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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwnL0lXCT7
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkPipJKjsV
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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyy1ff7PMa
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErzXmIRQAf
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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnmhZelWc1
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWfRXyqYtR
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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9HEmjuj4K
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8QtBsxYJ9
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhufvbu04p
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiUQRkidxk
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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDYBatzu7M
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwYupJ1W35
眼下四顧茫然。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfS5aQgQMOr
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyVKoRbcJ7
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBQUT7OcAp
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0S5j0qmW3q
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtYmuGWDLp
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCaTQMoCUP
總不能問山羊吧。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCwZB7WRAG
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHAe4CFQQ1
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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RQnCWrfkl
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBND1qrqsb
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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGKNaEdI5Q
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKFexi2tyX
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUy2J9Jsm8C
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMonwEFPzO
「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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppcfdOPwFk
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1etgovEYdG
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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCprx7ABxXL
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9TYQW5DwY
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfM7JvzzDl
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0f6ZPovuRl
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNDJ58SDqw
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMG5bzTUFj
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnAWFIPvwi
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSz1AwaCuX4
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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7omzJhKNwU
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXeS1QxQmY
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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8lTCcSXNO
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNgxlgAJIL
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：265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUjCe3se3P
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYbtTfJlGd
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCZUYzXZVX
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……265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8WlsmOGH7
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvCj4qNMsS
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sIP7mWMnW
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNl6XkNZ7zX
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPWC2tDqHo
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDMWQ3fa4P
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yFoOCiBxQ
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHTKFspNlY
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gkPOyRZa9
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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCl0Ir8235L
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINq3dTa25B
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？」265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xYETzrv6T
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwRJBVEJ3Z
「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。」265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6WOBqod2c
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdv0eCVrvUR
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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CnvKHUnm9
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEQa3x7xC6
母與子。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXubEcnSHFH
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXmNl7vU4o
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SWBD2NzHd
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5b7dA8Rxsu
金水橋。筒子河。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKMtUZvQyK
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDefW1kxJ5n
母親與未出世的孩子。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtcs06FyUr
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwDpiP5Jo3
天哪，怎麼回事。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2bPH5Bb2E
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMXEjUUOBB
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71r7rxHS3b
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWAiY9LSrx
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrItWGyfkh
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLxFS5bFua
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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFebL4uiy6h
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ENpqLDSS7
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqRadruchD
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRW2Qeaavy
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？265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkgun8oWq1
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULrteiZIeU
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？265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZb4VnXsj9
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlutvfhXxY
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKp7EE5gO5
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO74S4QU48I
「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。」265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHRDKn5h7l
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZBZAVhbbH
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHxyeLv7SD
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ84iaiO7aS
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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpwio7actU
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJh0u103Ed0
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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBa9ZBvQZT
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEq3VjbPCZt
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNUI67s83l
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9JBa10dCc
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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BPdJOA3Eh
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDjOkJcMrU
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCrEZ681Wg
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuZzyXlP6u
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuMvoeeaAp
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCIzwwtCWT
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXv8SLrhTPY
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3snA89pqC
湖衣心生疑惑。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJdSBtdC7f
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLEYyLyf2T
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？265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSKjmgGky4
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1tCx1o1EB
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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3N67LGsyYh
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXLJDB3mwn
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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmNLlxdtad
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWKXfZ8Axz
§265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPx7R15YzRQ
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpsTO7hjzQ
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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSLmGVDO5G
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVOcXvLsPP
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45NQT91TPE
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNhaJOHxKd
「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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYCaTFvzG8
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxobWbNaFA
不祥之兆。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50bXH5cZIe
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTgz6c3yHb
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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ936eKDUzCT
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrcapqndKQ
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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2himaBAlYx
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkfyd7CaG1
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQs96WNAKl1
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDUYRBWidg
「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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqHBhivxtr
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHy0YsT3UL
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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEn1nIOtHZ
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBirlqQA8A
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？265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf39b4KRkXE
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGCzMX9V3G
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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1x9a4oCKCo
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZzfFNEpFm
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwneMVyk8i
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbpwlsVKJa
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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzy1Rv5lCbR
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEcD4cRVCq
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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDhA0kYAfe
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFXPtsx4k9
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWP9McCm0ay
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpS9ivrBa1
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWEwzFkyoT
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoXiiJxVUf
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbACXBnpVY
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWMxsyjlwk
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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0fccjNcoL
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrwCOTElWk
「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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21932cZfE3
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySDjQLiDXp
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。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXncARlerv2
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匡噹……匡噹……265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjH13t884k8
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcTK1a2DYw
這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQ6id6GTg7
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「糟了！」騎尉大吼。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelT9wNbNBE
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiirQh50bSY
「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9JDpQdJeH
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbMMJ8AIXH
「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？」265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfvT2onfBW
