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。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJO80o5jMvu
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVpNJSSGSP
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。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTqyzHmgJF
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTY1A8WWML
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？」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHS8cpCsYR
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUQUxhO9fp
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。」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbKtE5D2ji
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN81WjPLzGi
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。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhP65qWZumy
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJvm6cFXIZ
「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。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRb9dF7TQy
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7p2zH31BS2
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。」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡip51HmkZYT
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBf0fyeBz6A
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。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO13QqIxTQz
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzDotNPPFZ
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！」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUUbzsYaNx
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZI8HXJXf5X
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。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zL71npMsR
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHriay9I9x
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeKmAP7zWL
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWs8yrn3o7
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MPSxznmS4
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。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hsNFoEfcO
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1ZwnEqqhX
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。」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG63XNvM9v3
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3tSymwXpI
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。」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8t0UQ0WmVh
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkU9h9eCJtd
「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。」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr08ovZ8Oyt
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKOqBHW84h
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？」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6f0awtR2lC
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHyLKd0EWh
「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。」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvXV3eUq6D
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2iHWJgsTv
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。」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLfbfJHSyO
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVXmgCrjEb
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。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZk6Kwit1J
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9FG9qWN46
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。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrb7juHfvMU
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9IW1dNXxE
府門打開，兩位江東少女同時深吸一口氣，踏進袁府大門。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIasFJc6nq3
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6e4ZE3roSL
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrW9UUFt5tk
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzF3xj1ofVo
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxY1fgfRtU
兩人依著婢女引領，步入袁府深處。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyo3NNyMBA8
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP13VNb2DJW
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。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuD7BkZ4vQq
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFljx1bt1c
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。」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumWihV7Atv
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaKltAi1P8
房內傳出一聲溫柔回應：「讓人進來罷。」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXzSD5NUqL
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnlZMbtoJa
婢女將房門推開，大喬與小喬步入房內。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7SWecmXkS
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQihhDSzrl
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。」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokH526juY5
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJ9IRa751t
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。」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtrSY3g8YX
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMROOxdYbUt
「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？」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFi09YoiGB
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJtcxnZWaW
小喬心頭微暖，幾分緊張不覺散去，甚至露出一絲笑意。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQ8XOoW1hq
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm80MO4lFqH
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。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxlWrANxTW
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3OlVG2zW0
「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？」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnkhwCeday
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5f64CoRdc8
小喬有些受寵若驚，輕聲答道：「多謝夫人。」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5aJVWCHPQ
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMv9gjPxunb
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。」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAJIm5GVXD
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhFGUV4ZZW
大喬俯身道：「謝夫人賜名。」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32pPnBwfxP
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLAqIZhBLx
「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。」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4iG6vR4xV
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsLYfDFj2Z
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。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCui3IrQZIT
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsj0UijTwT5
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。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAjFRFkVVv
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnXBh0qaGL
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。」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF93ajU7j8B
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSEz9hVywL
語氣仍溫柔如水，卻已暗藏告誡。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetG03LVomU
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl84j41kFHX
小喬聞言乖巧點頭：「奴婢記住了。」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJCTfYlbf4
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMHo1Svp34
大喬則含笑應下，心中的警戒卻更深了一層。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FJxbemABQ
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIOYhhmdiU
「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。」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rBkm0xPdb
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZcjvxxFwD
兩人再次行禮，轉身退出房間。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgHhXq3PNw
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8srarX6SJ
屋內漸歸寂靜，香煙裊裊。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Y2kNwekNK
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIA9zeOqbxc
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：19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYUv18zfcB
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMgJgv1H8Z
「人是挺好說話，倒不難使喚……可生的太美了，未必是件好事。」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9m0lcmzfPa
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BKa7I2KaD
她將茶盞放下，語氣如霜：19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡic82R0Juwz
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKTo3kw32J
「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。」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iaqZCkMj0
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7azFmq5el
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……」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS47hjqXdch
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXm8ECBSkLU
劉夫人抿嘴沉思。半晌，她的嘴角勾起一個陰險的弧度。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIw6QErRQ2
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Mcw3az6hL
「算了，還是讓我親自來吧。」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkzraZwDzp
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraj2UdHy0d
房內的香氣在氣氛的凝重下，此刻竟帶有幾分寒意。
