191話 宮妓、建青
「やはりお前か、その声は間違わないわ!」
例の宮妓はそう叫びながら掴んだ部分をガタガタと揺らし、窓を壊してこちら側に抜けようとしているように見える。
「なにをしておるか、大人しくせよ!」
しかしすぐに追いかけてきた官吏たちに捕まってしまい、窓から引きずり離される。
「はなせ、離せぇ!」
どうやら建青というのが、彼女の名前らしい。
「ここは安全な場所ではなかったのか?」
その様子を見ていた
「えっと、こちらの様子はあちらから見えなかったはずなんですが、どうして......!?」
驚愕の表情を浮かべた彼の話だと、どうやら建を移動させる動線と徐の居場所を分けていたはずなのに、移動の途中で建がどういうわけか、こちらに徐がいることを察して脱走したようだ。
これを聞いた立彬が、「ふ~む」と顎を撫でる。
「あの言い方だと、もしやこちらの声が風に乗って聞こえたのではないか?
それにしても、どうして官吏たちは建を逃がしてしまったのだろう? あれほど弱った彼女に、官吏たちを振りほどける力が残っているとは思えないのだが。
雨妹が不思議に思って彼女の背後に注意を向けると、なんだか大騒ぎでバタバタしている音が聞こえてきて、うめき声が聞こえてくる。
「あちらは、なにかあったんですかね?」
「おだやかじゃねぇなぁ」
「おまえぇ......! お前のせいで!」
そう喚く彼女は、前に見た時とはさらに容貌が変わっていた。
青白くやせ細った身体に目だけがギョロギョロしていて、まるで幽鬼のようだ。
――日数からして、あの人からそろそろケシ汁の影響が抜けてもいい頃なんだけど。
それにしては、未だにケシ汁の影響が建を支配しているように見受けられる。
もし元々がああいう性格だったのであれば、危険人物とみなされてそもそも宮妓になれていないはずだ。
徐の話から推測するに、建のケシ汁使用は長期であるようだが、彼女がケシ汁に影響されやすい体質だったのか、一度に使用する量が多かったのか、とにかくいまだケシ汁の症状が彼女を襲っているようだ。
「お前が私を嵌めたのでしょう、自分が落ちぶれたからって、私に嫉妬したんだ!
叫び続ける建にもう喋らせまいと、官吏たちがその口に布を噛ませようとしているが、暴れるせいで上手くいかないでいる。
どうも対応している官吏が暴れる相手を拘束することに慣れていないからだろう、建を上手く抑えられないでいるのだ。
――慣れている人になにかあったのかな?
犯罪者を扱うのが日常の刑部の官吏が、拘束術に慣れていないのはおかしなことだ。
よく見れば建を押さえているのは若者だった。
雨妹たちの見張り役の彼よりは年上だろうが、それでもとっさの事態を収めるにはまだ力不足であろう。
「あの、お気になさらず。
徐は彼の言葉を聞くと「そうなのかい」と呟き、建が見える窓に一歩近づいた。
「あ、危険ですので近くには......!」
「大丈夫、ここまでだ。
Chapter 191: Courtesan Jian Qing
"So it's really you, there's no mistaking that voice!"
The said courtesan shrieked while shaking the window. It seemed that she wanted to break the window to get to where Yui Mei's group were.
"What are you doing! Calm down!"
The officials came running soon after. They captured her and tried to pry her away from the window.
"Let go, I said let go!"
The woman's name was Jian Qing, apparently.
"Isn't this place supposed to be safe?"
Libin unwittingly grumbled as he watched the situation, and blood drained from the escort's face.
"Er, she shouldn't be able to see us here, so why...!?"
Based on what the frightened lad said, it seemed that Jian's route had been purposely been set away from where Xu was, but for some reason, she still managed to sense where Xu was and had broken free from her escorts to rush to her.
Libin rubbed his chin in thought.
"Judging from what she said, maybe she heard our voices from over here? That's a good ear she has then, if that's the case. Perhaps it's to be expected of a musician, but still, what a waste of talent."
Still, why did the officials let Jian escape? She's already that weak, so there's no way she could've put up a fight against those officials.
Yui Mei wondered about it as she paid attention to the place beyond the woman. It seemed that there was a ruckus, and the groans and the sound of several footsteps running around could be heard.
"What happened over there?"
"They're definitely not calm."
"Youuuu...! It's because of you!!"
The babbling woman looked different from when they saw her last.
She looked like a ghoul with her pale and witheringly thin body, and her bright eyes that were glaring at them.
'It's been a few days, so the effects of the poppy juice should be more obvious by now.'
It seemed that the poppy juice's effects had already manifested in Jian.
If that was her original disposition and personality, she would be treated as a dangerous person, and there would be no way that she could be admitted to the Jiaofang.
From what Xu said, Jian had already been consuming poppy juice for a long time. However, they could see that she was suffering from the symptoms of poppy juice consumption, either because she had a constitution that was easily affected by poppy juice, or she had taken a huge dose in one sitting.
"You're the one who framed me, you're just jealous of me because you fell so low! I'm the number one player here, but the elders don't summon me anymore!"
The officials tried to stuff her mouth with a cloth to stop her from talking, but they were having a hard time because she had been struggling violently.
They seemed to be inexperienced in dealing with berserk people because they couldn't suppress her well.
'Did something happen to the people who are used to dealing with this kind of situation?'
The officials stationed in the penitentiary should be dealing with criminals on a daily basis, so it was strange that they weren't familiar with restraining techniques.
Upon closer look, it seemed that the people holding Jian were young men.
They were probably older than the lad guiding Yui Mei's group, but they were still lacking when it came to handling situations at a moment's notice.
"Ahm, please don't mind it. That person spouts out abuse round the clock, making the officials be fed up with her."
Xu muttered after hearing the lad's words, then she took a step closer towards the window where they could see Jiang.
"Ah, don't come closer, it's dangerous...!"
"It's fine, it's only up to here. I just want to say something to her."
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