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。144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyr9ma1Xdm
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypprAMOzwW
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。144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJhe5seK7W
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNamPcobKp
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？」144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6fblZiKCw
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinp5VmGWpU
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。」144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bJYj43tQD
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIts7Ofjkz
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。144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBxmeJVQBI
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcTSeCLFAP
「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。144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FH5eGmanP
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElPF2isC8L
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。」144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbMeatljrf
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA73JrWI5Ai
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。144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhm8yHY0AUl
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNukkCMyDWG
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！」144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuTcMS7K71
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1L4ewHdFJ
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。144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjD588MVWr
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iN4qh5UYL
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszEe7ftdsV
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMHIh5aFub
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeF6usdKuCH
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。144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpfDEzwubW
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5yWKnWeEo
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。」144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWQ9sWPZWj
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjylpBBbwqx
小喬蹙眉思索：「連周瑜大人都查不出來，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。」144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pCn3uABQb
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhmuV7SR1W
「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。」144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XsgNKKkgx
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Ch9irVWzr
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？」144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaMYeyZw30
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3XSvsH6PY
「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。」144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZjwbabE0f
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwG17FBzBE
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。」144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcSnrH8fpL
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfhnl3VQMv
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。144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsmS1Y1NE2
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnljrzjZ2r
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。144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlzwbHmin6
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOiUJnHCBv
府門打開，兩位江東少女同時深吸一口氣，踏進袁府大門。144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHq6YvzywvZ
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7osCjhTkA
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5zlxvPhow
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGTxvF6yES
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WpI9P7gn8
兩人依著婢女引領，步入袁府深處。144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFtz2a1MnO
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorIYq0MXdV
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。144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MlcIrOt2k
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvsMv9dvYO
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。」144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDVrZXAbL0
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWLIaMwiIt
房內傳出一聲溫柔回應：「讓人進來罷。」144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ074DMx5b1H
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxHBp6yxii
婢女將房門推開，大喬與小喬步入房內。144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewFxII3a5m
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9TMAl8yip
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。」144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssnFiZxGUq
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNNYKH4mht
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。」144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWl5MAigyW
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgC6FRAFMU
「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？」144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzh5ZDjyZhq
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKr69EFIfq
小喬心頭微暖，幾分緊張不覺散去，甚至露出一絲笑意。144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsz3QwdSve
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7pr0THZqe
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。144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCBg0EwnvY
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8pl9sFHFt
「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？」144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszV60YqkVB
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9B8Num0UfZ
小喬有些受寵若驚，輕聲答道：「多謝夫人。」144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrVdVHYc2d
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIFS5ofVHe
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。」144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxmPcyh43E
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMILmhJMn0
大喬俯身道：「謝夫人賜名。」144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62hhVXXDey
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cumtOsvyv
「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。」144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Wd07rTtYM
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHoIUvW8zm
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。144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCS1atuBaz6
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfFrB4Mu7Q
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。144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yaG0a8LBL
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPUldtaBxb
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。」144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZAd1lOoov
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6arLnqxvC
語氣仍溫柔如水，卻已暗藏告誡。144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GrswnN1Mz
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdjf7tfzgN
小喬聞言乖巧點頭：「奴婢記住了。」144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkgGDSOxiS
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3xKZu5oxY
大喬則含笑應下，心中的警戒卻更深了一層。144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdLape7kiG
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaRfFM9NyN
「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。」144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuV13m0ahR3
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFPjmBwGhb
兩人再次行禮，轉身退出房間。144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJ1e0x4rGn
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNu4QDgsIe
屋內漸歸寂靜，香煙裊裊。144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrehX5cA6cX
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5V5vXwIrs
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：144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoKTx2mGii
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG347hE10As
「人是挺好說話，倒不難使喚……可生的太美了，未必是件好事。」144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jY3STF8ia
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiONw8OeGV
她將茶盞放下，語氣如霜：144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNr2lvg5s3b
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzZFoEi0MV
「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。」144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOX1zvwdtJ
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcszmjk6EL
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……」144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOosNeglhLj
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QAKisAck2
劉夫人抿嘴沉思。半晌，她的嘴角勾起一個陰險的弧度。144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGVMkVA7Qz
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEIdqSMywb
「算了，還是讓我親自來吧。」144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTY7g6bZmx
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHurtnhphkI
房內的香氣在氣氛的凝重下，此刻竟帶有幾分寒意。
