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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FS37OYnyv
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGTuGS4Run
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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfAdoGq6lB
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZroWtEm65p
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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3FgrwGLsk
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGgSCYvBZG
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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LoiXnvsEP
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vwCgoI33y
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NygaU4AGv
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNCSbjDs9a
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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIsX4A2JxN
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaLySt2zcO
眼下四顧茫然。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzemAdiLitu
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdM2h8htkm
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nHfM5p5Bd
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKbQCgKBNh
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8kQHqeeKK
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOIgoNgHox
總不能問山羊吧。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyn4E8jcsw
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdavc3i0dBq
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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNYnEKzi16
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsmUzMmrM3
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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTQtHJIyJR
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7DUdQvv8z
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkQ87HsOik
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThndDAVHUE
「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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcorWMtf2n
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGp2ql9agT
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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjkugaiNg8
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIiSfChSIJ
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9j5nDd0yKk
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhhdFo5Bxm
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7aedT6Xui
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz58yBA0lbE
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19YR4p95H3
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdOCbuBfkJ
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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpp3423jEM2
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiJ4r2Qbpv
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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJhS3n28Tp
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iqrF0OWtv
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：281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVJ7Le1KnR
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6I9M8a4wE
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3IEUaCLCp
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……281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCsSHXGLMe
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAjwNdPCQW
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcFq9Zszc4
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNOErKaqht
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8jxvqJ4fW
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbrx2wnqwG
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5IcjUCWOo
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnd1HMytAPW
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVgdVgdDpG
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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSAW69lQyX
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbt8ApWFRF3
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？」281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzMakDntW7
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVWdiJfij4
「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。」281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpK1M3ys8s
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6Y2EClF9n
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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLL6lKufTT
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbw9ejUXPb6
母與子。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxuJnvtz5e
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxIr5YOHtz
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSK6C6HKct
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtFSCxr3Dk
金水橋。筒子河。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLl2BcHoQWt
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWEBzdKZFh
母親與未出世的孩子。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtp7OdA2BAv
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGliQQLPXj
天哪，怎麼回事。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcHAV2fOWf
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUbt5YnQBG
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3JR80Ff4x
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7erqkJ1cc
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwHZZDguzH
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2lG6k7Qo6
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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qCXWKZ3N0
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKykQJ8Umhg
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTZXjGRhBI
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOouT63yPi
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？281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiA2qChEwg1
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFuMIrUsHQ
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？281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxRAoauL5y
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OIFo3ghbI
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqQgjBDLV9
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7V7B2zn9J
「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。」281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGvNq4TcO1
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPUaIW5H1k
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LY8uMJhuI
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUKMfp0Toz
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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6Ri360zqu
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijVQSfEiAq
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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhakJbtDgoz
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHE5bOh935
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUd0tEy82T
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMNnHLFa4R
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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpt0jsrxwM2
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ODpGI8qn3
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmUTQAcMmo
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2RoTdU5q1
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucwQLbqkdV
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnMwHxqViT
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYweFybDL9n
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKzdO8P164
湖衣心生疑惑。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYBddnKRvd
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RMeDn1aQj
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？281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4xDNcQQZF
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3kjLTx9mK
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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5dB8MVhiI
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtl5u1sUGU
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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9Uzz1HPmR
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkS4UKQvnP
§281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9y7MP8jrr
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvlnix1MCc
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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl51E1LyKpX
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9rLG92hPr
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrihWOYr4h2
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQc5hRBWm4l
「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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7MHA7lpfD
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHW6VBfCt2b
不祥之兆。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCK7v7Nasmg
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnESRzdK7J
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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2w4NdfLDFI
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuC4xfBbX27
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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtviRF3XzQ5
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1rDhkpmmk
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedaUMJ6azt
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIynh9zgJwx
「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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmR7mZhx8Cw
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDrug9JvFj
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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhYOl3EKoX
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQ5n0616IU
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？281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTEeRNZtbP
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpqxhmuXAD
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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVVtYh1Pfa
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OZYoT12eo
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWIfo5RkBM
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHFUXVFB4C
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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeqmyfbCam
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7S5M0DC5Z
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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxon8WSMyn
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdxx75llST
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FkPsi8PfX
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaazqgzFMc7
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgC5hSdVWW
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTedSnaTuZ
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIYONJtNm7
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRyq9cgSGG
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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhT6FhSHeYq
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADe4zdnk87
「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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaBJOlxtwQ
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBepjbXZAz
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。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLv67tDHBc
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匡噹……匡噹……281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCnQR1jaN4
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhKfITF5zu
這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNo5Tnk4Yp
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF13FMf2dfk
「糟了！」騎尉大吼。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJ1Zu8LxqU
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaVFvH8IRK
「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVrocUfIne
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtvqUICDlN
「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？」281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS95QMj7j5w
