青岚城,夜幕低垂,华灯初上。叶凡一袭月白锦袍,袖口与领口以银线绣着精致的云纹,腰间随意系着一根墨色玉带,长发以一根简单的碧玉簪束起。与先前激战时的凌厉不同,此刻的他,敛去了所有锋芒,宛如一位游学归来的翩翩浊世佳公子,温润如玉,气度不凡。
他站在一栋雕梁画栋、灯火通明的阁楼前,抬头望去,“万花楼”三个鎏金大字在夜色中熠熠生辉。这里便是青岚城乃至方圆百里最有名的销金窟,也是消息最为灵通之地。赵无极此番吃了大亏,绝不会善罢甘休。他若想报复,或是寻求更强的援手,这万花楼龙蛇混杂,必然是他传递消息或寻求庇护的可能去处之一。更何况,叶凡对那所谓的“禁地神器”九霄环佩的线索,也隐隐指向此类风月之地。
深吸一口气,叶凡迈步走入万花楼。大厅内果然是另一番天地。靡靡之音不绝于耳,空气中弥漫着浓郁的脂粉香气与酒气。衣着暴露的舞女们扭动着曼妙的腰肢,引来阵阵不堪入耳的调笑与喝彩。富商巨贾、江湖豪客、世家子弟,三教九流汇聚于此,推杯换盏,一掷千金,尽显奢靡。
叶凡眉头微不可察地一蹙,随即恢复如常。他前世虽一心问道,但也并非不食人间烟火,对此等场面倒也见怪不怪。一位身着绫罗,脸上堆满职业笑容的半老徐娘扭着腰肢迎了上来,声音甜得发腻:“哎呦,这位公子瞧着面生得很,是第一次来我们万花楼吧?快请进,我们这儿的姑娘,个个水灵,包您满意!”
叶凡不着痕迹地避开她几乎要贴上来的身子,淡然道:“我找苏倾雪姑娘。”那徐娘脸上的笑容微微一僵,随即又堆起更热情的笑意,只是眼中多了几分审视:“公子好眼光,苏姑娘可是我们万花楼的头牌,琴棋书画样样精通,只是……苏姑娘今日怕是已经有约了。”她顿了顿,意有所指地搓了搓手指。
叶凡心中了然,这种地方,无非是价高者得。他也不多言,从袖中取出一锭足有十两的银子,轻轻放在徐娘手中。银子的分量让徐娘眼睛一亮,脸上的笑容瞬间真诚了许多:“哎呀,公子真是爽快人!您稍等,我这就去问问。阿宝,阿宝!快过来,带这位公子去‘静心阁’,好生伺候着!”
一个梳着双丫髻,约莫十五六岁,模样机灵的小丫鬟应声小跑过来,好奇地打量了叶凡一眼,见他气度不凡,出手又阔绰,便乖巧地躬身道:“公子请随我来。”叶凡微微颔首,跟着阿宝穿过喧闹的大厅,沿着檀木楼梯蜿蜒而上。楼上的空气清新了许多,也安静了不少,显然是招待贵客的地方。
“公子,苏姑娘的‘倾雪小筑’就在前面,只是苏姑娘素来喜静,不喜人打扰。陈掌柜特意吩咐,若有贵客寻苏姑娘,便先请至‘静心阁’奉茶,由阿宝前去通传。”阿宝一边引路,一边轻声解释道。“有劳了。”叶凡淡淡应道。看来这苏倾雪,在万花楼的地位确实不一般。
不多时,阿宝将叶凡引至一间雅致的厢房前,推开门:“公子请进,稍作歇息,阿宝去去就回。”雅间内陈设清雅,一方案几,两只锦凳,墙上挂着一幅意境悠远的山水画,角落的博古架上摆放着几件瓷器,空气中飘荡着若有若无的清幽檀香,与楼下的靡靡之风形成鲜明对比。
叶凡在案几旁坐下,刚端起阿宝奉上的香茗,便听到隔壁隐隐约约传来一阵琴音。那琴音初时如山涧清泉,叮咚悦耳,渐渐地,泉水汇聚成溪,流畅婉转,继而又如江河奔涌,气势渐起,却又在将要达到顶峰时,骤然一转,化作细雨微风,拂过人心,带着一丝若有若无的怅惘与空灵。仅仅是听这琴音,叶凡便知抚琴之人的技艺已臻化境,更难得的是琴音中蕴含的丰富情感,以及那一缕超脱凡俗的意韵。
“好琴艺。”叶凡心中暗赞。他前世也曾涉猎音律,自然听得出这琴声的不凡。若无意外,这抚琴之人,便是苏倾雪了。约莫一盏茶的功夫,房门被轻轻叩响。“公子,苏姑娘有请。”阿宝的声音在门外响起。叶凡放下茶杯,起身整理了一下衣袍,推门而出。
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