內城裡的富貴閒人聽戲跟外城的百姓沒有不同,吉祥戲院裡的三通鼓響了,座兒潮水一樣淹進席上,嘩啦嘩啦嘈雜起來,夥計四處奔走送茶水點心,後臺的嗩吶吹完了,前臺就撤了五色旗,鑼鼓一響,也不管依舊滿座喧鬧,臺上便兀自開戲。39Please respect copyright.PENANAEcxzcVoHUN
39Please respect copyright.PENANAtAHHrlIwCv
鬧臺的武戲剛開始打,霜莫跟榮芳搭車到了戲院,走進後臺,唱中軸子的角兒們正忙著敷粉勾眼圈,從鏡中看見他們也不理睬,畢竟這戲臺早已是科班的天下了,誰都瞧不起霜莫的堂子出身,他也沒見到人似的,逕直往裡頭空著的妝檯走,倒是榮芳殷切得很,見一個就喊一口「老闆」,看在是一代名旦朱霞仙師弟的分上,角兒們還願意給他點點頭、笑一笑。39Please respect copyright.PENANAmsKqdGxsK0
39Please respect copyright.PENANA8fxlhirbTN
今天霜莫照樣是唱拿手的《貴妃醉酒》,這裡的達官貴人總愛看他唱這齣,他明白安的都是什麼心,不愛唱,只是當一天伶人做一天戲,每每還是唱足做足了,只是眼裡的不甘和反抗沒人發現。39Please respect copyright.PENANAGShJYechI1
39Please respect copyright.PENANATyhxOKMk6R
又是酒過幾巡,醉倒了退場下去,霜莫坐到後臺的鏡前,榮芳告訴他沒有人來找,卸完妝扮就能回去了,這讓他心情稍稍舒服些,很快擦乾淨了滿臉紅妝,正要換衣服,榮芳不見了,但他沒太在意,穿回長衫,掛好壓襟,這時候榮芳匆匆回來了。39Please respect copyright.PENANAdAxzTVCeRA
39Please respect copyright.PENANArPiMLa5PSX
榮芳也不收拾扔在箱子上的行頭,走過來就彎腰湊上霜莫的臉吩咐:「有個裴姑娘要跟你說話,在包廂等著了。」39Please respect copyright.PENANA9g44kTwYWy
39Please respect copyright.PENANAPNhB0CWXxw
霜莫臉垮下來了,人僵住了一動也不動,目光從榮芳臉上撇開,語氣冷利:「說什麼話。」這不是問,擺明是拒絕。39Please respect copyright.PENANAzZvBgyjXqG
39Please respect copyright.PENANA1U93EXKT6V
他瞥見一旁的開屏鳳凰晃了一下,跟正要上臺的代戰公主對上眼神了,對方燒一圈豔火的眼睛瞇了瞇,似訕非訕,瞧得霜莫不舒服,馬上別開眼,眼光又撞回榮芳這兒。39Please respect copyright.PENANAgIq55XmezC
39Please respect copyright.PENANAKmWiyOBpTZ
榮芳臉色溫敦,好聲好氣地勸話:「就是說話,姑娘家還能把你怎麼著?不會吞了你,比在私寓容易,你就去去,人家的爹可是張帥那裡的大爺。」他咬著快掉的牙齒強調「張帥」、「大爺」,霜莫聽出來他沒有要讓自己拒絕的意思。39Please respect copyright.PENANAKSwWiJsMv8
39Please respect copyright.PENANAEiFyK1UzIe
一直以來喜歡他的都是那些逛堂子的,也不知自己是哪兒變了,抑或是這世道的女子變了,這兩年開始有些女戲迷留意他,偶爾也會收到禮物或是來後臺嚷著要見他,可是他同樣不怎麼喜歡姑娘家來獻殷勤,誰不曉得都是想玩戲子。39Please respect copyright.PENANADzKhOv9nji
39Please respect copyright.PENANAWr4CK0mIAC
誰說姑娘家不會吞了他?只要師傅坐視不管,誰都能把他吞了,而師傅從來只會把他往虎口裡推,沒有起身護過他一回。39Please respect copyright.PENANAcgNRK03DV7
39Please respect copyright.PENANAtlogCnS06b
想到這兒,霜莫鼻子一抽笑了,笑裡有一點榮芳也沒看見的淒涼和諷刺,「我可不認識什麼張帥。」39Please respect copyright.PENANAuXWcPXMDcF
39Please respect copyright.PENANA0QTraJskkY
榮芳雙眼模糊,眼角和滿臉皺紋一起垂了下去,他真的老了,本來就管不住霜莫,現在是愈來愈沒勁兒跟他吵嘴了,只是幽幽低語一句:「霜莫,別得罪人家,我不想你挨刀劈子,你師傅老了。」他滄桑無力的嗓子慢慢吞磨呀磨,磨出一散感傷的塵埃。39Please respect copyright.PENANAqbHXOqarK3
39Please respect copyright.PENANAJ7bheCmsY4
但是霜莫心裡還在怨懟,毫無觸動,照樣漠然,「知道了。」他還是跟著榮芳走出後臺,爬上樓梯到二樓的一間包廂裡。39Please respect copyright.PENANAeXy7ohXXFs
39Please respect copyright.PENANAXbVVgED6fr
方桌子上已經擺了一盤豌豆黃、一盤水晶桂花糕,還有兩盞青花瓷茶碗,一副線條勻稱的身影靠在桌邊,見了他們就很伶俐站起來,向他們招招小手,那姿態像花朵裡的蝴蝶款款搧翅,這小姐留一頭時髦卷髮,穿洋氣的格紋旗袍,霜莫在胡同裡也常看見這樣裝扮的妓女,但她正格兒得多,眼神動作都很秀氣內斂,旁邊還站一個穿碎花樣兒大袖短衫的婢女。39Please respect copyright.PENANA8ndsx9nmnv
39Please respect copyright.PENANAQgU78QKJOU
「秋君請坐。」她眼神往空椅子晃了一下示意,說完就安回椅子上。39Please respect copyright.PENANAmqXYmjmCox
39Please respect copyright.PENANAscq8ndh1Tj
霜莫走上前,拉了椅子在她對面坐下,「裴小姐。」他斯文有禮,眼睛卻盯著桌面瞧,面皮不牽起一點動靜,無神的模樣,無星無月的深夜都沒這麼寂寥。39Please respect copyright.PENANA9y2sZPJflN
39Please respect copyright.PENANA9R8G6dFgDL
裴小姐愣了一下,才抿嘴笑一笑,「您好,我叫慕卿。」她說話的聲音溫柔地又琅琅地,有點殷切,有點生澀。39Please respect copyright.PENANA5o8RIt82ey
39Please respect copyright.PENANApXmb7RL4pE
「慕卿小姐。」霜莫依然冷涼生疏。39Please respect copyright.PENANATEpqrIV1vR
39Please respect copyright.PENANAK1ercnPDES
「咱們霜莫不常見人的,怕生又脾氣彆扭呢,還請裴姑娘別見怪,擔待擔待。」榮芳出聲緩和場子,生怕一開始就壞了事,「兩位慢慢說話,裴姑娘有事兒喊一聲就是了。」他說完話瞟了霜莫一眼,就退出去闔上門了。39Please respect copyright.PENANAuq2urHY1hO
39Please respect copyright.PENANAluuACOZ6Rz
「讓您特地過來挺不好意思,能喊您霜莫麼?」裴小姐婉婉地試探,抹淡妝的面容小白花似的善良可親,一點也沒有大小姐的驕氣。39Please respect copyright.PENANAKQ5p6gzMbW
39Please respect copyright.PENANA8jrP6Y1eJs
倒是霜莫有貴妃娘娘的氣焰,微微點頭,滿不在乎,瞧也不瞧人一眼,眼光飄到樓下戲臺,睥睨代戰公主身上的大紅蟒。39Please respect copyright.PENANAPukrS3BmeB
39Please respect copyright.PENANAv4NymDibej
裴小姐的說話聲從咿咿呀呀的唱戲聲之間小心翼翼擠出來,鑽到霜莫耳邊,「是我父親認識的票友跟我介紹霜莫您的,說您《貴妃醉酒》唱得極好,名不虛傳呢。」39Please respect copyright.PENANATb70ngxBit
39Please respect copyright.PENANAE0ZeD6LKcC
「慕卿小姐太抬舉了。」39Please respect copyright.PENANAjBwuIsMbON
39Please respect copyright.PENANAHAJzE1matu
若說這位裴小姐是盞清新味甘的春茶,霜莫就是冷澀無味的隔夜白水了,讓人嚥不下。39Please respect copyright.PENANAHVVDWPY3CO
39Please respect copyright.PENANAojl5YXhKvh
幸虧裴小姐的教養比那些囂張急切的男人們好得多,依舊溫淑不踰矩,「您真謙虛,若這是抬舉,剛才滿堂彩都是抬舉了,我父親說座兒不騙人的。」她端起茶碗,將杯緣打開一條縫,啜了一口茶,「霜莫介意我打開天窗說亮話麼?」39Please respect copyright.PENANABh9E6vn2Ok
39Please respect copyright.PENANADvBlz1BbTl
「慕卿小姐請。」霜莫還是盯著戲臺,眼神渙散,顯然不是真的想看人唱戲。39Please respect copyright.PENANAIhGmCUIMs6
39Please respect copyright.PENANAJjSQbrnWXW
「聽了好幾回您的戲,真真是太喜歡了,家裡祖母也喜歡聽旦角兒的戲,可惜她老人家出門不大方便了。」裴小姐把話語捧得很謹慎,繞了半圈才又緊張、又企盼地端出來,「就想請霜莫到家裡頭給唱堂會,您有這意思麼?唱什麼就隨您。」39Please respect copyright.PENANAnd78LrWE8k
39Please respect copyright.PENANAZAt9PNoXNB
霜莫一聽只是想要他唱堂會,總算願意看她一眼,但還是回應得很淡:「得看師傅的意思。」他的確是作不了主,一把推給師傅。39Please respect copyright.PENANAIFmHhtiIYb
39Please respect copyright.PENANAY5evZ9xDYE
裴小姐立刻肩膀一縮,神情窘澀,聲音匆匆地像是貓兒溜過的腳步:「啊,我太失禮了,是該先向朱老闆打招呼的,那我再請人過去一趟吧。」她顯得有點不知所措,轉頭望望站在身邊的婢女。39Please respect copyright.PENANAx7y5xUZ94C
39Please respect copyright.PENANAZX3fv4qPml
婢女向自家小姐伶俐擠擠眼睛便開口:「小姐,這不是要晚飯時間了,咱們上館子吧,不是說要吃江豆腐麼?不如都一塊兒去。」39Please respect copyright.PENANA693WGuVdTm
39Please respect copyright.PENANABAheCyffGA
裴小姐眼睛亮了,悄悄握了一下婢女的手,又轉回來霜莫這兒,揚高眉毛,興致滿滿地問:「霜莫願意賞光麼?她說的是廣和居,江豆腐是那兒有名的好菜,不知道霜莫嚐過沒有?今晚我作東。」39Please respect copyright.PENANAsVuE3IZIDQ
39Please respect copyright.PENANATQuhULzJab
霜莫瞧她小狗似的汪汪眼睛,卻臉色暗下去,嘴角一撇:「私寓規矩嚴,這也得看師傅意思。」39Please respect copyright.PENANAA93pV8In1B
39Please respect copyright.PENANAAbdxuWd7Lq
這會兒裴小姐還沒開口,婢女就搶著搭腔:「我去問問外頭那位先生。」她馬上去開門找人了。39Please respect copyright.PENANAVMhEDiaYpP
39Please respect copyright.PENANAexbD44vAs6
才兩句話的時間,榮芳跟著婢女進來了,邊走向裴小姐邊彎下那老腰桿鞠躬,滿臉恭維的笑意,「呦,裴姑娘這樣賞咱們臉要請霜莫吃飯,謝您都來不及了,哪兒有不行的道理?霜莫今晚有的是空閒。」他也不讓霜莫答話,拍拍他的背,又捏捏肩膀,暗暗勸戒,「霜莫,你今天唱戲也累了,好好吃一頓去。」39Please respect copyright.PENANATdE0IXcMtG
39Please respect copyright.PENANAUPh88Qt62D
這位裴小姐婉約客氣,是個人的模樣,皮囊裡頭要的還是戲子給她陪席賣笑,跟老斗差不了太多,都是從吃頓飯開始的,霜莫鄙夷了她,鄙夷她的溫善皮囊。39Please respect copyright.PENANA0uAtEIL2r2
39Please respect copyright.PENANAeKaOgFPTTa
下頭樂聲奏得明快,王寶釧和代戰公主妳敬我、我敬妳,敬妳看照夫婿、敬妳苦守寒窯,可戲外座兒都看得透兩個妻子內心各自洶湧,各有不平。霜莫不吭聲,涼涼地俯瞰那場虛情假意,兩個女子愈是謙讓,愈是造作。39Please respect copyright.PENANAmT8JkUvMCW
39Please respect copyright.PENANAfIkjDRJM5k
「霜莫。」榮芳搖了霜莫肩膀一下,「我收拾東西去,等會兒咱們就上館子。」39Please respect copyright.PENANAGMmyJnbC0w
39Please respect copyright.PENANAtT3hgzRnbX
霜莫眼神慢慢轉回面前的裴小姐,她還是小白花似的無害樣兒,朝自己柔柔地笑,他明知對方在等他開口,榮芳也瞅著他,偏偏只是端起茶碗來,喝了幾口。39Please respect copyright.PENANASA2F0Y2ptV
39Please respect copyright.PENANA6TPGui0xkJ
「多謝慕卿小姐美意。」霜莫嘴上客氣,傲慢的眼睛卻往裴小姐臉上輕輕照了一下又別開,他幾乎無聲地擱下手裡茶碗,「可今天都卯上了,下了臺沒什麼胃口,恐怕浪費了好菜。」多麼敷衍的拒絕,就連一句下回再約也不願意說。39Please respect copyright.PENANAC2xxDMyEO2
39Please respect copyright.PENANAhFqug2aQfK
「哎,霜莫──」榮芳急了。39Please respect copyright.PENANAAt4JGtsrOQ
39Please respect copyright.PENANABBHhKUo2gJ
裴小姐笑容僵了,要收不收,「不要緊的。」可是她很鎮定,向榮芳擺擺手,沒有不悅,「霜莫既然累了就下回再說吧,哪有勉強人的,讓我再說幾句就不打攪了。」39Please respect copyright.PENANAvV4GlRlLJx
39Please respect copyright.PENANA1TlMCJbAjD
榮芳道歉一句便又退出去了,包廂裡又只剩霜莫面對兩個姑娘,或是三個姑娘面面相覷,他是貴妃,也是姑娘。39Please respect copyright.PENANA7JvfNovTES
39Please respect copyright.PENANAxZZQk2aqwh
裴小姐也喝了口茶,見霜莫依舊不打算開口,才重新搭話,「霜莫沒扮上也挺清秀,都看您扮貴妃和大家閨秀,到底還是個優雅脫俗的少年郎⋯⋯」她語氣搖搖扭扭地,說著臉就垂下去了,聲音愈來愈小,怯怯藏進樂聲裡。39Please respect copyright.PENANAQeLyOHbGE9
39Please respect copyright.PENANAWTycelDZU2
旁邊婢女推了她肩膀一下,附在她耳邊俏皮地笑:「小姐都跟人家說多久話了,都沒瞧清楚麼?趕緊好好瞧呀,是柳夢梅一樣的美男子呢!簡直就是小姐的⋯⋯」39Please respect copyright.PENANAVm0OlE1eer
39Please respect copyright.PENANAJrzOD7rAvw
「妳說什麼胡話呢!」裴小姐瞥了婢女一眼,羞意從面頰暈到耳根。39Please respect copyright.PENANAGsCuPB4htx
39Please respect copyright.PENANA6VgxrF8JjD
兩個姑娘的悄悄話都給霜莫聽見了,說的什麼意思他當然懂,儘管是良家小姐,也還是把戲子看作可供玩賞的物什,只見皮囊,不見心思。39Please respect copyright.PENANAdUOpUSBKt9
39Please respect copyright.PENANAgpwhiObSTl
可是霜莫自己不曾留意,他長大了,他自己是男孩兒,昭翊、老斗、師傅、榮芳也都是男人,也都沒察覺;但女子們都目光精明,瞧得出來他眉眼間開始有了男子的俐落,下頷的線條鮮明了,他還沒經歷倒倉的關口,說話的聲音卻多了一股沉穩的氣韻,儘管還是纖細的身板、秀嬝的舉止、清婉的歌聲,身上卻隱隱漫著一股女子才嗅得出來的麝香味兒,薰香也蓋不住,男與女、成熟與青澀,一團迷煙似的都揉合在他身上,混亂又神秘。39Please respect copyright.PENANACgJp1EOFlx
39Please respect copyright.PENANAhQw8b89sxq
得知霧裡看花卻是柳,旦角裝扮下的是個俊少年,女子們不會再把他當女孩兒了。39Please respect copyright.PENANAikItR0ramU
39Please respect copyright.PENANA1ZxD3gbWta
對面主僕倆笑鬧完了,裴小姐又是一副端莊文雅,半低著臉,眼睛卻在霜莫身上溜來溜去打量他,那目光像螞蟻在爬,給撓得不自在,霜莫差點要出手掃開。39Please respect copyright.PENANAlvgdeLmrwA
39Please respect copyright.PENANAB34VLYfryq
她目光終於定下來,直對著霜莫臉蛋,自顧自地吱吱喳喳:「看霜莫戴這翡翠壓襟真合襯,溫文儒雅的,肯定有不少人送過頭面那些的,就讓我做一串壓襟送霜莫吧,就當您今天同我見一面的謝禮。」39Please respect copyright.PENANAjvHUxhyGB7
39Please respect copyright.PENANA3Sp7pE1Ss0
裴小姐誠意十足,霜莫卻推開桌子猛地站起來,撞得桌上茶水點心都震歪了,他昂揚著臉蛋,斜下去的眼光比寒冬月色更森冷,像刀刃,卻不屑往人臉上刮,只是往桌上擱,「用不著,霜莫不至於買不起這點小玩意。」39Please respect copyright.PENANAGrZyASjCXS
39Please respect copyright.PENANAW03Hr5SqNg
他沒有去瞧裴小姐臉上的神情,聳了聳肩,「霜莫真累了,就不送了,裴小姐慢走。」霜莫腰桿硬直直地,彎也不彎,說完便兀自走出包廂。39Please respect copyright.PENANAApkj5ufv7j
39Please respect copyright.PENANAqMbW5QDRWb
榮芳見霜莫自己出來,問他怎麼了,他只答說完話要走了,榮芳還是進去瞧了,他在外頭聽見榮芳一個勁地大聲賠不是,門裡嘀嘀咕咕一陣,榮芳總算從門縫裡影子一樣滑出來,他只是瞧了霜莫一眼,無奈嘆氣,兩人去後臺收拾了行頭,回流仙堂去,沒了小姐,霜莫還是得接應客人。