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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblbfkvg6yw
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc77R46aRt7
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBNCm8n6iM
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEE8ckHGBF
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbFGI2770b
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoltkMogkc
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzVnIfJrs4
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSRRdHsaHk
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWbZHgm2D9
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUlQWYef48
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTjs5SMo0x
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeM66OUCDQD
眼下四顧茫然。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKZCOz4mM1
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZiyEMs8OW
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQNttdU5Rc
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82tmDyu4x3
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2vALWExFq
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkubpM7d9TC
總不能問山羊吧。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnNgE3bskA
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrr94HNeXhg
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKk6WjUsHd
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXwlWqXosk
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcF4klHSqs
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYACCuY9t7e
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCX9PBTL6m0
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOBx3FjMyt
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlJfCUuHxC
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAhM8S5XKd
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡME2g0SOsYk
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcS4v1e34y5
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTF5ESTZyQ
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbzI8LnHrs
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqvQTe9UTN
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGm1OQLaS3
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fCBjIO85a
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjtU4JA7s2
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7ek5it2xf
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHr1b7yf2H
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbC0CyAeZg
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyumappdzkN
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vRSBfdWX1
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVF6E9Ny0sD
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFzKZVKELH
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCCRtPCeBn
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXWptcWiFx
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3skMJ1lkmV
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYEI53ZLBN
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5Kq8C1Oc9
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazKEo0PmJx
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgB1xwGgjeZ
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3o36wQNNg
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyD5g29O2O
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJGUcScJLY
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUByPmRAcH
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1I7BRBLb0
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FiHtkZBLb
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYgPPvrCK2
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0khrRO0Oc
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCeMafeP28
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5ev1T1eys
母與子。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HrBitWy2x
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBZ97mEsMs
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElbve8lqWx
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mMO2HmFNv
金水橋。筒子河。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziAyfTh2cU
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHL1wtFymtO
母親與未出世的孩子。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgexH5Zq0dW
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceyP4kRHr0
天哪，怎麼回事。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkL9wcrG4QP
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRCtsCF8Zz
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmQezCuwAu
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJ3LVvHpZv
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrvdORDEY7
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KgAJRX5nY
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoLRXw7UTK
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CUhVFNA2D
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6U5ieJlq7E
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqXQDvEsBz
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJGhz8uiXW
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3PjrWHNnM
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLwdcCnsZc
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHFpWWz8wx
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabNQuB22J9
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhafNNgZOZ
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksUACNvjt0
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspObKCoTY2
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgNCnYUqMH
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEh0VJ1j1e
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAE2faqgxdY
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgVfjXFbbW
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kzjXcqytq
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4sUvqyxqI
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQFP8e2NCX
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6AphnDqQm
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumqN5IFLmK
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71baH3V1dr
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcG11cqev5S
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxZFwxLq6p
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3h8MsN9ZgZ
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlROnGj3BI
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6boji7wow
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKEJFGBuoW
湖衣心生疑惑。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRvxmSH8CS
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7t2QBZKaxE
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4F7Cq3lzxp
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODkxU3Ipqz
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gdGE5PuoX
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3DOfzzmix
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYyIZY0STM
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ThccHxLZy
§292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixJP2owrDt
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYguoER7x02
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4f7AdNNHk
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKJxOBKh4Q
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WNKtMiMo6
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyinRankCpZ
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcpFlrAyyB
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKNmj5fVGo
不祥之兆。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbbrNZdggB
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlS8H5XVr7
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNMeBYKDg0
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nr2kYRpaZ
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoD4lBiC4I
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzGRfJ9A6T
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQ6OXLK6hJ
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSa76kpDDX
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYz1FJoqDpx
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzW3NxBrbi
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGbhe1opFe
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVRMUl0XNE
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkW7CpXG0k
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9zyzdjAon
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFVTQi8MDt
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XaJFw6jXd
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaYQeWzwWG
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCd40aaWqF
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFPniTV23o
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQV2Ih10FM
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHUk7XRr9C
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPUB6BuJYW
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmGsaWKIsU
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4LrKcRXji
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZMBrVpeiS
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJX8HVtTFA
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPP0bEugTkS
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjGLjsRt3v
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyydbtSllF
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2gGLBaOs9
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSg3A2fo6W
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvVSUWi3AP
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeRyFq6QE2
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匡噹……匡噹……292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRBcmPIzOm
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kmoftdt9p
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkB17uiJbID
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「糟了！」騎尉大吼。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OGJqie2aS
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ656rhi8YHy
「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEotLO4d29
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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？」292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfig8s2PTMU
