Volume 7, Chapter 26: Kanzashi Thief Latter Part (Volume End) (1/2)
It may not be entirely correct to say the mystery has been solved, but Maomao has figured out how the kanzashi was lost.
However–
(This is problematic in and of itself.)
By comparing the information gleaned from Infa with her own guess, it could only head in a fishy direction.
She wanted to give Empress Gyokuyou a peace of mind, but should she tell the truth?
While she was lost in thought, morning came around.
Rubbing her eyes, Maomao looked at the kanzashi.
Given that she had asked Infa about this and that, Maomao had no choice but to say it.
“Maomao, let’s have breakfast!”
Infa quickly showed up.
Maomao took up her offer. Gui’en and Airan were also at the breakfast area. Gui’en had the same gentle demeanour, and gained a bit of weight. Did Airan grow a little taller—her gaze was higher than before. Maomao, who was short, envied Airan’s height.
Maomao also smiled a little at the nostalgic gathering.
“I made the breakfast fancy and added dried abalone!”
““Ooooh!””
Maomao found herself clapping along. Could it have been pinched from the ingredients for Empress Gyokuyou’s night meal?
It was a simple meal consisting of good soup stock with a tiny bit of salt, but it was delicious, with the ingredients being what they are. The rice was also first class—as expected of being part of the empress’ entourage, the maids’ meals have also risen in ranking.
As the four people chatted, Maomao looked around.
“What is it?” Gui’en asked Maomao, who looked unsettled.
“No, are the others eating a good breakfast?”
Alongside Haku’u and two others, the number of maids should have increased when Gyokuyou became Empress.
“Yeah, Haku’u-san and the others are eating elsewhere. The other maids don’t eat here.”
“Yup, I want to get closer to them but those three are diligent.”
(I think only the three of you are laidback.)
That’s why they’re easy to get along with, though.
Infa’s group had been around longer with Empress Gyokuyou in the inner palace as maids. However, they probably affixed an honorific title to Haku’u and the others since the latter were acquainted with Empress Gyokuyou from the start.
As the head maid, Honnyan stood at the top, but for some reason, in terms of standing, Maomao couldn’t help feeling that Haku’u was higher up than Infa’s group.
“Hey, Maomao, you still haven’t figured out who the culprit is?” Infa asked her.
“–there’s a difficult part,” Maomao replied vaguely.
The three girls’ expressions fell.
“If you haven’t figured it out, Maomao, you can come back here again. It might be difficult for you to compound medicine and the like, but if we provide a reason, we can get permission.”
“That’s right. There are many more rooms here than at the Jade Palace. A lot of cooking stoves as well.”
“I think we can also get our hands on imported medicines.”
(Imported!)
She found herself falling for it. Not good, not good.
Maomao drank some tea, calming herself. “Currently, my adoptive father and the other court physicians are teaching me the work. It’ll also inconvenience the other colleagues. There’s no way I can easily change my job.”
She understood that working at Empress Gyokuyou’s place also has its charms. However, by heading to the empress’ side, in a different meaning, it wouldn’t work with various adjustments.
(Like that weirdo.)
The monocle tactician might show up at the empress’ place. That man might only see it as that he’s visiting Maomao, but other people will take it differently.
Empress Gyokuyou probably isn’t oblivious to the relation Maomao has with the weirdo tactician now.
(I only see him as a complete stranger.)
Maomao honestly wondered if she was actually the child of a different male customer. That’s what she wanted to believe. But the chances are low.
It would be less troublesome if Empress Gyokuyou saw Maomao as a pawn, but the woman valued Maomao’s abilities.
(I can’t flat out refuse her.)
Moreover, Infa and other’s gazes were painful.
As she wondered how she could struggle through it, a woman with a red hair cord showed up. She looked very similar to Haku’u, but a little younger.
“What is it, Seki’u?”
If Maomao remembered correctly, Seki’u was the same age as her. Haku’u’s younger sister, the youngest of the three sisters; unlike Haku’u, Seki’u seemed to speak casually.
“Empress Gyokuyou is calling for Maomao.”
Maomao picked up her finished bowl at the frank reply.
“Ahhh, we’ll clear it away later, so leave it.”
Going along with Gui’en’s words, Maomao left it as it is.
“We’re waiting for a good answer—”
Bowing once at the three people who were waving their hands, Maomao headed to where Empress’ Gyokuyou was.
.
.
.
In the empress’ room was Honnyan, Haku’u, the imperial princess, and the crown prince.
The imperial princess was showing toys to the crawling crown prince. Was she meaning to pacify him?
Noticing Maomao’s arrival, Haku’u picked up the crown prince. “Seki’u, the Imperial Princess.”
“Understood.” Seki’u, who had guided Maomao in, took Imperial Princess Rinrii’s hand.
“Play more.”
Was she two years old? It seems the imperial princess can say words. However, she regarded Maomao as if seeing an unfamiliar face, apparently not remembering her.
Feeling a little lonely, Maomao waved her hand lightly. Can’t be helped.
Haku’u also made to leave the room with the baby in her arms. Maomao inadvertently grabbed her sleeves.
“What is it?”
Although they met before, they didn’t have much contact. Haku’u looked a little stiff at the rude gesture.
“Can you stay here?” Maomao asked.
“Why?”
“I think I want you to listen to the discussion together.”
Haku’u’s expression was unchanged.
Honnyan went out to the hallway and called Airan, who had showed up nearby, to a stop. “Look after him.”
The crown prince was transferred from Haku’u to Airan. The crown prince laughed as he tugged Airan’s hair. Airan smiled wryly as she took him away.
“Maomao, what’s this discussion about?”
Empress Gyokuyou and Honnyan didn’t comment on the fact that Haku’u had remained. Apparently, they wanted the discussion to proceed quickly.
“It’s about this.” Maomao took out the kanzashi that had been entrusted to her.
“Did you figure out who the culprit is?” Gyokuyou asked.
“I don’t know the answer to that. As to why the kanzashi turned black, and whether the stone inside is missing, I believe I have an explanation for those two things.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” Maomao took out the sketch Infa had drawn for her last night. “Empress Gyokuyou, you headed to the palace to change your dress, right? And whilst doing that, you noticed the kanzashi was missing.”
“That’s right. We were short on time, so changing clothes took precedence over looking for it.”
(I knew it.)
They didn’t make a commotion when the kanzashi went missing.
“You thought you dropped it, right?”
“Yes. Since we were in a hurry. I thought I dropped it along the way when my head collided with the tree branches.”
“…could it be, around here?” Maomao pointed at the sketch.
“Yes, that’s right. There was a pallet at my side. To avoid it, I came into contact with a tree branch.”
Pallet, in other words, where the pot was?
Maomao glanced at Haku’u. Her expression was unchanged.
(Was I wrong?)
But, it would faster to explain with her here.
“Frankly speaking, I wondering if this kanzashi was dropped rather than stolen.” Maomao said.
“…what do you mean?”
“Exactly what I said. Empress Gyokyou is worried that ‘the kanzashi has been stolen without your knowledge and then returned as a threat, correct?”
The kanzashi was blackened and missing the stone inside it, as if threatening the owner with the same fate. The darkened silver suggested poisoning.
“As to why the kanzashi was blackened and why the stone is missing, if there was no malicious intent, will Empress Gyokuyou gain a peace of mind?”
“…my.”
“Also, Empress Gyokyou, do you have an idea about why the stone disappeared?”
Empress Gyokuyou twirled the ends of her hair. Her eyes wandered.
“Please explain it already. Why is the stone in the kanzashi missing?” Honnyan said.
“Empress Gyokuyou. Do you still have the rock?”