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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7YUIBQWb0
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6cJ9uedFC
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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡij94vB0mPD
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzYYSMllAB
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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGqOyvY39c
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SdWQGNeZo
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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74xQiBNPGR
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciWbLOE5E9
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnZPq9hHsI
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdIfDU7ZhN
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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiDOZOzP7Y
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zJec8HW9h
眼下四顧茫然。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosua8FLd2K
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkedfBnaXp2
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0OGzLD9fV
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqCdW09nqk
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVtRgKkbfQ
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MmKkJFIUa
總不能問山羊吧。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKllX0MMQF
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Bg2O1YBir
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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAInbdHUpIh
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeH838jKXVB
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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9PtKpNE8s
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡln7QWIcouz
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwSVXtyM4C
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3L4cItoHP
「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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡax8qpS6olO
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXy1N8kgQTM
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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5Cm2WvGvg
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8a0PNnNdGt
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7dvI9uwCC
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgU9IZWFmUf
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NnrfsMIwI
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLxFFjJ0Lz
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEOF7S7Cn0
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6G90cenqKb
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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscjt06vKUU
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJBWEBoNNK
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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuuc9bLqWi
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvPgLsao2v
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：293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWBQoP5FDv
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DlC33y0zE
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvI8YosfrV
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……293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uwnVJrXHz
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUaphBjQEG
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItOIKQNoiO
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9gREskqvT
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5F9lj6RZA
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7j3jXfJUK7
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9srHfHW2VR
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNryMkFRMPB
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsQ7aiCDbA
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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCetm5wIl74
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUcXYdfqYZ
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？」293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQ1eusmmOB
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchuLVP9YCo
「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。」293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlepIGXijcG
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOx4r2UFAy
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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0mhkS6UsM
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHyme9kukS
母與子。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUkYoYbljO
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oWxAXrBvq
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxR1sO166Ux
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeDr6MDGO4
金水橋。筒子河。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAR15ajt9HH
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCHZUwPBNA
母親與未出世的孩子。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EOO3ep59z
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8btApYDcy
天哪，怎麼回事。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuO387UCzI2
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7j6hIkGyB
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1Qmw6ET6C
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrKTgBbXxS
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGCQMWDxG9
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrmkmx0QIa
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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZeahrgPeh
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfdiap88Ps
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Bth5x6jbS
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1W295rPoe
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？293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojRFmTpsLb
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOli9TEctS4
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？293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99h0eN6mZ2
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTE3Cjf6Qbc
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJHVl6KEFl
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAc31tajhv4
「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。」293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYG8PkfIkD
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieaFPhXMhP
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2D0o4pYnb8
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysmTB4EsvI
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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEoFoXg0dz
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVMUlxPCNC
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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuakBRNcO4j
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4i3aoZVen
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1XX5ZSidu
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhOMrq3VmX
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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQgHJlmoJk
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpKVqtnh3B
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7nif6OJhn
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGKz7V82y1
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtl2zvOp3J
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9SxNWCwJy
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqSGcrg54I
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpQEpLjzp5
湖衣心生疑惑。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYjYGpYVEA
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ClL4epoKD
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？293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbDydAkePy
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvRe2TTb0r
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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvMDLVzA2i
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQBsB7N1bi
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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lJpb9ftqt
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8Lq2cMfzg
§293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WmcTU5OGX
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9nOWSbtxf
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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBMYaLrcMN
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2Zl3ZBkzL
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWCnfZilfx
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2DzLTC37h
「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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQefnfSbBV4
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycVtHf9Dl1
不祥之兆。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6jpWB0Wb8
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwKM83ObLh
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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2cywVLV3c
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoy4lcAHhT3
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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhX9vCHg9cH
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aYgkNLmbX
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpHhirB8Fx
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPKkOJ4bfC
「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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAAFlhBn3y
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFXrZst0kX
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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJVERD9GRs
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCJLsIT6Xq
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？293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBbI3JaZiY
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tVjxt2BBB
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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLshMnlim2F
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5VFXRpPCv
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8ds8aElSs
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4ce5i9tV9
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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRHiwbZCXH
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCgESuQITm
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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pbIWKUjh6
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ghYJprnCf
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrstxP1LK37
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvE3qtD6vCR
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyISrvDaQHO
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uLj7qlPUB
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzz0sejrbJ
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodQA3yWvND
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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3me0UElzbV
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tMlDED6IE
「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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8w8ezjLbPx
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZ45HSdoEL
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。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJcrzbUUCp
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匡噹……匡噹……293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGnBZBtWyu
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRh1FMZPZJ
這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvbxnPPoqp
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6cE6Fv2Fu
「糟了！」騎尉大吼。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHbZISDUOw
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsVb1NJ5h9
「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVTx4sOjrK
293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBL6wPeIayj
「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？」293Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnERBa6XAfj
