That delivery arrived when there were green buds on the slender irises. The cart in front of the Rokushoukan was piled with jute sacks. The cargo was all for Maomao.
Hmm, the quality aint bad. The madam arrogantly helped herself with inspecting the contents. The jute sacks were filled with wheat. They were the share she had won from the bet during the incident in the paper village. She had demanded rice, but wheat was good enough. Itll just a little bothersome to turn it into flour.
As far as she could see, as the madam had said, the quality of the wheat wasnt bad. Maomao picked up several grains and peeled off the husk. They were still damp. These had to be freshly harvested wheat from this year.
Could this be the defiance of the other party? It would be better to set these aside for a bit longer before they get ground into flour. Since Maomao had only got those people to just deliver it to her as earnings, she wont get angry with this much.
She took just one sack to make porridge. Lets sell the rest to the miller. She had no plans to store it forever, not at the least.
Ill introduce you to a good miller, the crone said, sympathising with Maomao.
I want to leave out the commissioning though.
Still, to not get taken light of by the buyer, Maomao decided to go along with the madams words since it would be smarter to go through her. She had those people deliver it to the front of the Rokushoukan as she had been intending for that from the start.
The cat maomao was very interested in the wheat sacks. It was scratching its claws on it. Since it was in heat recently, Maomao had to keep a watchful eye out for it so it doesnt have a lot of kittens.
Maomao, grimacing, pulled maomao away from the bag. The cat resisted, thrashing its legs around.
(Oh?)
There was some box hidden inside the sacks. She opened it. There was good quality paper inside. Maomao picked a sheet up and felt it.
How nice is this. Its the first time Ive seen such thin paper. That was yet another remark the madam gave out. As the crone had said, the paper was thin and transparent. The colours were also vivid, coloured peach and chartreuse. Not just that, it was scattered with flower petals.
It looks like a new product.
As they are purveyors to the imperial court, they can make stylish things. It could be called paper at best and paper still. It must be from the quack doctors family.
maomao waved its forelegs, eyes round. It looks like it wanted to sharpen its claws on that paper, but she wont let it do that. Maomao flung maomao away, then shut the box of paper and was going to take it back to her dilapidated shack she fixed her thought and showed it to the madam.
How much do you want to buy? Maomao asked
Oh, are you selling what you simply received? the madam countered.
Its fine if you dont want it though, she said.
Dont you really resemble someone?
(I am the fruit of the crones teachings.)
She picked out of a sheet of the paper that had been pressed with flowers and showed it to the crone. If its paper that elegant gentleman would like, it would be suited for use for the letters for honoured guests. Since there arent few people who ask about the quality of the courtesans among the guests. This kind of stationery shouldnt be bad.
(where should I put this away?)
If she carelessly left it somewhere, Chouu would probably use it for his scribbles. For the time being, she considered putting in the back of the medicine shelves, when she heard the neigh of a horse. Whats that, she thought, and there was a face she recognised outside.
Whats wrong, Basen-sama?
Ill explain later. Get on now! he said, and forced Maomao onto the back of the horse.
(Hes full of troubles lately huh.)
Maomao felt sorry for the sweaty horse as she wound her arms around Basens belly to stay on.
The place they got to was an estate in the northeast of the capital. She knew it from a considerably powerful family from the height of the building and the wideness of the land.
Where is this place? She asked.
Jinshi-samas villa, Basen replied.
And then he sneaked a glance to the side. Maomao followed his gaze. There was yet another impressive estate.
And that place?
Thats Uryuu-samas estate.
Ill explain the details inside, Basen went through the door.
Since its Jinshis villa, of course, she had to assume that the owner was around. It went without saying. He was there. Quite surely.
Jinshi was slouching on the couch, continuously looking out the window. His face was, more than tired, looked gloomy.
Whats up?
Youre here? Jinshi turned towards her, so she lowered her head.
Long time no see, he said.
Long time no see, Jinshi-sama.
Ahh, its a rush, but lets move to the main topic. Jinshi looked out the window again. Uryuus estate was there. Basen was looking at it just then.
Last night, there was a banquet at Uryuu-donos estate, he said.
It seems Jinshi had still stayed in this villa that was closer.
I was told that it was to deepen friendship, but it was also a celebration of his daughters birthday, he continued.
Birthday? Maomao asked.
At the words daughter, she thought of Consort Riishu, but this would have to mean her half-sister. Normally, commoners dont attach much importance to birthdays. One year from birth, and then a year from then on. Celebrating birthdays for the sake of it wasnt absent but it was done by a minority.
(Did he get offered marriage talks?)
Even if its merely for forms sake, Uryuus daughter would have a reason to come out to centre stage in the form of a celebration. And if she were to meet Jinshi there, it could lead to that topic. If it were to be Consort Riishus older sister, her age would be suitable.
To think about it normally, this way would be more natural than Consort Riishus bestowal.
Maomao had no idea what the person called Uryuu currently thought about Consort Riishu, but it wasnt strange as an official for him to sell his daughter to Jinshi.
Whats up with that then? About Jinshis gloomy face.
Even though it wasnt that Jinshi was eager or that he was unable to decline it properly.
Uryuus daughter, last night, committed suicide, he said.
As Jinshis words, Maomaos gapped open.
Did you reject her that cruelly? she asked.
A young maiden might get shocked from getting rejected by Jinshi. Even though she thought that he did that quite well up until now, did he make some blunder somewhere?
No, I didnt reject her or anything, he said.
Poor thing. She was dropped to the earth by the celestial maiden, Maomao whispered, casting her eyes down.
I told you its nothing like that! Jinshi said in a slight fluster and dropped the documents on the table.
Oh is that all, Maomao looked at that. Written on those documents were the details of the time where Consort Riishu got assaulted in the capital the other day. This is
It turns out that there was intelligence that the one who pulled the strings behind Consort Riishus assault was her older half-sister, he answered.
And so, last night, she was coerced to reveal it, Maomao said.
thats right, Jinshi said awkwardly.
If she had committed suicide over the fact that she had been coerced to reveal the truth, it would be most awkward.
However, even if shes the half-sister, if she was trying to inflict harm to a flower of the inner palace, she certainly wouldnt be able to escape capital punishment.
Even if they are half-sisters, by her blood sister huh, Maomao remarked.
She really has a harsh life, Maomao thought about Consort Riishu. It would be cruel to tell the person herself.
(Ah, is it with that?)
Was Basen that agitated because it was related to Consort Riishu?
However, what does calling Maomao have a relation to this then?
Jinshi stared at Uryuus estate. I was told Consort Riishus half-sister had hung herself.
Yes, she said.
And that everyone in the banquet saw it.
Yes.
That was a drastic way to do it. Does that mean she had been in quite a conspicuous place?
The reason Jinshi had summoned Maomao there would be:
She had hung herself in a place that can be seen from the banquet. And then, while they called for everyone to help, she disappeared from the place.
Maomao gave a start.
At the place where she was thought to have hung herself, there were only shoes left. Her corpse wasnt there. There was only a suspended rope. There were signs of the rope having been cut.
And then, while everyone was desperately looking for the half-sister, what they found was
The burnt remains of her body. The torch fire had spread, Jinshi finally said.
.
(Too much of a bad aftertaste.)
She also got the reason for Jinshis sad face.
With this, even if they accuse the half-sister of the crime, they couldnt accuse her, right? On the contrary, couldnt this be material that could also drive Jinshi to a corner?
Honestly, Maomao was concerned about what kind of attitude Jinshi would come with today. She was sorry, but for Maomao, it was easier to be preoccupied with other matters. If its this, it seems they will be as usual.
And so, is that why you called me? Maomao asked.
He didnt know the truth about the matter of the suicide. And above all, was it truly a suicide?
Looks like he wanted to tell her to investigate it.
(Even if you ask what should you do.)
Yes there was nothing to say aside from that.
Maomao nodded and looked out the window.