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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5h9AY06Xp
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqOX6q06Os
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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUhmz3p8JO
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdou1DbHdM
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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncCzdcFgYD
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXJMEAGWtN
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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrM3gq22MF2
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXiwNhI2wM
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubbdyF6isu
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJq9oQh0THP
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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrz6JDEWHe
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWUAZJ0ix5
眼下四顧茫然。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxRSLocYHe
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FEvUz3Dgx
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuO4hyNnT4t
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHddkAx1bt
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2wZlxkTDL
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL68ivqkYpl
總不能問山羊吧。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1gi0Ee4sd
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDFiP9tIW2
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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVJlFzPkhC
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhjCrmVDAo
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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnOB5yxynk
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3mWVlfQmu
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC95qefADtj
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8d8IzMt92
「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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwhsLRL1Eg
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODAxlReJU1
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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhERAm8MA0
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyyppLMYDq
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMzKOilLlr
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDjxF3F8JB
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30Ii2tqcTA
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLeBnOfR5E
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkIKcfblQG
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1j1KChCa92
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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbvVui5Rj8
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMa5FIyaZqc
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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxces2HLZT
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtnz67k0qK
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：249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3iyZaby9c
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofQTmBYAaj
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBLI9DV3hw
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……249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwZQilc548
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7N0fSJi4ZF
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmaWWTWrno
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89hME0dx0n
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVLb0RAtTv
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0078cZlDmP
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LMnyRe10B
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOZDwuq67a
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡil2PbxJaW4
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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsGt9VL82C
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97xov8ZoZG
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？」249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXrNqOmrZw
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPiHZ4IS2q
「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。」249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7xCUB6FNq
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGFnFP9oq6
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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQncY23vwb
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQCCVCEIK1
母與子。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kGgVCd90j
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ba8JGKMe4
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5FJgnes1f
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkoFn61lVi
金水橋。筒子河。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6Z749DT3w
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8D8J1d29y
母親與未出世的孩子。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVy4JTqzhE
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECfIkM9Gwv
天哪，怎麼回事。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPy6gWakLY
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pvCMAifiv
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnKRJ7uBSv
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHXu6Pe09P
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlv9WV78sa
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbXQ3J21QE
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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvc4tBiZt5
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BU9dQ5LGc
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jYlSgn7DR
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCLlFT0zhd
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？249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVohM3ysUBK
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuIItGHMqs
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？249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYKDc2HwPS
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8MgbR48Ws
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAq8JmD2hgJ
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIjSXLoD2U
「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。」249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeI9ryv6FDe
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCkC995Wir
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JMzcRVUJL
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGaXjpqtF4
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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsp3LwRzOlH
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXj1KtAx08v
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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FtwnXeu7C
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9SZlS3dBj
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡci2cJPh2nN
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0qodGDT1W
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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTigtX2TqZ
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWzsn1yx84
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxQUlzJ5rK
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCY8zH0XU74
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCF26t09c2l
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiu2DgMIvvz
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhx4kChu3PA
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDg2pW057R
湖衣心生疑惑。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0C4G7Q9ud
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RCxtQcrVH
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？249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpEmoHudYC
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4z2tPlLFhn
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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXquHTJmfgk
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9b1XC9K9R0
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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHSvXiEeQw
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadUF2l4i3z
§249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76lkRYdWlO
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzP1sMmiqxD
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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPm7xThZxN
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9rMStQNuH
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOYNnSEk0S
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxqWuUFIK9
「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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwxTA54m0g
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHaW7Jolqv
不祥之兆。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbhdkxWgDh
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPqAuSmM6a
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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFgUJ8AVIq
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1yzhsppfa
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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKbGIEln2F
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6Zo0Yqy9v
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4feq3KCRYq
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIq0QnRKJe
「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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiJ2HppUfY
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9r5iq7Fjao
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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0Lt5Cr4A1
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgm5FBi2paR
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？249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWV4pMQ6c5A
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsoGklsRrE
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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFgnfYVR9V
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbCMVttFbG
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGuaqPEHu2
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ967mkbMPcW
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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OwcMLOWCg
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtll9yjgE7j
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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbDjh1keJU
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmECJXV0wV
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVHcptdDZG
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN81Y9YOKMH
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35LiR6lvBN
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe03DQGZDNy
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2mejVm8Th
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzSISE3LRn
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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJPlsYl3Mv
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELi4EvaLDD
「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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BhGp0vmDs
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AHoT95LCx
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。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR92xSyZcGJ
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0i2gJAqpGy
匡噹……匡噹……249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Ea6BM2Q45
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt23yRy0wJc
這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtYUbVnmYO
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKvXDyTuSu
「糟了！」騎尉大吼。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkSZaaQOB7
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUL6ecbDNMP
「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQvXSAkEaf
249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVEnfMokK2
「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？」249Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfrP0Bxyee
