11話 看病、看病!
消毒のやり方を覚えた太子たちを帰すと、寝ている太子の妃嬪の看病が始まった。
――直々に見に来るわけだ。
これは雨妹の責任重大である。
看病においてまず気を付けるべきは、大量の発汗による脱水症状だ。
――病人に水を飲ませるのって、意外と難しいものね。
下手をすれば誤嚥性肺炎を招く恐れがある。
「もう一度、がんばって水を飲みましょうね」
雨妹が声をかけて吸飲みを口元に持って行けば、玉秀がうっすらと唇を開く。
雨妹が玉秀に飲ませているのは、水に砂糖と塩を混ぜた経口補水液だ。
小刻みにこれを飲んでもらって発汗を促す。
こうして看病を続けていると、外はすっかり暗くなっていた。
「雨妹、夜食を貰ってきたぞ」
「やった、ご飯だ!」
雨妹は玉秀の側を一旦離れ、いそいそと子良が盆を置いた卓に付く。
「容体はどうだ?」
「熱はもう上がらなくなって、少しずつですが下がり始めています。
「そうさ、薬さえ間に合えば死なずに済む病なんだよ」
「この人は、きっと助かります」
自分は死亡者の数を一つ増やさずに済むように頑張るのだ。
やはりこの質問は避けられないだろう。けれど、妙に病気に詳しい言い訳は考えてある。
「......辺境育ちなもので、たまに通る旅人に話を聞いたんです」
そう、「辺境で医療に詳しい旅人に聞いた」、これで押し通すのだ。
この雨妹の言い訳に、子良が片方の眉を上げた。
「そりゃあ、博識な旅人が通ったものだな」
いまいち信じてなさそうな言い方だったが、反応した方が負けである。
これについては医者の間でも説が分かれていてな、俺は別の病派の医者なんだよ」
己の方の学説支持派が一人増えたと、子良は嬉しそうに言った。
そして夜が明けて、早朝。
玉秀は少し熱っぽいものの微熱程度で、顔色もだいぶ良くなっていた。
「おうよ、いやぁ良かった!」
雨妹は子良と二人で手を上げて喜ぶと、しばらくして玉秀が目を覚ました。
「......ここは?」
「医局です。
掠れた声で尋ねた玉秀に、子良が経緯を説明する。
「......殿下が」
「あなたを看病したのも、着替えさせて汗を拭いたのも、ここにいる雨妹です」
意識のない間に世話をしたのが、男の自分ではなく宮女だと知らせる意味で、子良が雨妹を紹介する。
「ええ、私がずっとついていましたとも」
「......そう、ありがとう」
宮に帰っても世話をする者がいないと、昨日太子が言っていた。
――失態を望んでいた人が、身近にいるってことか。
その望みも、雨妹の乱入で断たれた訳だが。
「食欲はありますか? なにか食べれそうですか?」
「......すごく、お腹が空いている気がするわ」
雨妹の質問に、玉秀が困った顔をした。
全ての生活を整えられていた彼女にとって、お腹が空いたという感覚は珍しいものだろう。
「お腹が空いているのは、良いことです。
あ、でも江貴妃の食事は太子宮で用意するのでしょうか?」
そこまで取りに行くのは遠いし面倒だな、と雨妹が思っていると。
「いや、宮女の台所で用意してもらっていいと、太子に聞いている。
Chapter 11
Yui Mei sent the crown prince off after he learned how to disinfect. She started to nurse the crown prince's sleeping concubine back to health.
'So that's why he came to see her in person.'
This fact added a grave weight to Yui Mei's responsibility.
With regards to nursing a patient, one must take precautions to avoid dehydration from excessive perspiration. According to Ziliang, it was the cause of death in this illness. Apparatus such as intravenous drips were not yet discovered in this world, so there was no other way but to let the patient drink water through her mouth.
'Giving water to a patient is harder than I expected.'
There was a risk of aspiration if it was not done properly. Therefore, one must pay careful attention to fluid intake.
"Alright, let's try once more to make you drink water."
Yu Xiu slightly opened her mouth when Yui Mei brought the cup near. At first, she could only lightly lick the spilled drops on her lips. However, even if it was just enough to dampen her mouth, as long water was patiently given to her, she would gradually be able to swallow more. The amount being given would then be increased to match her intake.
Yui Mei administered an oral rehydration solution made from water, sugar, and salt to Yu Xiu.
She gave it to her in small amounts and encouraged her to sweat. If plain water was given, minerals that were lost would not be replenished, blood would thin, and in worse cases, disorientation and loss of consciousness could occur.
Yui Mei continued nursing the patient until the sky darkened completely.
"Yui Mei, I got your dinner."
"Hooray, we got food!"
Yui Mei left Yu Xiu's side for a while and cheerfully went to the table where Ziliang placed the bowls. It was also important for the caregiver to replenish her strength. One shouldn't be restrained when it was time to eat, or else both of them will perish.
"How is she?"
"Her fever is not that high anymore, and it's beginning to go down. The medicine is probably taking effect now."
"Yeah, it's a disease that is fatal when not treated right away."
"This person will surely survive."
Yui Mei made her resolve to not contribute to the casualties further, even if it's just one person. She expressed her determination by gobbling down her gruel.
Ziliang eventually asked. As expected, it was not a question she could evade. However, Yui Mei already prepared an answer as to why she was knowledgeable about that disease.
"I was raised in a remote region, so I sometimes heard stories from travelers."
Yes, she planned to bluff with the story of 'hearing it from a traveler well-versed in medicine, who passed through the remote regions.'
Ziliang's eyebrow shot up when he heard Yui Mei's reason.
"Oh, so an erudite traveler passed by."
Ziliang's tone said he didn't believe a single word of it, but the first to react would lose. Yui Mei avoided his eyes and reached for a manju after she was done with her porridge. "So, what did that erudite traveler say about this disease? Is it a variation of cold, or is it another disease altogether?"
"Is that so! The physicians are also divided regarding this matter, but I stand on the opposite side."
Ziliang happily stated, since he was overjoyed that he had another supporter of his theory. And so, the two of them passed the night nursing the patient while having discussions about the field of medicine.
The day broke, and dawn came.
Yu Xiu had a low-grade fever, and some of her color returned.
"Indeed, really, I'm relieved!"
Yui Mei and Ziliang raised their hands and rejoiced. Yu Xiu finally opened her eyes after a while.
"......This is?"
"It is the clinic. It was His Highness the crown prince himself who requested that you stay here for the meantime."
Yu Xiu asked in a hoarse voice, and Ziliang told her the whole story.
"His Highness did...."
"This person is Yui Mei. She was the one who nursed you, changed your clothes, and wiped your sweat."
Ziliang introduced Yui Mei. He intended to clarify that it was not him, a male, who did all these things, but a court lady, instead.
"Indeed, I was the one who accompanied you constantly."
"....Is that so, thank you."
Yesterday, the crown prince mentioned that no one would take care of her even if she went back to the palace. Yu Xiu was the prime candidate for the seat of the empress, so she had a lot of enemies. She would probably be too preoccupied in trying her best to display her power to the bastards who wanted to take advantage of her illness. It was not the place for her recuperation. Otherwise, in normal circumstances, the maids and court ladies would have already stopped her abnormal behavior when she tried to go to the stream.
'So the person who wanted her to fall in disgrace should be one that is close to her.'
That desire was hindered by Yui Mei's intervention. Yu Xiu should get better, so she could cultivate the power to fight those malevolent people.
"Do you have an appetite? Would you wish to partake of some food?"
"...Yes, I do feel very hungry."
Yu Xiu answered Yui Mei's question with a troubled expression.
For a woman who was raised with a silver spoon in her mouth, hunger must have been a novel experience.
"It is good that you feel hunger. It means the body is trying to recover."
"Well then, I will go and prepare some soup. Ah, but will the crown prince's palace prepare Honored Consort Jiang's food?"
Yui Mei thought that it was a hassle if she were to get it from there.
"No, the court lady's kitchen will prepare the food according to the crown prince. So get our breakfast, too."
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