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。96Please respect copyright.PENANAdXeWr6kzvY
96Please respect copyright.PENANAu9xtnsZxBC
兩側門柱之上各有一副對聯,上聯寫到:96Please respect copyright.PENANAW2Fxf4Ugc4
山色壯金銀——惟以不貪為寶。96Please respect copyright.PENANAG2Kw4HtIPd
96Please respect copyright.PENANAj6t1WdCyKL
陸遐走近細看下聯不由讚道,“妙極。”96Please respect copyright.PENANA8QWn3J54l9
96Please respect copyright.PENANAFHHBunF3sQ
下聯寫到:江流環鐵石——居然眾誌成城。96Please respect copyright.PENANA1IgMluRqxu
96Please respect copyright.PENANAnPP8OGYCUD
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。”96Please respect copyright.PENANA5EHFGk2KDg
96Please respect copyright.PENANAcXfoWzXsuP
陸遐遞過拜帖,便於門前靜立等候。96Please respect copyright.PENANAPd0Ou0OIIb
96Please respect copyright.PENANAJL0tT2uFRK
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANAdncgUJHDTZ
96Please respect copyright.PENANALpOGn7d0EX
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。”96Please respect copyright.PENANANiMfTeItDT
96Please respect copyright.PENANA6hrlIFyFX6
那人文氣甚重,氣度瀟灑,陸遐朝他見禮,“大人如何稱呼?”96Please respect copyright.PENANAzfEUvtD2Ud
96Please respect copyright.PENANA084CdIFEom
他還了一禮,“不才刺史府文書,蕭賀。”96Please respect copyright.PENANAKVvGPjgjQm
96Please respect copyright.PENANAr4tJ0aIQPp
“有勞蕭大人。”96Please respect copyright.PENANA7VzLiCjJdS
96Please respect copyright.PENANAF0rCwIQrJW
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANAlJ5I6HTLXW
96Please respect copyright.PENANAuQ9S2u6hFC
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANAh9O0MR8L58
96Please respect copyright.PENANAQFLE2zUuop
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANAml0d2cKd2t
96Please respect copyright.PENANAIWEMEwpHN5
聖上便將之賜予路文亮。96Please respect copyright.PENANAuiBvGXV90j
96Please respect copyright.PENANAH0KN5x998z
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANAqdzSarKkIh
96Please respect copyright.PENANAVzk4T5xHoi
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANApIKJE9uUtG
96Please respect copyright.PENANAuvkOMCVMVL
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANArOdRnCMurb
96Please respect copyright.PENANAjADwSAiE1d
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。”96Please respect copyright.PENANAgVeis1e4iP
96Please respect copyright.PENANAO9EokB74VS
“勞煩大人帶路。”96Please respect copyright.PENANAhHYiQrt1Ay
96Please respect copyright.PENANAkXOJSfFTuk
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANA3nxovKoxj9
96Please respect copyright.PENANAN9n6gzLIEC
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANAkAujGBZ8iw
96Please respect copyright.PENANANi4k8uSCw5
心裏暗暗驚疑。96Please respect copyright.PENANAa70LClGXHg
96Please respect copyright.PENANAjMNUgbNNkd
隻聽得前方有一人道,“蕭文書這是往哪裏去?”96Please respect copyright.PENANALADXRVEEis
96Please respect copyright.PENANAfVqq3ZXRGb
“大人要見客,讓某引客到偏廳。”96Please respect copyright.PENANAi2zUZWyiUC
96Please respect copyright.PENANAv5pqqAf7SF
“你們兩位這是?”96Please respect copyright.PENANA8a9hh0pb2M
96Please respect copyright.PENANA8J4snbSLvB
“正要回去歇息,就不打擾蕭文書了。”96Please respect copyright.PENANACAGC9aywOi
96Please respect copyright.PENANAHflnL5ns8Z
“告辭。”96Please respect copyright.PENANAOzn3v6LcHO
96Please respect copyright.PENANAprMvBZwu2W
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANAADsDH7GmMa
96Please respect copyright.PENANAVZx9Qc8UPl
那人的聲音在哪裏聽過呢?陸遐猶自思量。96Please respect copyright.PENANAdJ4AFXU57t
96Please respect copyright.PENANAuwS2Yx2tUu
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?96Please respect copyright.PENANAQ5mrDDdT5A
96Please respect copyright.PENANA8tidQz42BT
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。”96Please respect copyright.PENANAXzwoS0uAE6
96Please respect copyright.PENANA0ycTOxnBKf
“無妨。”她語意溫雅,蕭賀不疑有他。96Please respect copyright.PENANA8szexPoJvn
96Please respect copyright.PENANAJi0wRr4UFU
與她同入偏廳內,等陸遐坐定,早有服侍的丫鬟送上清茶。96Please respect copyright.PENANAEs0j14R6yP
96Please respect copyright.PENANA7TmiFht7jo
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANA0YNWx5qPpS
96Please respect copyright.PENANAKI74J3SWuk
上首掛著一副芭蕉竹石圖。96Please respect copyright.PENANAFt3rk2kUZi
96Please respect copyright.PENANASVFNO3Qyyv
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANAdeX96DltqD
96Please respect copyright.PENANAKGYJBTuIRl
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANA7qLHqtAd9L
96Please respect copyright.PENANAAKHfhZlC5M
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?”96Please respect copyright.PENANAas1f6fDjJw
96Please respect copyright.PENANA2Yp1ARFvhJ
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANATtepMm5rA0
96Please respect copyright.PENANAqfa6NnFS4w
心裏卻疑道,這老者怎麼有熟悉之感,倒像從前見過的。96Please respect copyright.PENANAogmEqp772j
96Please respect copyright.PENANAORzgSbqpXU
陸遐意欲行禮,那老者抬手示意不必。96Please respect copyright.PENANANULCZURMGU
96Please respect copyright.PENANAyAsMt3ODtz
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?”96Please respect copyright.PENANAYh48v0Xju7
96Please respect copyright.PENANAy9xTJ4Ycjy
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。”96Please respect copyright.PENANA77T5JI3ogE
96Please respect copyright.PENANA9s3yBkMbH6
“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。”96Please respect copyright.PENANAQ8zBcJJkMh
96Please respect copyright.PENANA11idX7V96q
陸遐沉思片刻,以手指畫,“隻是…此畫此處稍顯不足。”96Please respect copyright.PENANAdZec7Lx7x3
96Please respect copyright.PENANAp4EozL0kvF
“何以見得?”那老者來了興趣。96Please respect copyright.PENANArkwzp4Q2Mg
96Please respect copyright.PENANAtWT37GeIZH
“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。”96Please respect copyright.PENANAJlxYiJh7Du
96Please respect copyright.PENANAR0Ehi0FQB0
一人疏朗豪闊,一人尚且稚嫩。96Please respect copyright.PENANAqY3lnFSsPX
96Please respect copyright.PENANAQ5Xqo7VozI
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANAhHLZx4jKLD
96Please respect copyright.PENANATLbFSo0Qnh
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。”96Please respect copyright.PENANAigwiElXVGY
96Please respect copyright.PENANAwWdNzk5EfG
“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…”96Please respect copyright.PENANA8AOPuIi675
96Please respect copyright.PENANAR50RbWSeFH
“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。”96Please respect copyright.PENANAsw8u6v2hMN
96Please respect copyright.PENANAkG39pCTHRu
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANAsiMjyAY8xX
96Please respect copyright.PENANAFargCc0Mj0
“這裏不必拘束。”觀畫畢,老者示意她坐。96Please respect copyright.PENANA9dx23MQAMF
96Please respect copyright.PENANAVhHqvmr3KW
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANAAavtj2VymH
96Please respect copyright.PENANAa5XjPpd7Do
此時聽得古大人吩咐,不由高看一籌。96Please respect copyright.PENANAvs80564KRc
96Please respect copyright.PENANAg4rzbzWHWt
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?”96Please respect copyright.PENANAQdGSB8Fjzv
96Please respect copyright.PENANASzBJWkUsYc
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANAK5ynULp2eE
96Please respect copyright.PENANAOX1mYmchdD
“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。”96Please respect copyright.PENANAVqEsXhmVEY
96Please respect copyright.PENANA13hEcjIC2X
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANA9Sz8yYdoUK
96Please respect copyright.PENANA5Kpmrm4qj6
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANAYlS2kR8uXO
96Please respect copyright.PENANA5ZJk5dI2Ij
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?”96Please respect copyright.PENANA20YSIdMAD6
96Please respect copyright.PENANAZ0vMQrx9Fy
“天和十八年。”96Please respect copyright.PENANAQ8iabeXEiR
96Please respect copyright.PENANAGuqIsYYGR2
天和十八年她年方九歲,正入書院鴻飛先生門下半年。96Please respect copyright.PENANAlVsOLpCN48
96Please respect copyright.PENANA5p8WUewKVg
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANAsdU4sL2Rex
96Please respect copyright.PENANAoGmrKsAWzB
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANAoeBcohSr7T
96Please respect copyright.PENANAgk1aLNJxyc
下了帖子邀約,鴻飛果然帶她欣然赴約。96Please respect copyright.PENANAAx7zFxAj5b
96Please respect copyright.PENANAKbvghEMsob
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANAQ4gNxnKrH3
96Please respect copyright.PENANAGS4AHepCeT
諸位夫人也愛她沉穩,恨不得將她帶回去當自家女兒。96Please respect copyright.PENANAF7Ds9S5EVN
96Please respect copyright.PENANAyHdBsah71C
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!”96Please respect copyright.PENANAtcvn8G8xJx
96Please respect copyright.PENANAagI5QYWS4R
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。”96Please respect copyright.PENANAQxVuEilP9M
96Please respect copyright.PENANAmUX4mvPXlJ
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?”96Please respect copyright.PENANAZMNjTNNkry
96Please respect copyright.PENANAL8xuETuB8I
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。”96Please respect copyright.PENANAa8DJcAwA3N
96Please respect copyright.PENANAwU0eYzgLQQ
“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。”96Please respect copyright.PENANAxHFpMbwdFj
96Please respect copyright.PENANAWe11G2acbz
後來鴻飛果然前來,她卻不再見了。96Please respect copyright.PENANADxPjifi5rX
96Please respect copyright.PENANA51tzuRKxd6
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANAIpaGiNQBrQ
96Please respect copyright.PENANAxdnlSoRRWF
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANAbEgtjcXw8e
96Please respect copyright.PENANAy1O9TpYU2F
那時他便想,這個女童著實有趣。96Please respect copyright.PENANASWpv9n4aAG
96Please respect copyright.PENANAcpPQ1zOqlv
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANAxPnNWtc8WP
96Please respect copyright.PENANAIw9Pf7Al1A
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANAxg1goVYq39
96Please respect copyright.PENANA4yNxJ24dJc
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANAsolTB345fQ
96Please respect copyright.PENANAc2T1EOPL73
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANAIgfYquN3ym
96Please respect copyright.PENANABSaCRxL1QT
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANAklRgc88xlk
96Please respect copyright.PENANAnviqbHVMAl
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANAYRgHfXbdlt
96Please respect copyright.PENANAKo9678HALy
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANAWtxOtW32su
96Please respect copyright.PENANAECbXP0JN4M
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。”96Please respect copyright.PENANAUT2N8n3W0h
96Please respect copyright.PENANAhE0x7Qkzat
陸遐察覺言中未盡之意,不由一凜,行禮鄭重應下,“多謝大人。”96Please respect copyright.PENANAyB9Z7b12na
96Please respect copyright.PENANAc3tqx6EtPN
“能得你教習,是他之幸。”96Please respect copyright.PENANAO1nfTqGs3i
96Please respect copyright.PENANACoz2bRgGgs
“不敢。”96Please respect copyright.PENANA1UDcwf9b6i
96Please respect copyright.PENANAL6xXNLdvEC
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。”96Please respect copyright.PENANATOmsvutBzy
96Please respect copyright.PENANA8eMoN2wyIy
“無妨。”96Please respect copyright.PENANAZkF0Lxvl1h
96Please respect copyright.PENANADNJn8C1vae
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANA5grlkRRu4M
96Please respect copyright.PENANAGgU0cpJpCN
庭外光照正盛,他站在偏廳門口回望廳中畫作,久久不動。96Please respect copyright.PENANAlXbNMRtAxU
96Please respect copyright.PENANAlQPl9DRzni
“大人。”蕭賀回稟,恭敬道,“陸姑娘離府了。”96Please respect copyright.PENANAm2UqXxigE1
96Please respect copyright.PENANAmYkSAgQC5f
“知道了。”96Please respect copyright.PENANAwSh8XCojYO
96Please respect copyright.PENANAkIad083Rsu
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…”96Please respect copyright.PENANAewfLq5RtxS
96Please respect copyright.PENANAWl9GqLTXyB
蕭賀肅立在一旁,並不敢言語。96Please respect copyright.PENANAKBnDCkKmcy
96Please respect copyright.PENANAGOT0auGvnC
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。96Please respect copyright.PENANARDNmtf6LqS
96Please respect copyright.PENANA3dqS8SbWiU
“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。96Please respect copyright.PENANAK6BBW8Kpsx
96Please respect copyright.PENANAvctsxaSYWT
“你又逃課!”96Please respect copyright.PENANAqfuUD3xacU
96Please respect copyright.PENANAJKnMq9sCSi
“沒有,夫子許我歇息片刻。”96Please respect copyright.PENANA3yr5dEnFN6
96Please respect copyright.PENANACKfh3L2MmZ
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!”96Please respect copyright.PENANAGUbhLBV7je
96Please respect copyright.PENANAqNDcdLAyJo
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。”96Please respect copyright.PENANAXM5bgAcV0n
96Please respect copyright.PENANAVViD3pjBtd
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。”96Please respect copyright.PENANABruwjnH1VZ
96Please respect copyright.PENANAnr7SgkRlkp
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…”96Please respect copyright.PENANA0pphLpeSHs
96Please respect copyright.PENANAviC9bWknat
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!”96Please respect copyright.PENANAl3CMdRz04v