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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2brfxWo47
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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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DQ8rVCgEF
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RCBtSlfZV
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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Vjmm4P2hn
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkKU5XZbTN
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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSw6x5lxuNZ
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYdH8XYgo2
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVvHpR3Z6g
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSA7lp0xFK
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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzKmiELPHV
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CH1Xpc6n6
眼下四顧茫然。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfN10IvWIZ
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLDNkduMUQ
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtemep2WvG
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGahbMYxqvF
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xAVuHO3uM
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWxF8nqp0y
總不能問山羊吧。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0ODPENZbk
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8glCl1NmF
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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RN4KDpVDg
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVI8tnl7LM
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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fxFg2RMtU
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XKZJFLO4P
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsfkSkHONR
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIwymTEd9o
「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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TcqRSx5RT
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmk0jhSgAPQ
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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88P9Ng3xvW
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MZPxKDPWl
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTz1UQ3Pfp
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSxvai3SQv
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnGJh1Zmrq
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95YpCr03Br
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCKtYkk2nE
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jJoisYs0V
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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfxOqScd68
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeyyETtVLi
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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98JGIFExAN
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClinFqn0ey
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：215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpj8EHrsnCN
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjgQUgrBet
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6j8HXl8Fq
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……215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoLfLTW8Ez
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqePqfbpaJ
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzGlv2Zmz3
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFMqCOynCA
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7FxBDil9G
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwnjqPQ0pF
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG16ISBMXXq
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsgjx0yUMC
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IVBfNIMWG
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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApJoahjZnY
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83JFGd4C0I
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？」215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzAg5WuSEc
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIZgkGNfR6
「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。」215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKjufcFKsL
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Iaw7CLXWs
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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeygNXOGLt
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSBUkL9W8h
母與子。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYcs2gMFRK
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecqrh7OrHd
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygu2fZIJoZ
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUPpf9L4i6
金水橋。筒子河。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnq7dp9pVJ
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPG5grp4DrZ
母親與未出世的孩子。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSSnIveI0J
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXay8M7pEw
天哪，怎麼回事。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfiYejxV6S
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTH8ebFqige
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuoSFzjJcI
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVQboj5mf0
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JIgiPAbYx
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz135EFWxlP
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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOuKMl7nig
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9de1ewL4fM
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGq3H8ax4sa
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5I5XAMn5s
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？215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6VjJxtQo8
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNYMfnT873
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？215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5ME4G928f
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4UqHtkeQo
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zEr0ZlBj2
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyUUdHZ1s1
「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。」215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dpBjBcHMF
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iUeTPMjKg
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeHQVHfiJI
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdBNsC54UG
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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtxzmAZ4p1
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4PqbHzyxH
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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhq73WLlTN
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMzBOuSfHS
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqada9RNlH
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGX8JQxggJ0
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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2R3WQSCyC
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3djWKkowoV
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUd0OG5Fh5o
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcSdGsduNX
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoh2X2M8Qe
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DiUW6Dy0H
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhLOqT3sdG
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpF45Pcm5E
湖衣心生疑惑。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyysm9qFxYV
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHDvhferL7
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？215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZ6o2Szdtl
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtWEDAkRY3
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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdQchfhf2M
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsmnfuABD6
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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qRPCwNJU3
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95BhF67wUC
§215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49Dsl2iIu4
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgNW6OvDDt
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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRzVYgA4OV
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1UVnl8iQK
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldaAuEGves
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsp7GHDdor1
「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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmEAmJxkn8
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCr8qBzsYU
不祥之兆。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84Zaq5lEjX
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNdnQhtTJq
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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ap4vYQAYb
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuk4hVwLvX
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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaDa2aX8Ht
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjzEWxXDcJ
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6E0td3jr4
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFETVS96mB
「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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XiWBMZ8hO
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRzdVGg63u
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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpHDf8ZngL
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXl4c8Dkc2W
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？215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMi4cNNkk7L
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejj97j6uNV
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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWTLNPY4vh
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWC4xwdQ50s
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJt5Bmpdtbc
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCD4XZNKSXX
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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwCYpUJnof
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13eRusdrVU
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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsJOYAn9FZ
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FBTwUNIJA
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4w9qxtcsEV
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3jYOFHRgH
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMH6M3pioeO
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1P5cx06US
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmXyKqeNwB
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNDRF4g5fm
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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMc3jPzuNwh
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZTJ3aN3Qw
「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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4HejETYBi
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSE8Hgsrlv5
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。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmroa4yv9HS
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匡噹……匡噹……215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFYxWmVsZf
215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRUAZ0F1CH
這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttQ0y0kySY
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「糟了！」騎尉大吼。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhF9cOu1rJ1
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「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQKNEJLFTg
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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？」215Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoJUs4w11v
