96Please respect copyright.PENANA1CvlaUpeba
「此信必須在三日內送到漁郡魏府……」96Please respect copyright.PENANACtTuwAPJNf
96Please respect copyright.PENANAZqzdSqgO1B
96Please respect copyright.PENANA0cwWj6TqWC
先生幾乎未曾闔眼。96Please respect copyright.PENANAV7ZwD9uUgN
馬蹄聲在荒野間翻騰,風沙灌入口鼻,他卻連片刻喘息都不敢。
馬背之上,早已被顛得腰背發麻,跛足更似火灼般疼痛。每一次拉緊韁繩,手臂都在顫抖,卻仍咬牙撐著。96Please respect copyright.PENANAGTXUE6yl0y
96Please respect copyright.PENANAvQYX1NwfRf
他知曉,懷中那兩片血染的羅布,比他這條老命更重。
-96Please respect copyright.PENANA7FhTJDZSrT
96Please respect copyright.PENANAINxrDYI0DQ
96Please respect copyright.PENANArr5xAmYH1L
直到第三日清晨,高大的漁郡城門終於映入眼簾。
晨霧氤氳,灰白天光下的門樓巍然如山。先生望著,那一瞬,彷彿壓在心上的千斤重擔,終於有了著落。
心頭一鬆,正欲下馬,卻因腿腳不便與連日奔波的疲憊,再支撐不住,一頭從馬背跌落。96Please respect copyright.PENANASnZkSG22kc
馬嘶聲驚起,守門的士兵們齊齊回首——96Please respect copyright.PENANAgC3v2N65Ju
只見一名衣衫風塵的老者趴伏在地,氣息奄奄。96Please respect copyright.PENANApyt2MmDOIx
96Please respect copyright.PENANABGpVYIjZ4u
「有人!快過來!」守衛們急忙上前。96Please respect copyright.PENANAFwtWGPvoVU
96Please respect copyright.PENANAGj55ybL083
先生聲音已幾近沙啞,不斷喃喃重複:「……元氏…密信……求晉見…巍侯……」那神情像是拼盡最後一口氣,只為送達這幾個字。96Please respect copyright.PENANAaAm0SUJEoh
96Please respect copyright.PENANAJDLmxc0sN2
眾人面面相覷,心下已有異感。96Please respect copyright.PENANA4FSTsHBpQw
96Please respect copyright.PENANAERXCXsmOui
這人無入城文牒,卻執著一再提及「元氏」與「巍侯」。幾名小將心頭一震,急聲傳人通報。96Please respect copyright.PENANA9LRrpJ5oKo
96Please respect copyright.PENANAQeWFDuXGhk
**
96Please respect copyright.PENANA4mg8PVNRa7
衙署議事廳內。96Please respect copyright.PENANAUtxs0rBY5D
屋外日光剛起,堂中卻沉悶得如同壓了一層鉛。
96Please respect copyright.PENANAQBYboAfFjG
魏渠在廳內已踱了不知多少回。96Please respect copyright.PENANASWT4lt51c9
96Please respect copyright.PENANA95f4vUK4ui
十日已過,元秧音訊全無——他整個人幾乎要被焦灼的懸念逼得失眠。雖傷勢漸愈,能帶兵演武,卻無法平息心底的煎熬。96Please respect copyright.PENANAD1EOmTCc5K
96Please respect copyright.PENANAMCTrhzb03z
每當夜深,輾轉無眠,腦中皆是她的身影。
96Please respect copyright.PENANAhRvzw0A6YN
自數日前,各縣城奏報紛紛傳至,皆言百姓飲水中毒。巍國上下皆陷恐慌,魏府亦如坐針氈。眾人爭論良策,卻無藥可根治。偏偏此刻元秧不在,所有人心頭都懸著。
96Please respect copyright.PENANAoe1TX3qXla
魏劭眉宇緊鎖,神情凝重。
96Please respect copyright.PENANA4aYQsHaaRU
氣氛正僵時,小檀疾步而入,俯身稟道:96Please respect copyright.PENANAeb9SLI0ffq
96Please respect copyright.PENANAr5c1RCkWX0
「啟稟主公——今早城門口有一跛足老者倒地。他口中不斷說著有元氏公主託付的密信,想要求見主公。」96Please respect copyright.PENANAyluXGxEW3d
96Please respect copyright.PENANA0uDMgGdGbi
此言一出,議事廳裡齊齊一震,眾人皆是驚疑。96Please respect copyright.PENANASR8EyBNGYd
96Please respect copyright.PENANACy8ITZz9gj
魏渠猛地轉身,眼中燃起火光,幾乎想立刻衝出去。96Please respect copyright.PENANA9HBTAa61v4
96Please respect copyright.PENANAlOPBbIJZUf
魏劭沉聲道:「將人帶來。」96Please respect copyright.PENANAyob2Ll8JVJ
96Please respect copyright.PENANAxwHRlYYVTP
-96Please respect copyright.PENANAAFOEzIFSIm
片刻後,先生被守衛扶入廳堂。
他一身塵土,腳步踉蹌,每一步都似耗盡力氣。入內後再無力強撐,雙膝重重叩在地上。
滿是滄桑的面容,聲音沙啞卻字字分明:
「老朽自晉國而來,手中所持,乃元氏公主親筆書信。事關巍國,懇請巍侯鑒之!」96Please respect copyright.PENANAr9cKXd4Oxj
96Please respect copyright.PENANAhK6WicFtEp
魏劭目光銳利,微一抬手,小檀已上前,接過嚴密裹好的布信,雙手奉上。
96Please respect copyright.PENANAJzsL0q6xDq
他低頭拆開。96Please respect copyright.PENANA0vZTjh1tnB
片刻後,布料被展開——
96Please respect copyright.PENANAmJijhtb2V1
96Please respect copyright.PENANAnzfoTR53LM
血跡斑駁,字字猩紅。96Please respect copyright.PENANA7Jd6Qqw4Q2
96Please respect copyright.PENANAscjgiapWXr
96Please respect copyright.PENANAf09rul5CAf
那是以血為墨落下的信,與一幅簡略卻清晰的水道輿圖。96Please respect copyright.PENANAe0j8sc1ae3
燭光下,血字仿若仍在淌動。96Please respect copyright.PENANAOQRzgki8jG
96Please respect copyright.PENANAijaXWv0dg0
軍師倒吸了口氣,喉嚨發緊:「……血書。」96Please respect copyright.PENANAzMi6O21QAe
96Please respect copyright.PENANAlpwCcGjwgK
魏渠一聽猛然上前,眼神死死盯住那布料。96Please respect copyright.PENANAb2MJ9CQ8Ge
指尖一顫,唇齒幾乎僵住:「……這是秧秧的衣服……」96Please respect copyright.PENANAdzqFy9GY8S
96Please respect copyright.PENANAc6BtHYp27B
那抹水綠,肩頭處的蘭花繡紋仍在,他怎會不認得?96Please respect copyright.PENANAiLpMtsm7DJ
96Please respect copyright.PENANACPtrBbTPR5
血色鋪滿布面,像一把刀直直剜進他心口。96Please respect copyright.PENANAoa7nHekjzL
他呼吸一窒,臉色霎時慘白。96Please respect copyright.PENANAhAY4nIfvQn
96Please respect copyright.PENANAy4yEq4EQxi
聲音發顫,壓抑不住急切的詢問:「她……她受傷了?為何要用血書?」96Please respect copyright.PENANAupu2Y9Jh0A
96Please respect copyright.PENANAmAWGI511r7
先生胸膛起伏,眼底早已泛淚。他聲音顫抖卻盡力穩住,將經過一一陳述——
元秧如何探知元濯陰謀,又如何被軟禁;無紙筆可用,只能裁下衣裳,以血代墨,就為將此信送出。96Please respect copyright.PENANAhyuIH69aXr
96Please respect copyright.PENANAEZFlkiuQBA
每一字落下,皆如巨錘砸在人心上。96Please respect copyright.PENANATkhbb3fhaq
96Please respect copyright.PENANAK24xoeIHuh
魏渠再無法自制,拳頭攥得死緊,指節發白,指甲已掐進肉裡。他眼中痛苦翻湧,急切得幾近失控:「主公!既已有了鐵證,還等什麼?我們立刻出兵!救她回來!」
96Please respect copyright.PENANABMiVKDOjjV
魏梁、魏梟和魏朵亦神色嚴肅,軍師長嘆道:「竟能為我巍國至此……此情此義,當銘心刻骨。」
此時,先生再度抬首,聲音顫抖卻堅決:「公主臨別時,特意囑我傳話——請巍侯勿顧慮她安危……首務,是破元濯詭計。」96Please respect copyright.PENANA69yWk60zt3
96Please respect copyright.PENANA019rb9V7TG
96Please respect copyright.PENANAmSowEewDUM
一語落下,廳堂靜得針落可聞。
96Please respect copyright.PENANAkFWCZ7hLJO
魏渠猛地別過頭,眼中布滿血絲,拳頭顫抖得快要炸裂。他想喊,卻被那句話死死壓住。96Please respect copyright.PENANAVWHK1xZmOk
96Please respect copyright.PENANA9wJb4GsTfi
魏劭沉默良久,彷彿在做最後的權衡。議事廳內一片靜寂,連呼吸都顯得壓抑。96Please respect copyright.PENANApbvrxkvlzs
終於,他抬起眼來,冷光如刃,聲音沉沉落下——96Please respect copyright.PENANAPVuu16GVsm
96Please respect copyright.PENANAIvmpTJ8KRj
「傳我號令——即刻遣人暗伏各處水口,務必將元氏黨羽一網成擒!同時,整軍備戰,出兵晉國,將逆賊元濯徹底誅除!」96Please respect copyright.PENANAf6lMBwWoaZ
96Please respect copyright.PENANAWFK7eUGROE
聲音落下,滿堂齊聲應命。96Please respect copyright.PENANAJO1lkmboJk
那股壓抑已久的鬱氣,終於化作奔湧的決絕。
96Please respect copyright.PENANAUUFlDZXI4d
**
96Please respect copyright.PENANALZ1p3qyNYX
96Please respect copyright.PENANAFYBK33MGFl
屋內靜得出奇,連燭火燃燒的聲音都聽得分明。96Please respect copyright.PENANAIdDtSzkSjL
96Please respect copyright.PENANANJ2BJoYskI
元秧坐在案邊,手指無意識地攏著衣角,一遍遍摩挲,像要借此攫住些許心神。她的眼神空落,卻始終掙不出那份壓在心口的沉重。96Please respect copyright.PENANAm2cwfKNwy6
96Please respect copyright.PENANASZm7vIq2xT
先生……如今是否已到漁郡?書信,已安然送到了嗎?96Please respect copyright.PENANA2BIHg8G9St
案上飯菜早已冷透,湯水浮著油花,泛著灰白的光。她連看都不願多看,胸口像被硬石壓著。96Please respect copyright.PENANAycZBsbecu7
96Please respect copyright.PENANAGCsFrPMWVI
96Please respect copyright.PENANAciuB1a0e0F
「喀嗒——」
鎖扣被打開的聲音忽然響起,打斷了這份死寂。96Please respect copyright.PENANAF9M5YqPxdX
元秧猛地一僵,抬眼。96Please respect copyright.PENANAeIjpjo696j
96Please respect copyright.PENANA8W17vjAHF2
96Please respect copyright.PENANAOQaTtIxHSz
門被推開,元濯邁步而入,神情如常,氣息沉穩。背後隨著幾名下人,托盤上一抹玄色帶紅,在燈火下刺目耀眼——錦衣大袖、金線流紋,還有金釵、步搖、玉佩與繡履,層層疊疊,件件擺放在她眼前,刺眼得叫人透不過氣。
96Please respect copyright.PENANANKEUbPJ9GD
「想好了嗎?」他聲音不高,總帶著一股壓迫。96Please respect copyright.PENANAKQxxnFfVAO
96Please respect copyright.PENANAsDWd8hMJZ7
元秧沒有答,靜靜看著那堆珠翠華服。96Please respect copyright.PENANAUKFXRsGxnQ
許久,她才緩緩開口,聲音冷淡:「你何曾給過我選擇?既沒有,問來何用?」
語氣平靜,卻似冰刃。
元濯眉宇一動,眸色微沉。他沒有立刻言語,只是緩步上前。靴底擦過地磚的聲音在空曠的房裡格外壓人。96Please respect copyright.PENANAI8ULT2n0OW
96Please respect copyright.PENANA0Ku2cwJXyn
他在她身前停下,抬手,似是輕輕捧住她的下頷,逼她抬頭看向自己。兩人隔得極近,他俯視著她,低聲道:「怎麼瘦成這樣了?」96Please respect copyright.PENANAdDVNQIKiwf
96Please respect copyright.PENANAY8zeYAgTa1
語調像是關心,卻裹著強硬的掌控。96Please respect copyright.PENANAp1kOXqAQcz
元秧想偏過臉,但被他指節扣緊,半掐著的力道像是不容她拒絕。96Please respect copyright.PENANAuCiOvMptzy
96Please respect copyright.PENANAAWFaXDkwNP
96Please respect copyright.PENANAR8dsuMIJ3L
她抬眼。96Please respect copyright.PENANA9aOiK71j9C
目光冷冽,無畏,也無一絲退讓。
——片刻的對峙,空氣凝固。96Please respect copyright.PENANAsjl6en3Z6W
96Please respect copyright.PENANAiUrF6kebYR
元濯終於冷哼一聲,甩開手,那股壓迫才消散。96Please respect copyright.PENANADBPF3COiqL
他側身擺手,示意下人將托盤上的物件一一陳列在案。
「這些東西,早晚妳都要穿上的。」語聲落下,他袖袍一拂,帶著下人們出了房門。
96Please respect copyright.PENANAUSpQ5SuVHL
屋內重歸死寂。她的目光再無光亮。96Please respect copyright.PENANAsttWrv4k9K
只餘下一片錦衣珠翠,像獰笑般刺眼。
96Please respect copyright.PENANA12zMTl7ayv
**
96Please respect copyright.PENANAF1AUHUPMW1
夜色深沉,烏澤渡口的水面在月光下泛起銀灰波紋,激流拍打著岸邊礫石,聲音忽高忽低,宛如低語。
河岸旁樹林的暗影裡,魏梁緊握盾柄,身形與黑暗融為一體。林木枝頭間,數十名弓手與士兵早已潛伏,手指扣著弦,靜待一聲暗號。
96Please respect copyright.PENANAg5vpMvNp9a
——數日前,衙署燭火通明。96Please respect copyright.PENANAkwpPBjsFgK
96Please respect copyright.PENANAxdRMyE9b1G
96Please respect copyright.PENANAUwmWV1vk5g
元秧血書所附的圖被鎮在輿圖正中央,血跡暗沉卻刺眼。
魏劭神情冷肅,指尖落在輿圖上三處位置。
「烏澤渡口、柳灣和曲流口。」他的聲音低沈有力。
魏梁蹙眉,目光凝在烏澤渡口處上:「此處水勢最急。若真投毒,轉瞬間便能傳入永寧渠。」
魏劭點頭,目光一寸寸移過眾人,語氣不疾不徐,帶著不容質疑的冷銳:「正因如此,你們必須在之前守住這裡。——魏梁、魏朵,由你們篩選三百名親兵先行,潛伏在這三處周圍。記住,待潛羽營行動一出,就要以迅雷之勢包夾。」
「屬下領命!」魏梁沉聲。
魏劭的視線落到魏朵身上:「記住——不使一人傳訊。有人點火、有人吹哨,一律先斷其源。」
魏朵語聲冷決:「是!」96Please respect copyright.PENANA6JluG8eeVL
96Please respect copyright.PENANA0bZinIJMk0
燭光將眾人面容映得忽明忽暗,氣氛緊若繃弦。96Please respect copyright.PENANAfpplKXJ7al
96Please respect copyright.PENANAFODYHL98qe
**
96Please respect copyright.PENANAuZ1FyU38VG
遠處,馬蹄聲漸近。96Please respect copyright.PENANA54yvLmAoVv
車輪壓過石路,吱呀聲在靜夜裡顯得格外刺耳。幾輛馬車裝著用油布封起的木桶,鼓鼓囊囊,似壓著什麼不可見的陰影。96Please respect copyright.PENANAa0TM5ioipZ
96Please respect copyright.PENANAse6BVIwHnR
「放!」魏梁低聲一喝。一聲破空,箭矢無聲無息劃開夜色。
「嘶——」馬突然長嘶。96Please respect copyright.PENANAR2nRGqoCLG
96Please respect copyright.PENANAPoNlQNN0qp
潛羽營的軍士驟然大亂,有人猛然抽刀,寒光才起——聲音未落,周圍林間黑影已如潮水般湧出,瞬間合圍。
沉伏許久的士兵們如潮而起,刀刃寒光齊閃,黑衣壓下,將對方死死包住。有人試圖點火傳訊,卻只見火星剛亮,便被一箭射落,燃火散落泥草,捻熄。下一箭準確貫入喉間,驟瞪雙目,血沫翻湧。96Please respect copyright.PENANAInE88Qre1C
96Please respect copyright.PENANAnLacVkmtq7
魏梁一聲低喝,聲如悶雷。
他猛然躍出草叢,腳步沉重卻快如奔牛,直撲向敵方,盾面轟然砸下,將對方壓進泥地。
旁側兩名撲來,刀鋒挾著寒光。魏梁沉肩一轉,厚盾橫掃,伴隨一聲悶響,兩人竟如被狂風掀起,整個人撞飛到數丈之外,重重砸入水邊石上,口鼻皆噴血。
又一人持刀自後砍來,魏梁卻似早有預感,猛然一蹬,整個身軀反撞回去,反手抓住對方手臂,一把拎起,隨即以盾角砸向胸膛——骨裂聲清脆刺耳,那人像斷麻袋般倒下。96Please respect copyright.PENANAZx51wmZDNQ
96Please respect copyright.PENANAT95sRw3YoU
「來啊!」魏梁怒喝,聲震渡口。
潛羽營剩餘之人雖訓練有素,仍被這股蠻力震懾,腳步一滯。魏梁額頭青筋暴起,眼神如猛獸,雙手一推,整面厚盾直若巨石翻湧,硬生生將三人一同撞入渠水。水聲翻湧,掙扎片刻,便被伏兵制住。
短短數十息,烏澤渡口血泥橫流。
96Please respect copyright.PENANAVpaCFtqMBo
**96Please respect copyright.PENANACCH5kBTzU3
96Please respect copyright.PENANAia4fpzx8ed
秧水—柳灣和曲流口。
96Please respect copyright.PENANA8Znez8uEZP
魏朵半蹲身,目光掃過林間伏兵的位置。掌心扣著劍柄,汗意沿著掌心浸入鐵冷的劍鞘。遠處月色被雲遮掩,河岸模糊一片,卻更顯緊繃。他偏頭,與另一側遠處的親兵隔空對視。96Please respect copyright.PENANAVgHTMOceAz
96Please respect copyright.PENANA2KxjW8FRef
對方微抬下頜,手勢如影,示意探子已返。
探子匍匐而來,聲音壓到喉間低不可聞:「從下游來了。四輛馬車,木桶蓋著油布。人數十餘,裝作商隊,腳步太輕……不像尋常人。」96Please respect copyright.PENANAAVwqVF7cQz
96Please respect copyright.PENANAuVrRhw8Had
魏朵抬手一揮,弓手們便無聲移動,將殺機隱沒在夜色裡。草叢間,一雙雙眼睛隱沒在黑影裡,屏息凝神。96Please respect copyright.PENANAMNswIVkP75
96Please respect copyright.PENANAcvVJv3aKpm
遠處傳來潛羽營踩踏枯枝的聲響,隊伍假作商販挑擔。96Please respect copyright.PENANA562unHO1Zw
96Please respect copyright.PENANAPNMLA1Eohq
——魏朵手指輕抬,弓弦悄然繃緊……96Please respect copyright.PENANABNT3pzvCWB
96Please respect copyright.PENANAiQ3wVReYe2
兩指一合,斜指前方!96Please respect copyright.PENANAZcUAhptM2f
弓弦同時震響——箭雨破空而出,瞬息間覆下。96Please respect copyright.PENANAhjP74siA4A
96Please respect copyright.PENANAjjwtFiiLqQ
箭雨齊落,前列的潛羽營軍士立刻翻倒在地。後方敵隊反應極快,立刻有人撲向水邊,企圖投毒。魏朵身形一閃,幾乎化作一抹殘影,長劍自夜霧中劃開一道清冷弧光,準確斬落那人手中的藥囊,反手一劍,便直封敵人咽喉。
遠處傳來廝殺聲,是曲流口的伏兵與另一批潛羽營人馬正交鋒。96Please respect copyright.PENANAwteE8p3JOh
魏朵的目光如電,抬手揮劍,親兵立刻分批支援。96Please respect copyright.PENANA2lTMCkS0Cy
96Please respect copyright.PENANAgobWF54FQr
一名潛羽營領頭猛然撲上,長刀帶著狠勁劈下。96Please respect copyright.PENANAkOUEtRuY98
96Please respect copyright.PENANAaOoIWl7Doy
魏朵卻不與硬拼,他的身形快得幾乎化作殘影,腳下滑步斜切,長劍如流光一閃,便已挑開對方的手腕。血光乍現,刀脫手飛落。魏朵毫不遲疑,劍鋒旋即一轉,順勢砍向咽喉。那黑衣人甚至連呼聲都未發出,便軟倒在地。
96Please respect copyright.PENANAUPpbLac5lr
親兵回報,曲流口亦已成功合圍,無一潛羽營軍士逃脫。96Please respect copyright.PENANAMJ8CGUFZT2
96Please respect copyright.PENANAjy1H6Q4kSA
「主公之策,果然萬無一失。」他立於岸邊。96Please respect copyright.PENANAIBcMmvHiIa
96Please respect copyright.PENANAoMjSZ0Qaxm
「收隊!」
96Please respect copyright.PENANAhj35MmYbNv
四下重歸靜謐,只餘水聲滾滾——
這一夜,三處要害水口,盡數沉寂。
96Please respect copyright.PENANA18eNXXhFsX
96Please respect copyright.PENANA1RRi68eCnI


