に伴われて、再び刑部へとやって来た。
ちなみに立彬も一緒なのは、雨妹が刑部への道をちゃんと覚えていなかったのと、雨妹を一人で応対させるのに不安がられたためである。
――私、そんな大層な困ったちゃんじゃないやい!
非常に不本意な扱いであることに、雨妹は頬を膨らませる。
そして建物の入口では、あの立彬の知り合いである男が待っていた。
「どうも、お呼びだと伺い参りました」
雨妹は男に向けて礼をとると、彼はヒラリと手を振ったのみで応じ、「こちらだ」と早速案内する。
雨妹は立彬と共に男の後ろについていきつつ、その背中に問いかけた。
「あれから、
これに男は前を向いたまま答える。
「どうもしないな。騒ぐわけでもなく静かなものだったぞ?
男の説明に、雨妹はホッとする。
こちらとしても、徐がやけを起こしてからの自死を特に心配していたのだが、それが杞憂であってなによりだ。
「お前の最後の説得が効いたのではないか?」
「確かに私は徐さんと話をしましたけど、他人からなにかを言われて即聞き入れるような素直な人って、そうそういないと思うんですよ」
人が他人の言葉を疑ってかかるのは当たり前だろう。
たいていは己の自我と他者の言葉をすり合わせ、理解していく過程を経てから意見を己のものとするのだ。
この過程というのが案外気力体力を使うもので、気力体力がなければ何を聞いても全て否定するか、逆に全てを信じてしまうのだ。
彼女は少々視野を狭くしていただけで、状況的には追い詰められてはいなかったということではないだろうか?
「徐さんにはまだきちんと考える余地があった、ということじゃないですかねぇ?」
「ふむ、分かるような分からぬような......」
苦労人のようだがまだ歳若い立彬には、こうした気持ちは想像し辛いのかもしれない。
きっとこれから色々な人と出会って、悟ることなのだ。
「小娘のくせに、ずいぶんと年寄りのように達観しているんだな」
一方で、前を行く男が面白そうな声でそう言ってきた。まあ、成人したての小娘に似合わない発言であることは確かだろう。
「徐は毎日を一人静かに過ごし、食事も文句を言わずに食べる。
徐が雨妹を呼ぶに至った流れを聞けたところで、目的の部屋の前までやってきた。
「入るぞ」
男は部屋の戸を叩くと、一声かけてから中へ入った。
部屋の中は牀と卓だけが置いてある簡素なものであり、そこで徐は牀に腰かけた体勢で、ぼうっと窓の外を見ていた。
入ってきた男に構うこともしない。
「どうも徐さん、呼んでいると聞いて来ましたよ」
雨妹が声をかけると、徐がようやくこちらを向いた。
――前に会った時よりも、顔色は良いかな。
雨妹は徐の様子をそう見て取る。
前に会った時はひどい顔色をしていたが、今日の彼女はまだ青白いものの、多少はマシになっているように見えた。
Libin then accompanied her to the penitentiary again.
By the way, Libin had to go with her because she couldn't remember the way there, and he was also worried about her dealing with the matter on her own.
'I'm not such a big deal of a troublemaker!'
Yui Mei pouted because of the unnecessary treatment.
When they reached the entrance of the building, Libin's acquaintance was waiting for her.
"Good day, I was informed that my presence is requested, so I came."
Yui Mei bowed to the man, but he just waved his hand and told her "this way", before hurriedly leading them away.
Libin and Yui Mei followed behind the man, and she called out to him.
"How has Miss Xu fared since that day?"
The man then answered her without turning back.
"Nothing, really. She didn't even kick up a fuss, and had been quite the docile one, you know? She wanted to die, so we had been extra vigilant thinking she might cause an uproar by attempting suicide, but she didn't do that."
Yui Mei felt relieved when she heard the man's explanation.
It seemed that they were also worried about her raising chaos then taking her own life afterward, but it turned out to be unnecessary worry.
"Maybe your persuasion last time worked?"
"Indeed, Miss Xu agreed to converse with me, but I don't think there are a lot of earnest people who would willingly listen immediately after being told off by somebody else."
It was natural for humans to doubt what other people say.
Usually, they would go through the process of reconciling their own ego with the advice of other people. They would then try to understand first, before they made their own opinions.
It would take a lot of willpower and resilience, and if those were lacking, it might also be possible for the person to reject what they've heard, or else just believe every single word they heard.
Perhaps, she was just a bit narrow-minded, but she wasn't driven to the corner yet?
"Maybe that means Miss Xu still has the capacity to think clearly?"
"Hm, I'm not sure if I get it or not..."
It must've been difficult for him to understand, considering he was still young despite being the wise man that he was.
He would probably understand it after meeting a lot of people from now on.
"You're still a lass, and yet you're spouting wise things like an old man."
The man in front of them seemed amused, on the other hand. Well, it was certainly a statement that didn't seem befitting of a young maiden who had just come of age.
"Xu spends her days quietly by herself. She also eats her meals without complaint. The person in charge of her meals suddenly told me that she wanted to talk to the court lady who was a housekeeper."
The man told her how Xu ended up asking for her. Right at that moment, they finally arrived in front of the room that was their destination.
"We're coming in."
The man called out after knocking, then he opened the door.
The room was simple, furnished with a table and chair. Xu was sitting on it while staring absentmindedly at the scenery beyond the window.
She didn't even pay attention to the guy who just entered the room.
"Hello Miss Xu, I heard you called for me, so I came."
Yui Mei called out to her, and Xu finally turned to face them.
'Her complexion is better compared to when I last saw her.'
Yui Mei assessed Xu's condition.
Her complexion was extremely bad back then, but now, she looked better despite still being pale.
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