Volume 3, Chapter 23: Mahua (1/2)

It was when the sounds of cricket became more conspicuous than cicadas.

As usual, Maomao was lazing about in the washing area. Close to the pool, just where there was sunlight filtering through the trees, was the place where the maidservants had designated as their chatting area. Amid the bit of hotness that still remained, the passing wind was refreshing.

Todays snacks were the mahua she had received from Consort Gyokuyou as leftovers. It was something that had a shape of twisted rope. It was a high-class item that had crunchy powdered sugar inside.

Hey, about the Consort-sama from Maomaos place.

As usual, Shaoran, who was speaking as she was crunching on it scrumptiously, was in the middle of chatting with Maomao.

Could it be that, she is unwell with something?

(I thought it was about time the subject would come up.)

Consort Gyokuyous abdomen has gotten so large that she was no longer able to hide it no matter how she tries. With the number of tea parties decreased, there must be people who paid attention to that she hasnt gone outside either. Even if they dont know about her pregnancy, there had to be those who think there was something about it thats disquieting.

Maomao displayed her tilting her head as she crunched on the mahua.

No one around them had noticed their conversation. Maomao took about another package of mahua from her bosom.

Eating?

Eating!

Maomao considered how she could cover it up as she looked at Shaoran who was stuffing her cheeks with snacks.

She recalled something fitting now what she thought it up.

You know about the ghost story meeting in the inner palace at night?

Ah, I know, I know! It seems something came out.

Gossip really is fast, Maomao admired.

I heard, the one who came out was the court lady who died here. She was already considerably old, but it seems there was a reason she couldnt leave.

It seems, she didnt know about the fine details of that part. Maomao thought it might be boorish to reveal it, she just nodded with sounds of agreement, when she saw a hand sneak out from the side for the mahua.

This looks delicious. Can I eat it?

Youre already eating it.

The one crunching on Maomaos snack was Shisui. Maomao was already full, so she gave the rest to her. Shisui raised her voice in happiness.

Shisuis attire today was duty robes, in other words, she was wearing the same washing duty garments as Shaoran.

(I wonder where she got that from.)

Since she is a court lady attached to Consort Rouran, her garments should have been supplied from elsewhere. However, it could be rude if she said that maidservant robes suited Shisui more for some reason.

So, ghost story?

That ghost story.

Shisui, who wasnt shy, very naturally inserted herself into the conversation. Shoran, who was the same, also took it naturally. What a difficult feat, Maomao admired.

Its the story of the court lady who died in the inner palace.

Its that. Its the court lady who wasnt able to get out of the inner palace in the end.

Eh? You know about it? What kind of story is it!?

Shisui mentioned what Maomao refrained from saying. Besides, it wasnt Shaoran who didnt get into it.

Lets see. It was said that she couldnt get out with the reason being that she became the previous emperors mistress, but it wasnt like that in truth.

Maomaos ears twitched, thinking, Huh? She tilted her head. For some reason, the story was a little different to what she had heard from Honnyan.

Shaoran stared at Shisui as she was chewing. Shisui put on airs, saying, How should I say this, and started the story.

Its a famous story though. The previous emperor had a bit of a problematic taste

He possessed no interest in any type of women. The empress, the empress dowager at the time, being exasperated, had rapidly enlarged the inner palace to see what kind of women he was interested in. And then, one day, it was said that she said this to a retainer.

Hand over your daughter.

A maiden that was well-known even in the capital as a peerless beauty.

It was everything he desired for the retainer, a good foothold for promotion. However, for his daughter, it was something unbearable.

She already had a betrothed, but she couldnt defy the empress orders, so she entered court with several maids.

Everyone leaked a sigh at her beauty. If it was like that, it was thought that the emperor would also be satisfied.

However.

The one he laid his hands on was a maid of hers. Moreover, it was an innocent eleven-year-old girl.

Hearing that, Shaorans face contorted.

Even Maomao, who has heard that story before, had a strong reaction against it.

The reason he didnt move his finger at the beauty, was because she was overgrown.

How much of her pride had been torn?

Afterwards, that maid was promoted. It was a short time when she even got her own palace. The emperor, who lost interested in the maid who then grew up laid his hands on a new court lady. Wherever it could have been heard of, it became that young girls were sent to the inner palace in succession.

The forgotten maid lived forsaken in the inner palace.

When the emperor passed away, she could leave the inner palace.

The outside wasnt the maids place to go. As she was embarrassed towards the master she serves, it was said that she passed her remaining years in the inner palace, without ever returning to her hometown.

It was said that she lived with just the trivial amusement of gathering scary stories as provisions.

And that was the story!

Even though she spoke in a gloomy tone up until now, Shisui finished it in a strangely casual note.