入了七月就是燠暑天,大白天就算坐在屋子裡也是躁熱難安,到了下午四五點鐘,中午炎陽的暑氣還沒散,霜莫就得頂一臉的粉妝、穿密實的戲服上臺,給燈光直直曬下來,唱戲的人在臺上不能出汗,又憋得更熱了。他的前胸、後背和胳膊內側開始出疹子,榮芳不讓他撓,每天晚上給他擦藥查看,免得老斗在床上見了難看,霜莫倒希望這身細潤滑膩的皮膚給生疤爛了,讓人巴不得他穿好衣服遮著。34Please respect copyright.PENANAIJ7THS5YFh
34Please respect copyright.PENANAcTqIQ1cI3J
今天的驕陽依舊灼燒,直到傍晚下過一場雨,路面上濕涼涼地,暑氣才消散了些,霜莫陪冬白泠上館子吃過晚飯,這會兒兩人在書房裡待著。34Please respect copyright.PENANAQVCQ9NHbm8
34Please respect copyright.PENANAWcMDfovCNr
冬白泠正在作別人向他求的扇面畫,一幅都還沒畫成,婢女就來敲過兩次門,一次說夫人胃沉難受,把晚飯都吐了,一次說小少爺中暑,頭昏直冒汗,正哭鬧著,要他過去瞧瞧,可冬白泠都沒起身,只是吩咐人請大夫來看病,讓順福替他去探望。34Please respect copyright.PENANAFtEueUncik
34Please respect copyright.PENANA2eUgtzaH9u
順福去了回來就善著一張垂老的臉,直勸主子:「您就親自去看看夫人吧,夫人鬧的不是肚子,是心哪。」明明是對著主子說話,他卻故意瞅了霜莫一眼,眼光帶刺。34Please respect copyright.PENANA5oQLIyELpk
34Please respect copyright.PENANA2ISx3kxUbl
冬白泠依舊不起憐惜,頭也不抬,就顧著給那幅扇面畫點上梅花,「做娘的還學孩子吵鬧,不是都有人顧著,叫人拿冰梅湯過去,讓她吃了藥喝點,早點歇了,就說來貴客了,我明兒一早就去看看,皓榕那兒,有什麼事再來報。順福,請大夫住下來看照他們一晚。」他的關心只是義務,周到卻冷然。34Please respect copyright.PENANAIrQexUjiK2
34Please respect copyright.PENANA1QYfdnPQMv
對霜莫卻不同了,待順福出去,冬白泠停了筆,從畫紙上仰起臉望他,單薄的眼睛裡灼著燦燦的光,笑意在燈前盈盈如潮水,浪呀浪,沒有說話,卻已道盡了他的心意──凡俗裡的糟糠妻兒哪比得上月宮下凡的飄逸人兒。34Please respect copyright.PENANAHS36ttMnic
34Please respect copyright.PENANAUgfVvTXoQF
霜莫對冬白泠這樣的凝望不大喜歡,但懶得理會,默默吃水烏他,手上一團花白白的雪,咬一口含進嘴裡綿密甜軟,還在指尖沾了半融的酥油,黏膩膩地,吃完了他拿帕子擦手嘴,卻擦不掉冬白泠凝在臉蛋上的目光。34Please respect copyright.PENANAZBEwDWqr8p
34Please respect copyright.PENANAtbmqocfBpT
「瞧你近來這張臉蛋是愈發亮瑩了,透得能掐出水,孔鳳春的敷臉霜果真頂用,還有麼?」冬白泠擱下畫筆,向霜莫那薄透水瑩的臉頰探出指尖,卻還是顧忌,遲遲沒有碰上去。34Please respect copyright.PENANAvQj56HxCat
34Please respect copyright.PENANA85fSoZtAki
霜莫冷冷別開臉,「天這樣熱都用不完。」34Please respect copyright.PENANAjbZoUCfBHQ
34Please respect copyright.PENANAa4zq0TvRsn
冬白泠春天時給妻妾買了杭州的妝粉臉霜,也給了霜莫一些,霜莫不學女子擦粉,卻有養臉的習慣,去年開始他養臉養得更勤了,得了這樣好的東西,春寒料峭擦珍珠霜,夏暑蒸燜抹蓮花霜,早擦晚敷的,其實早就用見底了。34Please respect copyright.PENANAZwysH9wBRO
34Please respect copyright.PENANAuq5Gkax61R
「霜莫,你知道你變了麼?」冬白泠收回手,忽然問他,語氣裡浮著滿滿的興味。34Please respect copyright.PENANAhllSTeQRCc
34Please respect copyright.PENANALY8qbxmXMp
「變什麼。」霜莫蹙了一下眉心,不知道冬白泠打什麼主意。34Please respect copyright.PENANAXQpBimAqQZ
34Please respect copyright.PENANAY9OWJGZYe3
冬白泠眉毛一彎,又明俊地笑開了,隔著桌子湊近霜莫,徐徐開口:「變得有情多了,秋去春復來,霜盡露華開──」他吟著調子,一派慵雅,眼睛望進霜莫的,溫柔地、情切地、又有點不捨地感嘆,「有了心上人兒,三尺凍雪都會化作一江春水。」34Please respect copyright.PENANALcHKgxT4gD
34Please respect copyright.PENANAhcXYg8tcCq
這句話意味很深長,長長地扭成一條針線,深深地穿過霜莫心上,他心上一驚,又拒絕承認,凜著臉不露聲色,「霜莫心上空空如也。」34Please respect copyright.PENANAA4nLXmT08T
34Please respect copyright.PENANAivoqxHkP27
冬白泠卻不以為然,自顧自說話:「哎,真想瞧瞧是哪位好姑娘,戲迷麼?」再怎麼說他也是眼睛尖利、心思剔透的,跟霜莫相處了這麼久,還是辨得出他的不同。34Please respect copyright.PENANAP6kl7aZEWu
34Please respect copyright.PENANAoffDcFHi5M
從前的霜莫人如其名,就是孤傲的冰霜,冷瑩無色;現在還是傲,可那雙白皙的面頰漫了一層若有似無的、曖昧不明的桃花暈,冬白泠說得不錯,霜化了開成露水凝成的花,但他自己不曉得。34Please respect copyright.PENANAoImHWRzuaM
34Please respect copyright.PENANAzI4UJWJ920
霜莫不高興了,傲挺著膀子,語氣又厭惡、又不耐,一口撇清:「冬爺明知我是不愛見戲迷的,姑娘們最煩人。」34Please respect copyright.PENANAr1rbGiwiiD
34Please respect copyright.PENANAO7NeynmXiE
「若不是姑娘,難不成是別的老斗麼?霜莫?」他不想提,冬白泠卻故意要探究竟,這膩膩的語調聽起來像是在逗弄,卻又帶著不容含糊的銳氣。34Please respect copyright.PENANARedarVYeb0
34Please respect copyright.PENANAd2MprXiy5s
霜莫不曉得冬白泠是怎麼察覺的,他明明打小到大都將心思封得密不透縫,沒什麼人明白他,這秘密就連天天跟在他身邊的榮芳都不知覺,怎麼也得揣藏起來才好,初熟的桃子若長在惹眼的高處,還不給飛來的鳥兒啄了吃下肚。34Please respect copyright.PENANAqYUSl3GOgt
34Please respect copyright.PENANAi85hBgYwd0
霜莫低垂著目光,看著是靜婉可人的模樣,嘴一張卻呼出一口挾帶怒意的霜氣:「冬爺是花盆裡除草,找茬兒麼?」他繃著嘴角,眼看再說一句就要翻臉的勢態。34Please respect copyright.PENANAU4j6t31Awg
34Please respect copyright.PENANAI3QzyPcvtY
「罷了。」冬白泠總算沒再繼續挑弄,在桌上展開一張新的扇面紙,乾乾淨淨,話題也歸白重來,「既然動筆了,也畫一面扇子給你,想要什麼的?」34Please respect copyright.PENANArUsrO858Ha
34Please respect copyright.PENANAhXKcHyOT9p
霜莫忽然想起那幢小宅院裡的一樹嫣紅,把心上閃過的念頭撿了出來,「桃花。」34Please respect copyright.PENANAsPLgDAqbzE
34Please respect copyright.PENANAamgoWHKgFS
「李香君的桃花扇呀?得。」冬白泠欣然答應。34Please respect copyright.PENANAoJWil2erXj
34Please respect copyright.PENANAvvj7jJWYtk
他拿起畫筆,飽飽地蘸上殷紅的顏料,手一揚,騰空揮灑,點點濃豔灑在潔白的紙面上,像濺血,像紅淚,又就著血和淚,添上蕊心,畫出朵朵桃花,那桃花綻得朦朧,卻又是熱烈,情濃斑斑。34Please respect copyright.PENANAlg46Lf4tFK
34Please respect copyright.PENANACrpx6Ab9Y8
霜莫瞧那像是自己的血,本來不想活的,卻為了一個人沸騰起來,鮮郁地、燦烈地燒成滿枝桃花。他一愣,以為冬白泠又在揶揄他,利著眼睛直瞪人,冬白泠卻專心在作畫,絲毫沒留意到他目光,他便佯裝沒事,說想喝冰梅湯,找人要去了。34Please respect copyright.PENANAnl5Hq0nheI
34Please respect copyright.PENANATfXQXuf6fq
沒一會婢女就把冰梅湯端進來了,連那青花瓷碗都是冰鎮過的,在這樣的大熱天裡也凍涼了手,霜莫喝著冰梅湯,靜靜看冬白泠用墨色填上嶙峋的枝條,完成了畫。34Please respect copyright.PENANADSIxqDsOqk
34Please respect copyright.PENANANZqAVPTUun
冬白泠沒動冰梅湯,倒是招招手,慢款款喚了一聲:「霜莫,你過來坐。」34Please respect copyright.PENANAe7qyBH0CfH
34Please respect copyright.PENANAH2cbiclJeY
霜莫便起身帶了椅子過去冬白泠身邊,坐了下來,冬白泠依舊一身白,就連戴的壓襟都是羊脂白玉墜子,是一輪霽月乘著清風;霜莫穿縹色的紗質衫子,衣上有藕荷色的滾邊,配綠松石壓襟,是一株幽荷亭立水中央,夏夜裡的霽月與荷花,怎麼看都是渾然天成的般配。34Please respect copyright.PENANA2HwYXfNfCM
34Please respect copyright.PENANAAi9ji7CVfV
冬白泠半倚著自己的椅背,一手挪出來擱在霜莫的椅子扶手上,遲遲沒說話,又盯著他瞧,他眨眨眼,希望冬白泠有什麼話就趕緊說了,不要老拖磨著用眼光燒他的臉。34Please respect copyright.PENANA7O9vf9sare
34Please respect copyright.PENANAxfIJJHnUZ1
「霜莫──」冬白泠抬起手,猝不及防朝霜莫招過來,替他撩開落在眉上的髮,他瑟縮了一下,冬白泠的神情月滿盈盈,透著一種瀟灑的得意,「我看人不會錯,你是能成的。」34Please respect copyright.PENANAuheDFXAX8e
34Please respect copyright.PENANAxW5H0M4VkZ
說著他停下來了,霜莫也不接話,就偏著眼睛望映在桌邊的暗紅燈光。34Please respect copyright.PENANAeErtnDXFgv
34Please respect copyright.PENANABn3n3xjwBP
「我能讓你成紅得發紫的角兒,一枝獨秀。」冬白泠說得志得意滿,霜莫正琢磨著他話裡藏什麼意思,衣袖就給碰上了,他的手輕輕擱在霜莫衣袖,一會兒又隔著輕薄的衣袖把住手腕。34Please respect copyright.PENANA2zaMegrNhQ
34Please respect copyright.PENANA1lGeCcK1bN
霜莫開始侷促不安,又想冬白泠從來沒犯過他,便沒做反應,「沒什麼興趣。」他只是不喜不驚地回話。34Please respect copyright.PENANA4M8Ryv4VDs
34Please respect copyright.PENANAlQfWcIApHO
「哎,胭脂雪倩麗無雙,卻偏是素寂無香哪。」冬白泠放開了手,霜莫正鬆一口氣,那隻手卻摸到了肩頭,實實地摟住,還把他往懷裡拉近。34Please respect copyright.PENANAAQv53ELOCS
34Please respect copyright.PENANAiRnYAQrDii
霜莫一詫,啪地一聲猛然甩開冬白泠的手,掃了他一眼,這短短的一眼又憤慨、又嫌惡、又受傷,霜莫站起身把椅子搬回書桌對面一摔,背著人坐下。34Please respect copyright.PENANA9RDVtgW2S0
34Please respect copyright.PENANA2Ve19pc6ab
他可氣了,全然不曉得這人打什麼主意,若說知道他有了心上人,還要逾越過來沾惹,簡直是惡劣的戲弄;若說不知道他心有所向,也該知道他多堅定只交心不交身,怎麼說都是有意要惹人生氣,欺人太甚!34Please respect copyright.PENANA7HDuESJyDg
34Please respect copyright.PENANAWdkHMm65nt
「你可不懂討好人了,這些年如何照顧你,對我也敢這劣性兒,朱老闆才說的,你近日是愈來愈頑劣了。」他背後的冬白泠微微在笑,別說是怒氣,溫緩又慢柔的語氣還像是寵溺著人,說的話卻很犀利。34Please respect copyright.PENANAF5E84cdj3H
34Please respect copyright.PENANAsrhbHo2jqk
「冬爺可是懂的,霜莫向來不讓人張狂,要是冬爺不喜歡,儘管趕我走。」霜莫又被招惹,頭也不回,提了嗓子頂話回去,嚴凜無情,就是故意不留餘地。34Please respect copyright.PENANAzXYCag4tqm
34Please respect copyright.PENANAtj2n7fLN02
「罷了,何苦跟你置氣。」但冬白泠依舊輕輕放下,沒有再隨他鬧下去。34Please respect copyright.PENANAnw3p1ku4Rc
34Please respect copyright.PENANAPfXJ3Qz0gl
霜莫眼前莫名浮現方才畫好的桃花扇,上頭的花朵枝條紅的妖灼、黑的絕冷,極端的兩樣情,都是他自己,妖灼是對著心裡的人,絕冷是對著背後的人。34Please respect copyright.PENANAc5tbQXYMEV
34Please respect copyright.PENANA2eGmNdixKv
什麼霽月幽荷,都是局外人的幻想、單一個人的癡妄,那月光再怎麼清朗輝輝,也照不透密密的荷花芯。34Please respect copyright.PENANA3PD4jLG6zV
34Please respect copyright.PENANALkGku285Vm
儘管霜莫整晚都擺著臉色不理人,冬白泠也始終沒向他道歉,畢竟沒有豪門貴冑向一個下九流低頭的事,可是下回冬白泠叫他條子的時候,他還是原諒對方了,收下那柄桃花扇,陪人聽戲去。如此輕易、如此無謂,就因為在流仙堂這池髒沼子裡,這人是惟一允許他保留清白的人,霜莫再怎麼不順服,多少還是敬在心裡。34Please respect copyright.PENANAy9yA0ggp5f