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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLu9rO7Rf5
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzqYP5e03x
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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJyU9j3cY7
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyrjIYFcVO
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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnd1PpzBNtw
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEvDmT5w6b
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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPPRp1KCxw
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrddhfadC44
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIsbrZt7zK
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeFqeXoxvc
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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgmry2DbxL
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6kDdw3Mzy
眼下四顧茫然。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzYQeqWB61
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlcsCIygW8
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7FfZKpTRM
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpT7QLVigqW
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EUHTnwCW1
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMN7LxzRbK
總不能問山羊吧。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XBEhLGtup
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3Ez4t6WCU
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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLKQemrXaL
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CFjvZUbXe
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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9akmOlbDm
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXHD22ONhv
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3ZWDnZnqD
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vcQRPWUAG
「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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZYaQSVVMf
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9ni5sstx1
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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdwgS1dnnc
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0BdMpAR6K
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubmyvGRswa
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LcWhd80xw
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zpjNco4js
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAuj4KjTeu
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDGbycNAFz
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1Sk3N8iSq
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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD70AOWe3VL
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgKsnBL5fC
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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EeivfeiVW
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBSxf4fSAq
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：283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmr7touPOE9
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDEAnm3Rh9
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCGJNzGJPs
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……283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJaVA4og36
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQiItZJkaL
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPB8WYt0f9I
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwt5P6Pozx
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTv7eip9ry
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoACZLxL9E
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkeZKlLeaZ
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsU0ao6QOp
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxZ0mwAywl
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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEgOBw1JL9
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOe4dawBqB
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？」283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4j4OboceTh
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9UX3rOonA
「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。」283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhh6qiul5fn
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRn3DdTpQx2
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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZlMzJPW2t
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBgbm57HiA
母與子。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3FsvkFXSs
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKfGeQf1qP
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bSIIkPDXS
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWky70COVg8
金水橋。筒子河。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LLSZkhss8
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqN2sIk1CS
母親與未出世的孩子。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnyrItSR2k
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qhJ0cQcZZ
天哪，怎麼回事。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0S0e7tXr7
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6ToCPqjGj
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrcMh2ltxP
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIc1Qubkbd
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOtN48bSAg
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FcN7nWRNo
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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSJQITYD2V
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt90EYMxKuH
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrntWCMxMII
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvysiFTSL8a
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？283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VyGmd38b1
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNZYkUGvP1
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？283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYW37URzFX4
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxqay06luY
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWq1iSIkjN
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qzRtofcjN
「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。」283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8o5l6VZDJV
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMZ0ahlY0V
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZn13WFzON9
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6pyrlgCwU
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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5npe9T22nc
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvc0WW3Yxv
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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdsKZ4EJwa
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUoB1xwxiZ
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjfrQFUWjy
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUexEApTzO
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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHxJ0076iY
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKUE1yWscE
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SVL8Sr0Pp
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdXo1XcDHQ
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWEkDpWm11
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpULeC2NMT
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9T7OAEC0i
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAZhIy7sQK
湖衣心生疑惑。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6tpsxCLCM
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fCWBXcOkS
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？283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGcooGGd4R
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGtApTpHca
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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtrzU3u3tq
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiSHbUXqA5
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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwu5m4pZGYd
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyJtF6KFlW
§283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBkK8O9QpS
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGMY3YCQ03
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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHytpvPqOCA
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iSyNfWwXy
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzen0LJVSL
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenYoKoMRgn
「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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhS55T4rve
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1c08Up4uk
不祥之兆。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVw98dzKxc
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKomPjUxeO0
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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzo4Ho5UdCr
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeP3L070xU
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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xkJhD0hYE
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9y8jjyEfgu
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrnkpo7rgL
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLUSJjul6N
「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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2spnt4kv9j
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFXrb8Gu4V
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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAemf0gwjC
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0e7Zz2U5ce
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？283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8rhmHjDAl
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNg6EaIQk9s
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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdpOQs5pIn
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqMmHBs3W5
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GN4Uwk5WJ
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nYK4eznEX
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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuqVRv1AcF
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmFdqR6yI9
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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0F9jnx9wX
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtBBrwuxvR
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68gquXljQK
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmpmIWKAXQ
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SAYscHehm
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zISS72CEQ
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzWvk4CrCs
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6bJXxa9dq
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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGNPN4BxNC
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Iei8Q30H3
「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。283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUnkZjj7Ui
283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpxsMowguR
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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？」283Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSIXArfnCH
