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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDD543m1jR
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5yljuxHQL
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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeljepIRVQQ
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJFp4OmcOt
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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBQblP53Sf
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rdUiQvD5z
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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9if4usOfE
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQprqjWCrEQ
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6un66XBntC
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFKhq2Dqyq
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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzq8Iad3e9t
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZprkzukduM
眼下四顧茫然。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNoMazTAzf
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlDrw2vGdc
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPL6oE6LCW
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqI5kHVTtNq
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiafU1xhvbL
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDic45q07P
總不能問山羊吧。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzhWnqlPFz
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFe3M6mo3g
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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLg1tbOvCwK
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HJo7FAn7A
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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5m0TcNfaQF
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7Xx3YLEDG
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNPsUl1F2A
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XFwKs1Xji
「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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNJ2k8sQ8l
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0bAi7Wfun
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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfDoPlSTMq
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ypEAIv7Bn
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICpkQ0edGN
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvodIeC6XFT
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qWrIBfNmp
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sa44P7BWG
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZrAZ9SSRI
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡky6DhN8gHQ
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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5hqaKXzrG
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPx8H61CjK3
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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUE0yMLMhI
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡND8kgd5OAe
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：322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5zQeLEOdt
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3WWr0to6C
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgFUujxPrx
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……322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTtaChRTpL
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWT5I2a2zO
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpapSjj6TS
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEDcVEBlED
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2PJmdJEJD
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSCagS6UBb
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lU58GRjUU
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTP5HRDgv6
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUI4DpsZ9nQ
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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DGLcKFIKm
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRpuia9twY
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？」322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVGF6DEw9h
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDo149PB5e
「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。」322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrM88fMlgFl
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiZtNBi8EP
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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRSgpFUXRE
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKq2L6X6Tw8
母與子。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1ea5YX1GC
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ms4zuLDB4
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLMIY3RYU6
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJG5oFSOEfS
金水橋。筒子河。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtY8ewYTL3e
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOz4PV0IiCj
母親與未出世的孩子。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FWfuwxA2M
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEiIJ2d4f2
天哪，怎麼回事。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwUDoNZ4oW
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV16MBjs7Jn
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70ZCQLd1xe
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAPPrlcbZ7
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFSCun2Mvk
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTY76iwgJWf
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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydN00P2RrP
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTkF4MCNDo
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEXtkjq3de
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsM11JT7Y8
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？322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKsv0cawpJ
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroTHsUwTr6
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？322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8HBtukiws
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtOpHT5hgy
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiThItRJVEJ
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQBymISTwI
「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。」322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDlitZc4pY
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQN8PXkOgq8
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjHnIOiebL
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9T5Z28zTuH
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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pfOyUSZI8
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycetVqk1HC
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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGK0V8UTjTV
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUyVBvy2uh
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJ7f0RK3mo
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEELqt5UCpU
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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Grin8sw8f
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHOaqkyrqw
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgdFqYMHe6
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGbEZk9OGz
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDQooxClLC
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1yBW0Vo3H
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEiB3KQyNA
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBouxjhHLVG
湖衣心生疑惑。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kobCBehLq
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbzEnOf6rF
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？322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nUELDBBbc
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPL2XsdiXt
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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwS3NEOZWE
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡos3m8Pd9B6
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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLEfgu6DFL
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GFWYh3k4e
§322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6ThnkhKR7
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYMf4x2GD9
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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR11HhhLkmv
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYk7fxg9vrE
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NaMPVlXyA
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZkMkM26VX
「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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9K4kGMHiq
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OMHjxH04k
不祥之兆。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7MUCJVC4k
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2U1pQtALo
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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtapwRXz7k
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKSSlGoLfb
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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9W0CXzypda
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOholZcCzF
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OBjw5y41F
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtso9W7MpqI
「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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopm5f5YZSo
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4l07Lzm3da
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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKyZHM4EyN
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFI35dN37N
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？322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqF4yGB2Q23
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndJVXg83y6
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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxaPeTQeZB
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ63LjjXjSg
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLWewBGIAP
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNrrItUHyZ
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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiPb1wZMWu
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2aHu34HeH
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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQQ7wpxcpV
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpHgy6tBUp
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRHEGHRIro
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxnYm0HIF2
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSMW3TWnhl
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskfvkuZJgV
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkZ1Wkqwgw
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTev1ub3n0j
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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kbH9IkoIP
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsKad5PU0b
「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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXmiKTUqI0
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYnEKkfxFv
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。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4X7qovDOWZ
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaq3F751Kr
匡噹……匡噹……322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBInBcNQgcV
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9b0RQBCbJt
這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rPxlTTxyl
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0DEdrCX4e
「糟了！」騎尉大吼。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJuJOvqvvt
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbUd1oDxEF
「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSePWYfXCg
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmDnNiUraX
「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？」322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGyfVVzuAU
