が後宮へやって来てから、半月が経った。
王美人の屋敷を掃除して以来、雨妹は掃除依頼が殺到して引っ張りだこだ。
――あの人、どんだけ仕事していないのよ。
それでも要掃除物件はだいたい一巡したようで、雨妹は一日中掃除するということはなくなり、今日はようやく昼過ぎに宿舎に帰れるようになった。
美娜が雨妹を愛称で呼びながら差し出す麻花とは、中国版かりんとうのようなもので、甘くてサクッとして美味しい。
辺境では甘いものは贅沢品なのだ。
の尻拭いをさせられてさ」
美娜がそう言って雨妹の頭を撫でた。
自分でもそうかなと思っていたが、他人からも尻拭いに見えていたらしい。
「あの人、なんでしょっぱなから喧嘩腰だったんですか?」
この素朴な疑問に、美娜が笑いながら説明する。
梅は国の各地から集められる宮女の中でも、ここ梗の都の生まれであるらしい。
――なるほど、それで「田舎者のくせに」か。
どうやら宮女の間にもヒエラルキーがあるようだ。
それでもあまりに仕事をしないと叱られるので、どうでもいい場所を手抜き掃除する程度はしているという。
「でも未だに陛下のお声がかからないんで、焦っているんだろうねぇ」
皇帝の妻である女たちに下っ端宮女が対抗するには、珍しい特技を持っているなら話は別だが、そうでなければ若さ溢れる肉体で勝負するしかない。
――たぶん、皇帝の好みと外れているんじゃないの?
梅の野望が叶っていない理由を、雨妹はそう分析する。
上位の妃嬪や皇后の姿を見たことないが、少なくとも掃除先で出会った妃嬪たちの容姿は皆華やかというより、おしとやかというか、穏やかというか、正直に言うならば地味であった。
後宮の顔というべき皇后や上級の妃嬪は美しい女を揃えているのかもしれないが、もしや皇帝の本当の好みは地味顔か、と雨妹は密かに思っている。
雨妹はずっと誰かに聞こうと思っていても、朝から日暮れまで掃除していたせいで、聞けずにいたことを口にした。
「美娜さん、医局ってどこですかね?」
医局とは後宮勤めの医者の常駐する所だ。
医局の医者の仕事は後宮の宮女や宦官、女官、下級の妃嬪たちを診ることで、皇帝や皇后、上級妃嬪などは皇帝の侍医が診ているのだが。
「なんだい、具合が悪いのかい?」
雨妹の唐突な質問に、美娜が眉をひそめる。
「違います、工用酒精が欲しいんです」
工用酒精とは工業用アルコールのことである。
そう、雨妹はアルコール消毒液を作りたいのだ。
「まさか、飲みたいのかい?」
「違います、ちょっと掃除に使いたいんです」
胡乱気な視線を向けて来る美娜に、飲兵衛だと思われたくないのできっちりと言っておく。
Half a month had passed since Yui Mei entered the Inner Palace.
She had been very busy since the day she cleaned Lady Wang's residence, as she was flooded with requests continuously. Apparently, the other concubines heard about her from Lady Wang. Those jobs had something in common; they were all under the responsibility of Li Mei, her 'supervisor'.
'That person isn't working at all.'
Fortunately, Yui Mei already completed a round of cleaning in those residences, so she no longer spent the whole day working. Today, she even managed to return to the quarters just past noon. Yui Mei finished her work, so she was carrying her tools as she walked, when a court lady beckoned her. It was the woman who was resting at the garbage dumping site on Yui Mei's first day.
Mei Na used a pet name to call Yui Mei as she handed the ma hua to her. It was China's version of karinto, and they were sweet and deliciously crunchy. Yui Mei frequently bought it from food stalls in China, but she had never tried it in this world. Sweets were luxuries in the countryside.
"Hmm! So sweet, so yummy!"
"Aren't you unlucky, having to clean after Mei's mess."
Mei Na stroked Yui Mei's head as she said that.
Yui Mei already thought that she was carrying the can for Li Mei, but she didn't expect others to see it that way, too.
"Why is she so belligerent towards me, and right off the bat, too?"
Mei Na laughed as she explained the answer to Yui Mei's naive question.
Mei was born in the city of Kyou. The other court ladies didn't mind, but those who were born in the capital were inclined to be haughty, and to throw their weight around.
'Oh, so that's why she said that I'm JUST a country bumpkin.'
So there was a hierarchy among the court-ladies, too. Rather than working, Li Mei's true intention in becoming a court lady was to be promoted and enter the ranks of the concubines. That was the reason why she didn't bother doing any work, and spent all her time polishing her beauty. Cleaning Lady Wang's residence was also her responsibility, but she kept on ignoring it. Apparently, she can't forgive the fact that a person, who was not as beautiful as her, actually became a concubine. She also neglected several residences just for that reason.
Apparently, it was all due to Li Mei's envy. But she'd be scolded if she didn't work, so she just haphazardly looked for places to clean, then did her job while cutting corners.
"But the emperor hasn't noticed her even until now, so she might be frantic."
A court lady must possess considerable skills in order to compete with the imperial wives, but if that was not the case, then she could only rely on her youth as her advantage. Li Mei, who had no special skills to show-off, was already approaching half-past her twenties, so her time was running out. Thus, she made herself disagreeable toward the concubines with low status. Her courage knew no bounds.
'Maybe she's not the emperor's type?'
Yui Mei tried to analyze why Li Mei's ambition was not realized. Men have different strokes for different folks regarding women. Beauty was not a guarantee to a man's heart. Even in her past life in Japan, there was a woman who was unexpectedly popular despite being on the plump side.
Yui Mei had not seen the empress or the higher-ranked consorts. However, based on the concubines who lived in the residences she cleaned, rather than being ostentatious, they were mostly tranquil, or gentle. Basically, they were all homely.
Only the most beautiful women should have been selected for the positions of empress and higher consorts, since they represented the Inner Palace. However, perhaps the emperor's true preference was women who were plain - Yui Mei secretly thought so.
Yui Mei decided to set aside Li Mei's affairs. She had long wanted to ask someone about a particular matter, but she wasn't able to, since she was previously busy cleaning until sunset every day.
"Mei Na, where is the clinic?"
This clinic was where the exclusive physicians of the Inner Palace permanently stayed.
The clinic physicians were in charge of the Inner Palace's court ladies, eunuchs, concubines, and the low-ranking consorts. The emperor, empress and high-ranking consorts were examined by the imperial court physician.
"Why, are you feeling sick?"
Mei Na puckered her eyebrows at Yui Mei's abrupt question.
"No, I just want some utility-grade sake."
Utility-grade sake was just another term for industrial alcohol.
Indeed, Yui Mei wanted to create an alcohol-based sanitizer, and she needed the utility-grade sake for that. If there was anyone who uses industrial alcohol, then that would be a physician.
"Don't tell me you want to drink it?"
"No, you're mistaken. I just want to use it for cleaning."
Yui Mei explained honestly under Mei Na's suspicious gaze; she didn't want her to think that she was an alcoholic. Nevertheless, the desire to drink industrial alcohol was a symptom of an end-stage addiction. She was definitely out of that category.
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