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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LhaOam13F
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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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqurFtWhtT
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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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8a4dOFSeN
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqB8kQghSDq
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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBCnO5sxhP
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這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCWyGmt2Ry
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoGwUAolUe
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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDr1t9Qi0Fw
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2BgeMSZV7
眼下四顧茫然。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXkDahF8ZO
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三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHCUnvA3s2
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sQZ9Av3Lx
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqN008lOK5q
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtkvTu73bE
總不能問山羊吧。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOQoOuSwVF
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxoM5hhtvc
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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduXR5OjhEs
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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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NPayHg8ty
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老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6sph1tyyT
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71Wdnukz9K
「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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZO7BQ4717
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPMnOIiUA3
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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOCU9ACcER
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLvTIz01u3
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NKffGunUL
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是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7hY1Jwk7r
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年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nl0zVbTN5
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjPHzyVQza
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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqm8lY8V44
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48JDy9jLJU
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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsoorHtLkb
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerhPVrgVF7
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：250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hafaGB4mj
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNHtMoEhFn
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnVdo4nLCC
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……250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibMOGWiWQs
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOJVY915FD
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKfJuYPSji
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKILsEBP09
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWC4C4V2bQ
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAyTM6veCi
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KMkqqJvcc
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8z83ihmdKy
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXb12XeenM
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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNmwIJS9dz
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhS48dyPM4
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？」250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJXkFlboMg
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Avd4rTDbE
「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。」250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfec4m3vFpm
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiRV4ovKIN
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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJJ9ZTTqhH
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPi48VnUJU
母與子。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKryi66itB
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW37W5m4xCh
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDjzNyMgHI
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09iBWLkYN7
金水橋。筒子河。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MjWW5OWGT
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母親與未出世的孩子。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7EqGdntEq
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天哪，怎麼回事。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHTybQWH0j
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孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvTuQktBfZ
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxa3iA5M8yQ
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCFfVmFJKE
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdksb3VEbZ8
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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1IEoUzhNy
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTJGx0PGgx
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRhGS31saB
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCX92IvCxM9
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？250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxG3f4f39zs
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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？250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38sNKoUX41
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEK48c0LZzQ
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoc4mYA4sl
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbd2qg6OLAt
「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。」250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbuLPSxQHf
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她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujvM9up6Oi
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEhJcBYivD
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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFM7CNSSToD
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdvcD2AcyN
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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgk5r5z2yF
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpA1J36Qnr
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtNhWcYpLT
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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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjaBUYzNp0
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhE38imO96
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKfcxfFJGU
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmddDKr90w
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYhxKXxHM2
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8EKUxXBee
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMJMBkc3q2
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3j7YrfjE0
湖衣心生疑惑。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBZtpwyqiY
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCWiNJPmkV
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？250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyV8qUaldb
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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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEEW38aaO8
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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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡim0S4p9VEi
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§250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhv8GcVqlO
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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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAV3gkE28q
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73NbBze9Ze
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCM5c96qBwQ
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSR0ZBQYXkR
「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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SqtNefjlC
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不祥之兆。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvwQRPxxle
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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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMDSbHmTgl
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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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BiXIYSA48
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「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5W2DT9myNy
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJeg4jj0et
「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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ofwtGPvFM
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAh389zotow
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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWMzmKOkJe
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0ToEIwB8M
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？250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYFqQeQKSO
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyKtGYWIq6
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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxicKdMylHO
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7XNbr0ZYm
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRrz04Pk83
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbY58DoOPw5
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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2JWZW6BBK
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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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtwlAaHO24
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhpPZbsWBw
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjGdBJRgqw
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLMtUCmjWy
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3sQoZbnYC
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpQm5O1bLG
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQg6ARBpLo
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUOq2Pr1Is
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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnNmGwrRMs
250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPD3h7wbMT
「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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYbAqQ3EqX
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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。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJGEqamPMm
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匡噹……匡噹……250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkP738XP9xH
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這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXcGXb6lKZ
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「糟了！」騎尉大吼。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuXkFCnZ4s
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「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJzyYAiXkD
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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？」250Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWoRfrKUEp
