皇太后によって「呪い憑き」の烙印を押されてしまった我が子に、救いの手がようやく差し伸べられようとしているのだ。
安堵するのも当然だろう。
一方、
必死になって言い募る文君に、しかし皇帝は冷たい視線を向ける。
「ここの主は皇太后ではない、朕である。
――頭に血が上って失敗したね、あの人。
皇太后の姪の子を太子にしなかったことを鑑みても、皇帝と皇太后の仲が良くないのは想像がつく。
それなのにこの場で皇太后の名を出すのは下策であろう。
相手の背後に皇太后がいるのなら、こちらもそれ相応の後ろ盾が必要となる。
それで太子が用意したのが皇帝というわけだ。
――ちゃんと来るのかヒヤヒヤしたけどね!
だがこうして太子の意見を聞いてやって来たということは、皇帝も友仁皇子のことをそれなりに気をかけていたのだろう。
皇帝は友仁皇子の手当てをしていた
すると友仁皇子が怯えたように縮こまる。
皇帝主催の宴の席での問題が発端だと聞いているので、皇帝の存在自体を恐ろしく思うのも無理はない。
子良はその怯えを感じ取ったのだろう、友仁皇子の両肩を包むように優しく掴む。
するとひと肌の温もりが安心させたのか、友仁皇子の身体から力が抜ける。
その様子を見て、子良が皇帝に告げた。
「診察は今から行うところです。
「ええ、ここに」
「これが頼まれたものです」
「わかりました、ありがとうございます」
籠を差し出す宮女から助手の立場である雨妹が受け取ると、皇帝が関心を示す。
「なんだそれは?」
「どうぞ、確認してください」
雨妹はその中身を見せた。
「......卵と、牛乳か?」
「はい、こちらのお屋敷の台所から拝借したものです。
ハキハキと説明する雨妹を、皇帝が不思議そうに見つめた。
「......そなた、いつかの掃除係ではなかったか?」
美人の所で見かけた姿を覚えていたのだろう。
確かに頭巾に布マスクをした宮女というのは後宮内でも滅多にいないので、皇帝の印象に残っていても無理はない。
「掃除もしますし、先生の助手もします」
嘘ではない、掃除は仕事で助手はボランティアなだけだ。
そんな会話をしていると、胡昭儀に声をかけられる。
「この場で診察というのも落ち着かないでしょうから、部屋を用意させました。
というわけで、ここから移動して改めて診察を行うこととなった。
全員が座れる広い部屋で、雨妹と子良は早速準備をする。
まず取り出した卵と器に入った牛乳を別の器に少量採り、水で薄める。
これらの行動の意味がわからない皇帝は、目を瞬かせて見入っていた。
「それは、なにをしているのだ?」
「友仁皇子殿下の体質を調べるための準備です。
その言葉と同時に、雨妹は一歩前に進み出て一礼した。
「それで体質を調べるとは、どういうことだ?」
皇帝の質問に、雨妹は応じる。
「友仁皇子殿下が、食物過敏症であるかどうかを調べるのです」
そして太子に行ったのと同じ説明をする。
毒でもなんでもない食べ物を異物として認識してしまい、食べると炎症反応などの症状が出ること。
人によっては死に至ること。
あらゆる食物で症状が出る可能性があるが、最も出やすいのが卵・牛乳・小麦であることなどを、順を追って話す。
これを聞いた皇帝が、「ふむ」と顎を撫でる。
「それは食材が腐っている、ということではないのか?」
例えば小麦過敏症の患者であれば、新鮮であっても小麦そのものが毒なのです」
このやり取りを静かに聞いてる一同の中で、椅子を蹴立てて立ち上がった者がいた。
「いい加減なことを言わないで!」
「そんな話、聞いたこともないわ!」
我慢ならなくなったのか会話に割って入る文君を、皇帝はちらりとそちらに視線を寄越しただけで、特別なにも言わず。
「聞いたことがないのは、そちらが不勉強なだけでしょう。
宮女に劣ると言外に言われた文君は、カッと顔を赤くする。
「お前、私を侮辱する気......!」
「黙れ、陛下の御前である」
雨妹に突進して掴みかからん勢いの文君を制したのは、
「陛下の御前で無礼な振る舞いは許されない、大人しく控えていろ」
立彬はこの部屋に移動する間もずっと、己の立ち位置を微妙に調整して、文君との間に入れるように常に気を配っていた。
――あの気の配り方って、宦官っぽくないよね。
Finally, a saving grace was extended to her son who was branded as 'cursed' by the empress dowager.
It was a matter of course that she would feel reassured.
On the other hand, Wenjun faltered with a flabbergasted expression.
Wenjun regained her momentum and anxiously spoke to the emperor, but he looked at her coldly.
"The master of this place is not the Empress Dowager, it is Zhen. Empress Dowager's opinions are not needed."
'That person failed coz she didn't keep her cool, huh.'
Taking into account the fact that the empress dowager failed to make the son of her niece the crown prince, it could be inferred that the two of them had a rocky relationship.
To utter the name of the empress dowager here despite that - it was a brainless move.
If their opponent had the empress dowager as their backing, then they must have a suitable support behind them, too.
That was why the crown prince arranged for the emperor to be their backing.
'I was really nervous whether he would really come, though!'
However, the fact that the emperor came to take a look after hearing the crown prince's opinion would mean that he was also concerned about Imperial Prince Youren.
The emperor turned his eyes towards Ziliang who was treating Imperial Prince Youren.
Imperial Youren was frightened, and he curled himself.
The problem started at the banquet hosted by the emperor, so he must have thought the emperor himself was an existence that was to be feared.
Ziliang felt his trepidation, so he gently grasped Imperial Prince Youren's shoulders as if wrapping them in his arms.
Imperial Prince Youren was soothed by the warmth of skin, and strength left his body.
Seeing this, Ziliang replied to the emperor.
"The medical examination is about to commence. However, before we could proceed, there are some necessary matters we must attend to. Imperial Concubine Hu, are the preparations complete?"
"Yes, they are here."
"These are the items you have requested."
"I understand, thank you very much."
When the maid handed the basket to Yui Mei, who was there as an assistant, the emperor expressed his interest.
"What is that?"
"Please, do confirm."
Yui Mei showed him the contents.
"...Eggs and milk, huh?"
"Indeed. We requested to borrow these from this palace's kitchen. They are necessary for the medical examination."
Yui Mei explained briskly while the emperor stared at her curiously.
"...You, aren't you the housekeeper from back then?'
He must have remembered her appearance from their encounter at Lady Wang's residence.
It was only natural that the emperor had some impression of her, as she was the only one in the entire Inner Palace to wear a hood and a cloth mask.
"I do cleaning jobs, and I also help Doctor."
It was not a lie, her job was indeed a housekeeper, though being an assistant was something she volunteered to do.
Imperial Concubine Hu called out to them in the middle of their conversation.
"We have prepared another room since we could not settle down for the medical examination in this place."
With that, they moved away from here and it was decided that the medical examination would commence anew.
It was a wide room where everyone could sit, and Yui Mei and Ziliang began their preparations.
First, they placed a small amount of egg and milk in separate containers then watered them down.
The emperor did not understand their actions, so he took it all in with shining eyes.
"What are you doing with those?"
"These are prepared for the examination of the body constitution of His Highness the Imperial Prince Youren. The details will be explained by this assistant with your permission."
Along with those words, Yui Mei stepped forward and bowed.
"What do you mean by examining the body constitution with those things?"
Yui Mei responded to the emperor's inquiry.
"It is to examine whether His Highness the Imperial Prince Youren has food hypersensitivity."
Afterward, she stated the same explanation she gave to the crown prince.
The body would treat food, which wasn't even a poison, as a foreign substance, so eating would lead to the occurrence of symptoms such as inflammatory response.
Depending on the person, it could even lead to death.
Several food items had the possibility of eliciting symptoms, but eggs, milk and wheat had the highest occurrence -- so she explained from start to end.
After hearing these things, the emperor nodded with a 'hmm'.
"Isn't it because the ingredients are spoiled?"
"It is not. For example, wheat is poison to a person hypersensitive to wheat, even if it is fresh."
A person jumped from her seat in the midst of everyone else who was listening to this conversation silently.
"Stop spouting nonsense!"
"I've never heard of such a thing!"
She probably couldn't hold it back anymore, but the emperor just glanced at her wordlessly as she butted in the conversation.
"Never heard of it means you're just lazing on your studies. Even the court ladies at the kitchen knew about it."
Wenjun's cheeks flamed after being indirectly told that she was inferior to a court lady.
"Are you insulting me..!"
"Silence, you are in the presence of His Majesty."
Wenjun charged so she could vigorously grab Yui Mei, but she was controlled by Libin.
"Your insolent manners in front of His Majesty are unforgivable, so leave obediently."
Libin had been constantly fine tuning his movements in this room in accordance to his status, and he  constantly and deliberately stood between them.
'That way of paying attention really isn't eunuch-ish.'
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