The blazing sun was supposedly still spring, yet it surpassed the midsummer heat of the capital. Even the carriage ride had been hell, so those who had followed on foot must have endured a truly scorching inferno.
As soon as they arrived in the Western Capital,
Suzume
had said, the medical officers were gathered.
"Well, this is about everyone. I'll have you split into three groups and stand by."
Officer Yang
announced that the medical officers would again be divided and assigned to various palases. Maomao assumed they would split up the same way as on the ship — but—
"Huh? I'm with this group?"
The one tilting his head was
Tenyū.
He had been grouped with Officer Yang and one other mid-rank medical officer, with the remaining officers forming yet another group. In other words, he would be together with Yabu and Maomao.
"I was sure
I'd be with Officer
Li."
Maomao felt the same. The other mid-rank medical officer's surname was apparently "Li," but that was yet another common name — so common, in fact, that it was hard to tell people apart, and they often had to call him by his given name as well.
Li Bai
would be a fine example.
"It's a comprehensive judgment. It's fine for you to stay with Officer Li, so long as you can manage proper speech. I hear you caused quite a scene during the voyage."
Apparently, he had been rude to a high-ranking official who came to the medical office. The palace Maomao and the others would be assigned to only had low-ranking staff, so although there were many people, it would be less stressful.
"Skill-wise, it works out. You're weak at compounding medicines, but your surgical technique stands out among all the new recruits. Have them teach you the parts you're lacking."
"..."
Maomao quietly glanced at the quack doctor.
"Teaching... I wonder if that's something I can really do?"
She fidgeted.
"Then I'll leave it to you."
Ten'yu clapped Maomao firmly on the shoulder.
"Make sure to take good care of them, okay?"
Maomao pushed the quack doctor forward. Yabu blushed bashfully and hid behind Maomao.
"Uncle, please take care of them."
"Um, nice to meet you."
Yabu was completely looked down upon, but he answered with a shy, good-natured smile.
"The location changes, but the work doesn't. A doctor's job is to examine patients — that's all! If anything comes up, each of you has been assigned a subordinate for relay purposes. Make sure to report in."
He was an easy-to-read superior, to say the least. She had expected someone adaptable given the change in location, but he really had the air of a man who worked in the field.
"Well then, shall we get moving?"
Ten'yu picked up the luggage. The place where Maomao and the others would be stationed was—
Gyokuen's
villa, apparently. There was also Gyokuen's main residence, and—
the official office.
Of the three, two belonging to Gyokuen spoke volumes about how powerful he was in the Western Capital. The official office and main residence were adjacent, while only the villa was about a five-minute walk away.
Right now, Maomao and the others were in a room in the main residence. It seemed they'd been given permission to use a well-appointed guest room as the medical office.
Either way, they were in the heart of the Western Capital, facing a main street. The reason they didn't hear much noise from outside was probably due to the sheer size of the main residence. Outer walls and trees had been arranged to block out the clamor.
In addition to Maomao and the other two, there was one officer assigned for communication. The four of them in total were led by a man who seemed to be a local.
"I'm getting all excited!"
If Yabu's mustache were still intact, it would have been bobbing up and down as he danced with glee. He was a timid eunuch, but right now his heart was racing with the hustle and bustle of the Western Capital.
Ten'yu, for his part, was busy darting his eyes around as well. His expression hadn't changed, though — rather than enjoying himself, he seemed to be appraising everything.
(He's kind of hard to figure out, this one.)
She couldn't tell what he was thinking. But she could tell he was the type to latch onto anything interesting. If she knew what Ten'yu found interesting, she might be able to imagine what he'd do next — but she had no idea what that was.
"Oh?"
At the entrance to the main residence, Ten'yu tilted his head.
She wondered what was going on, only to find a familiar face at the entrance. They seemed to have noticed her too, and began making their way toward Maomao and the others.
"It's been a while."
The one bowing respectfully was
Rukuson
, the eccentric strategist's former deputy. He was as refined-looking as ever, though slightly more tanned than before — no doubt from the strong western capital sun. Two or so attendants accompanied him, carrying what appeared to be documents.
"It's been a while."
"Hasn't it been a while~"
Ten'yu was the one who answered alongside Maomao. Only Yoen was peering at Maomao's face, silently mouthing, "Who is this person?"
*(So Ten'yu knows him?)*
She was only a medical apprentice, but she had been working there longer than Maomao. Since the infirmary was close to the military offices, it wouldn't be surprising for her to have crossed paths with him.
Maomao glanced at Ten'yu. She had greeted him, but she didn't seem particularly interested. Yoen, meanwhile, had no acquaintance with the man and was being her usual shy self. If they just
passed through
like that, it would be rude, so Maomao had no choice but to speak up.
"This is a medical officer. I've come to the western capital this time as this person's assistant."
"A medical officer?"
Rukuson tilted his head, looking at Yoen.
*(Um, what was Yoen's name again…)*
She was forgetting again. She was pretty sure
Yoen
, that it was Yoen.
"Guh…"
Just as she was about to blurt it out, Ten'yu stepped forward.
"She's quite well-known. If I say she was a senior medical officer who spent a long time in the Rear Palace, you'd know who I mean."
"Ah, so it's this person."
Rukuson clapped his hands in recognition.
Maomao wondered what was going on for a moment, but she quickly grasped Tenyu's intent.
(Yabu was Father's substitute.)
That was how he was being treated.
Had Tenyu reached the same conclusion as Maomao? If so, it would be preferable for the eunuch physician to be thought of not as Guyen, but—
Luomen.
—that was the better outcome.
And Rikuson certainly knew Luomen, the uncle of the eccentric strategist. With Tenyu's suggestive phrasing, he would have understood that Yabu was the only physician currently stationed in the rear palace.
(You never knew where eyes and ears might be lurking.)
Even though they were in the same country, the Western Capital was practically foreign territory. More importantly, both of Rikuson's attendants appeared to be locals. She needed to watch what she said.
Maomao had noticed her own blunder, but Tenyu seemed to have no intention of stepping in.
Maomao didn't have anything in particular to say either, so she decided to make a quick exit.
"Rikuson, you seem quite busy. I'm sorry to have taken up your time."
"Not at all. I was just coming back from an outing. Being cooped up in the office all day is dreary, so I make a point of getting out now and then."
He smiled pleasantly, but there was mud splattered on the hem of his clothes. It had dried, but the original color had been a dark, fertile black.
(Had he been out to a field or something?)
The Western Capital was arid, and puddles didn't form on the roadside. Even if they had, they would have been a paler, more nutrient-devoid color. The only place he could have picked up rich, dark mud like that would be an irrigated field.
In that case, he was returning from somewhere far off. Rather than a chance encounter, it was more likely he had timed his return to coincide with Maomao and the others arriving from the capital.
"Well then, I'll see you around. If we talk too long, my former superior might start taking an interest."
He seemed like he still had more to say, but Rikuson was probably busy too. Tenyu, who understood exactly whom the words "former superior" referred to, snickered to himself.
Since Yabu couldn't be brought into the conversation, he looked dejected the entire time. Left with no other choice, Maomao would have to explain the man called Rikuson along the way.
Maomao had plenty of things on her mind, but what came to mind were the words of Physician Yang.
(A doctor does only a doctor's work.)
An apothecary does only an apothecary's work.