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。180Please respect copyright.PENANAKWE5smAnsK
180Please respect copyright.PENANA4qnLBypuS8
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。180Please respect copyright.PENANAzgS6QnVwFD
180Please respect copyright.PENANAuPpulVHRUh
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。180Please respect copyright.PENANAqlTGbYO8fT
180Please respect copyright.PENANAqynH1NFNqB
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。180Please respect copyright.PENANAuDRXP24dA4
180Please respect copyright.PENANAT2buydm3ts
這不是宮中會有的景象,她確定自己已不在宮城內。180Please respect copyright.PENANAH9nAYZXzD1
180Please respect copyright.PENANAtMwNVe7FIn
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。180Please respect copyright.PENANAOm3GEWZEKB
180Please respect copyright.PENANA1CKTaOwTBF
眼下四顧茫然。180Please respect copyright.PENANAbHO19ASkpI
180Please respect copyright.PENANAjX7Sd0nM6O
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 180Please respect copyright.PENANAR1Ffat4lqW
180Please respect copyright.PENANAp16a7P0FdY
有沒有人可以問問?她心想。180Please respect copyright.PENANAhsslWSa43c
180Please respect copyright.PENANAqmI30MbnDn
總不能問山羊吧。180Please respect copyright.PENANASMeaXblNvm
180Please respect copyright.PENANAfZ3yLhHSLC
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。180Please respect copyright.PENANATGbb7WP8GO
180Please respect copyright.PENANAw4h94qbiBs
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。180Please respect copyright.PENANAa2zaY9wl0Q
180Please respect copyright.PENANAaiCaXDCjT3
老人拿出一碗殘羹,老狗迎了來,迫不及待地吃著。180Please respect copyright.PENANAq9hntotAJF
180Please respect copyright.PENANAQOqmwDP7dR
「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。180Please respect copyright.PENANAS7S3npiqcA
180Please respect copyright.PENANAKKd7dYm2ZE
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。180Please respect copyright.PENANAQkRUKibpx9
180Please respect copyright.PENANAtzn6VbOKem
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人?180Please respect copyright.PENANAK16pd3GSt1
180Please respect copyright.PENANAKiTd4u3pKs
是了,金鼇玉蝀橋以西,羊房夾道。180Please respect copyright.PENANAUQyWPbwEdJ
180Please respect copyright.PENANA9r7wH5nT8o
年老或是患病的宮人,會被送來此處醫治,或是等死。180Please respect copyright.PENANAs7ilBzAFm1
180Please respect copyright.PENANAnSYLIvap3Q
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。180Please respect copyright.PENANAjZ2beOUkqR
180Please respect copyright.PENANAFsFvxfkcOC
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。180Please respect copyright.PENANArPbZ3QgwSH
180Please respect copyright.PENANAIiEqe8dOgo
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:180Please respect copyright.PENANAWduYijkG7B
180Please respect copyright.PENANAGoCpQfUnkI
180Please respect copyright.PENANAao8R13N7vu
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……180Please respect copyright.PENANAErkll5GQxA
180Please respect copyright.PENANAVN7AcQEswQ
180Please respect copyright.PENANAKlBZ4yUakf
男孩歪著小腦袋,像是忘了詞。180Please respect copyright.PENANAzD5XF1aA86
180Please respect copyright.PENANA97fXva7nOl
「隨意春芳歇,王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。180Please respect copyright.PENANAAKeLicSnvt
180Please respect copyright.PENANAHd9Gh5sNI5
孩子轉過身來,好奇地看著她。180Please respect copyright.PENANAJ1arkUkgHe
180Please respect copyright.PENANAXSQVXPUjCP
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。180Please respect copyright.PENANAPknMvNxBDd
180Please respect copyright.PENANAY2FibB3djK
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?」180Please respect copyright.PENANAVhUhcHmVks
180Please respect copyright.PENANAE4hCBOqkxM
「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。」180Please respect copyright.PENANAVh6XRZw34y
180Please respect copyright.PENANALpnyAhSnpF
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。180Please respect copyright.PENANA7MZFrGWORf
180Please respect copyright.PENANAUhA5s9UETH
母與子。180Please respect copyright.PENANAC2JAjYvXho
180Please respect copyright.PENANApoKC5jbbMl
她望向水渠,想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。180Please respect copyright.PENANAblAo0p37Vr
180Please respect copyright.PENANAefV10NYtaY
金水橋。筒子河。180Please respect copyright.PENANAVWvatqqedk
180Please respect copyright.PENANABQBhhiSkWT
母親與未出世的孩子。180Please respect copyright.PENANAYDmaRgcvJF
180Please respect copyright.PENANAHFdZZSJrof
天哪,怎麼回事。180Please respect copyright.PENANATefmkJEZGk
180Please respect copyright.PENANAdAVwazIhee
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒?180Please respect copyright.PENANA2KVo5hnnMu
180Please respect copyright.PENANALI6ZmzRuSI
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。180Please respect copyright.PENANAMnfZUvIYPZ
180Please respect copyright.PENANAqKDU8B0iy8
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。180Please respect copyright.PENANAjatPlnZNFU
180Please respect copyright.PENANALjH0NLwlxA
湖衣緊握雙拳,內心天人交戰。180Please respect copyright.PENANA5HftI4SrhB
180Please respect copyright.PENANAgbhslWWaqF
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?180Please respect copyright.PENANADOi0TDUQ3j
180Please respect copyright.PENANAYV83Qf88LF
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?180Please respect copyright.PENANAEHdEi5iHUU
180Please respect copyright.PENANAFtyosGYUm2
湖衣思忖半晌,心中已有決斷。180Please respect copyright.PENANAZfQqRs2TE8
180Please respect copyright.PENANAzAWtdgZCRx
「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。」180Please respect copyright.PENANA4RF4kTqT9t
180Please respect copyright.PENANAzejN51HOif
她得回去找馮瑛,馮瑛肯定能認出來。180Please respect copyright.PENANAPYEsJUXpjX
180Please respect copyright.PENANACWvSS7ICej
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。180Please respect copyright.PENANAOpODZNtvIk
180Please respect copyright.PENANAJ7q0dtgD0Q
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。180Please respect copyright.PENANAbJ8jumbl52
180Please respect copyright.PENANAVrS7eojZk5
她在心中祈求,自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固,百姓安寧。180Please respect copyright.PENANA0BGtiAVqRt
180Please respect copyright.PENANAeWvfc094lh
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。180Please respect copyright.PENANAIx0qOp7QIP
180Please respect copyright.PENANAG52nM6teRZ
她飛快地奔回原路,爬出佛堂的通道。180Please respect copyright.PENANAHQInV3XVXa
180Please respect copyright.PENANAIlSGfdbd1q
小佛堂一如往常,靜悄悄的。180Please respect copyright.PENANAZwjbdnMPCW
180Please respect copyright.PENANA4HJ4c0j9cN
「馮瑛,馮瑛!」她叫了幾聲,都沒有回應。180Please respect copyright.PENANAZJAhjJFiUj
180Please respect copyright.PENANAx7Q0icIomb
湖衣心生疑惑。180Please respect copyright.PENANAeYT76gHscJ
180Please respect copyright.PENANAKC4knoDqjh
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?180Please respect copyright.PENANAKWXaN371H2
180Please respect copyright.PENANAjo572Oezlq
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。180Please respect copyright.PENANAfGeJtDHtfg
180Please respect copyright.PENANAoMRzKNijry
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。180Please respect copyright.PENANAVwxhxMpXol
180Please respect copyright.PENANALo08a4I2iN
§180Please respect copyright.PENANAJYQIG4MUny
180Please respect copyright.PENANApVLMJdCHwu
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。180Please respect copyright.PENANA2FoQO0EwG0
180Please respect copyright.PENANAkbD1BcqUcE
「見鬼了,今兒是個什麼日子?」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。180Please respect copyright.PENANARKCWWqgoCM
180Please respect copyright.PENANAcjGXX3ThO5
「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。180Please respect copyright.PENANA1CqGLr0yFM
180Please respect copyright.PENANAa7gjXfdoig
不祥之兆。180Please respect copyright.PENANANpou6eGZVS
180Please respect copyright.PENANAebdzsBHCrh
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。180Please respect copyright.PENANAjbx7VJ8IOr
180Please respect copyright.PENANAKA8qcn5klq
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。180Please respect copyright.PENANAEyDI6Bnfn6
180Please respect copyright.PENANA1QBiufeslr
「幹什麼的?」騎尉發問。180Please respect copyright.PENANAyqD5DEITob
180Please respect copyright.PENANAyAO7cfkbtg
「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。180Please respect copyright.PENANA1Yr8GDpveX
180Please respect copyright.PENANArGHQyvREcR
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。180Please respect copyright.PENANACwzxiIJIrS
180Please respect copyright.PENANAFRlnJIQUDh
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?180Please respect copyright.PENANAd6nDBO5fZv
180Please respect copyright.PENANAl6vivPCqwd
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。180Please respect copyright.PENANANobD0o9CcM
180Please respect copyright.PENANA9LIsUoZ51i
「她惹怒了萬貴妃,長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。180Please respect copyright.PENANA3gbxgooRyu
180Please respect copyright.PENANAIQTLQU6w4K
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。180Please respect copyright.PENANAcc2078NHgZ
180Please respect copyright.PENANAztKTEUZ94E
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。180Please respect copyright.PENANAXvOXnhBTOy
180Please respect copyright.PENANA5NaDLXfez9
「那就有勞三位,」騎衛說道,「甬道走到底右方,便是宮正司所在。」180Please respect copyright.PENANA8lm28YXdHV
180Please respect copyright.PENANA4Y8rlyXwac
一名檢校笑答:「多謝。」180Please respect copyright.PENANAqkMM6YmhbC
180Please respect copyright.PENANAZm90Dgldks
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行,三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。180Please respect copyright.PENANAOrxi0u2BH1
180Please respect copyright.PENANAnxn2bzonIU
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。180Please respect copyright.PENANAqX88lc6Sd0
180Please respect copyright.PENANA74ARDpNcp7
「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。180Please respect copyright.PENANAvc37aGWPQ1
180Please respect copyright.PENANAgTM8Jkb7wG
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。180Please respect copyright.PENANA70ayA9PH6K
180Please respect copyright.PENANA1isPhLyCDB
匡噹……匡噹……180Please respect copyright.PENANAhZSdexCO3R
180Please respect copyright.PENANAQwzTHLOPV5
這聲響究竟從何而來,他環顧四週,打定主意要找出來源。180Please respect copyright.PENANAiEvsviYmOB
180Please respect copyright.PENANAZHVJBLkwX6
「糟了!」騎尉大吼。180Please respect copyright.PENANAYSki82aKqv
180Please respect copyright.PENANASNJu0t7pvy
「怎麼啦?」門衛一臉震驚地問。180Please respect copyright.PENANAhliqzp4MMF
180Please respect copyright.PENANArjTfkn58wt
「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?」180Please respect copyright.PENANAftTHBdtMOO