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。154Please respect copyright.PENANAQBwOpegPXV
154Please respect copyright.PENANAsRfggEMkZM
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。154Please respect copyright.PENANAbv5H3XzqVx
154Please respect copyright.PENANA7tucAQmbVH
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。154Please respect copyright.PENANAyHZDQubccD
154Please respect copyright.PENANA8ffGw7j0wq
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。154Please respect copyright.PENANAA0OWYEypYu
154Please respect copyright.PENANAPNpVifmHkn
這不是宮中會有的景象,她確定自己已不在宮城內。154Please respect copyright.PENANAgRU1Fch9N4
154Please respect copyright.PENANAJC9Qx7F0ik
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。154Please respect copyright.PENANAavViCkKuyW
154Please respect copyright.PENANAMXMrWE23kT
眼下四顧茫然。154Please respect copyright.PENANAEhJKlgg8bt
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三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 154Please respect copyright.PENANAt91kCyyLXz
154Please respect copyright.PENANAZ8m2Am5f1h
有沒有人可以問問?她心想。154Please respect copyright.PENANAtXXQwvLumC
154Please respect copyright.PENANAbvDrQm9NVn
總不能問山羊吧。154Please respect copyright.PENANAsRLgp2FNVz
154Please respect copyright.PENANAbXgCTvozhm
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。154Please respect copyright.PENANA6VsMm0OfgC
154Please respect copyright.PENANAVOMH2PGrC5
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。154Please respect copyright.PENANA36Q20A5qIn
154Please respect copyright.PENANAqUF4XaZ0Ye
老人拿出一碗殘羹,老狗迎了來,迫不及待地吃著。154Please respect copyright.PENANA7yAhzjqgXX
154Please respect copyright.PENANA1uxJd4S2cD
「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。154Please respect copyright.PENANAKS9UqyAgEZ
154Please respect copyright.PENANA1A4HokTUk8
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。154Please respect copyright.PENANAjGmvwCa0fb
154Please respect copyright.PENANAPHaYa0YTHf
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人?154Please respect copyright.PENANAytMo0XPNZ4
154Please respect copyright.PENANA8E0DvJHR1c
是了,金鼇玉蝀橋以西,羊房夾道。154Please respect copyright.PENANASc3QYQRWjU
154Please respect copyright.PENANAMvOu2zucyY
年老或是患病的宮人,會被送來此處醫治,或是等死。154Please respect copyright.PENANAeX2X6nMnqy
154Please respect copyright.PENANAirf5sjv6EJ
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。154Please respect copyright.PENANAiUrbp6Sfeb
154Please respect copyright.PENANACn0E9yAc3i
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。154Please respect copyright.PENANAdwgrhwvYEV
154Please respect copyright.PENANAMUx6GuqQJ9
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:154Please respect copyright.PENANA6UBKfXrO5g
154Please respect copyright.PENANAYdqrNnLJYS
154Please respect copyright.PENANACH8cKOL7UH
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……154Please respect copyright.PENANAQOhvNMZwOG
154Please respect copyright.PENANAQBCmth8ZKk
154Please respect copyright.PENANAmfiqzWhNyr
男孩歪著小腦袋,像是忘了詞。154Please respect copyright.PENANAMTJpqjAXwU
154Please respect copyright.PENANAGAwjK0pzQx
「隨意春芳歇,王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。154Please respect copyright.PENANA4xsJ83h6tE
154Please respect copyright.PENANAlDsUIChDP3
孩子轉過身來,好奇地看著她。154Please respect copyright.PENANAv8LK16RG8N
154Please respect copyright.PENANArLAxNsPqm9
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。154Please respect copyright.PENANAFR5h2x2ahC
154Please respect copyright.PENANAXISWFgBJj0
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?」154Please respect copyright.PENANA2aVZdYLS5f
154Please respect copyright.PENANAOpWdHc79ti
「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。」154Please respect copyright.PENANADpxJqZLPYZ
154Please respect copyright.PENANATSCB9fydzK
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。154Please respect copyright.PENANAO6n77p5l4U
154Please respect copyright.PENANAD87C2z9gas
母與子。154Please respect copyright.PENANAvBrfCJIhHi
154Please respect copyright.PENANA3HzFiIGgmJ
她望向水渠,想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。154Please respect copyright.PENANAMdCK8063da
154Please respect copyright.PENANAJin9TZBVAq
金水橋。筒子河。154Please respect copyright.PENANA4v9w6DPu8F
154Please respect copyright.PENANAsQhS41DKk6
母親與未出世的孩子。154Please respect copyright.PENANAdSoPQHDKy9
154Please respect copyright.PENANAlSVc2gS4Tm
天哪,怎麼回事。154Please respect copyright.PENANAbaOD1C8SbZ
154Please respect copyright.PENANAAkh1AUrCCU
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒?154Please respect copyright.PENANArmqZlv3o8A
154Please respect copyright.PENANArVsU0fTC4J
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。154Please respect copyright.PENANA8dWsZa0sKv
154Please respect copyright.PENANA8O99pHyFYp
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。154Please respect copyright.PENANA8gfs5efHKR
154Please respect copyright.PENANAqjSJltskRA
湖衣緊握雙拳,內心天人交戰。154Please respect copyright.PENANAVrSIwgVI0n
154Please respect copyright.PENANAb8gV6mcBfz
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?154Please respect copyright.PENANA7YvEHPEruN
154Please respect copyright.PENANA5WwHLDXlI3
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?154Please respect copyright.PENANAgiJEo6ykn7
154Please respect copyright.PENANAE3foMBuJme
湖衣思忖半晌,心中已有決斷。154Please respect copyright.PENANAfaTFSQ6m6h
154Please respect copyright.PENANAh42m0Gk2OL
「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。」154Please respect copyright.PENANAi4Nz1Am2Ku
154Please respect copyright.PENANA0Q6TdfLDmh
她得回去找馮瑛,馮瑛肯定能認出來。154Please respect copyright.PENANAbtSDom2wyb
154Please respect copyright.PENANASYywKfUJam
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。154Please respect copyright.PENANAhi7CLeR455
154Please respect copyright.PENANAirC2iJmY1z
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。154Please respect copyright.PENANAWZxHFWP9ma
154Please respect copyright.PENANAG2D94O48Zw
她在心中祈求,自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固,百姓安寧。154Please respect copyright.PENANAzlbig59h8b
154Please respect copyright.PENANAOJuMTnY9X1
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。154Please respect copyright.PENANAKJIlrYbRLC
154Please respect copyright.PENANAH9HiSme9jc
她飛快地奔回原路,爬出佛堂的通道。154Please respect copyright.PENANAERaKyT4DXA
154Please respect copyright.PENANArSFCkruaUS
小佛堂一如往常,靜悄悄的。154Please respect copyright.PENANAahdpg4BF3F
154Please respect copyright.PENANAH31CGXEBWh
「馮瑛,馮瑛!」她叫了幾聲,都沒有回應。154Please respect copyright.PENANABIWxkZVO7f
154Please respect copyright.PENANAPaWkr2S5Uy
湖衣心生疑惑。154Please respect copyright.PENANAjmcQfMqM9v
154Please respect copyright.PENANAAcKgTWV36V
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?154Please respect copyright.PENANAlcG18P1Z84
154Please respect copyright.PENANAS4oCQ93uFv
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。154Please respect copyright.PENANAweqVfdmqMf
154Please respect copyright.PENANA3u3jqoOkWj
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。154Please respect copyright.PENANANoPSUB0Lig
154Please respect copyright.PENANAQJAzGs0Aay
§154Please respect copyright.PENANAYdQ4xpjFRV
154Please respect copyright.PENANAYpPoRnyEHt
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。154Please respect copyright.PENANAwkgE8LW2w5
154Please respect copyright.PENANAcJqOobGc2S
「見鬼了,今兒是個什麼日子?」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。154Please respect copyright.PENANA8cSyVeXW6P
154Please respect copyright.PENANA0MJwJUdVgZ
「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。154Please respect copyright.PENANANuPwDnCLu0
154Please respect copyright.PENANA07WHXLSlqR
不祥之兆。154Please respect copyright.PENANA2BK5y2POj5
154Please respect copyright.PENANAVuKa4OwI1X
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。154Please respect copyright.PENANA2ou1GEWjSG
154Please respect copyright.PENANA8sMJNgaWqP
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。154Please respect copyright.PENANAksQMWZGYUl
154Please respect copyright.PENANArEBS12G0tO
「幹什麼的?」騎尉發問。154Please respect copyright.PENANAuIViK4zqET
154Please respect copyright.PENANAQ839HfLDEi
「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。154Please respect copyright.PENANALZWIi2gAsV
154Please respect copyright.PENANALpAgTWdscC
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。154Please respect copyright.PENANAyflRaS0lyW
154Please respect copyright.PENANAfJyCd8l5YV
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?154Please respect copyright.PENANAnugjzHhIqF
154Please respect copyright.PENANAmfjxjAL9uF
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。154Please respect copyright.PENANAUX6CtJfhku
154Please respect copyright.PENANAWKrHgOAftA
「她惹怒了萬貴妃,長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。154Please respect copyright.PENANAAZD66PWhEH
154Please respect copyright.PENANAm4zgMuVkK9
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。154Please respect copyright.PENANAB1Uzq7XAGS
154Please respect copyright.PENANA64zsR79x2N
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。154Please respect copyright.PENANANxTUTjhFK3
154Please respect copyright.PENANAkkshNSBqFp
「那就有勞三位,」騎衛說道,「甬道走到底右方,便是宮正司所在。」154Please respect copyright.PENANAUbGQ6qMEs1
154Please respect copyright.PENANAw9IFUHN3x0
一名檢校笑答:「多謝。」154Please respect copyright.PENANAPmv9Omzzv0
154Please respect copyright.PENANAoazqHyV8i2
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行,三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。154Please respect copyright.PENANApAhgTuEbDj
154Please respect copyright.PENANAF1nUADdlZN
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。154Please respect copyright.PENANAK6Hj4sTuti
154Please respect copyright.PENANAUIK4mT1k9o
「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。154Please respect copyright.PENANAKDidrqQvb1
154Please respect copyright.PENANA0MChsfeCRh
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。154Please respect copyright.PENANAtSEoqhlIEq
154Please respect copyright.PENANAPvzpYRVuTk
匡噹……匡噹……154Please respect copyright.PENANAQYFEMCQIwZ
154Please respect copyright.PENANANtl63kiZd5
這聲響究竟從何而來,他環顧四週,打定主意要找出來源。154Please respect copyright.PENANAv8acTG7N1r
154Please respect copyright.PENANACAaLC0a4DQ
「糟了!」騎尉大吼。154Please respect copyright.PENANAdGLJNYAg48
154Please respect copyright.PENANAnq4N2UMkwn
「怎麼啦?」門衛一臉震驚地問。154Please respect copyright.PENANAbiUftuAJ2q
154Please respect copyright.PENANA3jGUPz27Nr
「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?」154Please respect copyright.PENANAOD3KdlLxWu