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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEDAtpuD10
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEz7vwexkk
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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPFzHe7mzo
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBwStRoEmA
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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrHGiLtiFr
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdL5JXkJB81
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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyXIyUond8
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDIn7dHg5J
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32Kbk1kjs1
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOOMnwpMh1
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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsR8eyslW5z
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipjb3QvU0V
眼下四顧茫然。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPI0xXevMD0
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnKL1qieNq
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLcxtIoMGc
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhk8zvyZaLc
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubrOOn9arZ
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNvyOL7pFQ
總不能問山羊吧。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aZqVoyc5f
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdq05gRsY1s
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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrwgrdK5Wu
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVevcy8hPa
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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2a1F3kmyYA
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUSeUBRtDT
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITeUSPy298
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8uXSJt7AR
「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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJgTAlalgy
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4PhRhttA5
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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslwdWg9KB1
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMgsug7Eat
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2WIuqHJzx
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjPVBE48K5
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ243EHkE8cF
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51EY72ikKK
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvzuzE7OfD
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWKgI9lsZm
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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWeyxjZE5U
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKwo704Hne
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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXS78gKlEC
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBh9KlLx8X
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：263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqMDzqDMPE
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLUco4kzzf
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCymhrHIbSw
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……263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvl67f9t4xU
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡix1N3nzVDz
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ290UV5EM2R
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUVcu3XP5P
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOS3FJ86pU
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkf5hU0Q0n
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHx2eCX643t
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFlikFv7YA
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxKL0krhEX
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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡut4DO9Cz6G
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSpCO4NsPN
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？」263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfcW774IHB
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7rLSlL9ye
「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。」263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFRlRlNDJO
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2gMyY3fhU
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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfs4i4nn3e
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXpr6EyHX9
母與子。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSlzrZo8GZ
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXOkxqBy5F
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZqP2QEMly
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSplQJqFs4
金水橋。筒子河。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjm335f5xeR
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJlOJ5Wv25
母親與未出世的孩子。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICNh48KFZb
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasU1Oel8Up
天哪，怎麼回事。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZuxlmSSef
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAY9xST9uX
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDoVIjKrVm
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEtVV74T7K
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1QcLQ8rpn
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkdonUkglD
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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAKqZLoBbV
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9cdjK4n7m
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pzIlyCv1M
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELGzF3GF32
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？263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAt8OGXTHx
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeT9UHVFBV
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？263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjcjNT7RJ8
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlrRJOQVHB
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2yy5Se7gG
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTMxxJGVo6
「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。」263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWr1CFp2WC6
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9B05ZSwdro
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3UUd0TGZe
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4MxVKCI9X
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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeCJsO2fBC
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMzbXfDzMb
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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXia90yZNqz
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWvpUSqV3W
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dPtD8pWZ9
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFZtyo1tx2
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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdCLEmhdjz
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkIVm5KUTo
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIF0EkXvsL
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGzpeflyef
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCp2u9BiJug
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopgN4dbL6v
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7XIv9pe6L
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIp4qZqtmX
湖衣心生疑惑。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1ukxrxse9
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7EklYbs3d
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？263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdf2mDO7pF
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIr7i8MISCn
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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gWLk8w0HD
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpW3E3idzR
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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCdjlA6CJb
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMMkHaSxOd
§263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZVjzHMRhg
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPbht4B6w3
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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgteDeY9mw
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlq668UJ8F
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrexL2vqGkD
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMI5icrdMGs
「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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35zf5mpqrm
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjH5wmlUE8I
不祥之兆。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDghW5zpklQ
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObX7qmin0F
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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SqsaYxujM
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHQs1KuXAP
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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzUrN2ZbpV
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiwVJ9phgU
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnBqswvPhz
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPKo9LknI8
「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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHMww7CueZ
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6pCRJKVLU
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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwNGg6hrGM
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztfE3jDWSK
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？263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MMGIznVLz
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAW5hYCU9Wp
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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97KUj7x5Vp
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rwmVypIpx
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmQ4MxmNXn
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPx8MFno6dJ
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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTnyEWR2dC
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesupZLqxC4
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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtCZc4Y2RO
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFt75Aco78n
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6XpTyfCIA
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7uAyEpKsG
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9p0Ti2AeON
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYQROkkKib
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLD4Fxu1cpt
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYRHUQMY5n
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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnGnnv38b3
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZFDZsNRlq
「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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2pys7IOgw
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjA5WJ684c
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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4O2A6MpHUx
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匡噹……匡噹……263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1skEWIZxfD
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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。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEV90gZDEMN
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「糟了！」騎尉大吼。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIOML3PwZL
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「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURgOYF0u6k
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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？」263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfuLTTjtCY
