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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXm7hVwCIt
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0vDMgUvhy
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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3AoJJU9kc
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KYfeX2Uqm
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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpMVIbLrqn
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhTKlXmIbl
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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVN9ZeK1cpn
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1nFBxVjyJ
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHq2nxXGCdD
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDq58ZXJXk
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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrtEEO9C2p
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxklxqhF2kp
眼下四顧茫然。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrscDuDt8WC
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAhxj6sNZm
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46jHtEMebg
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNhb9zzxDq
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3f9FPVfve
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjfrzqNpz5
總不能問山羊吧。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaH1ixalskn
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP18YVq5xKx
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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqdWB6u6iw
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01DrwAobc2
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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8YMqHd4qL
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LMQjJkh7W
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrxaD0XS3h
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetsf4vxAUl
「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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxecI88EA0r
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJdUntBH2E
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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJek9yTeynf
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz61MSzAhif
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5CRavCtiS
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3cBI9Mas0
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFFVMQlMIJ
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FOANUY158
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8Q3AwZCyR
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgKU0GaKNN
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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYD4koOxj8y
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WyLSmAlXr
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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXvOUi5EXC
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpNllmMA6y
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：268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAAL2ZnE7V
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WXW9add8d
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJetavWtmVA
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……268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVen6AwNB1
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjku8UHEzp0
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjapehDttPC
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcP8PUPkrM
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXE4TXBUU9
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUxqbWSN4K
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsfXuUh0Ug
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwbR4c1EiJ
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSP8UUtc2HY
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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVGu6TZMPL
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhKysLgf0z
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？」268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VzlE0gkqN
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfgYtjhoYF
「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。」268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmtlB8jsU0
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOWEzDrPvN
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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2Ltyv2diO
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64DTOdD7JH
母與子。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZZWzq5ZOL
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatbDw3LmG7
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQK6cdNRiY
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItQW61NWJO
金水橋。筒子河。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyXavPbf9y
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqvH2f1QlN
母親與未出世的孩子。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9JAXYGz54
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9v7tQY1iu
天哪，怎麼回事。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbOlugYoCl
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMEtcG2BXa
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYDQuwpS5z
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBFrKQCCCK
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TNh4UJCHY
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx604OEu2OA
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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUkYEfDxWU
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvPH2Bt4JL
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeekbxY9uRq
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaaj2T8win
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？268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVDeiCEgXS
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNRUl61wA5
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？268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NGz0b2dI4
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEj6r4eT5R
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNh7XDY9zN9
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5jYbnLzwP
「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。」268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgpWA8ie7C
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHDRCVcbzM
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5jeodz0kF
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytpF9FYvj0
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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iDFMr8PBy
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRltwLnNHT
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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTO3SYqHl69
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyWCVTpS8P
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrw4xiSOVW
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFenac2HPMM
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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdsbeIFEKu
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCXgRkb80Z
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTvDYkLY6R
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDkinxbQ4Y
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUnDApjp2B
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHONPT4HN9
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5E7khVJcY
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa26crATURe
湖衣心生疑惑。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkj9Cm4Mza
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0tnMGheCM
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？268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLKHtH9Mm9
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡingkGi7tuD
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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAlQ6mPAV8
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcM2iLQNe6c
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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxcxbiuFpE
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtcGlfU7fI
§268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUIUunBbBg
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUD2qhDX0qc
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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9a1dGOiwF
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6OBvz0hGj
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwLDuqJnqK
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh61ZjmvDtN
「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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkE6t4OOXO
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBTXnDKnPT
不祥之兆。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6UX8D9HE7
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkekJUJxjT
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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOXs0rLMv6
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQEh2mfpES
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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHarwZsM7v
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkipL3wJDO1
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3MjD3JcOz
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4kZeqTDZ8
「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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfvyZ269Ju
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NMTeqcBnz
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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsb9wjGBhf
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdP4inGAnJ
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？268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCjJrslV4A
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8bF62ejJD
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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEKuDcmydJ
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TyJmLk1DB
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWx19wYgNS
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72xHCve67U
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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6b2FnVCvpz
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqHDr5d111
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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNdwOPkmfm
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabCJ9fbQqo
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgD5ZpcVkW7
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOzIbGYSAB
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcuzajH6ja
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuPpdgC4nd
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2ri7LjvuU
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR65KfCBxOq
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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzofxiVUbV
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxq2iGkFnix
「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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6T0UFYcUD
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnYpam3C81
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。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3xSd9C2dK
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasOMvkUTeh
匡噹……匡噹……268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsE5F2VKI4
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxvNIHrWfy
這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqvMGeZyX0
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ200rKrDN3E
「糟了！」騎尉大吼。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK23l5eq2JA
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYqVBzZ8gA
「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2X0dPjO7j
268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WBVBoanpD
「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？」268Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuy7N6IHub7
