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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacjdAnyB34
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeGF2PxPV0
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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnuutLuSPz
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxOY2gSOTr
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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4e1O4QJ3QZ
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOX8x36rLQ
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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfVSM4Kpo4
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxagYDdnRsb
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VNALP06Kr
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXYQc3ERGW
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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNUumJbKxf
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWnJqdMdOm
眼下四顧茫然。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOB79y2hLrP
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPYzBvAR7t
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdW9dHPDZi
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHWXqp67Hi
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnvUmUsP19
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUYgke7MFF
總不能問山羊吧。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORqJY450oO
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5IWtm2UBi
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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRtYYReoKS
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5HFbhD5Zc
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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQr9gJWtlI
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRsqNGZJyI
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡit2QuJDs9P
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdsfqB2egd
「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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlc3gCTd6kp
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmBZwnM1Nt
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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneOcqJjPFR
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu49HxeyGwZ
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscb4m8GR3u
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvDadMlme2
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUux7tyzHT
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndXzPVeUNR
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSNfKxBK9s
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY22bMYKUW2
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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHunOdIqb8R
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtySOmccRus
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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBSyOQ71Y8
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnKiZ3nX53
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：305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbd2ec3Ybu
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvbCqmauHC
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwKpHlR7uD
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……305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TTuvAoK9k
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtdZm5ShNh
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBYUYJo2ay
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIh2iTOAKu
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPnVgJf0kA
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXh69OiEWGc
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOEpqV2BQe
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghSHWo6C5H
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlw1BLUUs8b
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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3eaSTxVDZ
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EVVsDnG4b
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？」305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bCUP8TQj8
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOe1koTAgph
「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。」305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwboXSS37b
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbTnOXtuDg
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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBWda2B5Lf
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspbG2kCeYE
母與子。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Lw7xoqnof
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8pFtQOQBm
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2593Bun4H3
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCACY6AsfG
金水橋。筒子河。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSiJhtbbFc
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyEGev3lLx
母親與未出世的孩子。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISRbN8btOG
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFJv5IaEWE
天哪，怎麼回事。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSvzENOEvy
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8TBr3UP9A
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqgCVMK37t
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQ9lxTWhYy
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lLqhklU4Y
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxuW7S40rF
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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueQltUXJgL
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1G0oSBrFY
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0vrtbgtyP
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bFrcmNCtP
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？305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEB0ldWW6d
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EGkXlLD7o
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？305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAH98L8qJUz
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQwlPzesWc
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DppY1UciV
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlyhzsKo89
「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。」305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dRjCCUb0v
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdPUXpICSF
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrMk5KEre2
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡav1DSe1gUc
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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMJvyMKM7e
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBnu2py5mq
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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOvqR4y03y
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGyV9B0qvN
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5d0Qly96x0
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfxhEnWdRv
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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHMNUMwWCP
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YiORHm2C5
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt97r2CvBQc
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRkC3eLDlm
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9xQP42Umy
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVlRE3CSTa
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5PjgCIDof
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQ4XgeVkgp
湖衣心生疑惑。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnY2Ofe5uHA
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVvmezwcWD
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？305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdz6l7gzlZ
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklSEzZVogq
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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7mhyM7wm9
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ58IbbE961
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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2XpoAqTIm
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMl5cuEcBkL
§305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuba8SMuHl8
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61tBreF7tx
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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1NBzaHdgG
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsbaJoBEwX
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprsfzf5Px5
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWpDnVyH6a
「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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoR57wgzJsP
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIyBbzVCcd
不祥之兆。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrkrspbUi5
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXhmIqghyc
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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMWw2JEjFv
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuai9Npjgki
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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7YD8zXo92
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9beDNFFYf
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6eUiuUa1a
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3i6pQYhyP
「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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLnMOS1mHj
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBniRe7DuoZ
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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLqiu1EndE
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxEXbFW6ve
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？305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxySKpFRYt
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNY2Frivm8W
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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUr3BVxNOdU
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGxfa8zUbN
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTdqf53b4M
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCw36xwNhEA
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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrXx4MfGWt
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW986JH3g3G
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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRKPsPGQpp
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHwCx9Mv8i
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGV8JJnRUbo
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGimokdehS1
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZW90J9l9Ur
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyVjEX1AOe
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPg5rpjPMMv
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjftfmyovA
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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSYEFFtXcf
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa01LcyRPW2
「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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCgWsKXrdp
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡph9U3EW7Xe
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。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1pVMzXDws
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匡噹……匡噹……305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBcJBVlnm4
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPWBLXXiVo
這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6G5GT9oON
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7LEiyYgt2
「糟了！」騎尉大吼。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlLvPH7NMb
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsx617Z5umf
「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1EQH2ZYgT
305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5bHUdyq8t
「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？」305Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdNpSe9l4H
