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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xcO0iStGc
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobWJiVlLrW
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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXj0jlWbcgc
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPa5SBjaeqU
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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70zEv7FbDB
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrU61wkoULG
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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡci2HHTZHTH
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiR2w8ZeTw0
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiRLsvGqyZ
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVf2wbw9tn
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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOYZInm88f
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKp8Mzka7e1
眼下四顧茫然。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnHszyQd5x
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotrrAPVXGI
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sb5u1JONe
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebksiQET2N
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRx0pCY4E5t
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOImBVEd5sP
總不能問山羊吧。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFJbB9tgPo
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzt0k2Ep8qk
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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKaTkPt8P7
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YwPVpATVL
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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtDAhMJByM
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqNyK8PFhX
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3H1S8eELm
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVjwi4Xjrr
「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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxp3yw8aj9
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkobVngQbHD
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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGV0mImZaS
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6oVZwWcLE
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBD92cV1GNk
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGU88pqnFd
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1ixSlIeBz
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFeM5qorIE
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7My4NLpYU
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uVn7ZblN1
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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjucNOhGT8f
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4xsViA8S8
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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFg30rvOdN
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavfldlLcHk
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：228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawPVbLWyfB
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB26a4Gtmmp
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBBFtPesKd
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……228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMtwb0ddFQ
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCz9xG3ZPo
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxqXiFeZgf
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmZGdO7qOE
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXrSd0n2Bd
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTS490aNZzu
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvMavGx6dP
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoET5leM0o
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJxtmSRByY
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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwNehHAgIv
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeas0LSl7VZ
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？」228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VeNRxU1Af
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMQsWxZoVC
「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。」228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimXg1DAaGS
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1yi7Oqd6E
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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjO99GbKv27
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJP63XZnzuN
母與子。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFi4K7Y1JJ
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUdsvBROUQ
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7VB5Zh22m
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmoan46bi9Y
金水橋。筒子河。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsII9BVd7g
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjoxLlCRpj
母親與未出世的孩子。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSvC4Ll5zP
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdFOo4WDuz
天哪，怎麼回事。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnBECPm85L
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Fc7q1bkk0
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDf5srMhsj
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9nMavR983
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7P4GGCcldc
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCuVgx9bJS
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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eqqpvN8zc
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwk9I8VIuK
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UE8vJ4tmO
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGwkLpJAfl
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？228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6YT9cGtui
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTzyUgXTVi
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？228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOkIjkEfxp
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfOuxD9Yfj
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifwPXYouOP
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3HQnNl7RN
「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。」228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnbxme8gGy
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLmcBelXJU
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJQybVSPY7
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflMGr0WYca
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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9bM9vn8Ee
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgZurrzqhZ
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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRY1hsPrDk
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8ov7O1ZfY
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElNfSlCmr6
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3ZUeFbn7m
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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kHNY3u9uT
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnZGvsIXTf
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tZQscp5cj
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1newRLijx
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEunUaXqWog
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDQ7AV9qqi
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0k1Ztt6v3
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoVvQoQENv
湖衣心生疑惑。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCY4AWiENQ
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUa4Yzg8tS
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？228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡja0Te9FNAw
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1pVqnDtI7
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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNF03lUQyV
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfz7fXLSIYU
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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsVydnDq8Y
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ964BagN9EU
§228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufPjQZmHxi
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8fVgRjslx
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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwys7eo1U4
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ038aw8K5AF
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWuGjwy7Ev
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bqkukS2yN
「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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33n44JuFo1
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXDVIrxQH9
不祥之兆。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1ajZu8XFi
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pbVptdNRC
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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdgN74C7p5
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXgohyaOhV
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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRm7EPzFWb2
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AlxttwAw2
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKhb9fDOcS
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3e8DtmqkP7
「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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89gkBodcSx
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf59l1RLod4
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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyUeQxNoRZ
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9S9KdtZLfZ
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？228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpExCX6wiHe
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYX4x06rDc
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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbqvcgfwKV
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekZ4OEaKPv
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswcQcs4B5C
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEQwLGGW8j
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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtngVlvhMr
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyaFirgTpo
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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kZqGPQj3e
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VARoZEK1V
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6u1L7JeKjB
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5efe1KgLLg
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlB5hcszBYI
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlZUQFlmqR
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxV6KIM1Ye8
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dKFUonL2t
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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hs41Efqok
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSIOMLK5Qa
「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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14FLmK3hVf
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4hkKoHPz1
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。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbjSueGKMw
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匡噹……匡噹……228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1l14tEJee6
228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmgZK4RByV
這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECVVcZzJq7
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「糟了！」騎尉大吼。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyUWO59gNE
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「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFVeOSP7CF
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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？」228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8JtLa4TT8
