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。144Please respect copyright.PENANACDbDii7ekC
144Please respect copyright.PENANAovTFPstG6K
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。144Please respect copyright.PENANATl9S0oRGoz
144Please respect copyright.PENANAC9Uqe54jTF
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。144Please respect copyright.PENANANyMX3FVTzn
144Please respect copyright.PENANAa5WPMeOghV
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。144Please respect copyright.PENANAUmpU1KdqX8
144Please respect copyright.PENANA20Tfme6gC9
這不是宮中會有的景象,她確定自己已不在宮城內。144Please respect copyright.PENANAxDKuSkgCAM
144Please respect copyright.PENANA7AnjYcVy9m
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。144Please respect copyright.PENANA96DruYjFMt
144Please respect copyright.PENANAzRUL9YmUeh
眼下四顧茫然。144Please respect copyright.PENANAdkcO38c4ci
144Please respect copyright.PENANALSxxzPjVOP
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 144Please respect copyright.PENANAZSOOS4klNH
144Please respect copyright.PENANAdeOXcQdn23
有沒有人可以問問?她心想。144Please respect copyright.PENANA2JkQIWLBZv
144Please respect copyright.PENANAZK1iPAeZ2O
總不能問山羊吧。144Please respect copyright.PENANAzoikisGJR6
144Please respect copyright.PENANAUUD2kKH9z6
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。144Please respect copyright.PENANAivvqXN9qHd
144Please respect copyright.PENANAEIIr8xdjZN
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。144Please respect copyright.PENANAYVIDJNqyY1
144Please respect copyright.PENANATKj0C5AXG0
老人拿出一碗殘羹,老狗迎了來,迫不及待地吃著。144Please respect copyright.PENANA14NUetteT4
144Please respect copyright.PENANA2BY1YSqPyx
「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。144Please respect copyright.PENANAyXDETmh6Ui
144Please respect copyright.PENANApjsP8aosvD
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。144Please respect copyright.PENANAFPHvCzN83Z
144Please respect copyright.PENANAGDtNA6rm0v
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人?144Please respect copyright.PENANA3bveI3z939
144Please respect copyright.PENANAHGd2xU8zrl
是了,金鼇玉蝀橋以西,羊房夾道。144Please respect copyright.PENANAS05alt5gz2
144Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1yxkFK3f4
年老或是患病的宮人,會被送來此處醫治,或是等死。144Please respect copyright.PENANAAmx8CAqFGx
144Please respect copyright.PENANAMOlrK04jW3
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。144Please respect copyright.PENANAdc9jw3V1Iw
144Please respect copyright.PENANAwwPH34Uird
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。144Please respect copyright.PENANAzHwYJ64sWJ
144Please respect copyright.PENANAdiAl9nA6r9
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:144Please respect copyright.PENANAW4JFtbyfAb
144Please respect copyright.PENANA7OUs7oEhyZ
144Please respect copyright.PENANAYCIaOOdUmN
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……144Please respect copyright.PENANADZAwYvpY6Q
144Please respect copyright.PENANAl02t2sSRh9
144Please respect copyright.PENANAibnjViwE9Z
男孩歪著小腦袋,像是忘了詞。144Please respect copyright.PENANAYDeGLBz54T
144Please respect copyright.PENANAJoVrZtKDSe
「隨意春芳歇,王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。144Please respect copyright.PENANAlN6FxDkAkI
144Please respect copyright.PENANAt1aoEhwgHe
孩子轉過身來,好奇地看著她。144Please respect copyright.PENANAP7J1e1IgwL
144Please respect copyright.PENANA7496HqBTjN
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。144Please respect copyright.PENANAfDibvdtjxa
144Please respect copyright.PENANAcGaJ7SXebK
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?」144Please respect copyright.PENANADHjbAhvhvt
144Please respect copyright.PENANAF6YkPXwX2y
「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。」144Please respect copyright.PENANAIYg1rwdhsS
144Please respect copyright.PENANAlko7VXcimy
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。144Please respect copyright.PENANAWREtucLdbg
144Please respect copyright.PENANAr3RRLTNICy
母與子。144Please respect copyright.PENANAkEXHb1eYi9
144Please respect copyright.PENANAUT2pc6wkXJ
她望向水渠,想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。144Please respect copyright.PENANAilqEDJYTW0
144Please respect copyright.PENANAEfYubl7Z6Q
金水橋。筒子河。144Please respect copyright.PENANA7SXthWfii2
144Please respect copyright.PENANA03Pq3z6xN9
母親與未出世的孩子。144Please respect copyright.PENANAHWTDnTvK4y
144Please respect copyright.PENANAKK7yXFPlPr
天哪,怎麼回事。144Please respect copyright.PENANASEIYxkLCBA
144Please respect copyright.PENANA4UmNU0c0K8
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒?144Please respect copyright.PENANA9bc4LyqZHZ
144Please respect copyright.PENANARqAWQrjd41
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。144Please respect copyright.PENANAvuUn5GuQ2a
144Please respect copyright.PENANA9ug7Z3obtz
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。144Please respect copyright.PENANA9fYMcAB2yT
144Please respect copyright.PENANAAYnkU6VrWP
湖衣緊握雙拳,內心天人交戰。144Please respect copyright.PENANAphB530iLk0
144Please respect copyright.PENANAzI5PlCklbI
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?144Please respect copyright.PENANAJh1lSrNasg
144Please respect copyright.PENANADnSb1wZZtN
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?144Please respect copyright.PENANA436cjwPtCS
144Please respect copyright.PENANACxBvr4GKBg
湖衣思忖半晌,心中已有決斷。144Please respect copyright.PENANA7jldl7bzjk
144Please respect copyright.PENANAqWwiI33uhU
「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。」144Please respect copyright.PENANAQuN3lAz58s
144Please respect copyright.PENANA4G9H0mDR9k
她得回去找馮瑛,馮瑛肯定能認出來。144Please respect copyright.PENANAAmQdT8Z4ww
144Please respect copyright.PENANAQn8b4Syg18
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。144Please respect copyright.PENANA0KUhkAibQN
144Please respect copyright.PENANAxBDHy2QT8E
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。144Please respect copyright.PENANAYJ0doEbxRm
144Please respect copyright.PENANAZHDQb0e99d
她在心中祈求,自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固,百姓安寧。144Please respect copyright.PENANAi5iAnCXnux
144Please respect copyright.PENANAxqkh19Bu1o
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。144Please respect copyright.PENANAYUGoTeQCQ6
144Please respect copyright.PENANAIst0XzjOSy
她飛快地奔回原路,爬出佛堂的通道。144Please respect copyright.PENANAWaFtIwUFYA
144Please respect copyright.PENANAJkFk2jBfLr
小佛堂一如往常,靜悄悄的。144Please respect copyright.PENANA8fm1VLEPSw
144Please respect copyright.PENANAvRicvk8rIw
「馮瑛,馮瑛!」她叫了幾聲,都沒有回應。144Please respect copyright.PENANABr2EN1dj3N
144Please respect copyright.PENANAym8SPhv6At
湖衣心生疑惑。144Please respect copyright.PENANAXqYJgQIOOt
144Please respect copyright.PENANApB1ToDLNMk
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?144Please respect copyright.PENANAC6cO50btGZ
144Please respect copyright.PENANAkp1FCNJuRz
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。144Please respect copyright.PENANAsbeSA80ywN
144Please respect copyright.PENANA2d8PcmFmyF
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。144Please respect copyright.PENANA1UAA9zAfgo
144Please respect copyright.PENANA1PdlDdYkKe
§144Please respect copyright.PENANASyYJfck4Vm
144Please respect copyright.PENANAAl9z5kKYah
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。144Please respect copyright.PENANANwWLLA6gUT
144Please respect copyright.PENANAVHBAwf6w9K
「見鬼了,今兒是個什麼日子?」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。144Please respect copyright.PENANAPRNOh1jJcM
144Please respect copyright.PENANAJaa3UbUVyj
「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。144Please respect copyright.PENANATSowNlQODz
144Please respect copyright.PENANAFuy00k2ALH
不祥之兆。144Please respect copyright.PENANAHJEKPwXDoR
144Please respect copyright.PENANANxF5dkHxso
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。144Please respect copyright.PENANAmgjO4U13mj
144Please respect copyright.PENANAk8srLXxcUG
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。144Please respect copyright.PENANAVeqeBdC8Mc
144Please respect copyright.PENANAusM1IJ1J9j
「幹什麼的?」騎尉發問。144Please respect copyright.PENANAOths3Srm8j
144Please respect copyright.PENANAg6CebAGkG1
「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。144Please respect copyright.PENANAWTsTkLR6AY
144Please respect copyright.PENANA1I9uWPwNtY
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。144Please respect copyright.PENANAI65kdWHwvG
144Please respect copyright.PENANAgbbL6xxmlc
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?144Please respect copyright.PENANAJ6vCG27dc1
144Please respect copyright.PENANAgra4LRsIC1
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。144Please respect copyright.PENANAcrOZsbuDli
144Please respect copyright.PENANAy3W3OyWOUk
「她惹怒了萬貴妃,長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。144Please respect copyright.PENANA4OjrcKTH8M
144Please respect copyright.PENANAABxc12FDwc
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。144Please respect copyright.PENANA37Bof9gtuO
144Please respect copyright.PENANAeET1Fk4ZT0
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。144Please respect copyright.PENANAmTB5haJx5J
144Please respect copyright.PENANAcXLjXTtYwK
「那就有勞三位,」騎衛說道,「甬道走到底右方,便是宮正司所在。」144Please respect copyright.PENANAPfnmqp9XRL
144Please respect copyright.PENANAh4LFF1K4EN
一名檢校笑答:「多謝。」144Please respect copyright.PENANAF1f0hnlX5Y
144Please respect copyright.PENANAtav27J7kHc
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行,三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。144Please respect copyright.PENANAIEF5JokKGC
144Please respect copyright.PENANAzrZWswlYUO
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。144Please respect copyright.PENANAFzYhG75hBx
144Please respect copyright.PENANASJh44G1y1c
「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。144Please respect copyright.PENANAr2RvO2o2v0
144Please respect copyright.PENANAdjpHWTSf4G
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。144Please respect copyright.PENANAGimtSXCdHK
144Please respect copyright.PENANAQ7EBFmzF5W
匡噹……匡噹……144Please respect copyright.PENANARuETDUayKs
144Please respect copyright.PENANA8rkQ7FRFnX
這聲響究竟從何而來,他環顧四週,打定主意要找出來源。144Please respect copyright.PENANAt0Vu845heE
144Please respect copyright.PENANAqegXNfypVT
「糟了!」騎尉大吼。144Please respect copyright.PENANASAlcOaNmNT
144Please respect copyright.PENANA2kbaxoLEDw
「怎麼啦?」門衛一臉震驚地問。144Please respect copyright.PENANANqENANGbf2
144Please respect copyright.PENANAQKe0j4L3ti
「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?」144Please respect copyright.PENANAhQgLVYyGbx