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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDf6pTsjwe
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eI9QAi6Gk
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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOFvscrsrh
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYACxK0L9X9
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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7zYkpxlDV
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhognVci15o
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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQPf4AhXPz
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPlrcwvtZ8
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9DBXSTxWf
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OaKxbHuB8
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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVNjAef58D
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ726f9Piy68
眼下四顧茫然。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53oChGI2vD
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibeGUBim8m
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KyXkkHPcA
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jok8v09w8
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0liZSyxun7
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7g2dnVRCxn
總不能問山羊吧。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LqFzjq3qh
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7J5LYaVBLi
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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRCdAqlymc
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztfNbItHZy
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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpPQXeXBIz
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPzLEfMbHZ
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4aqSzfi6f
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4yLhrPrNQ
「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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9CJZwSC92
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciHQe06eFB
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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8psD8hBT8
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIubE5CwEJW
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNFgKi2weQ
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSHCXWl1LM
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaihMU2Nxcf
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZD0XAnuEJ
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡua0vuSrOd4
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAY91w1sDOw
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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgH96IZjYJK
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevYU8391j9
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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8wLM8UdDw
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlN0VDhNIu8
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：289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhFru8eNuz
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oQmYOGKbE
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0g9VfPxpC6
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……289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA73vOAE5Q3
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYSORh4gv1
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6BYsZXnOI
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaetbODsYcs
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePWXuPoJ5t
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVApgt52Q8
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFe465mctn
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlsCFcjOsi
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXy4oCWFqz
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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpM53tiH6A5
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKo5RwZDuq
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？」289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbHckkMAeT
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3b3SlHGwy
「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。」289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXythLIS1ME
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2SkZnIMr3
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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLVyMGQqBC
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4KdiW5DVH
母與子。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1uqhNobvp
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLmaaLoiPY
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TmtI8gp0M
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJu1BI4IQRN
金水橋。筒子河。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpP5ZU5kNne
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwK3dol2Gl3
母親與未出世的孩子。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDP9mtGI8j
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZs8Eti9V3
天哪，怎麼回事。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbd6iTvcd1C
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6kGQHarZT
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wE15v9z7G
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYkV8gk5em
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRd2uY00EZw
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4yRSZ7mYV
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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9JCbr6vrH
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6ecEsOluS
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSSidWqLDr
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJOlpzlbdN
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？289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoDxkmvhVu
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFwID0JpGo
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？289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Tb2G5Ehwy
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDN9AwgdAeU
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblkztxGuTz
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNLbPt7WYI
「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。」289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA07aJ4R0bG
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigIU5w60ul
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUn4HqZ76s
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1VDkYEAVX
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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuA7qnykOCq
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62KRpGhAee
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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4nT4UnTA0
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6gbgxLFdA
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5gWaEFTld
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3UmYfRXTQ
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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiA4b3SlhAA
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1JrUvvslT
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fGaQJM1s4
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXXqrXRE3o
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWbRo6ZifP
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8nQQ8595R
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8d3UsLSrAM
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGGOp8fyXt
湖衣心生疑惑。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXMmPPyFQe
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhZG9dxhf7
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？289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yhGZIFMhs
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwVhRhTEg9
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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpmuxnQ537
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zw5RPq2PD
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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiU7W2DhtVk
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPVxXzNzUw
§289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjEspLGAki
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaaTVNKIeL
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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIzQsImbR5
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPRjc7KuQ2
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoVDMcS600
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9YLdhxls2
「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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLBvQqWFS0
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMObp7dyFqW
不祥之兆。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7qz3vSytn
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12m4yx4M01
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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mUdlmpMsJ
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMmAtYI4Po
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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhpKz1VkFJ
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡier0cq6zvJ
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeqq2YdBjd
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LbEH9NdKM
「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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyVxAanD2B
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGcwyMmOSW
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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyOEGyzqGj
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWgZatM5VX
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？289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95Ww7yaIPM
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOBZc83cR0
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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgbwFBWniU
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjfOye7UrR
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rwiXMWGsj
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOa8RIymvt
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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJ8gzf8O75
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ooOEqqbpF
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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsqoqSVY2n
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjb2ZHCpmZn
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvJyluM8ZB
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOrnynpRoC
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BUTF5uyk9
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSVJVoWhyq
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qsWo9iDMu
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8Pk9yjyv8
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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMlhiWwBfa
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iMLSTBmcv
「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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLp5lVrF3Lv
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKHjw426b2
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。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Q84oO8Iqq
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匡噹……匡噹……289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKWkGOREXq
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Z2o4bnITH
這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxr29hNzZQ
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQygFIiiV7g
「糟了！」騎尉大吼。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ckkOVHiSR
289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHk0AclLi1
「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJsRYniQKS
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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？」289Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJ2oxjESCb
