端州刺史府邸位於主城南街,與陸遐他們落腳的地方正好一南一東,府前有兩隻青石雕就的石獅子,紅漆大門之上,懸掛著黑底金字的匾額。19Please respect copyright.PENANAVMXK1qbkds
19Please respect copyright.PENANAMwwqdQqZsQ
兩側門柱之上各有一副對聯,上聯寫到:19Please respect copyright.PENANA4lPEPVBCzE
山色壯金銀——惟以不貪為寶。19Please respect copyright.PENANAMuc38FK3Ay
19Please respect copyright.PENANAnBMkKT1bHX
陸遐走近細看下聯不由讚道,“妙極。”19Please respect copyright.PENANAj913R9KeRi
19Please respect copyright.PENANAAefAIBqvpB
下聯寫到:江流環鐵石——居然眾誌成城。19Please respect copyright.PENANAD9i6pabJy2
19Please respect copyright.PENANAyEuZ7GqDxq
府前門衛見來了一個女子,一襲天青色長裙,眉目清雅,不敢怠慢,隻上前肅然道,“刺史府重地,無關人等不得靠近。”19Please respect copyright.PENANAC39bc5ByRy
19Please respect copyright.PENANA3PwRanNCC8
陸遐遞過拜帖,便於門前靜立等候。19Please respect copyright.PENANAelzPqbKnG1
19Please respect copyright.PENANA2LX8Q6haEe
正是午後時分,街上行人不多,見她候在門口,有人投來好奇的探視。19Please respect copyright.PENANA30kENQskE9
19Please respect copyright.PENANAL3fmlTPOET
等了片刻,門內有一中年文士迎了出來,年約四十開外,他臉色白淨頜下蓄須,手持拜帖,“陸姑娘,請隨某到府內等候。”19Please respect copyright.PENANAxWYRksDbtz
19Please respect copyright.PENANAt5ONQG3Hvf
那人文氣甚重,氣度瀟灑,陸遐朝他見禮,“大人如何稱呼?”19Please respect copyright.PENANAUdpNuCuyMz
19Please respect copyright.PENANA97kw36jITP
他還了一禮,“不才刺史府文書,蕭賀。”19Please respect copyright.PENANARMHO1ayYJK
19Please respect copyright.PENANAJ2q2OYUdBM
“有勞蕭大人。”19Please respect copyright.PENANA7EBpygf8f1
19Please respect copyright.PENANAg78O6vq4ic
陸遐隨蕭賀入內,刺史府一入內,迎麵便是一堵照壁高牆,石雕刻得生動流暢,足見匠人功力。19Please respect copyright.PENANA0OKK7mkGWM
19Please respect copyright.PENANAUnEYGwenWc
若是旁人看浮雕上所刻,隻怕要把它當作一副麒麟吐月圖,陸遐卻知在當地百姓口頭,這是一隻名為犭貪的怪獸。19Please respect copyright.PENANAivowENCNQd
19Please respect copyright.PENANAD2hjxvGk5t
原來端州相傳有一名叫路文亮的文士,他多年在朝中為官,彼時異邦進貢一名叫叫犭貪的怪獸,生有鹿頭、獅尾、牛蹄、龍麟,威風凜凜,性情異常凶猛,旁人皆不敢近身,隻有路文亮能製服。19Please respect copyright.PENANAreoTaFdgmE
19Please respect copyright.PENANAAYcMuRcYNu
聖上便將之賜予路文亮。19Please respect copyright.PENANA3lfeW6Aygj
19Please respect copyright.PENANAaUBzoJcbA3
後來他年老體衰辭官,帶著犭貪回了端州老家,因病去世後,怪獸也漸漸失去管束,偷食百姓飼養的牲畜,禍害田裏的稻穀,這隻犭貪最後因貪食水塘中的月亮倒影而溺死於塘中。19Please respect copyright.PENANAdwDvPsqyqM
19Please respect copyright.PENANAE6apAh6KK8
此照壁立在此處便是警醒後人,做人要厚道,為官清廉。不為官著也應以此為戒,戒除貪念。19Please respect copyright.PENANABSbCSRXc2L
19Please respect copyright.PENANACOzCZ0qkUg
待繞過照壁,迎麵的草木之氣令陸遐眼前一亮,眼前是一個僻靜清幽的前院,假山、池塘、流水,相映成趣,並無一絲奢靡之氣。19Please respect copyright.PENANA11TY33FBp3
19Please respect copyright.PENANAkwUPClACax
蕭賀信步引陸遐繞過前院,廣袖輕揮,“今日不巧大人正在會客,陸姑娘可隨某到偏廳等候。”19Please respect copyright.PENANAFH3khpdjd8
19Please respect copyright.PENANAY3zTEV7U2B
“勞煩大人帶路。”19Please respect copyright.PENANA4QzgIEyNUw
19Please respect copyright.PENANAX57iFNc4Uc
陸遐隨他踏過回廊,稍後幾步,隱隱聽見回廊另一道轉彎處有兩道說笑聲,由遠及近。19Please respect copyright.PENANAaVzu4ggcAx
19Please respect copyright.PENANASFgCsvNrGH
那兩人笑聲疏朗,其中一道聲音清亮耳熟,陸遐凝神細聽卻一時想不起來在何處聽過。19Please respect copyright.PENANAeaau8YUj3m
19Please respect copyright.PENANAUrvR2VacSg
心裏暗暗驚疑。19Please respect copyright.PENANAhCI7TpIq3b
19Please respect copyright.PENANAjPOvCT4K6i
隻聽得前方有一人道,“蕭文書這是往哪裏去?”19Please respect copyright.PENANApLVyTlfrNU
19Please respect copyright.PENANAkwjtXxmSgI
“大人要見客,讓某引客到偏廳。”19Please respect copyright.PENANAMMBIswTk0w
19Please respect copyright.PENANAd0NyXVgL4E
“你們兩位這是?”19Please respect copyright.PENANAgMqz5uYtyj
19Please respect copyright.PENANAHunVPLpVMq
“正要回去歇息,就不打擾蕭文書了。”19Please respect copyright.PENANAYP8AZcM1s8
19Please respect copyright.PENANA3edauEzyoz
“告辭。”19Please respect copyright.PENANAhvfiZTsjSR
19Please respect copyright.PENANAhYcrpBDtxI
兩人步伐邁得極快,陸遐隱約看見稍後那人一截粗布藍衣的衣角沒入濃濃綠意中。19Please respect copyright.PENANAJp5rbz3HE1
19Please respect copyright.PENANAWOoDSlc2gd
那人的聲音在哪裏聽過呢?陸遐猶自思量。19Please respect copyright.PENANA8tXiMj0meM
19Please respect copyright.PENANAsJ8mwq2og0
見陸遐看向兩人消失的方向,蕭賀喚道,“陸姑娘?”可是有什麼不妥?19Please respect copyright.PENANA90oTS3J8nP
19Please respect copyright.PENANA57Nd4EYLR9
陸遐環視一周方笑道,“府中花木繁多,頗覺幽靜雅致,讓文書大人見笑了。”19Please respect copyright.PENANAjtyvCIb9xG
19Please respect copyright.PENANAYJ03JxS4ho
“無妨。”她語意溫雅,蕭賀不疑有他。19Please respect copyright.PENANAYfo6UdQQRH
19Please respect copyright.PENANAPjBomNmPW1
與她同入偏廳內,等陸遐坐定,早有服侍的丫鬟送上清茶。19Please respect copyright.PENANA3cNn4lCM72
19Please respect copyright.PENANAfCOJ1z8BGf
偏廳上首置有一套桌椅,下方兩排待客用的榆木椅子,倒與平日所見的偏廳布置不同,極為簡樸。19Please respect copyright.PENANAOd6gTr8ubW
19Please respect copyright.PENANAMXzyoavR6D
上首掛著一副芭蕉竹石圖。19Please respect copyright.PENANADJfZrDrfM7
19Please respect copyright.PENANAQ3NpUiSf7w
畫中竹勢挺拔向上,用筆有豪爽奔放之意,陸遐起身細看,越發覺得畫上竹石與蕉葉相映成趣。19Please respect copyright.PENANAUNQ1ULmtG1
19Please respect copyright.PENANAFzFHVvdm0e
再看了會兒,不覺此畫有些奇怪,口中輕咦了聲,眸光幾閃,看向右側,畫上並無落款也無鈐印。19Please respect copyright.PENANAD9vd7VJqia
19Please respect copyright.PENANAuhuZwCGG2Z
她正在沉吟畫中古怪之處,門外進來一個精神矍鑠的老者,衣著樸素,朗聲道,”此畫如何?”19Please respect copyright.PENANAjoyZfjovJe
19Please respect copyright.PENANAczmCU30dRr
陸遐回眸,文書蕭賀恭敬隨在那人身後,垂手侍立,想來老者就是古大人無疑了。19Please respect copyright.PENANAWvveZqVcqI
19Please respect copyright.PENANAW0J6jNy0sP
心裏卻疑道,這老者怎麼有熟悉之感,倒像從前見過的。19Please respect copyright.PENANAe49AkO6eIF
19Please respect copyright.PENANA6q5YrhSLym
陸遐意欲行禮,那老者抬手示意不必。19Please respect copyright.PENANAMEKXyBsBLv
19Please respect copyright.PENANAh1WKBhfJ6p
他背手站於陸遐身側,一手捋須,銳利目光仍舊看著那副竹石圖,“此畫,你怎麼看?”19Please respect copyright.PENANAbav0t6etWD
19Please respect copyright.PENANAP7LjxNLOcR
語意親和無刁難,陸遐不推辭隨他目光看去,平和道,“落筆雄健,有馳騁縱橫之勢。”19Please respect copyright.PENANALzBfm7j8qC
19Please respect copyright.PENANAewCc0o0IHV
“竹勢挺拔有力,正中取勢,作畫人應是疏朗正直之人,蕉葉與之相映,濃淡相宜,兼具雅趣,作畫之人功力可見一斑。”19Please respect copyright.PENANA76x721RxOr
19Please respect copyright.PENANAqr8Ho63mhA
陸遐沉思片刻,以手指畫,“隻是…此畫此處稍顯不足。”19Please respect copyright.PENANANVcj2r3jEs
19Please respect copyright.PENANAhsqtJF8QSu
“何以見得?”那老者來了興趣。19Please respect copyright.PENANAHkIi8wNrQv
19Please respect copyright.PENANAWkGiDxnoUo
“畫中柱石雖然以寥寥幾筆勾勒,有精簡疏闊之意,可惜筆法不夠老練,無法與竹勢、蕉葉輝映,此畫倒像…”她斟酌再三,“倒像是兩人合力之作。”19Please respect copyright.PENANA8Ad2Iy31IO
19Please respect copyright.PENANAnuEy1IGMoU
一人疏朗豪闊,一人尚且稚嫩。19Please respect copyright.PENANAFYslIqdSzO
19Please respect copyright.PENANAdsySjCIi2l
兩種筆觸並存,她方才還道自己應是看錯了,眼下越發肯定自己猜想。19Please respect copyright.PENANApYlchOcAmy
19Please respect copyright.PENANA2caws7mhxr
古偃和看那秀雅的女子評畫,目中讚賞之意愈濃,“此畫確是兩人所作,你說得半分不差。”19Please respect copyright.PENANA17bibXIBgd
19Please respect copyright.PENANAb6xgU3V6ZA
“那落款…”陸遐有心想知道是何人所畫,古大人搖頭,“我那友人畫得半幅,道日後補全,誰知…”19Please respect copyright.PENANAV41rdi64VW
19Please respect copyright.PENANA46KcrjlDDg
“後來友人後輩巧合之下續畫,道無印章不肯落款。兩人真真一模一樣的脾氣。”19Please respect copyright.PENANAVv8mCRqI7T
19Please respect copyright.PENANAKyPSbeg0a6
話裏有感概之意,陸遐沉吟半響,並未聽說有人擅畫芭蕉,古大人話裏沒有多少線索,隻得作罷。19Please respect copyright.PENANAg5RoE4U7MB
19Please respect copyright.PENANAWKcQqKyrAW
“這裏不必拘束。”觀畫畢,老者示意她坐。19Please respect copyright.PENANAS0TsEgkX80
19Please respect copyright.PENANAKtTTv1Lc8E
蕭賀起先侍立在旁聽他們談論畫作,不免訝異於此女眼力,要知道這副畫掛在偏廳許久,往來的客人、觀畫者無不道此畫筆力不俗,卻無人敢猜是兩人合力之作。19Please respect copyright.PENANAps7WL6wjiC
19Please respect copyright.PENANAqkQHK5WdEF
此時聽得古大人吩咐,不由高看一籌。19Please respect copyright.PENANAQnlkxA8tNl
19Please respect copyright.PENANAwyH6po5HYh
他話裏親和似有熟稔之感,陸遐驚詫將心頭疑問道出,“您…學生從前見過?”19Please respect copyright.PENANA3yGHgw2O5b
19Please respect copyright.PENANAZ5Xo4cqiOI
原想他與書院有舊,作為晚輩應來拜訪,可看眼下光景,倒像是舊相識了。19Please respect copyright.PENANAk73wSPZeUs
19Please respect copyright.PENANAiOYwLOESsp
“自然。”古偃和吹開茶梗,輕飲口茶,笑道,“當年你和鴻飛先生來過府中宴席。”19Please respect copyright.PENANAQwuZBMtANJ
19Please respect copyright.PENANAaqQzyILPxK
能稱得上先生的,齊朝中不過書院那幾位,蕭賀聞言一凜,拱手告退。19Please respect copyright.PENANAz7tHL0nBLr
19Please respect copyright.PENANARfsnHluxCX
壽宴、先生…陸遐凝神,她入門晚年紀最小,鴻飛先生極愛護她,當年似收到一封請柬,讓她隨同。19Please respect copyright.PENANAq8jbfDJN17
19Please respect copyright.PENANAvmvCyqrYLj
可去的是哪位大人的府邸,她方入京分辨不清官職,“敢問大人是哪一年?”19Please respect copyright.PENANAwDKUhvVv6w
19Please respect copyright.PENANAXWXTU0mi04
“天和十八年。”19Please respect copyright.PENANAgAnrbx6jlT
19Please respect copyright.PENANAjkisrpJssK
天和十八年她年方九歲,正入書院鴻飛先生門下半年。19Please respect copyright.PENANAqOsKcDR5GO
19Please respect copyright.PENANAaOCkDVlN9p
女子煙眉輕蹙,古偃和心下一樂,這皺眉的模樣倒有幾分當年的影子,她那時方入京,也難怪不記得。19Please respect copyright.PENANAGfsjdZK2sO
19Please respect copyright.PENANAV6GaCN6b34
當年鴻飛外出雲遊,帶回來一小小女童,他雖然嚴厲,在一眾老友前卻極力誇讚,說徒弟年紀雖小但生性聰敏,字畫進益非常,說得眾人心癢癢。他們幾人想趁席上一見,考校一番,殺殺鴻飛的銳氣,免得他尾巴翹到天上去。19Please respect copyright.PENANAH9tsioT5Mx
19Please respect copyright.PENANAoY8cBGaoJA
下了帖子邀約,鴻飛果然帶她欣然赴約。19Please respect copyright.PENANAznFPICm2my
19Please respect copyright.PENANAqxB1pJeGAw
當年宴席上玉團一般、稚氣未脫的孩子,年歲不大,已看得出日後性子,她年紀小偏偏極穩重,麵對眾人輪番提問對答如流,不卑不亢、進退有度,席上眾人皆驚異。19Please respect copyright.PENANAhNFwdVtkgU
19Please respect copyright.PENANAFNe5lmsi8l
諸位夫人也愛她沉穩,恨不得將她帶回去當自家女兒。19Please respect copyright.PENANA4IJat4X5sy
19Please respect copyright.PENANAlttwJCOv6Q
晚間他們另擺宴席,一眾好友皆赴宴。席上鴻飛難得喝醉,醉了吟詩,直道,“後繼有人,後繼有人!”19Please respect copyright.PENANAyYeB4YKJOC
19Please respect copyright.PENANAss2Zxj77vw
撤席後,那孩子著人安頓自家先生,安置妥當才下馬車鄭重對他行禮道,“多謝大人。”19Please respect copyright.PENANAzIelyHAkFX
19Please respect copyright.PENANAVOBSjqU2tM
古偃和記得自己饒有興趣地問,“你家先生大醉,你一番辛苦為何謝我?”19Please respect copyright.PENANAnke9WRHL6R
19Please respect copyright.PENANAWlK4J24wzp
小小女童站在階下,應聲道,“先生與諸位大人誌趣相投,相談甚歡暢飲一醉,這是好事。先生對陸遐有大恩,此恩無以為報,正苦於不能令他開顏,今日他盡情一醉,陸遐心中感念,故而多謝大人。”19Please respect copyright.PENANA9pCgu8Gk7z
19Please respect copyright.PENANAXsfzygNfoZ
“隻是先生為人端方,酒醒必會懊惱壞了諸位大人雅興,屆時再來向大人賠禮。”19Please respect copyright.PENANAaGEPf9pBaE
19Please respect copyright.PENANAvn2foUC3jH
後來鴻飛果然前來,她卻不再見了。19Please respect copyright.PENANAgalqznu6vf
19Please respect copyright.PENANAH8i9HzW7G4
隻在京城傳聞中得知她字、畫雙絕,畫了一副畫,得書院哪位先生誇讚,或者寫得一副好字,京中千金難求。19Please respect copyright.PENANAC9MQCQbDUH
19Please respect copyright.PENANANWLiDVDmi2
每每這時候古偃和總想起那朦朧燈火下,女童明摯、清透的目光。19Please respect copyright.PENANAJ14wyRbeXh
19Please respect copyright.PENANAqPas2W3ALv
那時他便想,這個女童著實有趣。19Please respect copyright.PENANAq6TSQhZk0h
19Please respect copyright.PENANA7ss9OmRN2L
之後眾人各奔前途,他也因家中變故,不得不遠赴端州任職,更是不得見了。19Please respect copyright.PENANAGFK0dHrSyO
19Please respect copyright.PENANAj4m8sJfxBz
兩年前京城故友傳來消息,道當年的女童已得先生名號,受封玉印,他一時欣喜萬分,開懷痛飲。19Please respect copyright.PENANAla2fK7BeZf
19Please respect copyright.PENANA8fb0PYtP87
卻不料後續又傳來鴻飛先生不顧眾人相勸斥她下山,更逐她離開書院,她就此沒了音訊。19Please respect copyright.PENANA1P5nn4n2AO
19Please respect copyright.PENANAU64Q2ELpha
他想起當年相識的情分嗟歎不已,幾番去信書院詢問鴻飛,皆沒有回音。19Please respect copyright.PENANAkttz8ShM8w
19Please respect copyright.PENANA0ocRdp9cx0
誰想刺史府送來的文書竟署她的名字,門衛也送來拜帖,古偃和起先隻疑心是同名同姓之人,猶豫再三仍舊差人回複。19Please respect copyright.PENANA8hbqrwbHUE
19Please respect copyright.PENANAMPGupTEEHL
待看清她立於廳中身影,方知不是冒名,真是她來了端州,他…此生餘年還能再見故人。19Please respect copyright.PENANAYdL8tn5zRf
19Please respect copyright.PENANAtPHMgtML54
當年那孩子已長成溫雅秀美的姑娘,古偃和不免有白馬過隙之感概,隻覺日月如梭,聲聲催人老。19Please respect copyright.PENANAqt9AQyqaGB
19Please respect copyright.PENANALQ9A4m6wmT
古偃和輕歎,眸中懷念,良久道,“老夫膝下有一孫,年幼父母雙亡,如今隨我在端州,性情頑劣疏於管教,你可願教他讀書作畫?你若願意,明日起便來府中吧。”19Please respect copyright.PENANAV1uakoj8mu
19Please respect copyright.PENANAPTksGWmUGy
陸遐察覺言中未盡之意,不由一凜,行禮鄭重應下,“多謝大人。”19Please respect copyright.PENANAKmtLPhsrrn
19Please respect copyright.PENANAhgKKDv0jaL
“能得你教習,是他之幸。”19Please respect copyright.PENANAPAbGhmcB4A
19Please respect copyright.PENANAiKVIBj11QO
“不敢。”19Please respect copyright.PENANA6uelEIKmef
19Please respect copyright.PENANAoPx6fEdpyB
陸遐還欲請教古大人端陽之事,卻見古大人以目視門外,微微一笑,她心中警覺起身告辭道,“今日叨擾,多謝大人。”19Please respect copyright.PENANAv6XbzBmU9w
19Please respect copyright.PENANAAnmUv7QTk9
“無妨。”19Please respect copyright.PENANAxkMqO9anbi
19Please respect copyright.PENANAXACVoYpfeu
古偃和讓仆役送陸遐出府,待她身影漸遠才點頭,多年不見,她果然還是這般聰慧。19Please respect copyright.PENANANMEnyuEOoj
19Please respect copyright.PENANAkfrUGdW54t
庭外光照正盛,他站在偏廳門口回望廳中畫作,久久不動。19Please respect copyright.PENANAHaJEEkRIXE
19Please respect copyright.PENANASi2xEWDmED
“大人。”蕭賀回稟,恭敬道,“陸姑娘離府了。”19Please respect copyright.PENANA6GbnSoj8eE
19Please respect copyright.PENANAfKDTrGG1iV
“知道了。”19Please respect copyright.PENANAjTNXZjzjwd
19Please respect copyright.PENANAGo06pkl2E3
古偃和半響才從袖中取出一紙,展開墨香猶在,正是刺史府報知路引損毀一事的文書,眼中神色晦暗難明,“…偏偏是這節骨眼…”19Please respect copyright.PENANAo7CCQ6XdkQ
19Please respect copyright.PENANA0XLmCuO2O0
蕭賀肅立在一旁,並不敢言語。19Please respect copyright.PENANAVuGueOBLPN
19Please respect copyright.PENANADMha2nAr36
古偃和看到院中草木繁茂,有欣欣向榮之意,才稍散心頭霧霾,蒼老的眼中漫開幾許笑意。19Please respect copyright.PENANAzCuaAKL0dO
19Please respect copyright.PENANAKRLdkDoy29
“祖父,今日得空陪濤兒玩一會兒吧?”院中跑來一個粉雕玉琢的孩子,他眼睛滴溜溜地一轉,抱住古偃和衣服下擺道。19Please respect copyright.PENANATXhzkmWcX8
19Please respect copyright.PENANA3DZnV2bdnZ
“你又逃課!”19Please respect copyright.PENANArPbU0vOVtv
19Please respect copyright.PENANAIKG9rXvvlc
“沒有,夫子許我歇息片刻。”19Please respect copyright.PENANA6LjbV7einr
19Please respect copyright.PENANAL81Q3dmOlP
古偃和搖頭,作勢抱他,“濤兒今日多吃了一碗飯嗎?不然怎麼重得抱不動?哎呀!祖父連腰也動彈不得!”19Please respect copyright.PENANAolck0LxJFI
19Please respect copyright.PENANATLER8QxUVX
那孩子抬頭咯咯地笑,拍手道,“我知道!這就是您之前說過的,腰上生硬骨罷。”19Please respect copyright.PENANAqW0BFVsDKy
19Please respect copyright.PENANAWVrOEoZt5I
古偃和俯身捏捏他清秀的臉頰,和藹道,“是嗎?濤兒記得多少說來聽聽。”19Please respect copyright.PENANApIHmmCkZoS
19Please respect copyright.PENANAsrof4ENYXr
小小孩童記性頗佳,皺著小臉道,“上次您故事裏不是說了嗎?當年鄰國使臣欺我齊朝無人,在壽宴上以金銀撒地賞賜眾人…”19Please respect copyright.PENANAtIMHqfQmEv
19Please respect copyright.PENANAloY4J1rKId
古偃和嗬嗬一笑,捋須不言,聽那童音接續道,“席上有一女童巍然不動。眾人問其故,女童答:生來硬骨,不能折腰!”19Please respect copyright.PENANAGWp7LwKDDk