一日胭胭來邀他上茶肆喫茶,他便應邀一同上街,在茶肆要了獨間包廂,叫上一壺西山白露配幾碟茶點喫,二人閒話常談。41Please respect copyright.PENANAt6KVGxqZ5s
41Please respect copyright.PENANAdvzJW4BZRX
「哎——阿娘總是說我沒姑娘家模樣,以後嫁人了被夫家說沒規矩怎麼好,叫畫眉盯著我少出門,真悶,今日溜出來,回去肯定又要被叨唸。」胭胭手執茶杯,一副不勝其煩模樣,那對黛青描的蛾眉是春末懶柳垂葉,難得收斂不揚。41Please respect copyright.PENANAfCMES8YfGQ
41Please respect copyright.PENANAPVn8nCDAHj
「說是我非找妳喝茶不可就是。」雨玄玖爽快應她,語罷將杯中剩餘茶水飲盡,再斟滿一杯,清澈白池之上輕煙浮裊,「如沐春風,若飲晨露,好茶。」41Please respect copyright.PENANAdsnKWA64AP
41Please respect copyright.PENANAQvr838nsnO
胭胭不以為然哼聲,「阿娘哪會信,你是君子,我是野姑娘,怎麼瞧都是我帶壞你。」她話停半晌,語轉嬌俏,「我的好玄玖兄呀,若我嫁不出去如何是好呢?」41Please respect copyright.PENANAYltFXC9jfE
41Please respect copyright.PENANAJx5UuwR39N
「怎會嫁不出去。」他擱下茶杯,目光盼向胭胭額間紅瓣,又至黛山濃眉、靈巧杏眼,從前的辮髮女娃已是娉婷玉立,來年就能行笄禮。41Please respect copyright.PENANAzdRPs7RpKg
41Please respect copyright.PENANAKkBENY1Wfq
「阿娘說都還沒人上門說媒呢,等我過了十五生辰還沒人定親的話,你娶不娶?」她忽然定睛正色瞧雨玄玖,語氣是鳥兒傲鳴枝頭,雨玄玖見自己樣貌溶在她雙眸粼水中。41Please respect copyright.PENANAotuJlcPBnv
41Please respect copyright.PENANA0bnZ71GLCW
他一同往常泛開淺笑,眨眼間便應了她:「娶,倘若無人提親,當杏花鬧枝頭,騎駿馬迎娶娘子。」他悠然詠來。憶起兒時攀樹採果,入池濯足,情同兄妹,而韶華是白駒飛馳,女子及笄當嫁,還能這般玩笑的日子少矣。41Please respect copyright.PENANAmKKdLl1qdG
41Please respect copyright.PENANAz8W7ttS1Ch
「呦,駿馬郎君。」胭胭頓時笑靨燦開,高聲喧語,在几前凌起的衣袖如飛鳥翔翅,「那迎親隊伍要能繞城牆一圈那——麼長纔夠風光,還得給我作百字長詩纔能卻扇。」41Please respect copyright.PENANAkncnghtWkv
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「行。」他輕頷首。41Please respect copyright.PENANAgQqC6MHu1K
41Please respect copyright.PENANADR1kqcDiLH
鵲鳥羽翼既豐麗,還須擇良木而棲,有朝一日她翠服披身,帷幕遮面出閣,不知他能否臨行相送?41Please respect copyright.PENANATt4PNghcEa
41Please respect copyright.PENANAqDE0zaauME
隔年雨玄玖與兄長皆行冠禮,父親道該是給兄弟倆安排婚配時候,找了媒人先替豁之兄向蘇府獨女說親,二人青梅竹馬,自是佳配良緣,蘇府欣然同意,定下了親,二府始籌備婚禮。41Please respect copyright.PENANAacxdotB1Ir
41Please respect copyright.PENANAtG0ChGSgIu
雨玄玖未曾想過胭胭會嫁入雨府同簷共住,三人既能繼續為伴,他自然樂見二人婚配,贈一雙龍鳳翠玉笛給豁之兄作定親賀禮,父親正式上蘇府提親隔日,他隨豁之兄同去見胭胭,則贈她一只鴛鴦羊脂玉珮,望二人鳳鸞和鳴,形影成雙。41Please respect copyright.PENANAGedSOdT8aT
41Please respect copyright.PENANA1OGS0fN5qr
今年院中紅杏開得極豔,卻也凋得極快,不過六七日便謝了一半,落花成紅池,待到婚期在即,已然凋盡,果實累結,父親見了說或是子孫昌盛的吉兆。41Please respect copyright.PENANAHIFZx0tU2C
41Please respect copyright.PENANAKLFRim0ymX
將嫁閨女不能隨意見人,兄弟倆便少上蘇府拜訪,若有什麼要說便讓奴僕傳話,或許是少見緣故,胭胭時常讓畫眉送點心來雨府,也總不少雨玄玖的份。41Please respect copyright.PENANAITXZT4wEuo
41Please respect copyright.PENANA9u3dUDczlI
婚禮前一日的晌午落了大雨,午時便歇,庭院花草煥然清爽,風采奕奕待喜臨,雨玄玖應豁之兄請求代為探望新娘,他進了蘇府先上廳堂向二老問安,再熟路往胭胭住的院落去,奴僕見著了招呼他進廳,稍坐未久,胭胭便出來迎他。41Please respect copyright.PENANAO17BG6mDTG
41Please respect copyright.PENANAlfFxq0ifCU
二人見面沒說上幾句話,他便察覺胭胭不若平常口齒伶俐,靜上許多,他問起來,她一語不發,起身步向外頭庭院,他跟在後頭,來到一株杏樹下,她踮足折下一只無花空枝,拉起他手遞入掌心。41Please respect copyright.PENANAcUviOkPhWA
41Please respect copyright.PENANA5GP0BHaY0Y
雨玄玖不解何意,胭胭凝眼望他,淒婉答道:「今年這棵杏樹花都要落完了,卻不結果,我的心思,就送你了。」41Please respect copyright.PENANApG2673TQTe
41Please respect copyright.PENANArHcifYyY5y
他恍然懂了她語中意思,心上驚愕不能語,仰首向上望,纔留意到杏樹枝頭殘花將盡,卻未結一果,與雨府院落的是兩般情景。41Please respect copyright.PENANAjkdIdVxnKy
41Please respect copyright.PENANACGiZL5xz5V
胭胭提起去年茶肆裡的玩笑,怒罵他誆騙一場,他纔明瞭她是有心之問,他卻無意戲言而應。41Please respect copyright.PENANAYCbHS9XSJP
41Please respect copyright.PENANAHWRdki10Qo
原來那廂是花開結果得良緣,這廂卻是落花闌珊終成空,全為清風飄忽撩無意。41Please respect copyright.PENANAld6jmYahVM
41Please respect copyright.PENANAEk8FCNywlT
幼時撲蝶尋螢同樂趣,長時吟詩弄琴共良景,又有豁之兄相伴,他只當是三人手足情誼,未曾想過胭胭會對他別有心思,他悔極當時戲言,愧意漫上心頭,不敢再看她臉面,惟望眼前杏樹滿枝寂寥,孤花落寞,一如她神情。41Please respect copyright.PENANAEb5tV3oPu6
41Please respect copyright.PENANAS8oebwY40V
二人在樹下拉扯爭執一陣,雨玄玖不願與胭胭再多糾纏,漠然甩開她手,「回房歇息罷,我走了。」他語罷便轉身要走。41Please respect copyright.PENANAgnUFM4PLl3
41Please respect copyright.PENANAZtuSzLiTdM
她卻跟上來攔他去路,雙手伸來一把扯住他衣襟,「不准!我今日就要你說清楚,你我青梅竹馬,這些年來你對我的男女情份有是沒有?」她高聲喝問,面容是豔花籠雨淒涼色,眼裡已然淚水盈盈。41Please respect copyright.PENANAM0ApnPwQMs
41Please respect copyright.PENANAGK6sVYT7se
「沒有。」雨玄玖斷然否認,再度自胭胭臉上別開目光,使勁要拉開她雙手。41Please respect copyright.PENANAD2WFjaJnN7
41Please respect copyright.PENANAZJ0JZySQ0Z
她卻拽得死緊不肯放,拗執纏他,「別管豁之兄,我要你說實話!」41Please respect copyright.PENANAdQeUZnP7FO
41Please respect copyright.PENANA3bpHR2lon4
「蒼天為証,從未有一絲一毫,放開我。」他毫無猶豫,眼盼庭中水池落花半覆,冷硬著嗓音答道。41Please respect copyright.PENANAjQ0ysU8YyD
41Please respect copyright.PENANAM9gSilL2ng
一簾雨後涼風簌簌吹起,撥下幾只黯淡枯花,落入二人隙間。41Please respect copyright.PENANAQAjKyLDEo4
41Please respect copyright.PENANA0msBtzGSkv
胭胭抽氣聲響清晰猶在耳畔,「我偏要纏著你,已經纏你前半生,還要纏你後半生,就算明日嫁了豁之兄,你我也同住一屋簷下,你奈我何!」她揪住他衣襟的雙手顫抖不已,語氣卻定定如誓,堅可排山,執可過海。41Please respect copyright.PENANAcYbSIZ4ddM
41Please respect copyright.PENANAwbvtsq0oj6
這番話雨玄玖聽來是恫心懾魄,他頓時愣了,心裡嚴霜寒生,涼意直透指尖,掌心裡沁出冷汗。41Please respect copyright.PENANAHkJsM3qjU6
41Please respect copyright.PENANAnhShWKAuRR
後方忽來一串急促跫音,雨玄玖回過頭見是畫眉焦急奔過來,她拉住胭胭衣袖勸話,「娘子,再鬧要讓人發現了,不好收拾呀,先回房罷。」胭胭卻絲毫不肯鬆手,畫眉更急了,苦臉求她,「求妳了,娘子,回房去畫眉什麼都讓妳說。」41Please respect copyright.PENANADfvDJ4o8Ro
41Please respect copyright.PENANAKnn9k1Pbqd
「夠了!」與她如此糾纏不清讓人瞧見,雨玄玖又慌又惱,鎖緊眉頭,嚴正喝斥道:「妳若悖倫逾矩,我倆情份到此為止!」他掙開胭胭雙手,將她整個人推離身邊。41Please respect copyright.PENANAggJjPTVnyR
41Please respect copyright.PENANAvkSuqFIhE7
未料她踉蹌跌坐在地上,他正猶豫當不當上前扶,畫眉就已將人扶起,「我會恨你的。」她利炯目光直望穿雨玄玖,忿然一語如同尖釘,準準刺入他心口。41Please respect copyright.PENANAWAuMcOF8SH
41Please respect copyright.PENANAeZ1YgpTtgV
「隨妳。」他拋下話便轉身而去。41Please respect copyright.PENANAaWNtQvjfeu
41Please respect copyright.PENANAyJqJYQIRy4
「雨玄玖!」聞身後追來胭胭喊聲,雨玄玖腳步邁得更急,「你老是逃,今日逃得了我,逃不了你自己的!」41Please respect copyright.PENANAS9W9fLWX7J
41Please respect copyright.PENANAXnzf52zpSu
這句話更是字字見血,深意刻骨,聞胭胭哽咽嗓音,他知她哭了,雖未見回盼她淚顏,滴滴淚水仍沉重落上他心口。即使無可逃躲,他仍要逃開,縱然再愧疚,他也萬萬不能回頭。41Please respect copyright.PENANAAYIigTs8CL
41Please respect copyright.PENANA4yDv0Gxqct
只因芳華既有主,旁人不可再沾惹一枝一葉。41Please respect copyright.PENANAplYzka60Va
41Please respect copyright.PENANAbsuFo9yb01
雨玄玖疾步奔出庭院,離去沿路撞見蘇府奴僕,問他怎麼走得急,他不答話,只管奔出大門去,離了蘇府也沒慢下腳步,至直歸家。當晚秀郎進房伺候,見他臉色難看卻難得沒問上任何一句,只端茶上來給他用。41Please respect copyright.PENANA4fGXf4nrxV
41Please respect copyright.PENANAezBnZQRRwT
那句恨他的話雖短,卻縈繞他耳畔整夜不休,然他不悔,惟愧相識多年卻未曾察她心思,終釀今日大錯,若對他怨恨能讓她斷了念頭,也罷。41Please respect copyright.PENANAHHAn6ABb2A
41Please respect copyright.PENANAbOI08l2c10
他自是清楚父親與蘇府說的為何是豁之兄而非自己,一來豁之兄為長他為幼,二來豁之兄為嫡他卻不過是個撿來的養子,胭胭乃官家嫡生獨女,定是要配嫡子,二人長年相伴,僅止於手足情份,也本該如此。41Please respect copyright.PENANAiOTyeatRab
41Please respect copyright.PENANAEV8jdQcsb5
婚禮當日,雨玄玖眼見儀式歡騰行進,心上細細琢磨胭胭話語,想他倆從此同住一簷下,若她對自己不罷休心思,怕是要糾纏鬧事,他將無顏對豁之兄;若是真怨上自己,日日相見芥蒂在心,不如不見,他身為養子本就是外人寄籬而住,若此處無容他之地,他便該離去。41Please respect copyright.PENANALjNDuSdN1M
41Please respect copyright.PENANAMGYdpWCEB7
隔日早晨雨玄玖便向父親明言要離家遠遊,見識世間風光,今日便要啟程,父親答豁之兄纔新婚,正是家中添人增和樂,他這時走便是壞了喜氣而不允。41Please respect copyright.PENANAItYONO1rMR
41Please respect copyright.PENANAIx6pyJNiE4
他在案前伏地叩首,堅定表明心意已決,父親嘆了氣,叫秀郎去找家人來,不一會兒母親和豁之兄都進了書房,他曾離家未告數次皆被尋回,全家自是知曉若讓他走,便是飛鳥離巢不復歸,怎麼也不肯。41Please respect copyright.PENANADCxp5erFRG
41Please respect copyright.PENANAgrkO9IRiup
父親說豁之兄已成家,接下來就是替他娶妻,若真要走,先成了家也不遲,他辯獨留妻小下來不能親自安家,讓家人替他看顧不妥,要遂了心願才肯娶妻,最終是豁之兄提出三年限期,期滿他則必須返家,又要他對天立誓,他即刻旦旦立誓,家人只得遂他心意放行。41Please respect copyright.PENANAL6Jrzbri63
41Please respect copyright.PENANAfs43TG0Ma5
雨玄玖回房揹上早已收妥的行囊,再到書房拜別父母兄長,他不肯讓任何奴僕隨行,留下秀郎,獨身啟程。豁之兄本要喚胭胭來一同送別,他卻藉口怕她知道了要哭,新婦纔入門便哭不吉,要豁之兄暫且瞞她。41Please respect copyright.PENANAhwrDCMpM9X
41Please respect copyright.PENANANyHVZvQilp
他穿一身樸素黛黑胡裝,伴行囊一只佩長劍一柄,一路步行出城,城外天高雲闊,林深草蓊,路途漫漫,飛鳥翱翔恣意無序。