44話 衝撃の事実がてんこもり
――え、太子宮に子供?
太子にはまだ子供が生まれていないはずだがと、
それでもまだ、十歳そこそこくらいの年齢だろうと推測される娘である。
この女の子が現在二十五歳の太子の子だと仮定すると、太子が成人したばかりか、それより前に生まれた子ということになる。
可能性もなくはないが、むしろ太子の妹が遊びに来ている線が濃厚だろう。
脳内でそんな推測を繰り広げる雨妹だったが、こちらを見た女の子が小首を傾げる。
「この方が、お姉さまを助けてくださった宮女の方ですか?」
「ほら、ご挨拶が先でしょう?」
「あ、そうでした!」
女の子がハッとした顔をして、雨妹に向き直って笑みを浮かべる。
「太子殿下の淑妃、
彼女はとても丁寧に挨拶してくれたが、雨妹としてはそれどころではない。
――淑妃なの!? この子が!?
雨妹は驚き過ぎて頭を下げることもできず、ポカンと口を開けていた。
淑妃は貴妃・徳妃・賢妃と並ぶ四夫人の位の一つだ。
ということは、貴妃である玉秀と同じ位ということ。
「......あの、恩淑妃はおいくつでいらっしゃるので?」
小恵は幼く見えても実は成人しているのだろうか、と思って聞いてみたのだが。
「小恵はまだ十を越したばかりよね」
「はい、誕生日が二月前でしたから!」
玉秀がやんわりとそれを否定し、小恵も追従する。
やはり見た目通りのお子様のようだ。
そうなると、小恵と太子は歳の差十五歳の計算だ。
価値観は人それぞれなのはわかる。
しかし、あきらかに成人していない子供を嫁にするのはどうだろうか。
――もしかして太子にまだ子供がいないのって、そういう性癖だからとか言わないでしょうね?
太子へのまさかの幼児趣味疑惑に、雨妹の眦が自然と吊り上がっていた時。
「よく来たね、雨妹」
背後からそう声をかけられると同時に、隣の立彬が頭を下げた。
雨妹が振り向いた先にいたのは問題の太子本人であり、前回にも見かけた女官を伴っている。
一応頭は深々と下げて置くものの、幼児趣味疑惑を抱いてしまった後なので、どうしても挨拶がぞんざいになってしまうのは仕方がない。
そんな太子と小恵を二往復くらい交互に見た雨妹は、隣の
「阿呆なことを言うな、殿下にも色々おありなんだ」
こちらも小声でそう返したのだが、雨妹としては色々の具体的内容が気になるのだが。
それに目の前でひそひそとやり合っている内容が、太子当人に聞こえていないはずもなく。
「断っておくが、私はいたって潔白だからね?」
太子が笑みを深めてそう告げた。
このやり取りを見ていた玉秀がクスクスと笑う。
そして小恵はなんの話なのか分かっていないらしく、きょとんとした顔をしていた。
としての務めを求められていないらしい。
これが本物の夫婦だったのなら、小恵はもっと太子と自分の関係を主張するだろう。
――よかった、兄(仮)はロリじゃないみたいで!
雨妹が一安心したところで、太子が改めて話しかけてきた。
「私の妃が君とお茶をしたいと言っているので、呼びに行かせたんだけれど。
太子からの指摘に、立彬が口を開く。
「少々揉め事が起こりまして。
立彬が女官へ声をかけたのだが、またまた衝撃発言が聞こえた気がする。
――え、この人が立彬様のお母さんなの?
太子の側仕えをしているのなら、高位の女官のはずである。
そのくらいになれば、採用基準に当然家柄も考慮される。
であれば立彬はひょっとして、結構な良家の子息なのだろうか?
そんな男がどうして宦官をしているのか、全くもって謎である。
目を見開いて固まる雨妹に、女官が近寄って来る。
「あら本当に雑ね。どうしたのこれ?」
「実は、途中で大偉皇子殿下と出くわしまして」
Chapter 44
'Eh, a child in the crown prince's palace?'
The crown prince supposedly didn't have a child yet, so Yui Mei confusedly looked around her surroundings.
However, she looked barely ten years of age despite that.
Assuming she was the child of the 25 year old crown prince - he had become an adult just recently, so she must have been born even before that.
It was not as if that was impossible, but it was also very likely that the crown prince's younger sister came to play.
Various conjectures ran through Yui Mei's head. The girl stared at her and tilted her little head.
"Is this person the court lady who saved Elder Sister?"
"You should greet her first, no?"
"Oh, that's right!"
The girl replied with a start, then she turned around and faced Yui Mei with a smile on her face.
"I am En Xiao Hui, the Pure Consort of His Highness the Crown Prince. I am pleased to meet you."
She greeted her very politely, but Yui Mei wasn't focused on that.
'Pure Consort!? This child!?'
Yui Mei's jaw dropped. She was too dumbstruck that she forgot to bow her head.
There were four consorts, and Pure Consort was one of them, along with Honored Consort, Virtuous Consort and Worthy Consort.
In other words, she had the same ranking as Yu Xiu, who was the Honored Consort. It was impossible not to be shocked by this.
"...ahm, if I may ask, how old is Consort En?"
Perhaps, Xiao Hui had a young appearance, but she was already an adult - was what she thought, so she inquired.
"Xiao Hui just turned ten years old, right?"
"Yes, my birthday was two months ago!"
Yu Xiu gently negated that thought, and it was also affirmed by Xiao Hui.
She was indeed a child just like how she appeared to be.
In that case, the crown prince had her when he was fifteen years old.
She understood that values differed among people.
However, taking a child as a bride was something else.
'Perhaps, the reason why the crown prince didn't have a child was because he had that kind of disposition?'
Yui Mei's eyes spontaneously turned upward due to her misgivings regarding the crown prince's preference for children.
"It's good that you've come, Yui Mei."
A voice called out to her from behind, and Libin bowed his head at the same time beside her.
Yui Mei turned around. The crown prince in question was standing there, accompanied by the lady-in-waiting she saw earlier.
She perfunctorily bowed her head deeply, but it couldn't be helped that her answer was slipshod since she was suspicious that he was a pedophile.
Yui Mei looked back and forth at the crown prince and Xiao Hui, then she pulled Libin's sleeves since he was beside her.
"Stop saying idiotic things, His Highness also has his various circumstances."
He also whispered back, but Yui Mei became concerned about the specific details behind the word 'various'.
They were whispering right in front of him, so there was no way the crown prince himself didn't hear it.
"Sorry to disappoint you, but I am innocent, alright?"
The crown prince deepened his smile as he replied.
Yu Xiu was watching their exchange and she giggled.
Xiao Hui had a blank look on her face. She did not understand what they were talking about, apparently.
It was obvious from this that she was not summoned to perform the duties of a concubine.
If they were truly husband and wife, Xiao Hui would assert her relationship with the crown prince more forcefully.
'I'm glad, Bro (provisionary) isn't a loli!'
Yui Mei was relieved, and the crown prince talked to her once again.
"My wives wanted to have tea with you, so I had you summoned. However, you're considerably late."
After being pointed out by the crown prince, Libin opened his mouth.
"A small dispute arose. It was easily settled. Ah, Mother, could you please arrange her hair?"
Libin talked to the lady-in-waiting, but she felt she heard another shocking truth.
'Eh, this person is Libin-sama's mother?'
She was the crown prince's personal attendant, so she must have a high ranking among the maids.
Family background should be one of the standards being considered during recruitment for this post.
Perhaps, Libin was the son of a relatively respectable family?
It was truly a mystery why a person such as he would serve as an eunuch.
The lady-in-waiting approached Yui Mei who stood frozen on the spot with her eyes popping out.
"Oh my, it's truly messy. What happened?"
"Actually, we met His Highness the Imperial Prince Dawei midway."
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