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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RP2sUUevk
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaibAP5sUcR
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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CHbn4xqCJ
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDsHxmmbyR
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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYk4Se9Ac5j
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrLIf49bzm
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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFpyeJELOc
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsH4tMvGRor
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlk7VzyuOcq
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HCZDKWYwL
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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzG23lani8g
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyyDiEJ8aD
眼下四顧茫然。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSy8zYVxJD
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4axeqxyh7f
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3q954k4q4
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxD9HvZyjA
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqzOsbtgMd
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzM2UgmhLQa
總不能問山羊吧。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVcDMkIeGd
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLkyJz8HeH
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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOc3TO3otC
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAShj6u2LC
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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYb5b8wSQpn
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaU9Iv3Koz
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhPfjEA069
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wPLAezIBG
「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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFIU93HJYu
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToJ519uGul
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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADyoib5Xyq
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGaAMmXRjQ
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPFa8lH5h0
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMnbQcZicq
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINMTqmpfeG
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBj7IlIsEl
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6wgAHxAmH
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0VF7RbOCF
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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0TNwe8H0Z
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xQ7WjVgje
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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUEYsmxhYm
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUt2Jv79Bh
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：300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDflW9qVSqr
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKtponvP5H
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOn2Hqp7KZc
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……300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAyfS4kAtn
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMvHPdyJRI
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlhTTcybdE
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkut9dT62zK
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvcQy45ssd
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKsnWBM1Bp
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlC251rrf1n
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg14pwdoCuJ
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSxNWk1mMi
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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdfUvSyRWQ
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7ujggwmN3
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？」300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdacmSobiR8
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEnIUbQ7A7
「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。」300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTab5jqoPB
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWkpLUhLBc
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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZ6ktRg2Dg
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyylZ7MmhW
母與子。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzurH4kl4yI
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibEXR2clnQ
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlJs1gTrfj
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsyNNv07uL
金水橋。筒子河。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgf16I64eYj
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2SW57nN3g
母親與未出世的孩子。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh21MkVnZ5E
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjXammRBmy
天哪，怎麼回事。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3cehUkU87
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSHQBHKWKI
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygDwS9YGoP
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2mOWUNtsa
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9D6D9CCQYI
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85vhe2TIec
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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4fLKAc7Nn
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoZ88GbzWY
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOEln7D8hw
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAc1rhuGZug
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？300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KlGIuB9GT
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXmay7NyFx
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？300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wflVTVIoC
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuL9hAEcbax
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NKqGhtFdg
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVklP0NfqQ
「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。」300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sHJiAmSdw
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgR5cT9dQYH
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfH9wQnFktP
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnVwtskVGs
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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0anJSXGSS
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5jJDzjjtX
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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplyRt693Kc
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yaoouDNVe
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iL35TRFim
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEJejZ3Ct9
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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHj2mQ0R9ij
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZzih4UjFI
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPp0sNVfzDs
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TGDU47qgU
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQsIwEP2A2
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDi2KqlV3hB
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDL5qIYuas
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBdqJADyAn
湖衣心生疑惑。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptKIpy6IDe
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSBjWsM7NG
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？300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglblJ00Jyg
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKA6l3nPfZR
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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAiTjbzMbm
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2HQDaB0M5
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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gcrdYquFX
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7XEu9mC0A
§300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDtEPWIv7U
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VdjsbeNoq
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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnNLL4HcrF
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJm8VBn5qD
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiXcncV9M3
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUs2FrtMlxP
「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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZqKgNlUpj
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaJ3dqqnFm
不祥之兆。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcrfqiVGrr
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPyzNuZgfC
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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3z5rtlFmm
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZROnGj03Q
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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEUI1qRNki
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5ZBIsAvIa
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcorDtrxxDp
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTE1PewYvYc
「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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmxM6hCFlu
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aAIGY8JCl
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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0LCjXZLLT
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWjZ9BAFJL
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？300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7p8CgSwARS
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5g0iHIsbB
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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrQu2QmAKK
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ujLYi6l81
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0hvwcEs1l
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwLg3nhHzL
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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXTEZWfExu
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboPOmXCos5
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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshzLfmsN62
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLVHCu0e6j
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPve8Gs2uac
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaSzbri4fq
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JjttJQ40v
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPLKZJMBlw
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHK7qMeYk5U
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDOkG705JU
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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH267c4H8ag
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdnvs0jnEr
「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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenJ7frHcrl
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsm3oAvSO0
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。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRM2EiNn9lK
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrlivjGTje
匡噹……匡噹……300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7DSkg7q6k
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡja8fBXGwBx
這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPXPB6LyR3
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwkzvL4z5A
「糟了！」騎尉大吼。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4qGOcdSp0
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kkOGXmbo8
「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLY5mDYyII
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVu8N03pfX
「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？」300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjB3UjMOBxZ
