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
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眼下四顧茫然。320Please respect copyright.PENANACFoEtsadb2
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三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 320Please respect copyright.PENANAx6GIF3XYMy
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有沒有人可以問問?她心想。320Please respect copyright.PENANAku7BDNpC65
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總不能問山羊吧。320Please respect copyright.PENANAEkZk55Y1ph
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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
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她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人?320Please respect copyright.PENANAA4L1D803pK
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是了,金鼇玉蝀橋以西,羊房夾道。320Please respect copyright.PENANAS6TCpLM3o9
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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。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
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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
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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
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孩子轉過身來,好奇地看著她。320Please respect copyright.PENANAhed6sp6V0u
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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
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母與子。320Please respect copyright.PENANAn8njNnvPbF
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她望向水渠,想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。320Please respect copyright.PENANA9dGR84aDxh
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金水橋。筒子河。320Please respect copyright.PENANAJdvMiWDD6Y
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母親與未出世的孩子。320Please respect copyright.PENANAf0SPlre2nT
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天哪,怎麼回事。320Please respect copyright.PENANAfnFuhKE5b9
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孩子竟被藏匿在這兒?320Please respect copyright.PENANAqr69mzmssB
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湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。320Please respect copyright.PENANAcUk51aRCUa
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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
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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?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
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「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
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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
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§320Please respect copyright.PENANAJ2G5nGTsjx
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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。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
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不祥之兆。320Please respect copyright.PENANA760Rek9quZ
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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。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
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「幹什麼的?」騎尉發問。320Please respect copyright.PENANAqKdSncT7AC
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「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
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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。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
320Please respect copyright.PENANAbCWC8LkV6V
「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