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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sgXNZC0Mg
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVufMSv37AX
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcLnqPkAKI
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDO8VpAMpa
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBC2mN69UH
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPGERYBISz
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFH8zrMMPl
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Zkqe9Wj51
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNA0SwGv48X
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRI6UlcynL
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRq9Jt66IoV
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEtI6a5I4z
眼下四顧茫然。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFoEtsadb2
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczfICYEDx2
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6GIF3XYMy
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUGYQ6qpgS
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡku7BDNpC65
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQe9KFB8Sv
總不能問山羊吧。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkZk55Y1ph
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xDLI374Gg
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgRr649Y7P
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Bqjq7p3xo
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa85MyAPozs
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXf9pxAsNdH
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPlvWJIwgn
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ686zz59VVd
「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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZiKZgUmnS
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Eg2h32t5p
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmy2yWV8IMY
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjaFU35TRA
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4L1D803pK
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71ImOF0oGL
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6TCpLM3o9
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYg2A73EmVJ
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm73Xv7v4vE
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5dFVRzkSU
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCO8JnI6P5w
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSk1MOlU1CE
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFnRR6LmGJ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEveOo8fI3I
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：320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10UwUTsmDR
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCa6K2DG9eg
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFFEOWveeq
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……320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0z0nP79gS
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllkD8LrF8R
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaS3Mh7Ghz
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65xC2tWTYE
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KnVy2fbfl
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqlfg9Wb27
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPKTG21F2P
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhed6sp6V0u
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVGOXjGkKF
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJaC78YQ1S
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkXKcgDO5A
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？」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0aDYIvT9E
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknIGKL3kFf
「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。」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLglknNmrkE
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBysvXCiU0
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN143w1Y6Jy
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejbG8mjdOb
母與子。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8njNnvPbF
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJhU0eBPvC
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dGR84aDxh
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxiVBjcv4e
金水橋。筒子河。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdvMiWDD6Y
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wf69iCk4R
母親與未出世的孩子。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0SPlre2nT
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5H5X189XF
天哪，怎麼回事。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnFuhKE5b9
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobXDWTbv1C
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqr69mzmssB
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Pd3OIWfZA
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUk51aRCUa
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBKUQSPvIs
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYrhSa9mF4
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgkc2NIVj8
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8PDyU9w4S
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lVEAno4nR
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？320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYj07YV3HZ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IPOFa91B1
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？320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVfmqfe6TM
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9parLcKGE4
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKOa5XJBJs
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgZ2mWuHII
「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。」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzRIwQLPEZ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BCu7EbHsb
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4KNiA8q8k
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3HdHQQXVs
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cSVpL1aYC
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmONhrP2eC
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcH7v6AkaB
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqJFtWAVIe
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeK18T7QQm
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgucCS8ATDK
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWOQdbxaf4
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPaMxwD7ja
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKt3uOF9aX
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSqn07Y7pa
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1PhZyzW94
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YNTAD5No1
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkSotjDiPm
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaIPnlY7HI
湖衣心生疑惑。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrTUL1OJjB
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtt327dYbT
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？320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiOJDx4AQb
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY33PWAqtQ3
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCwG5IitEB
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwL4wfLc2TE
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVrICfjMMf
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvIGS7Q2qy
§320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2G5nGTsjx
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsufU3uXo0O
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zH6ALQZku
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05jYf8RMc3
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSZWFg4ASv
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU57RQwqRRV
「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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mhUVuYg1o
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YxzqzY0ay
不祥之兆。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ760Rek9quZ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadkoo6gOfg
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlK4J7nBzm
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVxYEOnrZf
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHAOsxzKbL
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmasmKefbGv
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKdSncT7AC
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwxVyhywj4
「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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0P90CgXJj
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpn1aGT2i5Z
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQI4sFSu37
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4M6sMBjAfz
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？320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MaQnlys1x
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZd1Pf9aBR
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWVvBctS7k
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbNkRtIymz
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUunXVnLpBi
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRXsCgA9Qv
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WoYHlxP1T
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2itthhm78
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldpSGujZM0
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAp5REHh4X
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeETHovZv0Z
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHJOyVQSmb
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43V1XUtTtL
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ67uoLmTTP
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXq0Kts9hn1
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKkA5dWE4N
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKn1s8kGpv1
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXz0hRsbA0O
「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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSo8ZlligOI
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmi1gtPjWk
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsW8WvbQIY
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匡噹……匡噹……320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9y2yfJ2EM8
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56ZJnxy8K0
這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiy9Qav52N7
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「糟了！」騎尉大吼。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fOl4UG9o8
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「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡab1CoJBZ9n
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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？」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFo6J8X2nft
