「それも、旅人から聞いたのか?」
黙って聞いていた
「そうです!」
雨妹が大きく頷き肯定するのに、陳がニヤリと口の端を上げる。
「そいつぁなかなかの知恵者だなぁ」
意味深な笑みを浮かべる陳に、雨妹は内心で「ひいっ」と悲鳴を漏らす。
――なんか、陳先生が怖いんだけど!?
なにかを察していそうではある陳だが、ここで押し負けたら駄目だ。
雨妹はニコニコ笑顔で誤魔化そうとしていると。
「そちらに医局の先生がおられるか!?」
前方からそんな声が響いてきて、見れば官吏が一人早足でやってきている。
「おお、いかにも私は医者だが」
陳がそちらに手を振りながら声を張り上げると、相手はホッとした表情をして、雨妹たちの前で立ち止まって息を整える。
「まだ帰っておられなくて助かった、実は収容者から粉らしきものをかけられた者が苦しんでおるのだが、どうか診てもらえぬか!?」
官吏から語られた内容に、雨妹と陳は顔を見合わせる。
――それって、もしかしてさっきの建さんの騒ぎのことかな?
陳もおそらくは同様のことを考えたのだろう、難しい顔をしている。
「そりゃあ大変だ、すぐに診てみよう」
「粉ですか、なんでしょうかね?」
陳が了承して雨妹が疑問を口にしたところで、
「アタシは部屋に戻るけど、戻るだけならこっちの坊やだけでいいだろう?」
「あっ、ハイ! 私がお戻りに付き添います!」
徐の言葉に、「坊や」呼ばわりされた彼がしゃんと背筋を伸ばして告げる。
「だからアンタも、とっととどこにでも行きなよ」
無関心を装いながら話す徐は、どうやら雨妹も陳について行くように促そうとしているらしい。
「......そうですか、ではここで失礼します。
雨妹がニコリと笑って別れの挨拶をするのに、徐は手を振って追いやるような仕草をする。
――思いやりの表し方が、ちょっとひねくれた人だなぁ。
それも徐のこれまでの苦労の表れだろうと思うと、雨妹としては切ない気持ちがよぎるが、今は彼女の言葉に甘えさせてもらう。
というわけで、雨妹も陳の助手としてついていくことになり、そうなるともちろん
陳を呼びに来た官吏についていくと、医務室のような部屋に通された。
聞けばこの部屋に医者が常駐しているわけではなく、治療に必要な道具がおいてあり、これを使って各自で手当てをするらしい。
そんな医者事情はともかくとして、その粉をかけられた患者である官吏の男の様子を見に行く。
その官吏には、立彬の同期のあの男が付き添っていた。
彼は雨妹たちを手招きして、患者を指し示す。
「あああ、ゴホッ!」
患者は痛みを堪えているらしくしゃがれた声を漏らしながら、たまに咳をしていた。
早速診察した陳がまず気にかけたのは、患者が涙を流していることだ。
最初は痛みを堪えているせいかと思ったのだが、どうやら違うらしい。
そして肌がところどころ軽い炎症を起こしている。
加えて、雨妹は患者からかすかに漂う香が気にかかった。
「陳先生、この香りって
じゃないですかね?」
雨妹は陳にそう述べる。
"Did you learn that from the traveller too?"
Chen had been quiet the whole time, but he abruptly asked Yui Mei.
"That's right!"
Yui Mei nodded vigorously, and Chen broke out into a wide grin.
"Hoh~ that's quite the wise man that guy is, isn't he."
He smirked meaningfully at Yui Mei, who then inwardly freaked out.
'Ack, Doctor Chen is kinda scary today!?'
He seemed as if he has an idea, but Yui Mei can't let herself be outdone at this point, so
she smiled widely in an attempt to gloss it over.
"Is the doctor with you!?"
Someone suddenly yelled a few paces in front of them. Upon closer look, it was a government official, and he was briskly walking towards them.
"Yeah, I'm the doctor."
Chen waved as he called out in reply. The man looked relieved, and he stopped in front of them.
"Thank goodness you haven't left yet. Actually, some of the inmates threw a powder-like substance at somebody, and he's writhing in pain. Can you please examine him!?"
Chen and Yui Mei exchanged glances after listening to him.
'Is that related to Miss Jiang's ruckus earlier, perhaps?'
Chen also thought the same, apparently, and he looked troubled.
"What a disaster, alright, let's go right away so I can check him."
"Powder, is it? Do you have any idea what it is?"
Chen agreed, and Yui Mei also posed her question, when Xu unexpectedly interjected.
"I'm going back to my room, and since it's just going back, it's fine even if the only one accompanying me is this little boy here, right?"
"Ah, yes! I will escort you back!"
When Xu called the warden 'little boy', he promptly straightened his back and replied energetically.
"Hear that, so you too, hurry up and go wherever you want."
Xu spoke with feigned indifference, but it was obvious that she was trying to encourage Yui Mei to go along with Chen.
"...Is that so, then please excuse us for today. Should you have any more concerns, please feel free to summon me anytime!"
Yui Mei beamed as she said goodbye, and yet Xu just waved her hand as if she was shooing her away.
'She's not honest in how she expresses consideration, huh.'
Yui Mei thought that it must be because of her experiences and hardships in the past. She fleetingly felt a pang of pain for Xu, but she decided to presume on the woman's consideration for now.
And so, Yui Mei also went with Chen as his assistant, and of course, Libin automatically tagged along.
They followed the government official that called Chen until they reached a room that looked like a clinic.
Apparently, the doctors did not stay permanently in this place. Only the necessary medical tools were placed here, and each person would just treat himself using them.
Setting the doctor's situation in this era aside, Yui Mei and her group hurried on to examine that patient that had been doused with powder. He was also an official, apparently.
When they arrived, they saw that he was accompanied by Libin's contemporary.
He beckoned towards Yui Mei's group before pointing to the patient.
"Ahhh,
The patient seemed to be desperately trying to endure the pain, crying out in a hoarse voice while occasionally wheezing.
Chen immediately set to work. The first thing that troubled him was that the patient was in tears.
Initially, he thought the patient was trying to endure the pain, but that didn't seem to be the case.
Moreover, the man's skin was slightly inflamed in several places.
Not only that, Yui Mei could also smell a faint odor wafting from the man.
"Doctor Chen, this scent -- isn't it
?"
Yui Mei said to Chen.
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