「老爺,石榴樹開花了。」婢女奉上清茶以後,不經意地說。247Please respect copyright.PENANAB2bikv8z45
247Please respect copyright.PENANAXgJ7z0K8kv
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。247Please respect copyright.PENANAaiwX0DGv2w
247Please respect copyright.PENANApMIyP7B8cN
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。247Please respect copyright.PENANA6mlu8BCnv0
247Please respect copyright.PENANAgNTrXaP33p
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。247Please respect copyright.PENANAvqEPsKTZ3b
247Please respect copyright.PENANAZEBeQXgfk7
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。247Please respect copyright.PENANAqkpgkULVpL
247Please respect copyright.PENANAgCsdVvxzfk
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。247Please respect copyright.PENANABit4tJDwLU
247Please respect copyright.PENANACyYA0zTpVi
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。247Please respect copyright.PENANAmip5fVAMVw
247Please respect copyright.PENANAbIVY8Sg3T7
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。247Please respect copyright.PENANA5ESQmtLdw1
247Please respect copyright.PENANAcMvxNrtV28
愛憐和擔憂在他心中交駁。247Please respect copyright.PENANAKb8xHgag6k
247Please respect copyright.PENANA8EFlbZPPOu
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。247Please respect copyright.PENANA4fsjWJrTaV
247Please respect copyright.PENANAZP54V3cpuW
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?247Please respect copyright.PENANAYbUjQtlgla
247Please respect copyright.PENANA2O28C8Dicl
昔作芙蓉花,今為斷腸草。247Please respect copyright.PENANAeUa9hacFNk
247Please respect copyright.PENANAhoiUtjFmBB
這段詩句莫名浮上心頭,忽起了不祥的預感。247Please respect copyright.PENANAShC4QD7ZGM
247Please respect copyright.PENANAAdCMW1OMGA
春光稍縱即逝,美麗女子能得幾時好?247Please respect copyright.PENANAJ092PqqNbG
247Please respect copyright.PENANA3DuncofqRj
知府之女也曾燦如夏花,失蹤後生死未卜,父母哀慟逾恆。247Please respect copyright.PENANAC7tulvkCOr
247Please respect copyright.PENANAhsB2EBNSLa
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。247Please respect copyright.PENANAxlbVCNJ7TL
247Please respect copyright.PENANAMHBMxTJGg8
偏廳大門安靜地開了又關,他依然沉默無聲。247Please respect copyright.PENANA9j5Xsicy8y
247Please respect copyright.PENANAgR2ngde7qb
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。247Please respect copyright.PENANANeFg0s0Omo
247Please respect copyright.PENANAJICzcDPh53
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。247Please respect copyright.PENANAcxsvNl9Kqb
247Please respect copyright.PENANANYIIBFGAKO
「終於來了嗎?」曲名海沉聲說完,視線依然牢牢盯著院子裡。247Please respect copyright.PENANA7JWtnatLka
247Please respect copyright.PENANAk9qAuZhMH7
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。247Please respect copyright.PENANAgSN0G7f7oR
247Please respect copyright.PENANAtNwjx5uGiS
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。」247Please respect copyright.PENANA8kybAmY8an
247Please respect copyright.PENANALdky2ocdkU
他點點頭說:「走吧。」247Please respect copyright.PENANAww8eHXFRXd
247Please respect copyright.PENANAC5yw87XdMl
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。247Please respect copyright.PENANAdooIp0izl4
247Please respect copyright.PENANAQSP3FWLWJa
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。247Please respect copyright.PENANA2HbD3Q93nu
247Please respect copyright.PENANA0zPqSVDEqo
范慶增一見他走來便拱手行禮,「曲大人,大喜啊!」247Please respect copyright.PENANAtRXQl8C335
247Please respect copyright.PENANAwmOByPZX2z
「范大人到訪,蓬蓽生輝,敬請移駕正廳用茶。」曲名海拱手回禮。247Please respect copyright.PENANAxNyDoKfzku
247Please respect copyright.PENANA24XUgHS8qi
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。247Please respect copyright.PENANAdwDPkeFjwq
247Please respect copyright.PENANAXxBLnVtOWh
「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。」247Please respect copyright.PENANA5KWDfksoTu
247Please respect copyright.PENANAf9llp3jUyz
「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。247Please respect copyright.PENANABVUK421TWt
247Please respect copyright.PENANAQKaeQ6mHct
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。」247Please respect copyright.PENANAaPeU31neiS
247Please respect copyright.PENANAX2vhKek8wD
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……」247Please respect copyright.PENANAIUpnRHvdjT
247Please respect copyright.PENANAjzid89aj8w
「是二十七房!」范夫人又喜孜孜地搶話。247Please respect copyright.PENANAI7PCTvRbwU
247Please respect copyright.PENANAsDA1ws94xH
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?」247Please respect copyright.PENANAcpzIUrm1IG
247Please respect copyright.PENANAtgWB7wy6AR
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。」247Please respect copyright.PENANAuR9xsvsutf
247Please respect copyright.PENANAZM6Zk4tI4V
「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。247Please respect copyright.PENANAaKNgX4OtOz
247Please respect copyright.PENANABJ41NPS8zK
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。247Please respect copyright.PENANAcWdYlg9vo3
247Please respect copyright.PENANAQiTPOyWcJ1
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。247Please respect copyright.PENANATQpyTVSmTg
247Please respect copyright.PENANANa1iO6A8Mr
「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。247Please respect copyright.PENANAnIACWLDV0M
247Please respect copyright.PENANAFS7yw8NzAL
她必然是聽下人們說了。曲名海心想。247Please respect copyright.PENANAhLgqgR1EoU
247Please respect copyright.PENANAbXfbE2nmNu
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。」247Please respect copyright.PENANASuFDb78hfR
247Please respect copyright.PENANAGXiJYzc0v4
「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。247Please respect copyright.PENANANm3pDvHAoW
247Please respect copyright.PENANAtyQyB6ALPW
「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。」247Please respect copyright.PENANAPlyTFPJdlj
247Please respect copyright.PENANAZ67di6ixI8
一時之間,鴉雀無聲。247Please respect copyright.PENANAZU52CAwiKw
247Please respect copyright.PENANAPjBBQO0pBQ
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。」247Please respect copyright.PENANA5Y0XAVjwwS
247Please respect copyright.PENANAGaM0FgEc8J
「方總管,」曲名海語帶威脅地說:「送客!」247Please respect copyright.PENANAwxJbkBlt6r
§247Please respect copyright.PENANAOIReX6HeYi
247Please respect copyright.PENANAXAA70oG1oh
「他說什麼?」萬喜詰問,手指捏緊了酒杯。247Please respect copyright.PENANAtbDFHq3VFC
247Please respect copyright.PENANA3cnMPgMn7e
「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。247Please respect copyright.PENANA7AFzlrrfC7
247Please respect copyright.PENANAcJwyFb1cYw
萬喜將酒杯砸向屏風,酒液、碎片濺了一地。247Please respect copyright.PENANALitx6P9azb
247Please respect copyright.PENANA7N0KBGdAit
范慶增後退了幾步,他從沒見過萬喜如此惱火。247Please respect copyright.PENANAA9q7p1mWI6
247Please respect copyright.PENANA3RA5EbvHwN
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。」247Please respect copyright.PENANAMzJrPnFQS1
247Please respect copyright.PENANAACtBD5ZSqw
萬喜靜了半晌,抬頭對彤瑤說:「再倒一杯給我。」247Please respect copyright.PENANAPdREjyzZfs
247Please respect copyright.PENANANP4CtXqMbI
彤瑤依言,端來酒壺和新的酒杯。247Please respect copyright.PENANATZT76ZfS7l
247Please respect copyright.PENANApUl9tR8Axq
「曲名海有誰做靠山,竟然這麼狂妄?」萬喜問道。247Please respect copyright.PENANAUU4dxClDkY
247Please respect copyright.PENANArRxEWHMuaG
「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。247Please respect copyright.PENANAEDG2SehzW9
247Please respect copyright.PENANAxlsufLRzgE
「不過就是個工匠嗎,我就不信整不倒他。」萬喜道。247Please respect copyright.PENANA5fnbbpHEaE
247Please respect copyright.PENANAfMMylhPhyD
「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。」247Please respect copyright.PENANAfFTc3c7Ugt
247Please respect copyright.PENANA84Q75j1jIp
「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。」247Please respect copyright.PENANA3mJLTXhRYJ
247Please respect copyright.PENANAraLrcXddKt
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。247Please respect copyright.PENANApF0oGHeGDX
247Please respect copyright.PENANAO2fDSsEnMS
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。247Please respect copyright.PENANAs8nx7FW8bb
247Please respect copyright.PENANAfrnfKi0ZuL
京城之中,風起雲湧,人心惶惶。
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