直到現在,從夢中醒轉的瞬間,她還以為自己仍漂在海上。327Please respect copyright.PENANAw5paIS1rz9
327Please respect copyright.PENANAAB4pyp3iE9
天旋地轉,搖搖晃晃。惺忪睡眼被眼淚佔據,所及處盡是模糊的邊界;久未活動的身軀有些沉,就像在短短一夜間經過無數寒暑般,無垠世界感覺既遙遠又接近。她眨眨眼,骨碌碌探向四周:房裡沒有別人,隨侍的媵哲不在;周圍很安靜,只有遠處零星的巡邏隊腳步聲。天色尚未全亮,想來媵哲該是體貼自己,所以沒有太早來打擾她。327Please respect copyright.PENANAPSMEWxoLCD
327Please respect copyright.PENANAwgw4hSbJMY
昨夜喝多了。327Please respect copyright.PENANAO7tVO6LwB9
327Please respect copyright.PENANAVP3cvByCn2
平日她並非酗酒之人,興許是太久不曾如此放鬆,一時間才忘記分寸,好在她直到睡前都還保持理智,沒讓那些人抓到把柄。之後可不能這麼喝,不,之後就不能喝了,連偷喝也不行。因為他不喜歡。327Please respect copyright.PENANAL18iv3boOp
327Please respect copyright.PENANAiH2Yg8AEed
她從臥榻上站起,盡可能不發出任何聲音,拖著踉踉蹌蹌的腳步走向房間另一頭。薰香在她沉睡時熄了,氣味逐漸散去,僅剩若有似無的清甜。多虧這香,她一夜無夢,至少慶幸沒遭夢魘纏身。不知還有多少夜能像昨晚那般安眠?今日踏出房門,屬於自己的戰爭就會開始吧。327Please respect copyright.PENANA5Eoq7gGVI8
327Please respect copyright.PENANAj2Qp6Qf1sZ
倘若那人現在還活著,這國家會是什麼光景?自己又會如何?327Please respect copyright.PENANABYsH81rRjc
327Please respect copyright.PENANA0bRzZttEqW
愣了半晌,最後還是搖頭放棄,沒發生的事實在難以想像。反正時局如此,怪就怪她走得太遲,也怪那人走得太早;所以那人做不了國王,自己也當不成王后。可是這樣才好,哪個女人會想嫁給餘命不長的男人?即使那人薨時不過三十有三,一切始料未及。327Please respect copyright.PENANAxDihm6H83c
327Please respect copyright.PENANA68Wm74wHnB
況且,王后的頭銜,對她來說太沉重了。327Please respect copyright.PENANAFrtBZ2zxKK
327Please respect copyright.PENANAZC05Pjp5Ny
兩年前剛登上船,她就開始想家;如今身處異鄉,她習慣了變化,反倒覺得一成不變的日子枯燥乏味。位子越往上高一階,責任與拘束便多加一重。雖然身為女人本就不自由,但至少下方的空氣還是比較新鮮。327Please respect copyright.PENANAR2vfVfDjGo
327Please respect copyright.PENANAPdtg68Jl0b
在她被當作瘟神推來推去,以為自己要在異地當個未嫁寡婦時,那人的兒子卻應允娶她為妻。本來還擔心迎接她的會是乳臭未乾的毛孩,幸好最後前來的他與她年齡相仿,甚至比她大上幾歲。難怪隨行的使者會說,現實總是比最曲折離奇的夢還荒唐。327Please respect copyright.PENANAKZrmGc4Ywn
327Please respect copyright.PENANAgISaxqYnMx
因為種種因素,他並沒有繼承父親之位,而是當個安分的貴族;跟她一樣,不上不下的。或許因為這樣,她才會對他抱著些微好感,不過目前是不可能再多了。她與他雖留著同族的血,崇山峻嶺的相隔卻讓兩國的生活方式大異其趣,就算她接受過各種教育,某些風俗早已知曉,實際遇到卻仍教人難以適應,像是飲食的戒律。327Please respect copyright.PENANAnN3svXTt8E
327Please respect copyright.PENANArRz48OzddE
她望了一眼地上錯落有致的瓶罐,裝滿各色乾果、糖、香料、茶葉、上好牛黃;一旁精巧的小桌雕著棕櫚葉紋,其上象牙製的寶盒裝著簡單的珍珠飾品,銀製油燈擦得晶亮;地上則有一疋疋五顏六色、種類繁多的布帛,光是認得的就有提花錦緞、天鵝絨、絲綢和羊毛織毯——就算如何地困頓,貴族面對終身大事似乎還是不敢馬虎。327Please respect copyright.PENANAP0bQX8ZUa2
327Please respect copyright.PENANA5177QpKfBo
她突然想起遠嫁途中,曾問一位精通漢語的媵哲:「哈屯」該用何字才能適切地同時表示其音義。只見媵哲在薄薄的紙上,恭敬寫下「合敦」二字。她不解其意,便令對方解釋。327Please respect copyright.PENANAgdwYlcFu9p
327Please respect copyright.PENANAGrEwvMXEJO
「珠聯璧合,敦世厲俗。」327Please respect copyright.PENANA9guCcnZLmM
327Please respect copyright.PENANA18GOoQCP2I
珠聯璧合,星辰如珍珠般成串,日月如璧玉般併合;美好的事物薈集,恰如佳偶匹配。夫婦相互扶持、同心同意,共同振興世風,使人民純樸敦厚。媵哲說,這八字的涵義便是如此,符合高貴血統之女應盡的本分。327Please respect copyright.PENANA5pPN2OUpEb
327Please respect copyright.PENANAv6YzlBUA4m
「振興世風」的目標過於模糊、遙遠,那「相互扶持、同心同意」呢?誰配合誰、要和誰同心同意,答案呼之欲出。人生在世,總得有所犧牲。327Please respect copyright.PENANAw46iATR5P1
327Please respect copyright.PENANAFMqi9rZnVd
327Please respect copyright.PENANAxdixD8ZPaG
327Please respect copyright.PENANAkBdjt2vNIk
「好個『珠聯璧合,敦世厲俗』啊……」她喃喃自語。327Please respect copyright.PENANA334aImDOlz
327Please respect copyright.PENANAmZQtXKoeTm
327Please respect copyright.PENANANCxuyjj6I0
327Please respect copyright.PENANA8mz0AMGATA
禮品雖多,卻沒有酒囊,當然更別說忽醚思了。聽說他堅持滴酒不沾——看來昨夜的「小酌」,還是別讓他知道的好。327Please respect copyright.PENANAbmkwUuh7ZN
327Please respect copyright.PENANAHKKAVdSMyN
327Please respect copyright.PENANAuhErP7M8h3
327Please respect copyright.PENANAi0ZdFS3aKx
(完)327Please respect copyright.PENANA1ng6PwX5nL