直到現在,從夢中醒轉的瞬間,她還以為自己仍漂在海上。318Please respect copyright.PENANAgAinlJ34BZ
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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。318Please respect copyright.PENANAI0s8VVbRwz
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昨夜喝多了。318Please respect copyright.PENANAViX7FchRLa
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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。318Please respect copyright.PENANAd2z33rG20d
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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。318Please respect copyright.PENANADSa92Kvaqp
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倘若那人現在還活著,這國家會是什麼光景?自己又會如何?318Please respect copyright.PENANAkoENuF4n0q
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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。318Please respect copyright.PENANAKBFi3iwRYX
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況且,王后的頭銜,對她來說太沉重了。318Please respect copyright.PENANAgPlWyMGzFS
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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。318Please respect copyright.PENANA269fSXkczB
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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。318Please respect copyright.PENANAlxy6Yp2oyS
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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。318Please respect copyright.PENANAVqL5NZpaEH
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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。318Please respect copyright.PENANAyblbGhpIax
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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。318Please respect copyright.PENANALPCWQNCMTn
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「珠聯璧合,敦世厲俗。」318Please respect copyright.PENANARgIkmqVYTl
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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。318Please respect copyright.PENANAf6WbzdTyKt
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「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。318Please respect copyright.PENANAbbAu100IGz
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「好個『珠聯璧合,敦世厲俗』啊……」她喃喃自語。318Please respect copyright.PENANA6RJJRz1B6E
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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。318Please respect copyright.PENANA1xOIFL0Fvz
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(完)318Please respect copyright.PENANApWat6h09Gr