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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSNs4RPwnb
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUxJhcg81B
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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkbz4BHMfZ
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1GXhvy4CJ
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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEf2KgKV93
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiKlSYIAM7
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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfsNjWtqF7
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rwQETStv9
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUQtHUYth1
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXGtVENj5W
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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWpzGtC93z
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQeODMt1ld
眼下四顧茫然。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQb11lHBM2
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndszggerLN
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTp48i12d2
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20HGkpJGZs
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqvM3aOwMp
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmCk3zh6SX
總不能問山羊吧。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvqNkX1hnJ
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJYUKA5qiX
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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZaT6H6heb
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApeQpfPgAQ
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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKR0dQYFyV3
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukWVjxf476
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTeSMRI3Xh
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lto23mtSO
「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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkFJI32YFq
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ohkUjSRTs
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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDHVSMo2Q4
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSI8s3T67h
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡql4kNfsQm3
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAB83T6SfL
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTrNKQmKyQ
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJ3ZEyJe7Y
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavGLeahYfD
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAFri0kbwz
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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKC5jw4K9S5
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMx3TuO7wv
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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmExZGzhjH
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaNgspdh5n
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：266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdpDQo2J8N
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lpCOZKjd9
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7A6AEfdMSd
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……266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAHENqH3iz
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBfgkHyhZG
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOAGux8tyK
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKfgoHfR7h
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPnuiF6gpC
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BcDxszlj2
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9L6gee3YtR
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AdkztGafm
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIqCismbnb
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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLv9sOys8iT
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgPVC4UKJc
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？」266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aGL5rhaOY
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKo749zjMRm
「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。」266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhHCnaGBO5
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZSahBdZxh
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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXB23NUpC9A
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdpRk8daZC
母與子。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jy0XruWBA
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJflxGdCwXt
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArgfrTDo0e
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlxIJQklzg
金水橋。筒子河。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsObA5cd78
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fWoxB3XOS
母親與未出世的孩子。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfoeTIpsPC
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiaSfTsQMJ
天哪，怎麼回事。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJ1iQ3DhjR
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZYVH4LfcY
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7dVn1C7HR
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfvMyXzGmL
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyl2cx6UWwh
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPxpZdT3yI
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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXx57UgYULr
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1aGballZ7
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjm1WkhWYG6
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32TOxiNkXR
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？266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGloCT6ZmA
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCX5rMSt6K
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？266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyp0mqk1XDv
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZmXBuv5uF
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqmqqM2YyJ
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEne56i9kAv
「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。」266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYwTC2UUDf
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRPKxf3Tlr
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kN3GtgR9R
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fYKRJhJdL
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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4n2NrHnNt
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5JPOLHUps
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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyt4UpqNDt
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgswpxp92o
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9m6kAnnMq
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYdJiyK68Z
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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1B2hykRrx
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WEjjkwBvU
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOWh0YsIrz
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzUgvXl26g
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIjHOHAbVl
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqchYMhVwPb
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mBSWyHYkU
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVx0zGMNju
湖衣心生疑惑。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0y0Bs3onJ
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifdSGkPItI
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？266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iIQzTDLmo
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHghHNLG76U
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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BcUxBBU00
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFtGBbjZP5
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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICcv10tZL1
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82y4gnlBn1
§266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaflPygpXK
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmN6PGb8dx
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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvaTIp3SXi
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvy9k7lwIsP
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSkitJJR8o
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpCoj5SiaS
「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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnLlyby0Gm
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzLpL9P3de
不祥之兆。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPY7LXCBsz
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZpS34eLso
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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwxMVGwcQB
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1Z6hk73rO
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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyRy8tXK69
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7Yp0Qpr63
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMY5nTSYNR
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjzD7X6JGM
「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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXw49KsToL
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpOOKJNuWi
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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2mNn5940u
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vRFemJweC
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？266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Z8qd2z4PE
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgp8kowdSp
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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeInQFTDbG
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgMkZgVyvb
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QIbZPVFLg
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE95kce9Swa
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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyl2yUbRYe
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhqcXBQO0h
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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrz59kCaLN
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeUuDgdodu
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50AYg4lU8d
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwwQpHoFMx
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvjaJlu7a4
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GQGSzt0Zn
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPZsnSYjXR
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcn6mzuJKu
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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGTbeIThVX
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIjA0NT98p
「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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuM17hGAVV
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7pLAwHasV
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。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDf7jJSC5m1
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGNeMUm0II
匡噹……匡噹……266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RJ5OvnSW9
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3TgMZrzyC
這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1SujfGOD6
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4qpbmYvoP
「糟了！」騎尉大吼。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vjuLN8a2c
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsRue6pooz
「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yaCvAZIVg
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FMP1NOTSj
「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？」266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhEEKP6MRi
