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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBAsJJi9cc
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZnWaRBsAY
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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTxxESV4ck
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrSKyTkgxU
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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Y2X0kmSnb
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECxe4Sk6ai
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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggKpS8lEnC
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPtDDf0d5G
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35haPHM3Gp
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVZWMBVjvt
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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4ziRawfqC
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjb8ghAxdr
眼下四顧茫然。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5a9KSx5so
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCO5kXBNiQK
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvImphTza5
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5L1VcoInt
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpme8ZZfFpR
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDgnj9h8Aw
總不能問山羊吧。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fPNK6s0zO
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRiOEk3K3t
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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWQ0h4gaji
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaFxLC7sl4
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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42FxzwpBWw
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58OgKQDCJe
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqaNr7xpLs
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXxZJRTJDU
「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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZiaMwCzgr
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuM6zD6QH50
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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96dTHAM9tr
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97Sov3Fr5Q
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7M1pyLYOUh
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXu0NheTxrx
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZgn3eN7o3
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW38vePXxjl
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFE9oxfeFKD
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfCpjEiqoV
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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXWdpamUAa
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqgiMbo2cz
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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnML5rmuLZ7
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiztCZm76Hi
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：278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGRCR4lvbd
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqe3dfBBq7
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeuYbVEEwD
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……278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMElj7w1y7d
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYPSxSZPGO
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ItNqXNVpV
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GWcAwCfrc
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2EAVNyDi5
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzs2hGi0w46
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qBH27hhUf
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNm8kV8UZDG
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukH8VZ7fYr
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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9bRaMNoFe
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFQTpcJBhE
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？」278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQgpzGz4JB
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOziJ6HNn2
「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。」278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNi93AEtrP
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZbYmvjQXj
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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwHl4YKL4Q
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCS6QleB9mz
母與子。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLC6Kz1XCzv
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXx5Iao4AKn
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBjJDXdCTM
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyu7s8wJpX
金水橋。筒子河。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapgn5zzggy
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9biwg4x6M6
母親與未出世的孩子。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClqlrKdC4e
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FZli5nsy3
天哪，怎麼回事。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvczp8TdAF
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡht3BLG0e6I
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wO1MvV0rU
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6Q9AdEIKg
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyM4X6yKY1L
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTDf6zSOQ5
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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CbKw1qW5J
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmby2gRRepH
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXRPkiiA25
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohkSpH4dZZ
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？278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZXLhj9Ohm
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxnvnUJJ8M
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？278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEJ4TsYOUL
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXuT4rnmJe
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGcRR4XPuf
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBh5Q42pWl
「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。」278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnU4kJxXyB
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKe8UkNjUxE
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmCVQrlpI8
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1KI7DlpLi
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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8sY1xa8Dm
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNw5nPdIdpt
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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEFXGSkMKL
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJ3sshxwKQ
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYxIkq7uKq
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDDHL4tOBZ
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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKLuXXXzq6
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQso8YzNvq
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JG7X0Q0KE
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa93sCcLeFE
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLqo9wtF2L
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAg0Xn93c0
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXR01MpyIRD
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCXvak207K
湖衣心生疑惑。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkmnQ16yp5
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DzPszXRnt
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？278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhXh4HXDvr
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOEp4RbYIz
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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTl3AhJne9t
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmK36EHuADE
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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclV8RRM4Aw
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrXVnWwWg4
§278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xj4af1zdD
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXTGqNVeLi
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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJ7O46rTZH
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNXJ3LclZE
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKKkBc2nBw
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtD2DoluQKT
「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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jgE5ESDOt
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3p2jm9G5e
不祥之兆。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRbrCjPR0m
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEKw6Co8Nd
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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhi7BU1l3y
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDHhmpcFFK
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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aM0nfIyQ0
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlualCmcbZK
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpia275PQio
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3FlZFBzpc
「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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgTUicAHyQ
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyztyCT2xjI
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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsypCOD09sM
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNr6oeDANB
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？278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73NX3GuHfY
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpxXzy5390
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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8JvJ4zsNB
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVB4HFFvh0
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQp5WoXXncr
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvptFu5zviS
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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmTkGRMFUW
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7Sazds69z
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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRMwMiVI3T
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3qp9AAn0Z
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGZwP5qsbD
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhOt4NQcsr
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhG7v89ljwH
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1li1fmjYi
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYULosatma
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKRQadFicc
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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftvzG7290e
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0t4xfvewo
「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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlZwAYGRfG
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiABvbJ68r
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。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKtGxIoIqI
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匡噹……匡噹……278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjzXvnfWGL
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRp4CpN0TW
這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHJoDhzTwr
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「糟了！」騎尉大吼。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5iXXayAOs
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「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtLiNVUvrp
278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfLvwNVknM
「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？」278Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5jXwOkP5w
