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。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq28LplrBVv
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklWPuBhkV6
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。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymRpLNbuHK
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6cfgYBHdE
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？」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeC0LIGM3k9
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5ENGJ6QMp
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。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoObBOglJCv
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIBdNOby2P
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。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtmTLdDaut
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqqpXffkoT
「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。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9heWlLa2o
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdT2sK4eHd
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。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0FBYFQU3x
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXy2eOgcuB9
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。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoSS2AfW7o
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNzBfpRiIh
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！」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJ5xJOdRlo
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhiJCFwmdp
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。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0YzzJaZNZ
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHfJNBf3U5
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPj9zFF3zEF
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW37T97gDR4
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySyqpgUXLF
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。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgFEsyGyzU
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThsqMaePqh
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。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdZzBSrKUf
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXMSHTPhrN
小喬蹙眉思索：「連公瑾都查不出來，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。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLnmHrFoCO
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42Xe8Fydzu
「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。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBI4mj5XJMK
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDv8m6YlTm
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？」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7M1mCHQhfk
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJP4GJHoc8
「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。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtocY83MUmi
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaU4KPmuBvz
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。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiLKxgGPSt
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhbpbFBSGT
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。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XVCRkHxM0
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4SffnW9rU
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。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4q7TWBYfut
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1qg1olH0z
府門打開，兩位江東少女同時深吸一口氣，踏進袁府大門。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7V3Ta2izj
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXm87hWIiwS
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pz26euWNl
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dnRjX5u73
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uxARfM6px
兩人依著婢女引領，步入袁府深處。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VOJsXHnJI
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTtGohQ1is
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。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSfWbPC3Hb
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjAmo9Haeu
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。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogcDrV9UMC
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwmD5DATSt
房內傳出一聲溫柔回應：「讓人進來罷。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWA6qDpyf5A
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXvVQOlIlb
婢女將房門推開，大喬與小喬步入房內。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvMQ7uepSy
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3p6UMqpgUI
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。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsgqb4sCOd
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcuAB9bYMc
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。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTJu7wGAB0
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqo4eApAUw
「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？」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjelEXVPab
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqazV7Bf2B
小喬心頭微暖，幾分緊張不覺散去，甚至露出一絲笑意。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WepqMUYAG
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45bXql69LP
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。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfk90A4pwQ
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mlF7vJwhs
「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？」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAQ9nwrO6d
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCeyO3ebVL
小喬有些受寵若驚，輕聲答道：「多謝夫人。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡib0X9IHrYp
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhAMT1j23k
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。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nxYFPxzTf
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwzuvyeiuA
大喬俯身道：「謝夫人賜名。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDrYAmNhlX
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsKikshlsa
「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。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvKKFvI9Ey
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSamonEGeha
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。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPsMNWqsMi
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVGhFCv8ll
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。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLzjrES09a
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMg3SQoGNCC
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。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRPg1BQZLm
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRJ2OTvvxJ
語氣仍溫柔如水，卻已暗藏告誡。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkgCdYPTz7
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDm6EOwDRsp
小喬聞言乖巧點頭：「奴婢記住了。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8oTHYUs4c
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbxWj0h8yG
大喬則含笑應下，心中的警戒卻更深了一層。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwJX9iaPbg
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6nBuOFgaQ
「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。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tz6CiFNGO
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRKx1DLRlg
兩人再次行禮，轉身退出房間。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ClRbioQzF
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJSCrieVww
屋內漸歸寂靜，香煙裊裊。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuE5Ni1nh6V
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCfE4HLTbt
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：23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaAcUlAgV9
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XhG1PpgDS
「人是挺好說話，倒不難使喚……可生的太美了，未必是件好事。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VEfvEsEyX
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdB0cL4gr5
她將茶盞放下，語氣如霜：23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqM6a3t15CO
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJxG0tDik4
「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。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi478K7dGgC
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXFbae0IYU
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……」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1KAeyEqQH
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrXgZDpGIU
劉夫人抿嘴沉思。半晌，她的嘴角勾起一個陰險的弧度。23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mzFAZGl1v
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLWf1Lgw5Q
「算了，還是讓我親自來吧。」23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcK8Herv5u
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb94RvTdlwJ
房內的香氣在氣氛的凝重下，此刻竟帶有幾分寒意。
