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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHoRsx6ZSA
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWko2wvmQAV
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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGMWXpd7H5
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3g9ZYUfxsI
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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73jGiEGQzT
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuS7b6Xf4H
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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLSE2IusTT
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7h8x6VINwW
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTpgYTTv1p
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDKe5QW5R2
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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8TXEdcQSJ
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hnL0F55Zk
眼下四顧茫然。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWo28ipnFFQ
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXMXNULCa4
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIgvjxCcfe
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvvw2gvxm8
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXOO76mlPM
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv51qgKu8G2
總不能問山羊吧。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWi2bTnPjT
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qZJyGvVAs
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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPBiLpkmUo
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1M8o2XLdeY
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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEohZajlpxg
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NX531sZqQ
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYk4z0xAxU
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrmzc3xLgp
「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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdoCBI5S5u
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1CmgHDw9f
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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokmpyD3puz
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeUBkpQO4A
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzEx08IhXK
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouqcl0SuMJ
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEycujqx3Yz
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ee387HXK9
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJmuAL0zxz
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGaKfvlksM
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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsHvfHaKBn
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpBdq3ef8n
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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7B2mkMFcp4
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrw6Ob4jqJ3
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：303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyaCki1H5I
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9IagvLdwd
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnpUstFxf8
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……303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOBXbVhbv3
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLBgTH9Ihr
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEWhkbPPhz
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutS28Nw1An
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemnhGBSSdJ
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlX0CN0fFn
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBQdna2H9K
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2We5dENQei
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPO4pzs0GLs
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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKNc5QqWId
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJxvyj46U8
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？」303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pCBxYp5Bl
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7y4bzQO74
「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。」303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5XizJxeR0
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1pOo6qd4a
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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKXFSNHUOc
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYPq8EbVYT
母與子。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpVkiCBjUL
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvikwwBfpD
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXn5CUaQMGC
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzS7NJSF9pu
金水橋。筒子河。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzeLKVadAQ
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0X7MxSHPZR
母親與未出世的孩子。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjCDzIuxhs
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnng3i5xfA
天哪，怎麼回事。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZk4VjGHCTr
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4ZH8HMHxy
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFskWr4p5YJ
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhq377MrAOH
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmbRIEJrM6
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZd52G1MlA
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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTB3Ors306
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWJ6HYRyL0
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4b9dcaHlH
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZBCnvOJ47
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？303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe22sBKzA3y
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtXsNYLFYF
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？303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pcyGJtwQf
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmXaiTgJRh
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBn4dlSA08s
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfikWvykr8V
「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。」303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKr9g6Ufzf
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhIDBjCGjm
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSQoxlhBWO
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXB5DEtkenl
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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSmcU0Q5BV
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGixWBcs7n
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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbDyfgcAM8
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3YwZWUDH5
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXejrPIrYu
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnj40q3LqZY
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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPAw7FHYuv
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDF4ErLGvz
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBLXEzHqEk
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk967KatdHY
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbNSi3nzD1
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBWAAHRdAS
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB93BySRnmN
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9Dus7IFNg
湖衣心生疑惑。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaZHxNUj0i
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1v3ccj4HWT
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？303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZrvpuF7lo
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuiLytEfSa
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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzCSCKQOwv
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhAD39y0Zb
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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqrjjbbX47
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRFKuIaIGL
§303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1GTeV1cy8
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3GApXyNir
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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg158JJZFxC
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7tiADDGv9
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC81SjdSdew
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfYyhzlTP4
「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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93dGATNjZq
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aYKP84K6D
不祥之兆。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjZgWbgf5D
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymyvHzPC7t
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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3lj7AsvE7
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7M7ZNyMV8
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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WzTYpt1O9
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJTT0ddIp9
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouFkKBuPR0
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggOJVPGT6l
「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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviLG01B5da
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnM0t1uOYB
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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZss243KjLQ
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKh0Rvh5eQ
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？303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdLQulqt8p
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklf2DCfsBo
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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8K3xEM5del
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RhQA1w76n
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡof6ugtfkkO
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡig4525wEIi
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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYjGWk9k7z
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTFJK9IsPh
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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGZQbPBayV
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTsmf1vR0C
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS98a092OtZ
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjzlKoFFlx
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OTDI642lO
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNf4FHMUK6
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsiUmaowtp
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGUK2mQqBx
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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvXaKNUZJQ
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jo77Rczs7
「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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQG6fENvPcO
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXeJliBZXF
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。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMwSZlttVJ
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匡噹……匡噹……303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoP6hCzf1Ds
303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQUIIS7DIR
這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUs7Frw1eH8
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「糟了！」騎尉大吼。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jNrTuDBMS
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「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKVyFqs5pH
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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？」303Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRrlsXH7gT
