午後風起,黃沙隨風掠過官道,一輛樸素的馬車在塵土飛揚中緩緩駛近鄴城。馬車表面覆著簡單帆布,車輪沾滿泥塵,朝著雄偉堅固的北地重鎮一路而來。147Please respect copyright.PENANAh4cg27n0Re
147Please respect copyright.PENANAzordd6IYSk
鄴城城門高聳,磚牆厚實如山。城牆上,士兵戒備森嚴,遠遠望見馬車靠近,早有一隊戍衛整裝列隊,持槍而立。147Please respect copyright.PENANAOno5DTo1fg
147Please respect copyright.PENANAfUWu9ocgV0
馬車一停下,為首的守城兵大步上前,橫槍擋住車頭,喝道:「來者何人?」147Please respect copyright.PENANAUhFNF1Qhte
147Please respect copyright.PENANAaL2VEEHvio
趕車的是個中年漢子,滿臉風霜,穿著粗布衣服,神情沉穩。他不卑不亢地指了指車廂,語氣自然:「袁府新進的婢女。」147Please respect copyright.PENANABxqjKVq8t1
147Please respect copyright.PENANA26WpVojvbj
那守門士兵聞言,眉頭微皺,繞到車側打量了一番,目光如刀般審視馬車的蓋布。147Please respect copyright.PENANArp2mhhc5nc
147Please respect copyright.PENANAjMTYIsno2d
「主公正在官渡與孫策軍交戰,情勢緊張。無主公大印或劉夫人親手書信者,一律不得入城,還請回吧。」士兵冷聲說道。147Please respect copyright.PENANAw3nZTrYiH6
147Please respect copyright.PENANA2PhzCr8ujf
車伕絲毫不慌,從懷中掏出一封卷起的文書,雙手呈上:「這是劉夫人親筆手諭,請過目。」147Please respect copyright.PENANANtNlZbfWDX
147Please respect copyright.PENANAnzMzqiXGtb
士兵狐疑地接過來,展開一看。只見上頭的字跡娟秀清麗,落款印章確實是袁府主母之名。147Please respect copyright.PENANAFLqIPNDKQu
147Please respect copyright.PENANAF1XJhYGThY
他遲疑了一下,將文書奉還,深深看了車伕一眼,轉身對著城上高聲喊到:「開門!」147Please respect copyright.PENANAL3eXE2NAnV
147Please respect copyright.PENANAzTCvMGQj5C
沉重的木門在鐵鍊與轆轤的拉動聲中轟然打開,發出一聲沉悶的低響。馬車毫不遲疑地往城內駛去,消失在鄴城層層街巷與高牆的陰影中。147Please respect copyright.PENANAXZALSRtEr1
147Please respect copyright.PENANAWFn0kUavTd
147Please respect copyright.PENANAumDShNiAFW
147Please respect copyright.PENANAuxnjYJfwgY
147Please respect copyright.PENANAgp7Dh1Lqi0
馬車在石板路上顛簸前行,馬蹄聲與車輪聲在鄴城街道間回盪。車廂內,細碎的光線勾勒出兩位女子的輪廓,一個沉靜端雅,一個神情機警。147Please respect copyright.PENANA3uDT7kSYVO
147Please respect copyright.PENANAAX1xdvwcZG
大喬微微掀開窗簾,望了眼外頭的街景,又放下簾子,壓低聲音道:「周瑜說,這次能順利進入鄴城,靠的就是那個潛伏在袁府中的內應。據說那人早就與江東有暗中聯繫,只是,連周瑜也不知此人究竟是誰。」147Please respect copyright.PENANAI5vpq3rdff
147Please respect copyright.PENANA5bt6C087ai
小喬蹙眉思索:「連周瑜大人都查不出來,這人可真是藏得夠深……不過既然能把我們的通關文書送出鄴城,還讓守軍不加盤查,顯然在袁府中有不小的地位。」147Please respect copyright.PENANASIU8QwDTan
147Please respect copyright.PENANAMCgBbcxgux
「嗯……但也因此,我們更要小心。」大喬眼神凝重,「若是走錯一步,被劉夫人看出端倪,咱們怕是連退路都沒有了。」147Please respect copyright.PENANAbBTjhVARxB
147Please respect copyright.PENANAni1sjobe7s
小喬嘟起嘴來,輕聲道:「姊姊,我倒很好奇那人是誰。若是女的,會不會是袁紹的某位侍妾?也有可能是個看似不起眼的婢女……若是男的……嗯,會不會是假意投靠袁紹的某位書吏?」147Please respect copyright.PENANANfgwwr4Tdc
147Please respect copyright.PENANAyyve4LY4qy
「不論是誰,身為一個內應,能在這樣的地方安然無恙這麼久,必然有過人之處。」大喬頓了頓,低聲道:「我們這次潛入,是以劉夫人選婢的名義。接下來就看那人能不能接應我們了。」147Please respect copyright.PENANAhjPS1V369M
147Please respect copyright.PENANACKPIAKJhGA
談話間,晃動的馬車驀然停了下來,車伕敲了敲車壁。「袁府到了。」147Please respect copyright.PENANARyUFbK9Cah
147Please respect copyright.PENANA6Qko1MFg7Y
姊妹兩人整理了衣襟髮髻,彼此對視一眼,下了馬車,映入眼簾的便是高大的朱門和兩尊威嚴的石獅。147Please respect copyright.PENANAussztg6LPQ
147Please respect copyright.PENANATWcE2NFAvV
袁府的門衛上前審視,見車伕出示的手諭有劉夫人印字,沒多說一句話,便揚手放行。147Please respect copyright.PENANArcKPLjJ67n
147Please respect copyright.PENANAzLJM9zXdBz
府門打開,兩位江東少女同時深吸一口氣,踏進袁府大門。147Please respect copyright.PENANAoE3qW7zemX
147Please respect copyright.PENANAsPCDw5WJH1
147Please respect copyright.PENANAO90QEmRpeX
147Please respect copyright.PENANAddAKzQ8T3x
147Please respect copyright.PENANATHMshqFpZL
兩人依著婢女引領,步入袁府深處。147Please respect copyright.PENANAp3D1AQ7Rap
147Please respect copyright.PENANA5ufW1RejaA
一行人走過了流泉石橋、小荷池塘,以及一條竹林掩映的曲徑。穿過庭院後,便是廊道深幽,一道接著一道的屏門與垂簾,宛如一層層神秘的輕紗罩著袁府,讓人捉摸不透。147Please respect copyright.PENANA6eKPyl8Mb7
147Please respect copyright.PENANAvUKsvMVcyh
走了一段,婢女在一間房前停下,輕聲道:「夫人,那兩位新進婢女來了。」147Please respect copyright.PENANAx7HdxzSrqE
147Please respect copyright.PENANAwDx9QfYhw1
房內傳出一聲溫柔回應:「讓人進來罷。」147Please respect copyright.PENANA2ZzcHf1DF9
147Please respect copyright.PENANAQwEMeJnnQL
婢女將房門推開,大喬與小喬步入房內。147Please respect copyright.PENANAX4YIqHwKkM
147Please respect copyright.PENANA1QJHUq4b4L
只見綺帳輕揚,珠簾低垂,一位中年女子坐於雕花榻上,衣著雍容華貴,眼角眉梢皆帶笑意。她眼波輕轉,視線落在兩人身上,輕聲一笑,道:「這便是新來的婢女嗎?模樣還挺標緻,好似畫裡走出來似的。」147Please respect copyright.PENANAsZpGE7JPyj
147Please respect copyright.PENANAVbAqeX2Kq1
這般親切態度,讓小喬怔了怔——本以為袁府內主母性情嚴厲,卻未料竟如此和煦。她連忙低首行禮,答道:「奴婢見過夫人。」147Please respect copyright.PENANAyRZpK6H5ll
147Please respect copyright.PENANAWj9MHHIbeR
「快起來。」劉夫人含笑起身,親自走下榻,扶起她的身子。「自今日起,便是我府中的人了。妳們還年輕,若有不懂之處,慢慢學就是。誰不是從這一步走來的?」147Please respect copyright.PENANAsORLVROIsS
147Please respect copyright.PENANATnQqXXxIKS
小喬心頭微暖,幾分緊張不覺散去,甚至露出一絲笑意。147Please respect copyright.PENANABgbS9aSLuJ
147Please respect copyright.PENANAKd0qbPgIu3
大喬也隨之行禮,語氣恭敬,卻沒鬆懈神情。她注意到,劉夫人雖言辭溫婉,眸光卻銳利,眼波轉動之間,細細打量她們衣著氣度,似是將兩人從頭到腳審視了一遍。147Please respect copyright.PENANAOOaqVdOBCI
147Please respect copyright.PENANATVe9QE6fMo
「我給妳們取個名兒吧。」劉夫人溫柔一笑,挽著小喬的手入座,「妳眉眼柔婉,笑容甚是可愛,就叫『容兒』,如何?」147Please respect copyright.PENANAyQbU6hZeFL
147Please respect copyright.PENANAJHJOrPDqQy
小喬有些受寵若驚,輕聲答道:「多謝夫人。」147Please respect copyright.PENANAbOnlMHgzvl
147Please respect copyright.PENANAKLRvweoeGe
劉夫人又轉向大喬,眼神多停留了一瞬,道:「妳氣度安靜端雅,倒有些像我那二媳婦……嗯,叫妳『蓮兒』罷,出淤泥而不染,是個好名。」147Please respect copyright.PENANAT1Cl3ZYEpE
147Please respect copyright.PENANAMg5Wg7HKCO
大喬俯身道:「謝夫人賜名。」147Please respect copyright.PENANAofzdx252my
147Please respect copyright.PENANAVYgg6f1sBK
「好了,不必多禮。」劉夫人拍了拍手,一名婢女端上糕點,放於案几上。「這一趟妳們遠道而來,也該吃些零嘴壓壓驚。」147Please respect copyright.PENANAijqPujx2MN
147Please respect copyright.PENANA1pMtB0ghAH
這般待人之道,幾近厚遇,令小喬更加心悅,神色自然許多,目光裡甚至多了幾分敬慕。147Please respect copyright.PENANADcF4v8yhWC
147Please respect copyright.PENANAudbmFT3wX2
而大喬望著那桌上精緻點心,沒有伸手拿取,眼中微不可察地掠過一抹戒色。147Please respect copyright.PENANA7bUjq2MY5e
147Please respect copyright.PENANAo3t7T46LV4
劉夫人依舊笑容滿面,還親自替兩人倒茶。「容兒、蓮兒……妳們既來到這裡,就當做是自己新的家。府裡規矩雖多,但凡事只要勤快、聽話,自然能有好日子過。至於那些亂七八糟的閒話、耳語……切莫理會,也莫傳話。」147Please respect copyright.PENANAfDHrpBvDSa
147Please respect copyright.PENANALrk6VsiaK2
語氣仍溫柔如水,卻已暗藏告誡。147Please respect copyright.PENANAA9bkraEVot
147Please respect copyright.PENANAvdNxTJBGlU
小喬聞言乖巧點頭:「奴婢記住了。」147Please respect copyright.PENANAAMYKITKld6
147Please respect copyright.PENANAPGJd03fUkf
大喬則含笑應下,心中的警戒卻更深了一層。147Please respect copyright.PENANAOOmRTg8P42
147Please respect copyright.PENANADP5ZBMvcqN
「行了,今日也累了,下去歇著吧。明日我會吩咐管事的分派妳們差事。」147Please respect copyright.PENANAmQB8T61Fex
147Please respect copyright.PENANAMH9K7ExcEq
兩人再次行禮,轉身退出房間。147Please respect copyright.PENANAUfWfSSsbQ3
147Please respect copyright.PENANAQioQAWLng4
屋內漸歸寂靜,香煙裊裊。147Please respect copyright.PENANAnGXTDXMSVN
147Please respect copyright.PENANAGY1g8EdDq0
劉夫人緩緩轉身,走到窗邊,望著兩人遠去的背影,眼中笑意如常,卻已不再溫暖。她端起茶盞,輕輕啜了一口,低聲道:147Please respect copyright.PENANA8BaAL13Oal
147Please respect copyright.PENANAyyiUZVxPAq
「人是挺好說話,倒不難使喚……可生的太美了,未必是件好事。」147Please respect copyright.PENANAnVzskUtNxf
147Please respect copyright.PENANAGscPEeX5Na
她將茶盞放下,語氣如霜:147Please respect copyright.PENANAbSee6dpryi
147Please respect copyright.PENANAshk7KQsUer
「吩咐下去,盯緊她們,尤其那個叫蓮兒的……眼神太靜,看不透,也看不慌。我不喜歡這種人。」147Please respect copyright.PENANAZbIshNKiJy
147Please respect copyright.PENANAkPpssbr6O5
身後婢女低聲應是,正要退下,卻又被叫住。「等等,這樣太花時間……」147Please respect copyright.PENANAKKhT9JEMLk
147Please respect copyright.PENANAKmt3kPzPXt
劉夫人抿嘴沉思。半晌,她的嘴角勾起一個陰險的弧度。147Please respect copyright.PENANAVlv0aIM4nW
147Please respect copyright.PENANAIzA7bsHnwn
「算了,還是讓我親自來吧。」147Please respect copyright.PENANAhkeycWcK8g
147Please respect copyright.PENANAdB37edUdZn
房內的香氣在氣氛的凝重下,此刻竟帶有幾分寒意。