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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwzFsMTEE3
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVPujg6IyE
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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMc9mDMbZz
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWjSTroHZd
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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqzr4cQdX6
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNzAwgeimP
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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrQd8jaFKv
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2sYiDMjOM
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIYzz7FneK
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0CsAnmeF1
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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZgybLbxCd
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihovoXEZDK
眼下四顧茫然。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYtkszRBNI
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNB5SZyp1I
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMX0TSNvstU
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdUIyEtwcf
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjobfF0Wdjh
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWF7KJQ2Vg
總不能問山羊吧。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZ1HZjMOPY
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhRngrMoKg
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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaUXukESMN
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYK3X8Rz2Pd
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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdxGsGzSEN
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6gN1tPX1P
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcjuW2qOGA
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5hDpCiOQj
「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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61gNcm6oxg
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREgHrAUit3
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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAXHXn0NvM
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueeCEqnXYa
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnP33yHxxI
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0QcXc4aLb
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NMyKWK4oB
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KaoDKR5dN
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvBwI8fj4m
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTp4lRljXRM
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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPkGGrQ3hX
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiC0PQmlI3
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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59kOSb2SyV
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfVmpQwHJw
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：286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSR11O2mCVV
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUK7e617vf
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgorZ7hj3tb
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……286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvXTzd9opC
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEvhXdXCyo
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1v2w94HpSo
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnSCMvtpun
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnupaCwmfNN
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGbMgkVDpH
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCNEi7yF7f
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylclckUUeu
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaj78rQwnxk
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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoUCJ2zCLv
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPL2RIVrq9J
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？」286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5A4xmDcb6
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsxyEB5Hqq
「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。」286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4t5wlOwTMU
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkg1trrm6rp
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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQwf1tVJMN
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnetKxXmPDK
母與子。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAi93QSQl01
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQRSG6E0wH
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7uJf97Ng2
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFPFGofhmL
金水橋。筒子河。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gZ7Zbmmic
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pMH5o96sC
母親與未出世的孩子。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohMwPwsWoA
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MT6yBSfvv
天哪，怎麼回事。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVVSywhZBp
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJht8Boe5JO
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58U5dCS2IJ
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5W5j9MS2MF
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75Ncgvolgk
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfcWjBwnmi
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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGLktXwRH2
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcr31NbuNj
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1SYtmgrFa
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8hysJfHiy
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？286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENoZh1F04p
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGYiN45r6P
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？286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sISZtrP0T
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBokvXSz1D
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqar4uLkBQ
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetwPPIevlg
「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。」286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuqMXyof7Q
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvoX9yOVdx
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOqZUamiWZ
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLE9VvhbbU
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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhktuQHMQjx
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHL48drVSYh
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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnohujzY8r7
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRueyeU6wHC
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZ4BDuuPJj
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzmz0E1en8
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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJv0r9Zn5eO
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqX52k6srU
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuGPWz5f8W
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuyIAQGTop
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCm0pswQMo
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoPExmai2T
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuKvpfaJ6u
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGw5B0qAwh
湖衣心生疑惑。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBNIkApsmm
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5qDPfN80z
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？286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFPvGn8Eoo
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMhkEcHfaU
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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWAdi49LbQ
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy92x9Nxlyo
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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQz0aXA4AaO
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbb1g8Cdkb
§286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzROQOfKrD
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9u7lhLsvno
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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvvqneKlgQ
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKUjDybcUi
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdtHsboTY2
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY55Vf13LXW
「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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡje2WCIdUUf
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDt6Fc8SwMq
不祥之兆。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tvJk8SqWk
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9X3M8oFTE
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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmhhK7i9ga
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsurUQ2GB8
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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8LeWiLXC1
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBo1pjuyvO
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxaPdyDkmt
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV13jcSAJSj
「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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExChhZq07j
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TiYZbDyyv
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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyt82OjJGmN
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRRHoeEoAo
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？286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrgsNe4a6A
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8VotLF4iF
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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQUQMsV7hh
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoiCjZt4lk
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTggIeRxe0x
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeY5jxC5rdb
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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBAKPmmsIK
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugJ8t12RT1
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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWh9SUdledu
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQzTvvfQsI
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkiWHuSAai
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzMQ5BjCPO
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ax0WL27xV
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDYTyKJ66A
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFciGF4bmoq
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOInTkks2z
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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvANqmGVA7m
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLL8CfETW2
「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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgmCjbW74u
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoKgDhP7bk
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。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGlUXmTKG4
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbLCBkwsZa
匡噹……匡噹……286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QsyGqKpBB
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltSteJzlyd
這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXGlzDP7hi
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXF0yFcUF2
「糟了！」騎尉大吼。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7L0K3cjJpM
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2rR42cLyv
「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuzxdl9PlX
286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tXfNyk9Kq
「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？」286Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GrPKC3EWD
