さすが日々罪人と向き合っている刑部の役人の言うことは、言葉の重みが違う。
なにはともあれ、教坊内で起きていた出来事についてはおおよそわかった。
「徐よ、その見慣れない商人とやらを見れば、今でもわかるか?」
「......たぶん、わかるんじゃないかね?」
男の問いかけに、徐はそう答えた。
刑部の捜査に協力をするのなら、今回のことで傷がついた形となった徐の立場も回復するだろう。
となると雨妹の役目は、徐の願いを叶えてやるだけだ。
というわけで、雨妹は徐の今後について男に質問する。
「まずは徐さんをお医者様に診せたいのですが、徐さんはまだ刑部にいるんですか?」
「消されないように」とはなんだ、立場を失うのか、はたまた命を失う的なことなのか?
雨妹は想像すると怖いので、そこはあえて考えないようにする。
「じゃあ刑部へ往診していただけるか、医局のお医者様に聞いてみます。
「食事ね、わかったよ......」
――もしかして、ご飯が美味しくないのかな?
元は大店の娘で、宮妓になっても宴席料理が常だったであろう徐は、口がご馳走に慣れてしまっているのだろう。
前世での入院した際の病院食が美味しくないと嘆く患者と同じだ。
それだって、普段自宅の料理を薄味で食べていた患者だと、病院食もそれほど不満が出なかったりするものであった。
「食事なら、これまでは罪人用の食事が回されていたが、これで罪人ではなくなったし、これから部屋も移動して、献立も刑部の役人が食べるものと同じものに変わるぞ」
「本当かい!?」
これを聞いた徐が、本当に嬉しそうな顔をした。
罪人用の食事ならば必要最低限の栄養補給だっただろうし、ご馳走口な徐には余計に辛かっただろう。
けれど逆に、そのおかげで薄味の料理も美味しく感じられるかもしれない。
何事も無駄なことはないのである。
それから雨妹は他にも日々の過ごし方を徐に伝えて、立彬と共に刑部を後にした。
その翌日、雨妹は早速医局へ
陳
雨妹が声をかけながら医局の建物へ入っていくと、陳はちょうどお茶を飲んで休憩しているところであった。
「お話の前に、まずはこれをどうぞ!」
雨妹は本題に入る前に、持参した手土産を差し出す。
中身はおやつの胡麻団子である。
The man's words carried a different weight, as expected of a Ministry of Justice personnel dealing with criminals day by day.
At any rate, he was aware about what was happening within the walls of Jiaofang.
"Xu, if you see that unfamiliar merchant again, will you recognize him?"
"...I can recognize him...probably?"
Xu responded with those words to the man's question.
If she cooperated with the Ministry of Justice's investigation, Xu's position, which had been in jeopardy because of this incident,  could turn for the better.
In that case, Yui Mei's role was to grant Xu's wish.
And so, she asked the man regarding what would happen to Xu from hereon.
"Xu needs to be examined by a doctor first, but will she stay here in the penitentiary?"
'Goner' -- was he talking about her status, or was it about losing her life?
It was a terrifying thought, so Yui Mei decided not to dwell on it.
"Then I'll try asking the physician from the clinic if he can visit her here in the penitentiary. In the meantime, please sleep well at night, and please eat your meals properly. A healthy lifestyle is the best cure for this illness."
"Meals...I got it."
'I wonder if the food doesn't taste good?'
She was the daughter of a big-time merchant before, and she was probably used to eating banquet food even after becoming the palace courtesan, so perhaps her taste buds had been used to eating feasts.
It was the same with the confined patients who grumbled that hospital food was unpalatable.
Even so, patients who normally prepare lightly seasoned meals for themselves didn't think the hospital food was so bad.
"She had been given meals for criminals until today, but since she's no longer a criminal, she will be transferred to another room, and the menu will be changed. She will eat the same food as the officials of the Ministry of Justice."
"Really!?"
Xu looked happy when she heard that.
The dishes for criminals were prepared with the minimum amount of nutrients apparently, so it must have been hard for Xu to swallow such food with her 'feast-trained taste buds'.
On the other hand, this incident might have made the lightly-seasoned food taste better for her.
Nothing was ever in vain.
Afterward, Yui Mei told Xu how she must spend her days from now on before leaving with Libin in tow.
The following day, Yui Mei rushed towards Doctor Chen's clinic.
"Doctor Chen, are you here~?"
Yui Mei called out as she entered the clinic. She found Chen resting while drinking tea.
"Here, have some of this first before we talk!"
Yui Mei handed the present she brought to Chen before getting down to business.
Sesame dumplings were inside 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