たちから「体質を調べて欲しい」という話が舞い込むようになり、今てんてこ舞いをしている。
一方でこの流れが気に入らないのが、皇太后だ。
自分の下した結論を皇帝に覆されたのだから、面子が丸つぶれであろう。
おかげで皇太后の宮では、興奮した女性の金切り声が頻繁に聞かれるそうである。
こうして後宮内が荒れ模様の中。
皇帝はある日、仕事の合間を使って
「まあ陛下、ようこそお越しくださいました」
たまたま外に出ていた王美人は、近くにいた女官にお茶の用意をするように言いつけると、皇帝を部屋へと案内する。
「今、なにをしていたのだ?」
「暖かくなってきたので、庭で花を愛でておりました」
そんな他愛のない話をしながら部屋へ向かい、しばらくするとお茶や菓子が運ばれてきた。
「では、私はこれで」
それらをテーブルに並べた女官はそう告げて一礼してすぐに下がり、皇帝のお付きの宦官たちも人払いをされている。
ゆえに室内は皇帝と王美人の二人だけになった。
「......」
皇帝はなにを話すでもなく、無言でお茶を飲み始める。
自らもただ静かにお茶を飲むだけである。
皇帝が自分の元を訪れるのは、静かな場所で安らぎたいのだとわかっているからだ。
しばし茶器の音と、外で風が木の葉を揺らす音が響いていた中、皇帝がポツリと言った。
突然の皇帝の言葉に、王美人は目を瞬かせる。
掃除をしていた宮女というと、王美人が脳裏に浮かべるのはあの娘しかいない。
王美人が笑顔で告げると、皇帝は一瞬目を見張って小さく呟く。
この反応に王美人は「おや?」と思う。
――雨妹という名の娘が、誰か他にもいたかしら?
雨妹という名は言ってはなんだがありふれたというか、他にいてもおかしくない名前だ。
王美人は疑問を抱いたものの、それを顔には出さずに話を続ける。
「元気で愛らしい娘でしょう?
この言葉に、王美人は首を傾げる。
「いいえ、雨妹は掃除係だと
王美人の答えに、皇帝は思案顔をする。
それから皇帝は王美人とのお茶を楽しんだ後、長逗留をせずにすぐに帰って行った。
――雨妹の話を聞くためだけにいらしたのかしら?
後宮で皇帝に興味を示されるということは、妃嬪候補に挙がるという意味合いを持つのだが。
皇帝の今の様子では、そう言ったこととは少し違う気がする。
「ねえ、雨妹って誰か知ってる?」
王美人は茶器を片付ける女官に、先程抱いた疑問をぶつけてみた。
「いつもの掃除係の宮女でございましょう」
すると、女官からはそんな答えが返って来る。
「その雨妹ではなくて、他にいたかしらと思って」
「いいえ? 思い当たりませんが」
王美人がさらに尋ねると、女官は怪訝そうな顔をしつつも首を横に振った。自分より年配の女官も、他に「雨妹」という名を知らないらしい。
王美人は記憶を辿るも、やはり心当たりはない。
もしかすると大したことではないのかもしれないが、妙に気になる。
そしてしばらくして王美人がふと思い出したのは、自分の前にこの屋敷に住んでいた
皇帝の寵愛を受けて下級宮女が一気に美人にまで位を上げた、宮女内でも噂だった人。
その頃の王美人は、後宮に入りたての新人宮女だったため、詳しくは知らない。
だが彼女は確か姿を消す前に、娘を出産していたのではなかったか。
しかしその娘の名は知られていない。
皇太后が皇帝の子ではないと宣言したため、禁忌の存在となったためだ。
知っているとしたらごく一部、例えば当時お産を助けるために出産に立ち会ったはずの、
――本来ならば公主として華やかな生活をしていたはずの、憐れな赤ん坊ね。
もし生きているとすれば、雨妹くらいの年頃だろうか。
そう考える王美人は、初めて雨妹に会った時に思いを巡らせる。
しかしある時からきっちりと被った頭巾を取らなくなったので、残念に感じていたのだが。
――そういえばあの張美人も、不思議に美しい髪だったとか。
会ったことがない人なので、具体的にどのような色味であったかはわからない。
しかしこの共通点は、王美人の心の片隅に引っかかるのだった。
Many concubines began to drop in unexpectedly at Ziliang's place with requests of 'Please examine my body constitution', so he was currently in a whirl of busyness.
On the other hand, the empress dowager did not like this flow of events.
The emperor overturned the conclusion she had drawn, making her lose face completely.
Because of that, the agitated, shrill shrieks of a woman was heard incessantly from the palace of the empress dowager.
With this, the situation in the Inner Palace became stormy.
One day, the emperor visited Lady Wang's residence under the pretext of taking a break from work.
"Oh, Your Majesty, it is an honor for you to come here."
Lady Wang, who went outside by chance, ordered the maid beside her to prepare tea, and she led the Emperor inside.
"What have you been doing just now?"
"It is getting warmer, so I wanted to admire the flowers in the garden."
They made their way towards the room as they did small talk, and the tea and snacks were then brought in after a while.
"Then please excuse us."
After arranging them on the table, the maid then bowed and left, taking the emperor's attending eunuchs with her.
Therefore, only the emperor and Lady Wang were left inside the room.
"..."
The emperor didn't take the initiative to say anything, and he wordlessly sipped his tea.
She also silently drank her tea.
She understood that the emperor came to visit because he wanted to relax in a tranquil place.
After a brief period where only the sound of clinking teacups and leaves rustling in the wind could be heard, the emperor mumbled.
Lady Wang's eyes flickered at the emperor's sudden words.
Only that girl would come to her mind when a court lady cleaner was mentioned.
When Lady Wang replied with a smile, the emperor's eyes widened for an instant, and then he muttered.
'Oh?' , Lady Wang thought upon seeing the emperor's reaction.
'Is there another girl with the name Yui Mei?'
The name Yui Mei was somewhat commonplace, so it was not surprising if others also had this name.
Lady Wang did not show the doubts she carried in her heart on her face, and she continued the conversation.
"She was an energetic and adorable girl, isn't she? She ate the sweets you give her while brimming with happiness. She is as cute as a small animal, so I always prepare them as thanks for cleaning."
Lady Wang was perplexed at these words.
"No, I heard from Yang that Yui Mei is a housekeeper? However, she does seem to be an erudite, seeing that she is knowledgeable about various things, so it would not be surprising if she was indeed an assistant."
The emperor had a pensive look upon hearing the words of Lady Wang.
Afterward, the emperor didn't stay for long, and he left right after they enjoyed their tea.
'Did he come just to inquire about Yui Mei?'
In the Inner Palace, the emperor expressing his interest was tantamount to being viewed as a prospective concubine.
However, the emperor's current appearance had a different feel to it.
"Listen, do you know somebody named Yui Mei?"
Lady Wang asked the question that had been bothering her to the maid who was clearing up the tea sets.
"It must be the housekeeping court lady who always comes here."
The maid replied with those words.
"Not that Yui Mei, I was thinking if there was somebody else."
"I'm afraid not? I do not have any recollection."
Apparently, even a court lady older than her did not know another person named 'Yui Mei'.
Lady Wang tried to search in her memories, but she came up with nothing.
Maybe she was making a mountain out of a molehill, but oddly enough, she couldn't stop thinking about it.
After a while, Lady Wang suddenly remembered Lady Zhang, the beauty who lived in this mansion before her.
She was an infamous person within the circle of court ladies, for she had been rapidly promoted from a lower court lady to a beauty after receiving the favor of the emperor.
At that time, Lady Wang had just entered the Inner Palace as a novice court lady, so she knew little about it.
Didn't she give birth to a daughter before she vanished?
However, she didn't know the name of that daughter.
The empress dowager declared that she was not the child of the emperor, so her existence became a taboo.
Only very few people knew about it; for example, the people, such as Yang, who had helped her give birth.
'Originally, she should be living luxuriously as a princess, what a pitiful baby.'
If she were alive, then she should be around the age of Yui Mei.
While thinking of this, Lady Wang recalled the first time she met Yui Mei.
However, since that day, she hadn't removed her hood, so she thought it was such a waste.
'Now that I think about it, Lady Zhang also had beautiful, wondrous hair.'
She never met her, so she didn't know its definite shade, though.
However, this common feature bothered a corner of Lady Wang's heart.
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