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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuK8cwetVxm
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVo6Nl1CQJT
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6MxGEoF76
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ks9jeiV2U
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jSN7ngYZF
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlmB1aqQWm
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eDceUZqSp
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3OOJSK8Qo
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxahOP71B3O
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl47KFxsxSQ
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTOzK5QsLJ
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFexzddiXwi
眼下四顧茫然。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeNFDv5jyJ
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHfWkuufOr
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOmtGhzxuj
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoaV1oC8NL
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80hROmjjuF
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4tUsTWOQJ
總不能問山羊吧。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlStZILNHz7
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1g0xkUi2i
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxngFXn26qs
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCVzxTvIxc
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixdBSG9fEJ
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMHYWBUgcc
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8aFbLE8Xh
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrl1d33vPH2
「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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsndqBkiX5I
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskctKH3bB9
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhaqUsnuQH
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2mqqP9IzZ
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPXPSBrGVD
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuLE8D1E8f
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuoMG8lmBq
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7LOZ6jtAk
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPnm0ocNTH
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70lZ1dJLPP
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8WrAStTG2
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9HaFduXTr
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjAv86qjsJ
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsGUW6KPJ7
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：291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwgMNcczm4
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhRYNcbhiR
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkoZjVleVO
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……291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1EvnvSEVN
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyj6uPktQUi
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCg5s9Yg6Nk
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXXZpQqtYh
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38NYI9e4g3
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2v7e6eGmrn
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxALWItHiq
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHYgiHuUzw
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7s0WVaWFCq
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZG9Th4nQuI
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1T8fapcln2
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？」291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjhX8Ugz3A
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjXvdQrY0A
「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。」291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ESnvHfwaX
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjlxQAlQj1
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFz6NbjsqF
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5xtdxOyYe
母與子。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEeJ4jxQl1
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1O7tQ3GCM
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIJvJwbhWc
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmBZvqF6iq
金水橋。筒子河。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCwQq2dJ0Z
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YQr0SsDaf
母親與未出世的孩子。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91nF0ycT19
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWlSJNKcP6
天哪，怎麼回事。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsF2ofWYO7
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVfs3m6O8j
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxz6eVBeil
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qblFdlVOO
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyM7kFBukM
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8HjKwGio6
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5M2ouFxO0z
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xf0RI3TmM
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbWSHLOMR6
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lmilMOexY
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？291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDIpa6ITwc
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlN9ArYvoFf
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？291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ohWJltqAA
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkODuE9ZXBQ
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnI8hTVvbc
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnNcyb24NZ
「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。」291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKlHUQLlDv
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoz2kokeGb
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPULfgDjSRx
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVQ5AUVcKr
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytIxgqksbC
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKz5ROB7A61
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNWWm8PIfd
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdksP1wLdA
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ecbsDwPS1
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZ7g67wAP6
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWcvha4325
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkoemqd2sn
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLl4njx18RN
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnOE2LMPAh
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VgbljB5ey
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7iLrl0Li1
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86vvLZ4YO7
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWJDuYqNxU
湖衣心生疑惑。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPkJIkYQqv
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNvOaeCtxL
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？291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHAZRW7F7Z
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqPDRfW8RY
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwkWUiy3Q2
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmkmLt8iuA
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sZDVmv7Gk
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfke5IvqoX6
§291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfMsgQEAnB
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHWhg3nrKI
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoLlr2fVye
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKDdXIpC2F
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFDMN42ih7
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbE0OQFuCu
「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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdxOtUkxmW
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwmCF0kgZj
不祥之兆。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oDQ27J7Kh
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcodCmDpaw
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxXsmozmR7
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9K1lttYkZj
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7IcXjHqsp
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyStxbAgrz
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLC4R71oc2O
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEp8rc8RKJ
「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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnroCgGSHG
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVJf7QZhMG
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xohSbh6jY
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IATmve1xP
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？291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXmpAli6pG
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOF2VMkPWk
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6jO6iIjVM
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAl0bWci3w
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgHENAzPbS
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSKUenxRpv
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKcwRvSbCi
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhBezt1Hyt
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9lFa8sQh0
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64ZxkrYidj
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2wZLhwYfQ
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNIC5sb2Hg
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yMHf9lDur
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dDXItqsYk
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAxirsoM8n
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEZvWMGGqj
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHma0hrtBw
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXzJZSgZfi
「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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkth4s5f7Yh
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHIzxKC10S
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。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVWcJAWB9y
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匡噹……匡噹……291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hqUGmQDJx
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gn32XV7qB
這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyN8sznnQ4
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlUF0GxGpS
「糟了！」騎尉大吼。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXsvfXmNqK
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DeTuCzHhA
「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZMGrtipyU
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HXlKWMt6C
「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？」291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxf8jN8jh9u
