李将軍からの素朴な疑問に、雨妹は別段隠すことでもないので答える。
「診察のためですね。
これを聞いた李将軍は、「はぁ~」と感心の声を上げる。
「珍しい特技を持つ宮女がいるもんだ。
これに、雨妹は包子にかぶりつこうとしたところで、壮絶に嫌そうな顔をする。
「嫌ですよ、そんな仕事。
間違っても李将軍が推薦なんてしないよう、ここはキッパリ言っておく。
誰もかれも似たようなことを言うものだが、今世は給金よりも趣味に生きるのだ。
前世では看護師という仕事に誇りを持っていたものの、それはそれとして、あのように人生を仕事に捧げるような生き方はもうしたくない。
雨妹の勢いに、李将軍が目を丸くしている。
李将軍は雨妹のことからすぐに話を変えて、明のことを聞いてきた。
雨妹が「酒」というのを強調して言うと、李将軍がピクリと眉を上げる。
「酒なぁ、確かにアイツの酒は楽しい飲み方じゃねぇもんなぁ」
そう言ってグビッと酒を一口飲んだ李将軍は、天井を見上げた。
その顔は困ったような、悲しんでいるような、奇妙な表情であった。
「あの、私もよく知らないのですが、明様はどうしてあのように酒を飲まれるのですか?」
これに李将軍がしばし呻いてから、天井から立勇へと視線を移す。
「俺からはなんとも言い難いが、一つ言えるのが後悔か。
李将軍はそう言うと、フラッと立ち上がって離れていった。
その後ろ姿を見送って、雨妹は立勇と顔を見合わせる。
「今の、なんのことだかわかりますか?」
「いや、正直私にもわかりかねる」
雨妹と立勇は二人して首を捻った。
楊には明日の朝に報告すればいいだろう。
久しぶりに夜に動き回って疲れた雨妹だったが、朝は同じようにやって来るもの。
朝食を食べようと食堂へ顔を出すと、今日は休みらしい
雨妹も料理を受け取ると、美娜の隣へと向かう。
ちなみに今日の朝食は、蓮根と鶏肉の団子の
早速聞いてきた美娜に、雨妹は頷いて答える。
「はい、楊おばさんのおつかいで。聞いてください!
「へぇ! あっちはどんな風だったんだい?」
やはり余所の食堂に興味があるらしい美娜が身を乗り出してくるのに、身振り手振りで説明する。
「は~、あっちの食堂は訓練の一環かぁ、兵士ってのも大変なんだねぇ」
それに食べに行ったら外れの時って、なんか料理番も食べる方も両方切ないですよね」
二人してそんな話で盛り上がっていると。
「お前さんらは、朝から賑やかだね」
「おはようございます、楊おばさん」
雨妹が挨拶するのに、楊は「ああ、おはよう」と返すと。
「昨日は遅くまで済まなかったね、
It wasn't a matter that must be kept a secret, so Yui Mei answered General Li's simple question frankly.
"It's for a medical examination. I'm quite knowledgeable about medicinal arts, but I'm not a physician, so Aunty Yang thought that he wouldn't drive me out."
General Li raised his voice in admiration after hearing her explanation.
"That's a rare skill for a court lady. Hey, if you work as a physician's attendant, you're going to be stackin' loot for sure."
Yui Mei was about to sink her teeth into the baozi when she heard it. She grimaced.
"I don't want a job like that. I like my current job!"
She firmly made her stand known, just in case General Li accidentally made a recommendation for her.
All of them were saying the same thing, but rather than raking in money, she wanted to live while enjoying her hobbies in this world.
She had great pride in her profession as a nurse in her previous world, but she no longer wanted to work as if she was dedicating her entire life to her job like before.
General Li was shocked at Yui Mei's determination.
General Li changed the subject from Yui Mei to Ming.
General Li raised his brow when Yui Mei stressed the word 'liquor'.
"Liquor, huh. Well, that guy's way of drinking ain't fun, true enough."
General Li gulped a mouthful of booze, then he lifted his eyes to the ceiling.
His expression was quite strange -- concern and sadness blended on his face.
"Ahm, I don't really know much about it, but may I know the reason? Why does Lord Ming drink like that?"
General Li groaned after a while, then he turned his gaze towards Li Yong.
"It's not like I can say something about this, but to sum it up, it's regret. But it's not his fault, the one at fault was... Nah, let's stop here. Seems like I drank too much."
General Li stood up and left with those words.
Li Yong and Yui Mei stared at his retreating back, before exchanging glances.
"Any idea what that was about?"
"Nah, honestly, I don't have any inkling either."
Both of them were puzzled.
It should be fine even if she did the reporting to Yang tomorrow, instead.
Yui Mei was tired after walking around at night for the first time in a while, but she was still lively when morning came.
She went to the dining hall to have some breakfast. Mei Na was apparently on her day off, since she was sitting on a table, beckoning Yui Mei to come over.
Yui Mei got her breakfast first before heading towards Mei Na.
By the way, the meal was chicken meat and lotus dumpling soup, and steamed lily bulbs with mushrooms. It was the first harvest of the lily bulbs for this season.
Mei Na immediately asked and Yui Mei nodded.
"Yes, I was on an errand for Aunty Yang. Listen! We missed our dinner because of that, so we slipped into the imperial guard's dining hall!"
"Heh! What was it like over there?"
Mei Na seemed interested at the other dining hall as she leaned closer to Yui Mei, who then explained the place animatedly.
"Oh, so the kitchen is also part of their training.The soldiers also have it rough, huh."
"Yup. Also, both the cook and the diner must be miserable if you went there to eat and it's a miss."
The two of them were excitedly talking about such things when Yang suddenly appeared.
"You guys, what a lively bunch, so early in the morning."
"Good morning, Aunty Yang."
Yui Mei greeted her, and she said "Yeah, good morning" in return.
"Sorry for keeping you so late last night, Xiao Mei. So, how was it?"
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