湖衣在縱橫交錯的密道不知爬行了多久，找到一座階梯，她扶著石壁一步步登上階梯，約莫走了百餘階，終於看見第一道光線自縫隙透進來，差點教她睜不開眼。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlEAK6b8gq
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eL20KUV0G
她從縫隙探看，放眼所及空無一人，這才小心翼翼地從密道走出來，她發覺自己置身在一座儲物的庫房內，四周堆滿陳年舊物。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEg8Bg2Ne2D
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWDPAPh6w4
湖衣先確認無人後，在陰影的掩蔽下走到屋外，庫房緊連著數幢相似的石屋，斑駁的牆面爬滿青苔，遠處還有數條狹窄的渠道，幾名中年婦人在渠道旁浣衣。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZkIjwDd5X
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZm2R9qtY6
不遠處還有座石造羊舍，十幾頭山羊正啃食槽中乾草，一條瞎眼老狗懶洋洋地翻過肚子，躺在羊舍前方曬太陽。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdF1zovJi1I
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFRyOVISiF
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tId7R3QWb
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLirbjeNKfG
依照成祖實錄記載，京城分為三重：第一重城為宮城，是皇帝住居和理政之處，又稱大內；第二重城為皇城，宮城之外套著皇城，分布著朝廷辦事機構監、局、司、庫等；第三重城為外城，外城是京城百姓住的地方，到了外城，就已遠離宮禁，可以自由出城。按距離推測，她應該身在皇城某處。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufBpi4gkNd
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjgpmO5yj6
眼下四顧茫然。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjKx0YtITB
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMTUGdhdKg
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JYm20iQWS
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQFRtrn7jb
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbbsTqvo6o
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFIA40Dts9
總不能問山羊吧。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcbd0yyrQz
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgenvSxjOFl
羊舍旁那頭瞎眼老狗似乎察覺她的心思，伸了伸腿後站起來，一瘸一瘸地走向羊舍。湖衣跟隨在後，才發現羊舍之後還有一排長屋，土牆破舊陰暗，不知是否有人居。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykEr2UBOJV
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhG1wMog5U
老狗在土屋外吠叫了幾聲，屋內傳出回應，幾聲像患有肺疾的咳喘，拖著窸窣的步伐，門扉「呀」地一聲打開了。湖衣退回屋角的陰影中，門內走出一名蹣跚的老人，形容憔悴，臉頰凹陷。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFrAS0tB4v
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqRNa3iPS2
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4G4t1zuOgN
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIBaXF89Zy
「老黃啊，今天就剩這麼點啦，你慢著點吃！」老人以尖細的聲音說完，舉起佈滿斑紋的手，撫了下老狗的頭，接著又岣嶁著背，危顫顫地走回屋裡去。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYtJ18WyNb
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Fc4t48cNc
湖衣仔細思量，老人沒有鬍鬚，膝蓋腫得像突起的樹瘤一般，腰間圍著鼓脹的厚布疋，應是年老而無法在御前侍奉的太監。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbx2zHU7xaU
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVLM9SUGdj
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFl8ckPYj9q
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1rGov2dUi
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpP8IgVPppj
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwuTj690lF
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SnnO5l9S8
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWGlx7zIpr
羊房夾道靠近欞星門，該處是太監們出宮辦差常走的便門，說不定可以從那裏混出宮去。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMF6LKNQv7
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvP7l7pRj0
湖衣環顧四週，老人已不見蹤影，而那老狗，正挨著一個不知從何而來的男孩兒。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciPivFVobZ
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4rQh5WiUT
孩子看上去約莫十歲，穿著粗布衣衫，披散著一頭長髮，身形清瘦，手裡把玩著幾個麻布製成的小沙袋，口裡吟唱著：292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YQxI3yM2u
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvv0vme0RW
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3WLQaSVuK
空山新雨後，天氣晚來秋。
明月松間照，清泉石上流。
竹喧歸浣女，蓮動下漁舟。
隨意……隨意……292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNMn5tC0CS
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wvbF7n3NH
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6HF7T74L8
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTiAnFvDwJ
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPijI2PM4qM
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDJYw0tRlh
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3Q902pcY2
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbpATOKRGz
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgnQwjiFE9
湖衣不禁心疼起這孩子，他定是窮苦人家的孩子，不得已小小年紀就被賣到宮裡做宮役，又被發配到這樣荒涼的地方。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9mPVRkE86
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkxJknt0vT
她蹲下身子，柔聲地問他：「孩子，你怎麼獨自在這兒？」見男孩不答，湖衣又問：「你知道欞星門往哪走嗎？」292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡza2JAJQnX8
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYH4ouDMbO
「我不知道啊，姐姐，」孩子抬起小臉望著她，「而且我娘不許我和陌生人說話。」292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQL0500KE3
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyVhWLiusD
此時孩子的額前的長髮因抬頭而向後曳撒，露出清秀的面容，這男孩兒有著精緻的五官，一雙丹鳳眼，女人般的薄唇，似有某種莫可名狀的熟悉感。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wrDlN1nN8
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5oXIcpacr
母與子。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73kJpTGw56
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCSX0mhPVo
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPQnwUxPzf
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsIaOZW6II
金水橋。筒子河。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8EaeijPvz
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvHdIHTJfs
母親與未出世的孩子。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMgW1GtjhV
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWJR6Ale2g
天哪，怎麼回事。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpH7MyDNfcL
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcr0YpA6TN4
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lRIJ00mR6
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LHq1knOSN
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46ULGk276k
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YItU8vD2u
原來，多年前的宮中疑案，還有眼下困局，一切問題都在這裡有了交代。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7gVgJwrrl
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEZE1wVNBl
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfOpnIdM15
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOOGJfDKPD
過去數月，她日日夜夜都夢想著逃出皇宮，如今出宮的路近在咫尺，難道要回皇宮去自投羅網？292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1pMGLbLrY
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iLT4wMUgE
但……橫斷在眼前是足以動搖社稷的大事，她又怎能視而不見，一走了之？292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrySRpNnUM
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhFYGInMKR
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIu6WHD6tgy
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeP0YEpo71f
「乖孩子，聽你娘的話，躲著點，」湖衣捧起他的雙頰，仔細叮囑，「別讓任何人看見你，我很快就回來。」292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEdOCozl4y
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUUn9ZwZos
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXa4Jd6BVh
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVC5tvfgRB
湖衣轉過身，一路快步，直到再度進到土屋裡的密道入口，心頭掛記的全是那孤單的孩兒和他可憐的娘親。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xXPamt35N
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdefqc6MChW
她飛奔而入，下了階梯，碰到第一個岔路，依照記憶，她走右邊的通道，然後一路向右，向右，再向左，跑到頭昏眼花，幾乎喘不過氣。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVjn5DPvCr
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjXsU02vz3
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQzFjfPWaD
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwv5d2FCisD
若能保護好這孩子，讓萬貴妃無從施以毒手，太后和公主也無須再綁架年輕女子，只要她辦妥了這事，一切一切都會不同。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNEDdfBN03
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMuej86o1m
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMHOXelP3V
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VV57eFwCP
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcLHMxm9hU
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjCg9X6AYQ
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7WfX5qo1c
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAUQZX4tjr
湖衣心生疑惑。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRwCellMHr
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4BaKvVbE8
平日她每回進入地道，馮瑛都會站在堂口守著，莫非馮瑛認為她已離宮，所以不再守門？292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9IFLCK6pn
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChd1NLuQYl
湖衣一邊把魏徵銅像推回了原位，一邊低頭思忖，或許馮瑛回咸若宮去了。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxJdWAve1t
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYYw6HfAyG
於是她伸手推開佛堂的門，某個重物自背後襲來，她就此失去意識。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRy951Ja7E
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfw4bGc5oWB
§292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUrM20YStv
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiW3kyfsfY
殘陽若血，天街御道上颳起了一陣不祥的風，今日迥異於往昔，雲霞是混合了鮮血與落日的駭人顏色。貞順門城樓上的鴟吻在狂風中顯得格外陰森，像有惡鬼潛藏在暗處，教人汗毛直豎。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3iUZrRPpc
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzb4wHDQ4jV
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8pc1sngdg
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRo7MnegsVv
「叫什麼，你該不會是怕鬼吧？」負責把守城樓的騎尉回答，握著長槍的手也在顫抖。遠方傳來陣陣烏鴉嘶啞的叫聲。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZxydZ7c0a
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIm1LQzHvMr
不祥之兆。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEWvcnRtmT
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJa5mBoDEG
平日即使入夜，貞順門也未曾如此靜謐，總會有前往各宮辦差的太監，負責打更的宮役，巡邏的侍衛，人聲來來去去，可眼下因為皇上正在齋戒，各宮宮門深鎖，只有寒風吹過樹木的颯颯聲，伴隨他們值夜。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLx6KZC6uq
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJImxjPe8hu
步履聲吸引了兩人的注意，三名西緝事司檢校押著一名罩著黑色頭套的女子，欲出宮門。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJ0FInY3o5
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFMkCIpk1K
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9b1Drbt9r
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNY8HpYI6R
「我等奉長安宮總管太監之命，將犯過的宮女押往宮正司懲戒。」其中一名檢校回答。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOWrrF8rAA
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YPJhtP2yV
貞順門外甬道是通往宮正司的必經之路，只是騎尉隱隱覺得有些不對。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNHzhgQ2yB
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9K1iX7dOMP
年輕門衛盯著眼前四人，尤其是那名宮女，為何要用黑布罩頭？292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxmBsxnibK
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHle0RUdo6
兩名檢校見到門衛狐疑的眼色，便自行掀開黑布，女子雙眼緊閉，顯然已陷入昏迷。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vNnjfEqAc
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5YqeeHwmA
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjphrtGzyt
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1eMyIJxX3
騎尉見那女子長相端莊秀麗，心下明瞭，她未必是犯了甚麼過失，多半僅是惹起貴妃妒意，才會遭罰。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuA1XNU7gV
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmrVTIZdQ5
而那汪直雖被皇上撤去西廠廠公一職，西廠也遭關閉，西廠廠尉全數回歸西緝事司，但是宮中人人都知道，西司背後是汪直，汪直背後是權勢滔天的萬貴妃，西廠再起是遲早的事，西緝事司的人可得罪不起。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cQFEMazHa
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZV5e6LlN7A
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZIa8u40Dz
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfikdz5UU0
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTFh1KGyEY
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvV6FSkn5Y
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXJTNCBoZW
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ud5RE2S62
落日最後一抹餘暉消失在眼前，風在他們的四周吹拂，某處的狗似狼一般地向天長嚎，從剛才騎尉就一直聽見不尋常的匡噹聲。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyqybaSqQP
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEQfp5pX1o
「你說，京城會不會像金陵一樣，出現妖孽呢？」年輕的門衛還在自顧自地說。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKUlYKYfmQ
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNqU1JuPGJ
簡直不知死活。騎尉暗罵。守夜時，要是說出不吉利的話觸了霉頭，必然會生出事來。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoUH3cQqys
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匡噹……匡噹……292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijxhNd1GUp
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHlvI8ai8j
這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlpcT6MhsQ
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKbYGLL6Bx
「糟了！」騎尉大吼。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1h4XbvSbX
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAGvGPjcoK
「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0TOKI6c3r
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyqkhAfI1L
「你看那個，」都尉指著在城門上被夜風吹得匡噹響的齋戒木牌，「齋戒期間，各宮齋戒祈福，不理刑名，怎麼會在此時懲治宮女？」292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFb6qnm7pt
