疲れが溜まっていて、とっとと寝てしまった。
そして朝スッキリと目を覚ますと、立勇はもう屋敷に戻っていた。
――昨日の夜、なにをしていたんだろう?
なんとなく、綺麗なお姉さんと仲良くなる店に遊びに行っていた、とかではないだろうと、昨日出かける際の真剣な様子を思い出す。
むしろあれは、前世で雨妹が勤めていた病院の院長が人事について考えている時に似て、なにか物騒な事を企んでいるような顔だった。
けれど雨妹になにも告げなかったのだから、自分の知る必要のないことなのだろう。
そのあたりの事情に好奇心が湧きあがらないわけではないが、好奇心を向ける方向性を間違ってはいけないことだって、雨妹は知っている。
このあたりの判断の分かれ目は勘であり、後宮で平和に生きるため必須能力だ。
そう割り切って、昨夜の立勇の挙動は放っておくことにして、考えるのは本日の予定だ。
雨妹のこの屋敷での仕事は、昨日の宴での
となると、すぐに都へ帰ることとなるのだが。
――帰る前に、皆にお土産を買いたいなぁ。
美娜
「というわけで、お土産を買いに出かけたいです!」
「......帰還の準備があるが、まあそのくらいの時間はとれるか」
こうして立勇の許可も出たところで、雨妹は彼を供に港へ繰り出すことにした。
利民に軒車を出してもらい、港に近くなり細い路地に入れなくなったところで降りると、そこから港方面へと歩いていく。
「わぁ、なんだか、前に来た時よりも賑やかですねぇ!」
雨妹は港近くの商店が立ち並ぶ通りを眺めて、目を見張る。
胡の家を訪れた際は、そんなことをする時間はなかった。
あの時も十分に賑わっていたのだが、現在の人でごった返す様子を見てしまうと、あの時は空いていた方だったのかと分かる。
――それにそれに、もう三輪車が走ってる!
三輪車はまだそこまで台数がないはずで、今乗れているのは優先的に手に入れた利民の関係者のはず。
人込みの中を縫うように走る三輪車は、新しい乗り物として通りの人の視線を引き付けていると同時に、港の風景に溶け込んでいるようにも見える。
――やっぱりいいなぁ、三輪車!
けど、抜かりはない。
利民から今回の仕事に対する礼として贈られる品の中に、三輪車が入っているのだ。
隣の立勇も、同じく三輪車が活躍する様子を見ていたようで。
「都は昨今、人口の増加が様々な問題を生み出していて、特に荷馬車の混雑が問題になっている。
そんな意見を述べていた。
なるほど、栄えている場所の問題は、日本もこの国も変わりはしないということか。
ともあれ、そうやって賑わう通りを歩いていくと、屋台から美味しそうな匂いが漂ってくる。
「まずは、イカ焼きっと!」
「雨妹よ、そんなにあの不気味な物体が好きか」
イカを焼いている屋台に足を向ける雨妹に、立勇が若干嫌そうにため息を吐く。
どうやら前回食べて味は受け入れられても、やはりあの見た目にどうしても拒否反応が出るらしい。
けれどそんな立勇を気にしないことにして、雨妹は今回小さく切ってあるものではなく、小ぶりなイカが姿焼きにしてあるものを買った。
「お、いつかの嬢ちゃんじゃねぇか」
傍らからそう声をかけられた。
その背中越しに声の方を見れば、魚売りのおじさんがいた。
そしてよくよく見てみれば、海賊被害の際に乗った漁船の主ではないか。
Li Yong said that and left right after the banquet ended.
Yui Mei didn't have anything to do outside the mansion that would warrant her sneaking around while Li Yong was gone.
Rather than that, she preferred to rest, because she had been truly tired from all the preparations for the banquet, so she just slept immediately, too.
Li Yong had already returned to the mansion when she woke up refreshed the next morning.
'What did he do last night?'
Maybe he probably went out to play with some beautiful girls....or not. Yui Mei recalled his serious demeanor as he departed yesterday.
Actually, his expression resembled the ones that the director of the hospital where Yui Mei worked made whenever he was considering personnel affairs. Li Yong looked like he was scheming something that might be disturbing or dangerous, even.
He didn't mention anything about what he would do, so she assumed that there was no need for her to know about the particulars.
It would be a lie to say that Yui Mei didn't feel curious about it, but then, she also knew that there were matters that she shouldn't mistakenly pry into. Curiosity killed the cat, after all.
The perception to know the boundaries and limits was necessary for her to survive peacefully inside the Inner Palace.
Thus, she decided to let the matter be, and focus on the plan for today, instead.
Yui Mei's job was completed when Princess Pan made her debut at yesterday's banquet.
That would mean they could now return to the capital soon.
'I want to buy some souvenirs for everyone before we go home...'
She wanted to get something from the port for Mei Na, Aunty Yang, Doctor Chen.
"And so, I want to go outside to shop for some souvenirs!"
"...We still need to prepare for our departure, but yeah, we can take some time for that."
Li Yong gave his permission, so Yui Mei went to the harbor together with him.
They borrowed a small carriage from Li Min, and they alighted when they reached a narrow alley close to the harbor because it couldn't enter. They then walked towards the port area.
"Whoa, it's a lot livelier than the last time we're here!"
Yui Mei looked around her with shining eyes, taking in the sight of the stores lined up on the street within the harbor's vicinity.
They went to Hu's house, yes, but they didn't have enough time to walk around in this area.
The place had been bustling with activity that day, but it was nothing compared to now; she even felt that the port was empty back then.
'And look, they are using tricycles!'
Mass production of tricycles wasn't achieved yet, so there were probably only a handful of them, and the ones who got them now were probably connected to Li Min.
The tricycles weaved their way through the crowd, drawing the eyes of those around it, and it also blended into the port's scenery just fine.
'Ahh, tricycles are really good!'
Indeed, all was good.
Li Min had included two tricycles among the rewards and gifts he bestowed as thanks for their job -- one for the crown prince and one for Yui Mei.
Li Yong had also been staring at the tricycles as he stood beside her.
"Actually, the population growth in the city has created a number of problems recently, especially the congestion of wagons. Well, maybe the tricycle will help solve one of those problems, huh."
He commented.
Indeed, there was no difference, be it in Japan or this country, there were problems that a flourishing city must address.
Setting that aside for now, Yui Mei and Li Yong continued strolling in the bustling streets, when a fragrant smell wafted from one of the stalls.
"Alright, grilled squid first!"
"Hey Yui Mei, do you really like that weird thing that much?"
Yui Mei turned around and headed towards the stall that was grilling squid, while Li Yong heaved a sigh, a bit reluctant.
Apparently, even though he managed to eat it before and the taste was okay for him, he still couldn't get past its appearance.
Yui Mei just ignored him, and she decided to buy the whole piece instead of the ones already cut into small pieces.
"Oh, you're the lassie last time, huh."
Somebody called out to her from the side.
She peeked behind his back towards the direction of the voice, and she saw a fisherman standing there.
When she looked closely, it was the owner of the ship they were riding during the attack of the pirates.
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