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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20sivfltNC
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Aed2M4N34
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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEnOzSK3Vz
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVe35TY5bvL
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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZohoTeM909
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkr5e8YYKWk
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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2UoC9W00G
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcI0NbmFijD
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVye4iva9TD
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufCFDTAySE
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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYunmHDwju
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNVnGfixJo
眼下四顧茫然。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcb87flCCmA
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChOgVgFeum
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPJZzPp6OD
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFe3Dgw0bz
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRqqQAlhVr
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDT2boj0hQc
總不能問山羊吧。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EiTYVC64x
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoAJ7hHW6W
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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnK08jSPZZN
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBMSDjStlO
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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeUOkbFe5a
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeOQutOl48
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkl3PSLLbEX
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlUxCP1JO1
「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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFzYuN8MO4
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoWtqkqOhp
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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz91zP6FBD7
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3oedahxTj
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9NmACgOFd
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3b38snFdR
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cHhD7nr4I
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdot9OlrZ0
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCmVOJA8aF
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJLv2ovyEe
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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA16K2cyU1a
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HQ6CI1sYt
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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtH7SegTmTe
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡParE6GBAwo
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：261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDAxCJaTec
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64ng6gdFt4
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLImkSOEzRA
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……261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvGhH8USTF
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrW2dOASHIq
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlkX7eyxaT
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHrMBLtH5h
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NnFgoLfDJ
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmxvNB7ysg
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBprrCsfRc
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5NRdrT4ow
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjYYbi8tr9
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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7nx3q2Bln
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDN2OIsqvM
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？」261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVQ419tz82
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxi8tCHDlSe
「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。」261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenyhGy4CAu
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3gBsZf1TJ
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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD20cwwfSRv
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Xuwo3ExnG
母與子。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jQDdRIQ3t
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YIVIOCRZ5
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbtkUSQmII
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEygA03AAe
金水橋。筒子河。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdmghtFp7N
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyVVGZC5NZ
母親與未出世的孩子。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxhQHYojjz
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XMtB4rGhM
天哪，怎麼回事。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdVlfj6Tg5
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGoQovt0Sg
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzP94GegTj9
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRsmdPg4gd
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaT9WxCAeX
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuestdBmC4w
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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPANx4moIQV
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVQIShL0vA
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDd5Fs3C6hZ
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuu5ELclUC
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？261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6E0tEzENQ
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Q7fxgwuH2
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？261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluc7Yg2wOx
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKyoNnKG2s
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfnbxKtfbo
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2c4seI26f
「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。」261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChxjyylSyN
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1YOJRv7Kp
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCU9EKYzqTD
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMF8dbf0TMC
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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlY2DFlT29Q
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsfhXkndxI
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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRx6x7Meth
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHv6lVqdir
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNS9V3HJor
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHITuDT7U4
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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHrzKoIxla
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5TFaVgG2P
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnB5ZCs9yU
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TKvwnHu6P
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguELs4YDtd
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDkcunrERD
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdaGX4SVVQ
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUXGJSQfkl
湖衣心生疑惑。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDJ5e6lltQ
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TC5o6xBzy
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？261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvV8DhJRKbM
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzaAdlNKCP
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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2sR0slw7y
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJo9i1ETIV
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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZYQzogFb8
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrJHIY4Nfq
§261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3lsF0W1IE
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qBPjuJYYG
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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaZJFwQqyt
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqsObCVaoi
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpY4tbsOGL
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2402xGcXR
「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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaXpOIxDdT
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAy6b0vhrUX
不祥之兆。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1jL0tLPkd
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9ux6syK48
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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxGCwPWdXV
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3v9eUhbCl8
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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIu5fmVJcyE
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgQk7QisHT
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Fw30h7clD
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbspWkqyQH7
「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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovuPYFxTpL
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZ3oxEJ5LN
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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PVlvad4PF
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNd43fOjjua
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？261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mMsb2xHhY
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQFry1nMeg
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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcgQOuM90A
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aAczmwo5O
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGqgD35M2r
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXGSRM2ZMs
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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYH2oBXQrs
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNUVcnguCi
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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPp0MXeCiFK
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIGayeVavI
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERj8WfGFmm
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQi35wV01e
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DDjBTQHHL
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoqGlTEvKg
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZGbB8JLC1
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUoYB4qTTY
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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtDblrhRl2
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKtUpfCXAa
「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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqizrrshRuz
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8mcnAvOPN
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。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOn3Pm0hfnP
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匡噹……匡噹……261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1L2km199TM
261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZqcOeQ7G4
這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgH0EInukFa
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「糟了！」騎尉大吼。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9lM7J1nM2
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「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjxii9jltQ
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「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？」261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNZFFtQt00
