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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiezi74ZVi
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzpj2Ugdt4
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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPCAs8q3Da
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHgFNfDa3p
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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqJYShrlnm
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpcXRJNx6H
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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOw2i3KojM
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfGLlURtf8
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjN4RJKcLs
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOe7halxdf
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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzusinYloh
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9oUXvgO5p
眼下四顧茫然。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aGB4P6B8L
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjOXM4cQQt
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfHp1XsR6H
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycI6b0DcTt
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLGsy2IAgE
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5r9PMyU5a
總不能問山羊吧。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiHWKsCKnA
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37A1Q1IEao
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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcY5yIRsJsT
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClkkzx9zyp
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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdmqDJoW3C
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHj7xNBkziH
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡto2EVBRprH
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLFVp5Hx6U
「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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8TduDLPO4
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwJBAm5nfC
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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD14eQ0gtYq
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRMlH84KIG
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2VTwuKgIo
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cl0kshM0i
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtECd8klWcQ
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IWyVaE15D
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3ddyLBvAu
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyn30NgjUeP
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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwRxEHiKvr
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAlZ7Alkkk
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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeqNd11Twl
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioviCbyush
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：323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Z1O4dT5sG
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlG73NqFrKU
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHi0j1kbSBS
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……323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97urqiEYhu
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHS6a7ofh5
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyX9O65HQdM
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVa1Hi7nwNN
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmYb9UNpFT
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciWtHw1GUU
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8GYQOePBf
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeV6PnTzx9
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVqgxzXj4K
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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1crZ1JoZVU
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfR7octODK
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？」323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxgVRrhvsi
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtp0ehZqXtO
「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。」323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4EVJf8E9t
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUHz7Ft19X
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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH30w5oc1eu
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6tZYp8hvZ
母與子。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3TRspilPZ
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25XYrviGsH
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgryu4vDHv
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYQSHCk7iE
金水橋。筒子河。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy46K3EXdxh
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFgf3FBTAa
母親與未出世的孩子。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBIeYQvfEB
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgkZoila7F
天哪，怎麼回事。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUaQrh8Zow
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO59OFncTfv
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZnajqofW9
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEab1n2wTQ0
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpT0qjFG1om
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsGuw61abH
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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm411NVxfk7
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZ22cSMbxV
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0luMgjN2N
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjKSumSI8q
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？323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nrBOpOKYZ
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fRMK1psoD
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？323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuZvfrM42x
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5FDDfttqT
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTL89CJwKA9
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZqz3adcQT
「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。」323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHd39bH30oR
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxOJfN30cK
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NAxwrq8lS
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY56kb0GchX
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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8g35rFmXy
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHhox0SzzH
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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbYxqHTOJA
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkJxTvAXEu
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdaO0z7erQ
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0oLEKhJHD
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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BSIv16E5F
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4SjNshpkA
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNfYLyBi6B
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWyEhA2V8P
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oSnXs59sz
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7hw6dTB70
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk69hqsLwTB
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUCJe7BbjV
湖衣心生疑惑。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCHINWgRWv
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGAdiwWD5W
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？323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRL1O0xMIRG
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFCbG1ok3S
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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MDI2Mj2GR
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IHU1P9Mh7
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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BoTANMcfy
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2n30x0xXp
§323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5igjKG1Mt
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCtqZY412Y
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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTt4qFa3vQr
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFinn4qmvoh
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuQp0b0ogD
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7piem5Fd5
「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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0OovdJYFm
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvHMVaHSx0
不祥之兆。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlMTKYvrfZ
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3I6SDdhrLy
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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIA9G2LVYl
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjlUSoQZZz
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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yGzdaQaTj
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLvhHmYDHm
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡib85gWuVCm
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIeXctjbGc
「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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbOhapMbP5
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpTiO5HmpX
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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAh4Byno9Ic
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnG1bn3cmja
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？323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwC8cSchf1
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KmWvsIYAc
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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73y6Tbh3OX
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdq4QNlhF4l
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3TXcXFe8E
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYKqujTELv
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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87MQL8qLpg
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdGRQSbhRC
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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbN6TODo3Gc
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqULMUX2pGa
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREgQSq5m6B
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9S24uWq1B
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgPT8lVDUd
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7tkLk9jMf
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcBh3OcTQ5
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2RPutAqHh
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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdDKGfyDyg
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEL9yD6MLy
「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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQZ8b7BvJr
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgZEcCdazn
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。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeEPtwyfFw
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匡噹……匡噹……323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhhHXfoFnq
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxHMw8sLBg
這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXy9NLmZsdC
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「糟了！」騎尉大吼。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlsyQwwo64
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「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfgbQiK9jV
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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？」323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvb2UnvIuXh
