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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9WBRWpCg8
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnw24ENTIqx
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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vlq2cEbYi
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07HtrTY1RR
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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3BR2oTNBg
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgYQGb2GaM
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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4W63nVEHJ
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsS2tUV22aD
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSaqXSVwN1
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjYeaHUovc
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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6dD5Z7fhV
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobkpok6Bkc
眼下四顧茫然。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1iyhMAYce
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcigMZADXCG
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOwtg4QGwb
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmE1f0zs9fK
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAwhkOl8Nk
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IvFve1wfx
總不能問山羊吧。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7mJJRA1NN
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvV5sLlV9cO
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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyiknsNtku
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuzhGRyWZ1
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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHstUcpNjo7
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKH0fu5Eah
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCu4MgvUqXu
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKD8NdUtZPj
「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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg08zkYXEzk
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qP2p33squ
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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TlTwTfpWw
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqbB3GH1Al
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1i2TdTCEU
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNwZj4500E
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnzRrhSvjU
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYuAzYJLrj
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPcj9iIlqf
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FEzc70RWV
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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLX4VtWYcT
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrL7RfkGtMY
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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ACbd8z0xC
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlP26yizfn
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：288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTmttOyMTO
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pEabrEtQz
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjeeYOdvy7
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……288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYc6XgovcJ
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAOWTnQNjF
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStnZmZIXDr
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40O2L36Oxn
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi13GH61ABe
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPs8oAO9767
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEMCqQpUjF
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHyzhpSPyC
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIBonJYq43
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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmLjOOLso0
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJSNrDEOjZ
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？」288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT10GBPErmU
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdb1enhYzO8
「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。」288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2UmZzKLJm
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIdRLvsIkL
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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLFkZJmO76
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0n9VOmnZt
母與子。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTvrzqmqkv
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDgd0cRIkQ
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30CFOOwhAO
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijBilMIY9f
金水橋。筒子河。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4y0Me8XHJ
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkfhdUmXCX
母親與未出世的孩子。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41WCKKnJqU
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsNHxpTOF3
天哪，怎麼回事。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzhYdwkIaJ
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtsIs2X5Q8
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ROarfGfpG
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRe43RoMQhi
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOxcFv49O3
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5TgvZqHoV
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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuTNN84X02
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBm2KS7fyx
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGboIcdNA0u
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsOko91wE3
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？288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8tZ8GNAn4
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvSVCJ7FqK
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？288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnX3HGiJmj
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSXSELsa73
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZ8Kyh1fRy
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKZqkhP3Tu
「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。」288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoH1pvU1MW
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgevBW5LcQ7
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotme815coV
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx08dhOaDD7
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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQw7vTJFkT
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr87BQW8eST
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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWqp0vzuTL
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAl8hpuDc4
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAG6XgwhHFA
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohJVudUkkt
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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nKFxWneok
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNdRjCNmwY
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UhFMVU9Nl
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxm6wKRzu5Z
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3hmS8BS7j
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCVUaaiGPI
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKCeIDeRL7
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDT7cuNnbt
湖衣心生疑惑。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiYcQxGHBm
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmnusecJzJ
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？288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7RHm3bI6u
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ039StfqSP7
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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaxGu8Z4qz
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6ATahh3ew
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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykJMdYmCTd
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyezLMy5BBJ
§288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBmZoDsmwH
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6aK7UHwMy
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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ugyt488Ei
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBRfwnqJNJ
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PrDN8HEHq
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfhSmqpy2Y
「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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeui4J4x4VO
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGmqfp98sP
不祥之兆。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglkOZ7TBQV
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrBnyS8bqH
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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhYUg85pC3
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNevGwUXbId
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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgvALHlJc8
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuxugwAZng
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybQqF57vTK
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSOf8Fa29X
「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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWGCrUiCwo
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4plf7xinAL
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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqC9I5cA5B6
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrhOYXsQ09
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？288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1QE36qJFg
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyo9V5mwex
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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoG9TpWJRU
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJ7f6yApEC
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMfFr2WUWb
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfLtQvlWph
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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFo2wYVeNmG
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9D6bS1CrDm
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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCS6rN3vEZb
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrC8sZkA84o
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMlNxrLd6W
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAXCrRmCPN
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaKp9snFqt
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJNrCEBxAy
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShBOjKiFg0
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTP35MfVZ6
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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpU6lwZH3oN
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQkk8HHQep
「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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3NZ5wUMOw
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiv5OeKMoEA
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。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6H3QOsZlF
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiO9VtHDEd
匡噹……匡噹……288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nbmd4t0R6
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIluFETp7vO
這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwehrBNWY6
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwsfLSCpze
「糟了！」騎尉大吼。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhq13HZVYCM
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBGBpwztbs
「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexfn7pXkad
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVucJLwmxv
「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？」288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TZI3rezAk
