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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHaT63Motk
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ65XyHYDeY
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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakjq1mhqE5
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWqK7qzDGn
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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdoyJF9EQb
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsirJlTN8d9
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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkibOeHL1TO
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDbx27uwz8
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBt9HETGnT
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4FqyrzhPY
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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nCfTBJdsB
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4Omm9cgQM
眼下四顧茫然。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ080wSmuAoS
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9t0jzJJXz
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZnpOGKwJv
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdm9bF8VBa
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKxyq7CVms
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8th1VXzFs
總不能問山羊吧。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspoacGOmcj
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gAFLLDi1d
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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrDgFMo6je
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMpcC25gTU
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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1HpujShA0
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWoyWNVbH5
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9WTRD0j1b
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4RX9wEJNN
「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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqMSttZyTH
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2duwifJ0Z
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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9mBDeA1xX
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtNkXdkiQp
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVU8P3AKWbE
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6zp7ppmIR
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4AazRIQgL
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAb35iwOY5
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRrBUOmbFm
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0SGKfR55N
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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPa1EggVj5
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOubqg1irED
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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqePJjzwNux
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzy4UfwK28
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：262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPSfmmb1aX
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsLozVJWkD
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlC92LACbPV
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……262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfyWYoJ4TC
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDYPm3zHas
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8pFKUWldn
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IJhJncnqQ
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtLFPW1jqY
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbSFzzi2iA
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUcAe3igDY
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5Onof61Zx
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoZYT52XU1
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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvq7mPny3z
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJYAn8HCrV
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？」262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPK9XIhisa
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpiliTfVW0
「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。」262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyREMar9VI
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlY3CPUjFR
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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkBWPkJcxm
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpj0BwkDnz
母與子。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjV6PogEln
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRK5cn7Cp3x
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMbVlmVIx9
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzDODku9tG
金水橋。筒子河。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cklPrgtzX
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4VUN6Zl97
母親與未出世的孩子。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWsRc04vFJ
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHY77NowNBC
天哪，怎麼回事。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRGnd1GXtX
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIc1jLgbxjr
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3isWS8tBu
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFjKYfHw4z
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlby4NMra3
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2JGUdKWie
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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiaOrds89x
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EpvxV6P2K
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0V3g5wFju
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmljCOVBf8Q
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？262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rZUnRzkWS
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrz66vnYkx
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？262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuxupkmllA
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkM4utqKQL2
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXt9p6SKLX
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9WOxnirtm
「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。」262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30Yqph4Ljy
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVorNFHZgz
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7AR7QYI5C
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgq1URzUpf5
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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5GtDx769r
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHp3fGec1cJ
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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uym8OpCKq
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiOhVx84eq
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsi0WT8myu
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy702yW08rn
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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CPErOkE74
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPQYxvsige
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADSWXlOk4X
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HU3NviLK2
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9ERcBRVEM
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxUTLTWost
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSF0A7lc6Ix
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0Tiw4eUGs
湖衣心生疑惑。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQ1Ciayo4e
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRXzmjqTWN
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？262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFMJHfclGQ
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyroDuEKT1
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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNAPv2Ue1f
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiDuJLehbJ
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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOxGHWsXEU
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFr0HNyycm
§262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQtCxOwvPG
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UpZydbyZ4
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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaFK3x8Q0H
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtFb0OOqgU
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFzl5eqP7C
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZnTlsmhjo
「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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwpYSekW2p
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4mKlCt54p
不祥之兆。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepylWnnB96
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jFn8iFaYi
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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVTqVsIUy2
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGi9N3k0dN
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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMpXZzQZIf
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGplrdJTsq
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNEnjj2i1D
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRHm0kgLtf
「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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7iRARznGy
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4vDNLGwcz
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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93uV5RBx3v
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3viqJjMAuQ
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？262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMKASe0rgy
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhj6r7KQsZ
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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLijz3XAeDA
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6WeapOofa
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWf3PWQ5NhO
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJ9HcsdidC
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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnLHVaSFMv
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9k8kzuN0Hc
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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkKfO8XYZy
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgn7QCOAZTY
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSfHfS910Q
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2V9jr99cHD
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksuYPusYGc
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWoauIxhaT
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivenLzF6a0
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWrB9Csiye
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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUclHxbr6u
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPamDE1Z5nF
「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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi65r0xWrO3
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIretVbCVA
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。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVY69Rl2cv
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJ23TGikTe
匡噹……匡噹……262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlZFaip54b
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMqHbNMO7J
這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOs9eam5rG
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfe0D5geVU
「糟了！」騎尉大吼。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvQlrsT983
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOzEPef9Pt
「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lY9I3ONRL
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmNI8YU5Bu
「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？」262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIM0ANRsAqP
