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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5peAPuhIhb
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcURRk6PNq
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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQxcqhV974
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySZLwEIJwP
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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBkgoikTRI
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgdiLmlJRd
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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIgxeYvDjJ
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkduLQ8i39
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQa0KwFu7hg
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwpWJ8XyeQ
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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5uIWjeJ8z
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UvN3uUpee
眼下四顧茫然。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiy9XyVY8B
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJjoYFgSaR
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtKB8a2F5s
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLqLVv2PS6
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTLJpvK5Jq
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcOCgxPo7k
總不能問山羊吧。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0I9fUQ5NWe
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIKbgZ46C9
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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VAioLvJUu
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqO2Xc27n8U
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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOc6Ts7CYH
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt54P84np9q
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVIa48paK0
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATSFF01AIC
「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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2GarvJaPr
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZNrfZqzAD
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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVm1TlbJM9
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWegz9TbXcS
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1WTQJmp9A
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3m0HU4jLRi
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjgP9vQNcl
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwF2kr76Acm
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFjgcMvpdm
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLu5HwHexl3
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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdSuMCALxI
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8fPxKkpB3
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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBw62aVLkg
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXgTEvTUPQ
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：307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOKtZ91ZuZ
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xX56V4O0Q
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQd89iHrPOw
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……307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaF5eBzl5kE
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwqOjhCGl9
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHCRwGPqvg
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9xmc4mfib
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHb9xWfs6A
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZatwniN1KT
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZaiUrkDAK
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pFJQEMyNX
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFcUQ8bLjk
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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVCuMjSb11
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ksp3vbxyR
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？」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCD7eCukCsQ
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLDqYPoLrx
「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。」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmOyvWnWoO
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6WtvjvKEm
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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2i24VV7tv
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OO6LDBy4P
母與子。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfaQ4MsZpH
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eLOMbHRwe
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdvaZTXtSF
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQVipST7ST
金水橋。筒子河。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsF44TfSRZB
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLm5DWg4Du
母親與未出世的孩子。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLm3o5vPF1J
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzcGq8cACV
天哪，怎麼回事。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bLuFcUzZR
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmwzGP4Rff
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUceAJ9xZZ
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYywdSCExP
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBD36FWZoDL
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshRGFlKOwM
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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48H6cKLqUf
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7RYYnuYwa
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77rA5K1x7p
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOrsJMB4kV
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？307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEapaJx176c
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLM9BibMyD1
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？307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcTnbRO93I
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvokfswhoD
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZA212jiP7P
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30lh2tkzQ4
「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。」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvy40Ghk4h
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaf3sTGRaId
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQ5wopYaYs
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxzvLJ5PDd
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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvedbW8oiYU
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBeFsN4aRg
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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2y0QSv0Irw
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7HTGjVmlx
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgBtWUW4c3
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfLbhc3The
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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQhM98kZZi
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAnjGUqrXJ
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkU0nRyEUVf
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAn6Etn8Ox
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiLGiOLyMf
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaafBCn9tN
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LqyB7L5ne
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjF94LVplQ
湖衣心生疑惑。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAdIMAYU64
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGFGzt06U0
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？307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvbdnGRn3z
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KGbvIx2hM
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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROC52v8J16
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDGEfArwOC
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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNsbIbpee3
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHDA7W305Y
§307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOwl23sXaB
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JTsCGxnxM
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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlufAYPYS4u
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Wi2JXtuVy
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5W9pz6nXoW
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeh3uYWMikv
「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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIg3hNngR0
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXvhEoMSC8
不祥之兆。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BKtV7Cjnt
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODuK6zMRjZ
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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4G02WdwNSW
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLT4hMj1aDi
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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcKBbM42xb
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCgCTDUk6c
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FKPtQhYxp
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxj6FKl1Ss
「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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOxi8XGu4d
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAlYzPZS7H
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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEzzinlEX5
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vggg9tDvw
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？307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFnpebZF27
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMmAGERMPT
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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sEtGjgSC8
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMERtho85p
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzrV9NH4cK
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIgdpxSlqC
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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJu2Kow89N
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFTzFNiW7f
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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksChu8ATkD
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdElGGZvQu
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2JpbRS2IY
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMtiM4xg9B
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45dsuJxis8
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxtd8c7Kw7
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWBzpSqLEP
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpxvpmaxlW
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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBI0uLbJRS
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGbPojBPgc
「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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtv50iNmoOK
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwuZxzxYWu
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。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhOJNtyyax
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAxHz90xd4
匡噹……匡噹……307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nTCXxodjr
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGh1NPXf2x
這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaGjK4GpID
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffwvDDKQ7r
「糟了！」騎尉大吼。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCoyZjcbQz
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSfof877pL
「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4bCyKo4ZH
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBOxjsc1nw
「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？」307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfbkHOs6ld
