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。25Please respect copyright.PENANA0teqwordAz
25Please respect copyright.PENANA30YtQX5lUo
兩側門柱之上各有一副對聯,上聯寫到:25Please respect copyright.PENANAy5sbMf7Fsn
山色壯金銀——惟以不貪為寶。25Please respect copyright.PENANAzt215dG9AM
25Please respect copyright.PENANAV7tEGTEtDf
陸遐走近細看下聯不由讚道,“妙極。”25Please respect copyright.PENANAZU3b9lk5Da
25Please respect copyright.PENANAWudoYbnWOa
下聯寫到:江流環鐵石——居然眾誌成城。25Please respect copyright.PENANA5b6tBwU50O
25Please respect copyright.PENANAwSRspKm8L9
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。”25Please respect copyright.PENANAJDvJ9PY5GO
25Please respect copyright.PENANAry2CRKZox7
陸遐遞過拜帖,便於門前靜立等候。25Please respect copyright.PENANAGtKH1A51bf
25Please respect copyright.PENANA756Epzde7X
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANAZHEWbQclXd
25Please respect copyright.PENANAHdRD7GYRkl
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。”25Please respect copyright.PENANAu9sAwBdSBy
25Please respect copyright.PENANAulE53x8ZVY
那人文氣甚重,氣度瀟灑,陸遐朝他見禮,“大人如何稱呼?”25Please respect copyright.PENANAbAlNmvTnBq
25Please respect copyright.PENANAqS31H6ey4t
他還了一禮,“不才刺史府文書,蕭賀。”25Please respect copyright.PENANAJWhcI14gVi
25Please respect copyright.PENANAjPat3HRmsl
“有勞蕭大人。”25Please respect copyright.PENANAB0j4lUnti5
25Please respect copyright.PENANAELdKsE17Vc
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANAHMYXIrjsIb
25Please respect copyright.PENANA35lrK00mwG
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANAwtbasdPVCu
25Please respect copyright.PENANAjGq7wM1x3i
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANA04xz4lcptF
25Please respect copyright.PENANABNPHq2yCgA
聖上便將之賜予路文亮。25Please respect copyright.PENANAbSck7YT7R3
25Please respect copyright.PENANAytmq8yEHNF
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANALkFTPuCP2R
25Please respect copyright.PENANAKHQCisCugk
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANAv35Dg9BRsp
25Please respect copyright.PENANAeefPPFyJ0f
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANA1HRdlyF1Vc
25Please respect copyright.PENANAQeb2HV39Sc
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。”25Please respect copyright.PENANAjbIAMU0gYY
25Please respect copyright.PENANAb6r5gqn4Ty
“勞煩大人帶路。”25Please respect copyright.PENANArdX57DOBj0
25Please respect copyright.PENANAcHl95fhkE2
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANA4nidszWDcM
25Please respect copyright.PENANAZCHdCEAlqL
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANA1XFx8RJ905
25Please respect copyright.PENANAVa8r0nrPeW
心裏暗暗驚疑。25Please respect copyright.PENANArD3IeL0fE8
25Please respect copyright.PENANAEtlbVfkdiQ
隻聽得前方有一人道,“蕭文書這是往哪裏去?”25Please respect copyright.PENANAUTIWKUkwS0
25Please respect copyright.PENANA3JxZNUgAqk
“大人要見客,讓某引客到偏廳。”25Please respect copyright.PENANAeyJMgt4Iv3
25Please respect copyright.PENANAnzlYNIzPyP
“你們兩位這是?”25Please respect copyright.PENANAVMI6K5LdY7
25Please respect copyright.PENANAUYZ1nsUdG0
“正要回去歇息,就不打擾蕭文書了。”25Please respect copyright.PENANAy5g2ufB5U0
25Please respect copyright.PENANAq985BCMSuh
“告辭。”25Please respect copyright.PENANA59x1XUxMsW
25Please respect copyright.PENANAxvTiaTW5TP
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANA9s8iXiGKXE
25Please respect copyright.PENANAqx1omuM26n
那人的聲音在哪裏聽過呢?陸遐猶自思量。25Please respect copyright.PENANAnC6rnJDbGa
25Please respect copyright.PENANA0bjz6tRTey
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?25Please respect copyright.PENANAhZgz5szcGr
25Please respect copyright.PENANAvyHWxctxNO
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。”25Please respect copyright.PENANAmtEEgCKORj
25Please respect copyright.PENANAywhouy1Ejx
“無妨。”她語意溫雅,蕭賀不疑有他。25Please respect copyright.PENANAladFZ3qvWh
25Please respect copyright.PENANACT4dGsDueC
與她同入偏廳內,等陸遐坐定,早有服侍的丫鬟送上清茶。25Please respect copyright.PENANALP7u8tFUtU
25Please respect copyright.PENANAmc3Q1ahse6
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANAFJMUzPnv4N
25Please respect copyright.PENANAHbn75Zxfhq
上首掛著一副芭蕉竹石圖。25Please respect copyright.PENANAX5lVDInxp2
25Please respect copyright.PENANAHwVtxyENVx
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANAvDeYZZnZDZ
25Please respect copyright.PENANAgmCxK9cYJc
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANAJJeQ3HUXza
25Please respect copyright.PENANAcNSSwFDBPl
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?”25Please respect copyright.PENANA9dmYP24pTm
25Please respect copyright.PENANAwAmR1JeoGD
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANAw8wZcHpFi3
25Please respect copyright.PENANAcGeesl2Ysa
心裏卻疑道,這老者怎麼有熟悉之感,倒像從前見過的。25Please respect copyright.PENANAlz68ydnaGE
25Please respect copyright.PENANAaPjEBtkNOd
陸遐意欲行禮,那老者抬手示意不必。25Please respect copyright.PENANAaZnTSbQW2l
25Please respect copyright.PENANA25eA9yDcJC
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?”25Please respect copyright.PENANAa2DQ600cwk
25Please respect copyright.PENANADi8R5WPchy
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。”25Please respect copyright.PENANAV5IYVVWfMR
25Please respect copyright.PENANAhszve3Zva6
“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。”25Please respect copyright.PENANAFAjHnUtUIm
25Please respect copyright.PENANAMNtS4LqTfN
陸遐沉思片刻,以手指畫,“隻是…此畫此處稍顯不足。”25Please respect copyright.PENANAAvjBSOFodP
25Please respect copyright.PENANA5TSyQ0uVx6
“何以見得?”那老者來了興趣。25Please respect copyright.PENANAEVsx9stlrQ
25Please respect copyright.PENANAHm0bWAKziQ
“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。”25Please respect copyright.PENANAqeYnRcyUal
25Please respect copyright.PENANA2janqjDcUK
一人疏朗豪闊,一人尚且稚嫩。25Please respect copyright.PENANAcelj52DFXx
25Please respect copyright.PENANArLL3QbPdO0
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANAVT5AGMAWTe
25Please respect copyright.PENANAUSriVcEOL2
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。”25Please respect copyright.PENANAK0h57aK21t
25Please respect copyright.PENANA4ZecBKtiFf
“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…”25Please respect copyright.PENANA3pVWj0zxHA
25Please respect copyright.PENANAzZojbqukuW
“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。”25Please respect copyright.PENANA6gRv6Wd2fv
25Please respect copyright.PENANAmMEEmIxxZX
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANAMBBi9pDl8z
25Please respect copyright.PENANAsnfQo1lnmM
“這裏不必拘束。”觀畫畢,老者示意她坐。25Please respect copyright.PENANATtAjblmLyc
25Please respect copyright.PENANAkB0KMNNHz6
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANAGv1KgdGiSF
25Please respect copyright.PENANAxXVCm4qGnU
此時聽得古大人吩咐,不由高看一籌。25Please respect copyright.PENANAI3qIUXSKxB
25Please respect copyright.PENANADLxo1ujoft
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?”25Please respect copyright.PENANAn3fR0fsSub
25Please respect copyright.PENANA082UARf4Jm
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANA2k4r2vr5Mb
25Please respect copyright.PENANAO36YFYsB3r
“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。”25Please respect copyright.PENANAHITfkSCo7e
25Please respect copyright.PENANAgJq7q2RJ1T
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANA0hEJmL4I2V
25Please respect copyright.PENANATxLEzVU8r5
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANAinLS3iDFuJ
25Please respect copyright.PENANABzjdy8ZAHO
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?”25Please respect copyright.PENANAq4UgmgAD4R
25Please respect copyright.PENANAiuxOlLkKk1
“天和十八年。”25Please respect copyright.PENANAESFZlpbWl1
25Please respect copyright.PENANAEEYmIZwyXY
天和十八年她年方九歲,正入書院鴻飛先生門下半年。25Please respect copyright.PENANAVS1TPWYXzQ
25Please respect copyright.PENANAhJNczgHrix
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANAeeU1ir7W9S
25Please respect copyright.PENANAJW6VSw0l6V
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANA3ZMPh2RLNx
25Please respect copyright.PENANAxhESoRTix9
下了帖子邀約,鴻飛果然帶她欣然赴約。25Please respect copyright.PENANAwrpXR68tFJ
25Please respect copyright.PENANAPAWG48yZ8Y
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANAaXPaVvvcWD
25Please respect copyright.PENANASNMbTShk04
諸位夫人也愛她沉穩,恨不得將她帶回去當自家女兒。25Please respect copyright.PENANAENEbY9eemL
25Please respect copyright.PENANA2PcG8KvVOm
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!”25Please respect copyright.PENANAoEwFEBtdnW
25Please respect copyright.PENANAJdGFpW734w
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。”25Please respect copyright.PENANAyo6S3IjoLK
25Please respect copyright.PENANAvgPXUpmmtZ
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?”25Please respect copyright.PENANAYGb1y4Tuzq
25Please respect copyright.PENANALTvfMGPlV1
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。”25Please respect copyright.PENANAdRM7asJbWT
25Please respect copyright.PENANApOopJC33pm
“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。”25Please respect copyright.PENANAw8PFdRWAe6
25Please respect copyright.PENANATpu6TbHhbj
後來鴻飛果然前來,她卻不再見了。25Please respect copyright.PENANANpXmZ7cR6q
25Please respect copyright.PENANADYyojRYm6m
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANAht3T6O3RFi
25Please respect copyright.PENANAONPGL95KlD
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANAJyXYy1rBnB
25Please respect copyright.PENANAV5jVRKTIGE
那時他便想,這個女童著實有趣。25Please respect copyright.PENANAFeev8JUkEg
25Please respect copyright.PENANAjbnmqeOUCh
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANA6h1L807VJw
25Please respect copyright.PENANAYsbVKISnRS
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANAfIfBuAZDFQ
25Please respect copyright.PENANADzFmKCrvD2
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANAYRLEnn19X0
25Please respect copyright.PENANAjMb8XIpBgh
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANAFn3fOJXYZM
25Please respect copyright.PENANA4d8zpTOylo
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANAJHP1tdn7Lg
25Please respect copyright.PENANAkOG3CoyfkY
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANApsthT4DKh2
25Please respect copyright.PENANAHrDx8Z4w6M
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANAU6ahU50hrk
25Please respect copyright.PENANANakoIxRhpq
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。”25Please respect copyright.PENANAK8999UEueN
25Please respect copyright.PENANARDwJomcKPA
陸遐察覺言中未盡之意,不由一凜,行禮鄭重應下,“多謝大人。”25Please respect copyright.PENANAcYtyEGMKFg
25Please respect copyright.PENANAJGctPWutyf
“能得你教習,是他之幸。”25Please respect copyright.PENANA6UFm50ESq2
25Please respect copyright.PENANA76xUecuUiy
“不敢。”25Please respect copyright.PENANA1NaZUemovT
25Please respect copyright.PENANAudRIECdChM
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。”25Please respect copyright.PENANAiRAQA6AMiB
25Please respect copyright.PENANA3V9WPmFYf0
“無妨。”25Please respect copyright.PENANASFSxhv14du
25Please respect copyright.PENANA71uXfdqoLL
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANAk5Fi6ec68O
25Please respect copyright.PENANAuD6oTXCQ5e
庭外光照正盛,他站在偏廳門口回望廳中畫作,久久不動。25Please respect copyright.PENANAHnOD0P5Hpj
25Please respect copyright.PENANAOabDOmTlVG
“大人。”蕭賀回稟,恭敬道,“陸姑娘離府了。”25Please respect copyright.PENANAHpdqReVMqP
25Please respect copyright.PENANAMofnqxbfjh
“知道了。”25Please respect copyright.PENANAGvCMjP6jEz
25Please respect copyright.PENANAnNTiEZXSL7
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…”25Please respect copyright.PENANA0PeAb9ltbg
25Please respect copyright.PENANACB4BCSgmUn
蕭賀肅立在一旁,並不敢言語。25Please respect copyright.PENANAuk3wdkLMxo
25Please respect copyright.PENANApdalZU0BVa
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。25Please respect copyright.PENANAIpOpmeMjxc
25Please respect copyright.PENANAVNbfModnCt
“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。25Please respect copyright.PENANAFWda07ZzFV
25Please respect copyright.PENANAzLpQJ07163
“你又逃課!”25Please respect copyright.PENANAtrBllqfLZ6
25Please respect copyright.PENANAz300928Crj
“沒有,夫子許我歇息片刻。”25Please respect copyright.PENANAY2hkSLEHCC
25Please respect copyright.PENANACsmYexFUfA
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!”25Please respect copyright.PENANAuZnccJSYfd
25Please respect copyright.PENANAz8YyzGUokZ
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。”25Please respect copyright.PENANAyoOUjjuwvp
25Please respect copyright.PENANAhvbxa1i9BU
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。”25Please respect copyright.PENANA2VVvK57sFa
25Please respect copyright.PENANA0BTwjz3220
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…”25Please respect copyright.PENANAjy4WfOv3Xk
25Please respect copyright.PENANA4iMY0YL1yT
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!”25Please respect copyright.PENANAN6evnZfIFF