Volume 8, Chapter 19: Life on the Ship (1) (2/2)

For the time being, Maomao will be coming along, but she was feeling somewhat complicated.

Jinshi’s room was, compared to the other cabins, impossibly extravagant.

(Good ventilation. Spacious room too. Bright.)

Of course, it had the conditions attached with being at the top of the ship, but if it was this splendid, it must be comfortable—she thought as she studied the room she walked into.

“Come, this way.”

The composed voice of a woman.

(Voyages would be harsh for her age, and yet.)

However, the personnel selection suggested that there was no one else. It was the elderly attendant, Suiren.

With a prim look, Suiren let the quack doctor into the room, but the instant her eyes met with Maomao’s, her lips twisted into a smile.

(Much appreciated for the good work.)

There were two other attendants.

They gave the quack a cursory glance, then studied Maomao.

(As expected, he picked reliable people.)

Maomao felt that they grasped the situation with just a look. From their not suddenly baring their hostility alone, she felt an immensely favourable impression.

Was one of them in her forties? From her age, she might have been Jinshi’s wet nurse.

Was the other in her early twenties? She didn’t look much older than Maomao, but she was strangely serene. Honestly, it was difficult to classify her appearance as a beauty, but it can be said that her face was conversely calming among the commonplace beauties around Jinshi.

(She must be capable.)

For the imperial brother’s attendants, their faces were quite plain, but it was so much like JInshi. If En’en continued to remain by Jinshi’s side, would she be coming along on the voyage? Maomao thought as she went inside.

“E-excyuse meh.” The quack doctor immediately fumbled his words.

On the other side of the folding screen, awaited Jinshi on a chair. He had changed from what he had worn for his ritual and was now in relatively easy-to-move-in clothes.

“It’s been a while, Court Physician-dono. I’ll leave it to you now.” Jinshi put out his arm. Although the room smelled like incense, Jinshi seemed to be the greatest source of it.

Before the quack doctor, the sparkling Jinshi from his time in the inner palace was in full force.

(Even if this wasn’t the quack doctor, they’d be nervous.)

“Yesh,” the quack said.

Maomao looked to the side, thinking that his loach moustache would be quivering if he still had them.

Though it was called a doctor’s visit, it seemed it was just to ask questions and to check his pulse.

(They don’t have much expectation towards the quack, huh.)

Suiren seemed quite practised, so even if there wasn’t the quack’s doctor’s visit, health management would be sound.

For now, Maomao looked around to see if there wasn’t anything strange.

“N-no problems in particyular.” The quack doctor fumbled at the end.

“Excuse me. I’ll leave it to you every day from now on,” Jinshi said.

“Yesh.” The quack doctor packed away the tools he usually brought but never used.

Jinshi looked at the quack doctor again. When the quack doctor looked up, his sparkles intensified.

(What, is, this?)

“Court Physician-dono. You shaved your moustache. It suits you.”

The quack doctor’s heart thumped. She could see something warm and fluffy around him.

“I feel apologetic to have made Court Physician-dono come on this expedition when you’re supposed to be an inner palace court physician. However, this is an important duty. I’ll be delighted if you can accompany me all the way to the end.”

“O-of course.” The quack’s eyes dampened. He looked like he trusted Jinshi with all his heart.

It looked like nothing but a farce to Maomao. The attendants with Suiren included also turned apathetic. However, it was more important to have the quack believe in it.

“The fact that Court Physician-dono is a eunuch is known by everyone. I want you to tell me if you have any drawbacks by being a eunuch.”

“Y-yes.” The quack’s eyes welled up with tears. His cheeks were flushed and there were roses on his back.

“Also…” With sad eyes, Jinshi glanced at the quack doctor.

Maomao narrowed her eyes. Can we just end this farce already? she thought.

“Court Physician-dono’s name is Gu’en, correct?”

“Y-yes.”

(So that’s his name.)

“There is one court physician on this ship. May I call you not by your name, but by your title “Court Physician-dono”?” Jinshi asked.

“T-that would be an honour.” The quack didn’t object. Rather, it sounded like he was saying, “Please call me that.”

(No matter how I see it, it feels like he has an ulterior motive.)

“Hey, I have a request.”

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When the quack finished clearing away the equipment, Suiren called out to him.

“Can you look at us every day as well? So we don’t trouble Court Physician-sama, we wish to have your assistant.”

(Ahh, I didn’t see that coming.)

Maomao glanced at the quack doctor.

“I think Court Physician-sama will be busy, so please, you may leave first.”

“Understood.” The quack doctor spoke to Suiren without fumbling. “Then, Lass. I’ll leave the rest to you.”

“Understood,” Maomao replied in monotone.

She sent the quack doctor off, and when she turned around, Jinshi was there with a gloomy air.

When Maomao snorted, Suiren immediately batted her.