Gyokuyou apparently had four children.
They came in order: eldest son, eldest daughter, second son, and third son. The eldest son was twenty-five, the eldest daughter twenty-four, and the second son twenty-three — born in consecutive years — while the third son was a bit further apart at eighteen.
Jinshi had the third son sent to him, probably considering the age difference.
(Even if he was used to it, having someone older as a subordinate was awkward.)
It was reasonable enough, so Maomao didn't think much of it.
She hadn't directly greeted the second and third sons, but they had crossed paths a few times.
(Neither of them looked much like Gyokuyou.)
The third son was small and gave off a gentle impression. Being two years younger than Maomao, his features still retained a childlike quality.
Korou was an imposing name that didn't match his appearance.
The second son was tall but gave a lanky, elongated impression. His gaze was sharp and left no opening. Once again, Hiryuu was a bold, heroic name he had been given.
Jinshi had been stuck with the work from the western capital, and on top of that, he was apparently being made to do something like successor education for the western capital.
It was tough, to say the least, but Maomao was just as swamped with her new job.
"Oooooohhhhhh."
Maomao's eyes sparkled as she observed the greenhouse. It was a building combining brick and wood, with parts of the ceiling and walls made of transparent glass so that sunlight could reach inside. Rare exotic succulents and cucumbers were being cultivated there.
"It's Lord Gyokuen's favorite — thinly sliced...
Bread served sandwiched in it."
The one carefully explaining was the gardener put in charge of the greenhouse.
Honestly, such explanations were of no consequence.
Maomao was savoring the wonderful greenhouse air with her entire body.
"Maomao-san, you're dancing out there."
"Miss, you're in public, so tone it down."
Suzume and Rihaku watched with lukewarm eyes.
Maomao briskly pulled scissors from her bosom.
"
Cucumber ~ , cucumber leaves ~ , cucumber vines ~"
The moment she reached for cucumber stems while singing— "What do you intend to do?"
The gardener, smiling but with veins bulging at his temples, had grabbed Maomao's hand.
"I was thinking cucumbers were no longer needed for the season."
"They can still be harvested."
"The leaves and stems, and of course the fruit, can be used as medicinal herbs."
"These are for eating."
"Right now, the Western Capital is in an unprecedented crisis.
Shouldn't we cooperate to resolve the shortage of medicinal herbs?"
"I believe I've been granted permission to use the greenhouse, but was I ever told I could freely harvest plants that were already growing here?"
"The cucumbers are near the end of their season anyway, and the fruit has almost no nutritional value. Wouldn't it be fitting to use them as medicinal ingredients?"
Maomao and the gardener glared at each other.
After a brief standoff, Suzume fetched the gardener's superior. After much deliberation, Maomao agreed to harvest only one-third of the cucumbers for medicinal use. The gardener glared at her resentfully, all the while crafting a sign to prohibit entry, determined not to let her lay a hand on the succulents.
"What kind of medicine do they make?"
Picking the fruit, leaves, and stems, Ri Hakuhaku asked Maomao.
"They're often used for fevers, among other things. They also help with food poisoning and have a diuretic effect. They can serve as an ingredient for emetics as well."
"Emetics? When would you ever use those?"
"When someone's ingested a lethal dose of poison, for instance."
"Nobody'd drink that normally."
The cucumber was stripped bare — fruit, leaves, stems, and vines all harvested — then yanked out root and all until the plot was completely bare ground. The older gardener glared at Maomao as though she were his mortal enemy, but she paid him no mind.
"Even if you turn it into bare ground, what are you going to plant?"
"Well, to start, I'm thinking of planting every type of seed I have on hand. There's no telling which medicinal herbs will thrive in the greenhouse, so I'd like to assess what grows well and go from there."
"Every type? Won't you run out of space?"
"Mm. If we clear out that cucumber patch over there, there should be plenty of room."
Maomao once again exchanged sparks with the older gardener.
"Maomao! Maomao!"
"What is it, Suzume?"
Suzume had apparently spotted something — she was pressed against the glass set into the wall, peering outside.
"Is it all right if I go see that chapel?"
"Chapel?"
Maomao looked in the direction Suzume was pointing.
There stood a distinctive building in the Western style.
Like the residences, the Western Capital contained buildings of Western design. Many of them were religious in nature.
Intrigued, Maomao followed Suzume. She had heard that a chapel was something like a temple. The chapel they arrived at turned out to be a simple, single hexagonal room. However, Stained Glass Painted images decorated the windows, illuminated by sunlight streaming through. The floor was plain, but the shimmering play of light created an indescribable, wondrous atmosphere.
Suzume settled down in the middle of the chapel and began murmuring something under her breath.
Maomao sat down beside her without understanding what was going on. She waited in silence until Suzume finished her muttering. Li Bai was waiting outside, as the chapel was too small for him.
"Ahh."
"Suzume, what was that just now?"
"That? It's an old phrase from a foreign land. It means, 'God, are you watching over us?'"
"I... don't understand the meaning. What is that, exactly?"
"A passage from a foreign scripture. The Western Capital has many devout believers, so if you weave lines from the sacred texts into conversation smoothly, it makes doing business much easier."
Suzume pulled writing utensils from inside her robe and began writing something with a flowing hand.
"Here, Maomao, take this. It sounds like you'll be living in the Western Capital for a while, so you might as well learn it while you can."
"I don't need to learn it."
"No, no. You really should know this one. Ready now?"
*'God, are you watching over us?'* *'Kamyoo, watachchi no miyutemashooka?'* Despite repeating exactly what Suzume had written, Maomao's pronunciation was apparently off.
"Hmm, it sounds like an infant babbling. Try again."
"I told you, it's fine."
"No, no, this is a rare opportunity. You should learn it."
For Suzume, this was unusually persistent.
After repeating the phrase several times and achieving a pronunciation that was at least somewhat passable, Maomao was finally released.
"Now then, I'll be quizzing you on this without warning, okay?"
"Sure, sure."
Maomao regretted tagging along. She should have known this would happen.
"For now, let's go get something to eat, Suzume."
Maomao spoke of food the way a hungry sparrow would dart at a meal. Suzume often ate with Maomao to avoid being bullied by the senior wife, so she sprang into action immediately.
"That's right. The doctor must be hungry too. Actually, how is the doctor managing for a restroom?"
Suzume posed her straightforward question.
"When I'm around, I take him to the privy, but—"
"I brought a chamber pot along, so it should be fine. It's designed for women, so it ought to work."
Maomao answered smoothly.
"I'm starting to feel sorry for the kid. Let's head back soon."
Li Bai quickened his stride.
Two guards stood in front of the medical office, and voices could be heard from inside.
(Is there a patient?)
"We've just returned."
Inside, a young man was chatting with the quack doctor.
(This person.)
He was a small-statured young man wearing a carefree smile.
"Welcome back, ladies. We've got ourselves a visitor."
The quack doctor answered, keeping his injured leg propped on a chair.
"Pardon the intrusion."
Rising from his chair and offering a deep, courteous bow was Yùyīng's third son.
"My apologies for the late introduction. I have been assigned to serve under Lady Moon. My name is Yang Huláng."
Yang Huláng bowed so politely that Maomao found herself bowing deeply in return.
"I am terribly sorry that my nephew injured the doctor. He is still quite young, and as the first grandchild on his father's side, he has been spoiled rotten. Please direct any punishment toward me, and I humbly ask that you show the boy mercy."
(Who on earth is this person?)
He hardly seemed like Yùyīng's son.
His deference was the kind that could only come from someone who had spent decades caught between superiors and subordinates.
"Huláng was kind enough to bring us sweets. It's so hard to come by sweets these days. What a kindness."
The quack doctor held up a steamer basket filled with buns.
"Well then, I should be heading back to work."
"Oh, stay a while longer, won't you? You're still young — you ought to take your break nice and slow."
"No, sir. I was told to go and study properly under Lady Tsukihime. I intend to do everything I can to catch up with my brothers, so I humbly ask for your continued support going forward."
Kororo bowed deeply and took her leave.
"...She really doesn't live up to her name, does she?"
Maomao found herself in complete agreement with what Li Bai had muttered.