「老爺，石榴樹開花了。」婢女奉上清茶以後，不經意地說。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iNxQ3PvTC
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCxuekZJfD
曲名海望向窗外的石榴樹，石榴花紅艷如火。這麼早？往年這株石榴都要等到初夏才會開花，現在是四月，那麼今年的寒氣必然也會來得早，他該吩咐織工開始準備宮中秋冬所需的錦緞皮草了。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡej532mGjQa
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Rn5bT4NLW
石榴幽幽的陰影下，他一一檢視作坊送上來的成品。這一批是為宮中后妃們裁製夏衣所用的衣料，大多是珍珠紗和府紗，襯在翟衣裡穿著，既顯飄逸，又沁涼舒適。布色有玫瑰紫、天藍、翠綠、墨綠、淺絳香色，他特別囑咐過染工，用色要別緻秀逸。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BErbuUYNX
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJ7aMiCRH6
另張案台上端放著后妃們平日插戴的宮花，太后喜歡各色寶石，他要金工們在宮花上鑲綴了珍珠寶玉，以悅后意。這是歷代織造局的不傳之密：想得聖上歡心，必先取悅太后。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMw2j7VTLdh
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkqGdDg8Wp
繽紛的宮花中夾藏著一口金匣，匣內是給東廠廠公尚銘的規禮。自從尚公在內庫見到一株七尺長的珊瑚樹，便時常對下人們暗示他也想要。曲名海想方設法，好不容易讓人在天竺國找了一株，雖然矮了一截，僅有五尺五，但尚公公是懂規矩的，作下人的不可逾越主子分際。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnoh26CGjC
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsRApMaTW1
朝中百官只要一提到東廠，人人談虎色變，其實尚銘這人，既不陰毒也不狡詐，不過就是貪財而已。若是因案被東廠請下詔獄，家屬只要談好價錢乾脆付銀子，人就會無恙歸來，而且還完好如初，至少不會遭到酷刑凌虐致殘。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAYWuyBmdR
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75ve7knvY9
該有的禮數絕對不能少，一直以來，曲名海就是憑著身段柔軟、利益均霑，才得以仕途順遂至今。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UJZmfQvSB
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwOEHTVBKB
曲名海的視線移向花園裡正嬉耍玩鬧的冰月，他美麗的小女兒，他的掌上明珠。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtEgMZi65k
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaalVOnSpaj
愛憐和擔憂在他心中交駁。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhm2MZh2Q3f
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWFVIQYh4J
冰月採了散沫花來染指甲，一陣忙活以後，指甲沒染成她想要的紫紅色，而是變成了怪異的青紫色，她揮舞著青色指爪想將顏彩抹在下人身上，嚇得丫環小廝四處逃竄。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwFff81KWi
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdkaVT1bM5
曲名海無奈地搖搖頭，這孩子被他給慣壞了。若是離開父親羽翼的庇護，不知她要如何生存？307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKq5MsRrjox
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqBOvlTV04
昔作芙蓉花，今為斷腸草。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkinao6Utay
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JPpN8fGpz
這段詩句莫名浮上心頭，忽起了不祥的預感。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmqBbHr2Wq
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOBlKlhXDP
春光稍縱即逝，美麗女子能得幾時好？307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxu3RZ9C2x
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpS08mc2bW
知府之女也曾燦如夏花，失蹤後生死未卜，父母哀慟逾恆。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOVHzS4GeU
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbg8uUEs737
即使要他拚上身家性命，他也絕不會讓同樣的事發生在冰月身上，絕不會。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WCZ4uYy2i
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbYBvnZDOb
偏廳大門安靜地開了又關，他依然沉默無聲。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrD4Sdzd0s
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLc9F3C3BS8
這座府第原是周定王府，周定王為永樂帝朱棣的同母弟，永樂帝遷都燕京後，周定王隨駕遷居，這座宅子便空了下來，直到先皇御賜予曲家為居所。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjHDmVj8Yo
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzA4ZHFztY
據說在靖難之變前，朱棣就是在這座葆光廳與周定王共謀起事。而今他總在此廳處理公務，藉此提醒自己：注焉而不滿，酌焉而不竭，而不知其所由來，此之謂葆光。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEi9gsni5z
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhZhMd6Zu9
「終於來了嗎？」曲名海沉聲說完，視線依然牢牢盯著院子裡。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpSKkYiNdr
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9d7syNoUOe
冰月正用指甲上的染料抹了某個小廝一頭一臉青紫，目睹的人都開懷大笑。即使身在屋內，曲名海還是能聽見她開心的笑聲，望見她雙頰紅豔如枝上石榴。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAeN0oFsKz
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINReNgN7Tu
府裡的總管不曾移步，依然站定在議事廳門階之前，「是的，老爺。」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgku95DgzBe
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7k30c1pLrF
他點點頭說：「走吧。」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkEo28ZDVr
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuuBEj0G3w
曲名海走出議事廳，步下迴廊，筆直朝著轎廳前去，迴廊之北是府中園林，名曰「五福園」，因藏有先皇御筆所提的五個福字而得名。現在他們曲家，真的需要多一點福分才能擋住眼下之災。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7LtPwTuZo
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZbdaczCFz
前來送禮的人龍有如一道五彩的河流，浩浩蕩蕩地湧進轎廳。隊伍人數眾多，少說也有近百人，扛著箱籠的家丁、侍衛、還有幾名僕婦。在隊列前方領頭的是夫婦二人，曲名海認出穿著孔雀補大盤領朝服的人是禮部郎中范慶增，那麼跟隨在側的應是范夫人。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBVXdaOL6t
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pgeYiNzRs
范慶增一見他走來便拱手行禮，「曲大人，大喜啊！」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fAPMtwBs2
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNfqTl86AJ
「范大人到訪，蓬蓽生輝，敬請移駕正廳用茶。」曲名海拱手回禮。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVU3UItln3B
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyFVsgaQET
總管將范郎中夫婦迎進正廳入座，幾個抬著箱子的僕役也隨之步入廳堂，由他們沉重的腳步聲判斷，這些箱匣都裝滿各色禮品。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3j5WE8kcv
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9QWj3Y7AE
「曲大人，今日下官是替當朝國舅萬喜大人提親來的，」范慶增啜了一口僕役奉上的清茶，堆著滿臉笑意說道：「萬大人欲迎令千金為妾，命下官執節行納采、問名禮。曲大人所見的都是萬大人所備的聘禮，金冊內附有詳細禮單，曲大人若無異議，眼下訂好佳期，萬大人不日就可前來迎娶，成就一樁大喜事。」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3yMEFPvQ0
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTB2xg6a23
「能跟當朝國丈結為親家，無怪乎昨夜我曲家祖墳上冒了青煙啊！」曲名海冷冷地說。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK91rCPLusO
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsa1F2xpsaM
范夫人沒瞧見曲名海鐵青著臉，還逕自接話說道：「曲大人平步青雲以後，可千萬別忘是我們倆夫婦作的媒，屆時還請多加關照我家老爺。」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1s83Y3ANT7
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOOxGbDnVS
曲名海淡淡地說：「能攀上國舅爺，當然是門好親事，只是我聽說，國舅爺有二十六房如夫人……」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYo3YYfk9Xs
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbVym2d3SM
「是二十七房！」范夫人又喜孜孜地搶話。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8K0N1x3zy
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROYwTXdq6t
曲名海挑起雙眉瞪視著范慶增夫婦，「所以小女是嫁與國舅作為第二十八房妾室，若是小女生了孩子，還不計作老夫的外孫，而是大房太太的子女。如此說來，老夫何喜之有？」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Gfe8M7Up8
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YGQ9QrLUs
范慶增使了眼色要他的夫人閉嘴，換上虛偽的笑容道：「雖是妾室，以令嬡這般出眾的相貌，必定獨受萬大人寵愛。萬家一門，普受聖上恩澤，曲大人成為萬家的姻親後，仕途自然一路順遂。」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVWSSoYYTO
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9ErZNKJqt
「老夫有八個兒子，五十歲方得一女，全家寵愛倍至，老夫絕不會為了官位，賣了自己的愛女給人作妾。」曲名海怒斥。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyCefml3J4
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhp9wg6KRv4
細碎腳步聲響起，所有人都轉過身去，曲名海輕喚聲音的主人進門。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24Dffak0NN
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMg1Og59Fy
即使雙手有著青紫色指甲，冰月只需站在門口，就能使窗外百花相形失色，連多嘴多舌的范氏夫婦都頓時無語。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JyGVrWtZ7
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSG2EnxFE8h
「這些是要給我的嗎？」冰月斜視著地上的箱匣，露出譏諷的微笑。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztbBwAUbxl
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiM3vycYxlI
她必然是聽下人們說了。曲名海心想。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOIhCnGe0G
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBxAbSk3Yu
范夫人連忙上前，令人將大小箱盒一齊打開，「小姐大喜啊，瞧瞧這東珠，可有鴿蛋大小，這全是萬大人送給妳的。」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcN4zeHWy2
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUlvY51Y36
「哦？是嗎？我只知萬大人肥得像頭豬。」冰月伸起腳，匡啷一聲，將整只木匣踹翻了，內藏的珠寶傾瀉一地。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMV5mEw3PU
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC64XS0p0Oj
「給我聽好了，我寧可到沿尋樓去當窯姐兒，也不會嫁給一頭豬作妾。」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvozG9rDFUP
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyr7ZovFljg
一時之間，鴉雀無聲。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mhLDEt5Is
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiKkLkET29
曲名海傲然說道：「兩位都看到了吧，老夫無能，不會教女兒，才會將小女慣得如此粗野無禮，若是與人婚配，無論嫁到什麼人家，最後難免身犯七出，遭人休棄。老夫準備這幾日就送她出家去當尼姑。還請回報萬大人，萬家是皇親國戚，我們曲家高攀不起。」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ToRuQgohb
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGcALyYBqD
「方總管，」曲名海語帶威脅地說：「送客！」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKq1Lluq2tN
§307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGlVfJ5fRP
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgW2gXV1y2r
「他說什麼？」萬喜詰問，手指捏緊了酒杯。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡis0nBm15VL
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYAHEk0DoS
「曲名海說，這幾日就會把女兒送去當尼姑。萬家是皇親國戚，他高攀不起。」范慶增說。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBroCqttto
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qvPghZF9i
萬喜將酒杯砸向屏風，酒液、碎片濺了一地。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1d7TP7tge
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLK2QDvySmo
范慶增後退了幾步，他從沒見過萬喜如此惱火。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEJ6hlJcIx
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkKCZQFPE8
沿尋樓的頭牌，彤瑤姑娘倚過來為萬喜捏肩，柔聲說：「大人，別氣了，小心氣壞了身子。」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMC3VB97pB
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0J2enw4NAi
萬喜靜了半晌，抬頭對彤瑤說：「再倒一杯給我。」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VKZ6sJWV2
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddAIOvIRQ2
彤瑤依言，端來酒壺和新的酒杯。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0frobKAAcW
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3cDN4GEtj
「曲名海有誰做靠山，竟然這麼狂妄？」萬喜問道。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJDZq13r4J
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXE91JEj2bc
「他是先皇指派的御用監造，眼光精準，辦事牢靠。正統年間三大殿重修告成，命造九龍九鳳膳案諸器，他竟然三日內就全數辦成，先皇讚不絕口，特將周定王舊宅賜居。這些年他靠著皇上的賞賜、外藩進貢使節的餽贈、選送作坊匠役的庫銀，迅速積聚了豐厚的身家。」范慶增說。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzLbyjy7VB
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsJ0kZf0KZ
「不過就是個工匠嗎，我就不信整不倒他。」萬喜道。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Gzz1y2kkT
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoHiQ79RdX
「是這樣的，」范慶增察言觀色，小心翼翼地說道：「織造局郎中雖只是個五品官職，卻是個人人欽羨的肥差，曲名海幹了那麼多年，卻沒人扳得動他，光憑藉著禮數周到，長袖善舞，不但朝野上下，連後宮和京城諸官都收過他不少大禮，都得賣他幾分人情。要動他沒那麼容易。」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFptvDgksp
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfcnn3QVne
「這就麻煩了……」萬喜陷入沉思，自顧自地說道：「得找個沒收過他好處的人。」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWqqSpfDjq
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQR4vOIFAY
三日後，御馬監掌印太監汪直在內城中的舊灰廠設立了一支由太監和西緝事司組成的禁衛軍，通稱「西廠」，由汪直出任西廠提督，在京城中名聲鵲起。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZRllFcJjU
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcCFmGRBAm
耳語流傳，汪直上任第一天就明示下屬：東廠整不死的，我們整；東廠作不到的，我們作。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LYfMPXi2p
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQ3bW6b4v6
京城之中，風起雲湧，人心惶惶。
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