"
Maomao
,
Kushi
is finally eating like a normal person now. Once she was able to eat properly, she calmed down considerably—from a stray dog into a puppy in the middle of being trained.
At first, I thought you'd saddled me with a real handful, but she seems docile enough as long as she eats properly. Then again, she's eating meals that Yao made with her own hands, so perhaps that's only natural.
Recently she's even started cooking, not just using a kitchen knife, though personally I think I should just make all her meals for her.
Also, Yao has finally become positive about moving and is currently looking for a place. Given Kushi's situation, after the new year, and considering the security angle as well,
Luomen
's residence—I don't think we'll be moving away from it, but this is a big step forward.
Once the new place has been decided, I'll report back again.
En'en
, from"
En'en is the same as ever, but Maomao can't help but think.
It's Yao who wants to strike out on her own. She'll probably ask En'en to come along when she finds a new place.
"Maomao—
It's been a while! You helped me find this job, so I figured I'd send along at least one letter.
Yeah, the site is pretty rough. Everyone in the village keeps shouting about wanting to leave, and it's not exactly the kind of place people are lining up to come to.
Yu
is doing fine, you ask? Yeah, she's managing, so I'm sending her back for a visit. She says she still wants to keep going, but spending the New Year with family for a bit shouldn't be a problem.
The old
imperial physician, was it? That man is incredible. He was all for sending Yu back for a visit—he's a wonderfully understanding old man.
So when Yu gets back, I'm counting on you. Don't send her back here unless you think she's up for it. I'm planning to come back for a visit too, so I'll need a place to stay and all that. The imperial physicians should cover that as necessary expenses, right?
One more question—do you know of any place near the capital where they raise a lot of cattle and horses?
From Keyong
"So Yu and Keyong are coming back?
It must have been grueling work for Yu. As Keyong says, they'll need to stay in the capital until they've fully recovered.
Still, what's this business about cattle and horses? Keyong's note says to introduce them to somewhere around Koumeikan and that should settle it.
"Maomao, Maomao!
Would you believe
Sparrow
has a special product recommendation for you~!
Come, come, take a look—this is an introduction to each of the
tools
that Sparrow used to snag herself a husband! It even comes with nice, clear illustrations—"
Maomao didn't even finish reading before tearing it to shreds and tossing it into the brazier.
"My dear sister,
You took in, on Lord Tsuki's orders,
the daughter of Lord
Hao—which was fine enough, but to think you're involved in this...
What a waste, with such a beautiful face. She may not be enough to topple a kingdom, but with good family standing and a basic education, she could have made it as a mid-ranking consort.
Shikishi stands about eight sun below the average for girls her age, and her weight keeps climbing—but that's still not the whole of it.
And as for her speech—she seems to have had remarkably little contact with the outside world. Even for a sheltered young lady, if her mother or nursemaid had spoken to her properly, her language skills would have developed more.
Ha ha ha—it seems the mother treated her daughter like a doll or a pet. Truly unpleasant. A child without education is no different from a beast.
I know about Lord Hao. I heard a rumor the other day that he'd incurred the Emperor's wrath. That's probably true—he's just the sort who'd do that.
Even being a relative of the Dowager Empress, he's a handful. What a waste of that youthful, handsome face.
Ah, his three sons have refined features inherited from their father, but they'd be more suited as adopted sons-in-law, I'd say. Their personalities aren't like his—they're skilled at supporting roles and don't seek the spotlight.
That's what I'd heard, but...
I'd been hearing all sorts of rumors, but this has really driven home that I need to look into things properly."
The third son of Lord Go keeps coming by the house. He says he's visiting his sister, and he brings cow's milk every single time. Koki seems happy the third son visits too, wagging her tail like a dog.
He dotes on her, saying things like "She's so clever," but he's clearly just playing favorites with his own family. His eyes are completely glazed over.
I want to tell him that if it's come to this, he should have been feeding her properly from the start, but well, it's not my place to meddle in someone else's household. And our own house isn't exactly in a position to go criticizing others.
When I tried to gently suggest that he not visit so often, my brother started handing out the vegetables he'd grown, and in return he gets cow's milk. On top of that, since he learned the technique in the Western Capital, he's even started making cheese. It's convenient having him around for various things, but I really wish he wouldn't expand the fields any further.
Also, Maomao, there's one favor I'd like to ask of you.
I've been having a great deal of trouble because of the affair you got involved in. So would you do me this one favor?
I've heard that you have some connection with wheat farmers and can procure wheat at a discount. Could you introduce me to them?
You see, the thing is, a ship carrying some wheat ran into various troubles and sank.
If you could just write me a single letter of introduction, that would be enough, and I'll consider the matter of Koki settled as if it never happened.
Rahan
—"
To Rahan:
No.
Maomao—
Maomao wrote her reply immediately.
"Maomao,
Are you eating properly? I'm eating well, so please don't worry about me.
Not only do I get three meals a day,
Yu'en
gives me dim sum every time. It's quite mysterious how he manages to prepare such a diverse array of dim sum.
Liu
told me that you've never had smallpox, so whatever you do, don't even think about going to the site.
Old Lou has medical skills that are by no means inferior to Liu's, and he makes solid decisions. Just leave everything to him.
If you were to catch smallpox, I would take responsibility and nurse you back to health. But at that point, I'd probably end up catching smallpox myself.
Also, it seems a daughter of Lord Go has come on the orders of the Moon Princess, but her visits will likely only be about once every half month or so.
They told me I'd be able to commute from the mansion to the Rear Palace every day, but it's just not possible right now. I can't leave Guen on her own, so I'm sorry about that.
— Luomen
The quack doctor's source of snacks really was a mystery. He was a Rear Palace physician who barely ever left the place, yet he somehow always had an abundant supply of snacks on hand. It was truly puzzling.
However, it was the kind of mystery that didn't need solving, so I set it aside.
As for why Luomen couldn't come home for so long, I figured it had less to do with the consorts' pregnancies and more to do with the subtle power plays between them.
The consorts were poisoning each other.
If something went wrong, a single quack doctor wouldn't be able to handle it.
To Maomao,
Hey, isn't Kokuyou coming back yet?
Huh? Huh?
He'll be back before the New Year, right?
With him gone, I'm anxious, I tell you. You want to know how down I am? The girls from Rokuseikan are coming around to comfort me — that's how bad it is.
All right? If Kokuyou comes back, let me know right away.
Oh, and another letter came, so I'm enclosing it.
Sazen
—
There was another letter inside. It was on rather plain paper, with no incense burned over it, and the handwriting was clumsy but careful.
To Maomao.
It's getting cold out.
I've been working hard at all sorts of things. Guess what? There are actually a lot of people who want to marry someone like me.
When I tell everyone I came from the Rear Palace, they all react. It really was an amazing place, wasn't it?
I'd like to visit Rokuseikan at least once, but with my salary, I'd have to save up for years. What a pain.
Well, that's all for now. If I get some nice paper again, I'll write another letter.
Xiaolan
—
"...That's why — write down where you live, will you? I can't exactly write back, you know."
Maomao slipped the letter into the writing box.