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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YlscFOTTE
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4n3TuTISf
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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOmUBs5V22
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6xWrmVUDg
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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaxJzCU0ux
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wKFNryx1Q
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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiXxMPEzae
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapBSHgeA2H
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUzn7e3ESl
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4d0LFgK8dh
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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XAocW9RHH
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEquzjaKUqM
眼下四顧茫然。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKW2GV5ILjg
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0d6XIOGUc0
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITKZA1SRvb
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ur1i7OCy6
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdXQVIkYGd
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljydjjJK0f
總不能問山羊吧。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgIq25Jjm9
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28YM206DWR
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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkKivE15G6
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBGFE6FMIy
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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmabXbADdGM
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL926aax7MC
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPT2tRfsk7t
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwppXlQ2H4q
「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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVo7dLOOdN
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5zi2JlUV5
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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgXWFXk1Xo
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1L0GFG6kk4
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkkCABLUd5
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWx7jn4U7ge
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0oJTcgsf1
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTvkdcFZ2l
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8xb2ugxVm
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiB4ycjd9l
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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwdr7W5EPZ
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpgutoEC4K
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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLc62Bxckv
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLmCRi5MqR
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：251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHc06nQT2bS
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJyuKt7WfW
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcSDPuTVB6
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……251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5yVd70edP
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMWZFeiQvf
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqOFl2aI2R
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwO5lWEesIT
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XGL7nR7tA
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygKlaAMfxI
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdgD1n4Dc4
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmcEJyyEZF
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklRqot6NoC
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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzsVwM8ev0
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0yLjgeoTb
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？」251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rQc1rHVjB
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3Ob1oTpT3
「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。」251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSBfZvPlyX
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsptlCDDYTn
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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgmYISr0kW
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdB0TeL94cC
母與子。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHNrdbvV3N
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9I8Vyftfn
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqu8pgEKhup
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasv6tz3383
金水橋。筒子河。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKi7aA81P6N
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcXvz4c5yl
母親與未出世的孩子。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLZIJRgaYM
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1RuvMLRu9
天哪，怎麼回事。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPu9qCwK74
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAYJ8jFUSV
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamSeZhjSJD
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfohZEjfXIb
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhK0JOEV9x
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rHHgAHbbQ
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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtJMlYJy8V
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrZ1gvvmp1
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs39oeKA6B7
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgWBd6EkC9
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？251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fvfhMIAuC
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DKriqq1xg
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？251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKELAiuffoc
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz56lGtT5Gx
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2w9zCRfN9
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNVGaBNUjY
「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。」251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHS1I4p79n
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrwt2j5XkB
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDFHmgPqPP
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuK1V7yF47
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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwqBFVOPPh
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznK3w7gejm
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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJBS3NWzpy
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0waWXTL4gS
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNg1jzo6FG
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoz7kfNuJoe
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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmcN9Rft9h
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcI0dCm9PjV
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lBLfEMCq7
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWV4bSUg9Z
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTC6GQWDifY
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRjM4HqVA4
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yHufDM22d
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORgioUa5fg
湖衣心生疑惑。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sxlPhG9Sj
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYp4Fn7zGQc
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？251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6v8Ve2zYt
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBsYjM293k
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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJnIS3w2yu
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dd1knPTgW
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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb113fQDLsa
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyARYyixSg
§251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXdSYCWWzB
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIztv8HBWC
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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BoifnBVz0
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3O2u6EMXw
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKncAbtTmv
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOz5VTuUoU
「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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngMpy9hi2M
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvx5eawvQX
不祥之兆。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4akKpECSv
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpzYkeB7wy
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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKImvpP7vt
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiJPxWwpvb
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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmfsyjzMKc
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDDKVGkUGt
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHIkAdAwdK
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgP0KP52mQ
「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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXsts9LZnV
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbSpzfdPkM
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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf93UjI6wIk
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPe4EBhOk9P
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？251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAquhKdEjDe
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsZ1REsuti
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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3PmNmLEi1
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJwLuNdLoy
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSwwjk96l5
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUB26tpog6
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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISMECEXLDh
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDFc8iclGI
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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKvnqRxQOF
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdK2tgfAUu
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHIAmkA6hN
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASNRSCVmDJ
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrfYiP70jL
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdd78I8lJK
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWDQ1mWCwv
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXWjhk4XZJ
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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDonSBG89Fc
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYt0CK39wI
「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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKolKA3cqF
251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaqZEmRWvL
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。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iDYf1bb4O
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匡噹……匡噹……251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGndOAzEPU
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這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9KpR6kSJE
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「糟了！」騎尉大吼。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfntkw1yPX
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「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbzvGJn5Oq
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「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？」251Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPsmRWAinN
