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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlboKboicVX
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdg4zTYEj29
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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBNyWBMfEU
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPShIuYE91
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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqc0hj1d87
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BUI7stNfy
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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmrVCsWsL6
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCm2QQd0olt
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIIlWzqRbb
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbQt1j2JOZ
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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxBzjtmu6t
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2GNheEFhD
眼下四顧茫然。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdz2X3giZd
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDAX3wMRHX
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnGVrT52if
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYSpnRfhGs
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2S7c6aCX81
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ437D6yNE78
總不能問山羊吧。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsfgGgr8C5
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQuX6rq0OX
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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTb6RgoQVX
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZa8ULq5Y5S
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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2iuMyJUIQ
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQixxtucJc7
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4zEYzgeB8
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcXlPtx7TF
「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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0m5BYmA8wc
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKjssVSTuE
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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzn8kjir0a
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgakAZWYNSo
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBpf8rEj2N
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXPLePeZ5C
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5gllHRFd7
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PmZqgqSCA
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAmNz1sl52
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVa71YDyJMU
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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9sTk8xBjW
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0s8kBgMYz4
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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFIjO575zY
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGnMN1KXMz
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：218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttzagQ6Cn6
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVSaay4ewm
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMo1QCFcBk2
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……218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuALscLjz92
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrPUraHoO7
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIGnO2yuNX
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMGJ9rarkd
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGLdSdBfEM
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXUUvxRQL4
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVAN06JLxt
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwe0oDA7yc
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNQjCSTcMs
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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBrRWozEug
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwZY6k8eJJ
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？」218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABKYm8JRoH
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWk3DHcRG8
「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。」218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCAjx03TqC
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87tMeS0Mmr
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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFipBRzLDX
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRP8R2LE9pl
母與子。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtb4PVOPSTZ
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IbRzk0qut
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndTgpCTT2s
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6pNBvY1Bk
金水橋。筒子河。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYnCiphfUw
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVKITMQQIb
母親與未出世的孩子。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcS9zaYMH5f
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGBfwPvobm
天哪，怎麼回事。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bV0ddOls6
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaazPSx71dv
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXiBJL0n8m
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4QOtNkJ1y
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGdQC8EEVa
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIQLzkfmm6
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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXmnhnxgUz
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAFKDtWtLQ
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKGd5QUnZA
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAdmtoVuix
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？218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCAO353zZi
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhy1Cth05e4
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？218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjawU3abwrw
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBCUM4yj3h
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡip0MFMGUec
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHT5tqNjB7O
「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。」218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcz8a9407VR
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qnZMY4bS2
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3y8jClJBaW
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmmmBfIXHL
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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeewCG6QcM
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNO4TGY3mZ
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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcYDcsRnoX
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnd3Eg0L7i
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFc79uELv0V
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVL8QlVspHL
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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrv9vEhpLet
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCI8EU56D5
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3had3MGJd
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVrXgLzw8P
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUn7T9hb85
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IGPyEDoLn
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOPd1jOIIi
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNi0otkppU
湖衣心生疑惑。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGlSgymx4c
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCLzWv3iNL
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？218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGYHE7qVZ6
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKGNnhdb1X
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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsix9Qr7lq
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JZPY4cuhv
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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkJ4NEwz2U
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtX1beKn4fy
§218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqqnF7UJyy
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlnQqH7WMx
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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrttyoaves
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08cfQcx8P9
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6hqwwQr5X
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwT72mTmGA
「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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKXXevMq0L
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaP3ihRwOt
不祥之兆。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpRSz8RrDU
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gfxKwkUKb
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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3v3NhibOY
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0RlLErtGj
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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGcet5NhqO
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ191MwzJx2J
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvMPG0MJVn
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGAXu4Kr2a
「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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnumIQV2YW
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sOGGeT42B
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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzcQkDIysu
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DEWDdrLR0
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？218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fSqZqHpYe
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHN0km52r02
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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFqPNp1qYq
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Hg0iLWYxE
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjksbQBZyT
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCf5iCDoZLf
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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPv3uRcEufT
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WlULhJWpT
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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaAL1gKriL
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzbbSRkk32
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjYhS1htM6
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtG6FURIOqa
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxQpfvFmkg
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1TquXG0Zw
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSBzvuJmTg
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JUrsIusww
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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFM9Pc37s39
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89QMhAlCro
「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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqShFgAyZ1
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyEpnsidSj
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。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KX0vUYJtm
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匡噹……匡噹……218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJT8ImcuGyP
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQdvoXFOCd
這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQT7pYDO7Tq
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「糟了！」騎尉大吼。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDO1MwOK63v
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「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBxwZGwkzR
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPwc8PSSW8
「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？」218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIH5AckN77
