立勇がそう言いながら飲杯を一つ差し出すので、素直に受け取る。
――おおぅ、澄んだ黄金色のお茶!
この男からこんな綺麗なお茶が生まれるなんて驚きだ。
恐る恐る口をつければ、甘い口当たりの中で爽やかな香りを感じる。
自分で淹れたのとは比べ物にならないくらいに、美味しいお茶だった。
髪を結わせてもそつなくこなし、お茶を淹れさせても完璧とか、どこまで凄いのだこの男は。
いや、建前上は髪結いの上手な立淋とは双子の兄弟だったか。
でもお茶を美味しく淹れる近衛とか、普通に考えてどうなんだろう?
目の前の男の有能ぶりに、雨妹が頭を悩ませていると。
「今やった通りに淹れてみろ」
立勇にそう言われてしまった。
「ええっと......」
雨妹がもたもたしながら茶器を手に取るのを、太子が笑みを浮かべて見守っている。
その表情がまるで幼稚園児のままごとを見守る母親のようだ。
――いやいや、私ってば幼稚園児よりはできるはず!
雨妹は己を奮起させ、先ほどの立勇の手順を思い出しながらお茶を淹れる。
そうして淹れ終えたお茶は、立勇の淹れたものよりも少し濁っていた。
飲んでみると味もちょっと物足りない。
なにが違うんだろうかと首を捻る雨妹の横で、立勇も飲むと。
「......蒸らしが少々足りんが、まあまあだな」
こうして試飲が終わったところで、このお茶を太子にも飲んでもらうことになった。
立勇の淹れたお茶でいいじゃないかと思うのだが、太子がぜひにと言ったのだから仕方ない。
「うん、雨妹の頑張りが感じられる味だね」
それはやはり、味はいまいちということか。
これは太子のお供として、今後の精進が求められそうだ。
雨妹が美味しいお茶への道を思い、ちょっとだけしょんぼりしていると。
「ほら雨妹、この
桃酥
「......いいんですか?」
「もちろん、旅の途中につまむ用にと持たされたのだからね」
尋ねる雨妹にそう答えた太子は、包みから一つ取って手に握らせる。
すると途端にサクサクホロホロと口の中で崩れて、香ばしい味わいが口の中に広がる。
しかも胡桃が入っていて、さらに美味しい。
「ふわぁ」
桃酥の美味しさに、雨妹が表情を緩ませる。
「......単純な」
「いいじゃないか、可愛くて」
立勇と太子がなにか言っているが、美味しいものの前では気にならないのだった。
こうしてしっかりおやつも食べたところで、休憩を切り上げた軒車は再び走り出す。
それにしても、目的地までどこかで宿泊になるわけで。
「今夜の宿はどうなさるんですか?」
「途中の宿に一泊するよ」
「......はい?」
これに、驚くなという方が無理だろう。
皇族の移動って、普通なら皇族専用の別荘的なお屋敷とか、その土地の諸侯のお宅などに泊まるものではないのだろうか。
――それが宿って、いいのそれで?
しかし太子の予定に、いち宮女でしかない雨妹が苦情を言えるわけがなく。軒車はその宿泊予定の街へ向けて走っていく。
ところで雨妹は出立した後で泊まりでの外出だと聞かされたので、お泊り道具の類をなにも持ち出せていない。
と言っても用意するのは櫛や
――ああ、それと忘れちゃいけない下着!
ちなみにこの国の女性用の下着というのは、
その下は無し、すなわちノーパン状態だ。
日本の記憶のある雨妹としてはそれでは大変心もとないため、昔からパンツを手縫いで作っている。
ゴムがないため紐パンだが。
今、その着替えを持ち出せなかったのが痛い。
――どうしようかなぁ。
一応お小遣いは持って来たし、もしもの時のために裁縫道具も帯に仕込んである。
だから太子が宿に入った後で出かけてどこか店で買い物をして、宿でパンツを縫うか。
街へ着いたらどこか店へ寄るから、君はそこで身の回りの物を買うといい」
太子にそんな提案をされてしまった。
Li Yong handed a teacup to Yui Mei, so she obediently took it.
'Whoa, what a clear, golden tea!'
How surprising that this guy could produce such a beautiful tea.
She slowly sipped it, and the sweet, refreshing aroma filled her mouth.
It was very delicious, and her tea could never compare with it.
He could flawlessly arrange hair, and he could brew tea perfectly - how great was this guy?
No, the one who was great in hair arrangement was his twin brother Libin.
But was it normal for an Imperial Guard to brew such a delicious tea?
Yui Mei's thoughts were racing because of the talented guy in front of her.
"Try to brew it just like how I did it."
Li Yong ordered.
"Ahm..."
The crown prince was beaming as he watched over Yui Mei when she took the tea set.
It was like the smile of a doting mom watching over her kindergartener, who was trying to do chores.
'No, no, I can do this better than a preschooler, of course!'
Yui Mei shook herself, then she recalled Li Yong's steps as she brewed the tea.
The resulting tea was a bit cloudy compared to the one Li Yong brewed.
She tried drinking it, but the taste was also somewhat lacking.
She was perplexed as to why it was different, so Li Yong tried to drink it, too.
"...It wasn't steamed enough, but it's passable."
After sampling was done, it's time to serve it to the crown prince.
She asked whether it would be better to serve Li Yong's tea, but the crown prince refused, so there's nothing she could do.
"Yeah, I could feel Yui Mei's earnest efforts in this tea."
In short, the taste was so-so.
Seemed like she had to improve in this aspect as the crown prince's attendant.
Yui Mei imagined the path to delicious tea, and she felt a bit down-hearted.
"Here, Yui Mei, have some taosu. The chief cook of my palace made it."
The crown prince offered a bundle of cookie-like, appetizing baked sweets.
"...Is it really alright?"
"Of course, I had them wrapped for this journey, after all."
The crown prince took a piece and placed it in Yui Mei's palm when she asked that.
It crumbled in her mouth right away, and the fragrant taste spread through her mouth.
It was made more delicious by the walnuts inside.
"Fuwaa.."
Yui Mei's expression loosened up because of the deliciousness of taosu.
"...How simple."
"Isn't it fine, she's adorable."
Li Yong and the crown prince were saying something, but Yui Mei was already lost in the taste of the sweets.
After all the snacks were finished, break time was over and the carriage started to move again.
They would probably lodge somewhere before reaching their destination.
"May I ask what will be the lodging arrangements for tonight?"
"We'll be staying in the inn for one night on the way."
"...Yes?"
It was impossible not to be surprised.
Weren't the imperial family supposed to stay in mansions exclusive for their use, or else in houses of the vassal lords of that particular land during their journey?
'Is it really fine staying in an inn?'
However, it was not Yui Mei's place to object to the crown prince's schedule since she was just a mere court lady.
By the way, Yui Mei was informed that they would stay the night after they already departed, so she didn't manage to pack anything.
However, all she needed was a comb, a handkerchief, and a yukata if she was to take a bath.
'Oh, I shouldn't forget the underwear, too!'
By the way, women's undergarments were called , something like the undershirts worn under the kimono.
Underneath was bare, no panties, basically.
Because Yui Mei retained her memories in Japan, she couldn't accept that situation no matter what, so she had been sewing her own since long ago.
They were string bikinis because there were no rubbers.
It was regrettable that she didn't manage to bring those underwear.
'What should I do.'
She brought some pocket money just in case, and she also had a sewing kit in her sash for emergencies.
So she planned to go out after the crown prince entered the inn to go shopping, and then sew those panties inside the inn afterward.
"Ahh, yeah. I'll stop by the shops when we reach the city, so you should buy your personal things there."
The crown prince offered.
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