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。25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡae6weduHyA
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrplehJIky
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。25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lhyeQ56cN
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH63un0ENJP
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？」25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKWFiJiltU
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyJwpyrsSa
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。」25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuUaBxbpyt
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxOXXA1yFU
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。25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0J7Uv5o1Fx
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfW1MonQ3e
「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。25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVDR6qKdOc
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiGE5w4FHu
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。」25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibIM3DJGPT
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKMiR199b9
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。25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdzbOsqKFc
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71NXpvUCSq
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！」25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUQyZzfD46
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNDDCxcZke
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。25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbCE5RfkvV
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQB6lOpZWK
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDZdlqEhxB
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKmTDhDtb6
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SI1BG0emp
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。25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaCmFb5PWx
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJNRzjvOt0
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。」25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkAuqJ17me
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd92HFWLQ5i
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。」25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNQglVnbI5
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMkI6mtHz5
「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。」25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaqswLS1C1
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLN3IopOM6
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？」25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVCVhKAAxB
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFaV009yxQ
「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。」25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAi962Ouae
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJMcG6OHx6
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。」25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpVmRO8Ffi
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsArYgQ4FH
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。25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbed1E9ZhS
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPFaXS6h1a
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。25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZvbLYuwDL
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnijOAIsmqV
府門打開，兩位江東少女同時深吸一口氣，踏進袁府大門。25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExuqCHD5ak
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZNAJluRjH
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1n0MUGVUee
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcDbYv74mr
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfDjICt7BS
兩人依著婢女引領，步入袁府深處。25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvw2JOarmTE
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYICzPcoae
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。25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIQ7fIBHy2
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXOLNagjyi
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。」25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgimxBVklF9
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxm7Da08rr
房內傳出一聲溫柔回應：「讓人進來罷。」25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJHEFY6RkG
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokujMDj81S
婢女將房門推開，大喬與小喬步入房內。25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiDgW0exxf
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7FC9UVLpo
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。」25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAtbMfcQ89
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGE7b17gL8
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。」25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgbKyFLhz6
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxjc1m4qvm
「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？」25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaXU9NP36A
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bm3CFcUYk
小喬心頭微暖，幾分緊張不覺散去，甚至露出一絲笑意。25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvbUvsa8XI
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYNpTSz4g6
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。25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkeWLYuZjA
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUli0PevKN
「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？」25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdh2zhrP7Rq
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2AsX6xEGD
小喬有些受寵若驚，輕聲答道：「多謝夫人。」25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZuuvl8is6
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmexLW7w9Ec
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。」25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVGMaYlVuJ
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr20ZKJ0bs5
大喬俯身道：「謝夫人賜名。」25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzTVcgAn9h
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHGURmSGpO
「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。」25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzhSmLgMan
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtawntkAZ6
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。25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYvvQHZh9k
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQq1GP6bmPg
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。25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZWyVdXYQa
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWXZ6GcLpI
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。」25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7hiFM5qvS
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaNaPnery7
語氣仍溫柔如水，卻已暗藏告誡。25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeH0gWypAW
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42mcSbxU2S
小喬聞言乖巧點頭：「奴婢記住了。」25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrR5Bz5iCS
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9T7TYDeFbb
大喬則含笑應下，心中的警戒卻更深了一層。25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKQW3FzTvX
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnavjzcpFS9
「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。」25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6jJLFkCzg
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnV7IhOlSZU
兩人再次行禮，轉身退出房間。25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQak9L7kGX
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡID7P9f2iay
屋內漸歸寂靜，香煙裊裊。25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGt77mlKL4
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZORY15hEG
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：25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzJzE4xLQk
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRfZmdFbWB
「人是挺好說話，倒不難使喚……可生的太美了，未必是件好事。」25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnYlS50mIT
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ157ZQ1DudO
她將茶盞放下，語氣如霜：25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlMhJJQIli
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSBALnTe7l
「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。」25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmD9OQA0UH
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVPPWM5AQk
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……」25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYG9JcAZAT
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrWcVdjCuD
劉夫人抿嘴沉思。半晌，她的嘴角勾起一個陰險的弧度。25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGU6qsX913a
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOvbgiS2dp
「算了，還是讓我親自來吧。」25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxo3eFwvBj6
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Z7fsK2Aym
房內的香氣在氣氛的凝重下，此刻竟帶有幾分寒意。
