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。179Please respect copyright.PENANA4pfLyyf1nK
179Please respect copyright.PENANAvaZFWpg16d
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。179Please respect copyright.PENANAAyq8xi6Y6k
179Please respect copyright.PENANAQRkZ9pxIsQ
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。179Please respect copyright.PENANAk7z6y5b9bb
179Please respect copyright.PENANAFrnEmOBDQB
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。179Please respect copyright.PENANATZCkYAlyoR
179Please respect copyright.PENANA3p41brOzac
這不是宮中會有的景象,她確定自己已不在宮城內。179Please respect copyright.PENANASJR3KDXgGe
179Please respect copyright.PENANAohSwIQOYy8
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。179Please respect copyright.PENANAt8L7dLuvnf
179Please respect copyright.PENANARbrmPV8Rfx
眼下四顧茫然。179Please respect copyright.PENANAkVVsoRoGCH
179Please respect copyright.PENANASA1IN5PxkR
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 179Please respect copyright.PENANAfGMkGXqvX7
179Please respect copyright.PENANAZKEp34zvxE
有沒有人可以問問?她心想。179Please respect copyright.PENANAW41qerUlcL
179Please respect copyright.PENANAtIFJsLB2Yd
總不能問山羊吧。179Please respect copyright.PENANAMy65HrV7IK
179Please respect copyright.PENANA09akEQvP6N
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。179Please respect copyright.PENANA7aFt6TurH6
179Please respect copyright.PENANAYaLf4hmqaW
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。179Please respect copyright.PENANAVaLJwwgNck
179Please respect copyright.PENANADE5SwOQsE9
老人拿出一碗殘羹,老狗迎了來,迫不及待地吃著。179Please respect copyright.PENANAY0AbTtvG09
179Please respect copyright.PENANAp8uo5xYXbN
「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。179Please respect copyright.PENANAbHchvMoboH
179Please respect copyright.PENANA0rqo1wznGi
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。179Please respect copyright.PENANATFoe4xs9bi
179Please respect copyright.PENANAgOBpp87gLL
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人?179Please respect copyright.PENANAGUbsHlrxmK
179Please respect copyright.PENANAAnn3dI7Akj
是了,金鼇玉蝀橋以西,羊房夾道。179Please respect copyright.PENANAvtrhc92HFy
179Please respect copyright.PENANAijJtmoMBsq
年老或是患病的宮人,會被送來此處醫治,或是等死。179Please respect copyright.PENANAyJ6NPZeLDm
179Please respect copyright.PENANArK4nuPF0jB
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。179Please respect copyright.PENANAoxUitc1r8H
179Please respect copyright.PENANAAtZUEWa9Ky
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。179Please respect copyright.PENANA0vfjWEqCPm
179Please respect copyright.PENANA8AWZ948y4c
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:179Please respect copyright.PENANA5hD2uwOS5K
179Please respect copyright.PENANAzll3BmrPEq
179Please respect copyright.PENANAxqioGExWCS
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……179Please respect copyright.PENANAVP877XYfcP
179Please respect copyright.PENANAa5eGtRmofn
179Please respect copyright.PENANA4SzPORwZ1M
男孩歪著小腦袋,像是忘了詞。179Please respect copyright.PENANAUJwHuxcmST
179Please respect copyright.PENANAd1XvXbZFeE
「隨意春芳歇,王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。179Please respect copyright.PENANATnFgjLhcwi
179Please respect copyright.PENANAPzXChFglsb
孩子轉過身來,好奇地看著她。179Please respect copyright.PENANA4jRPvldMkF
179Please respect copyright.PENANAh19QFVGvhO
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。179Please respect copyright.PENANAaNDuxbLpJM
179Please respect copyright.PENANAUun4wId1nh
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?」179Please respect copyright.PENANAtqwoJlyqwo
179Please respect copyright.PENANAJFBG9HNrrZ
「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。」179Please respect copyright.PENANAZ5A1ZfsBKv
179Please respect copyright.PENANA63giHdO2Kn
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。179Please respect copyright.PENANAFyMCxbZPyt
179Please respect copyright.PENANACiW6V7fxyq
母與子。179Please respect copyright.PENANAQW2KCwCxCw
179Please respect copyright.PENANAPYwJipWgUt
她望向水渠,想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。179Please respect copyright.PENANAMxknvHpmOq
179Please respect copyright.PENANA4dHF0HYuBk
金水橋。筒子河。179Please respect copyright.PENANAZ5G0uRxIKh
179Please respect copyright.PENANA0t2bSnbIFi
母親與未出世的孩子。179Please respect copyright.PENANAobxh6eGjUd
179Please respect copyright.PENANAsRGikBxVXL
天哪,怎麼回事。179Please respect copyright.PENANA5WlPVlLYEx
179Please respect copyright.PENANA2CPagb6WbV
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒?179Please respect copyright.PENANAzQXWh06yA5
179Please respect copyright.PENANAd8BqaKwv8z
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。179Please respect copyright.PENANAONNIar30Vd
179Please respect copyright.PENANAKm4n6tLEYq
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。179Please respect copyright.PENANAzTmS8VweNQ
179Please respect copyright.PENANAfmCGMbQNUG
湖衣緊握雙拳,內心天人交戰。179Please respect copyright.PENANAeneDNNkf1x
179Please respect copyright.PENANADR2IoyrFcx
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?179Please respect copyright.PENANA8Lu99sD2OO
179Please respect copyright.PENANAxchdehaSsC
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?179Please respect copyright.PENANAjW4o4JiVAm
179Please respect copyright.PENANAtrNKtE7dae
湖衣思忖半晌,心中已有決斷。179Please respect copyright.PENANAUqerUIDvj4
179Please respect copyright.PENANA5Hlgl4mQ7V
「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。」179Please respect copyright.PENANAhiASKtXRK7
179Please respect copyright.PENANA8nJKL80Bir
她得回去找馮瑛,馮瑛肯定能認出來。179Please respect copyright.PENANAaSVObUAsFD
179Please respect copyright.PENANAARTUYHbAbC
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。179Please respect copyright.PENANA0DFvcjvcZw
179Please respect copyright.PENANAwQIrmEak3C
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。179Please respect copyright.PENANAcGzGKIFxBS
179Please respect copyright.PENANAfGXQpZacz3
她在心中祈求,自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固,百姓安寧。179Please respect copyright.PENANAQOlWAF214F
179Please respect copyright.PENANAQdTe6DrAkS
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。179Please respect copyright.PENANAvucHdxlpAu
179Please respect copyright.PENANA1wKd7KZ6X7
她飛快地奔回原路,爬出佛堂的通道。179Please respect copyright.PENANAKQVvkKiuqg
179Please respect copyright.PENANAqOqwCogIhs
小佛堂一如往常,靜悄悄的。179Please respect copyright.PENANACmAAZRmCL2
179Please respect copyright.PENANA7QCAD2SIC2
「馮瑛,馮瑛!」她叫了幾聲,都沒有回應。179Please respect copyright.PENANAIaqBoGdLOB
179Please respect copyright.PENANAkTXlp8vAUB
湖衣心生疑惑。179Please respect copyright.PENANArcyJOqwPHk
179Please respect copyright.PENANAcPH2U6pITx
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?179Please respect copyright.PENANAPizuKAzhXN
179Please respect copyright.PENANAISOoFOLg6N
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。179Please respect copyright.PENANA6R19uO5UsA
179Please respect copyright.PENANAdAEe8GijzA
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。179Please respect copyright.PENANAkbelOb07xY
179Please respect copyright.PENANAobox4yOPFO
§179Please respect copyright.PENANAk1RJSgyDBM
179Please respect copyright.PENANAeZaaOOaqBv
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。179Please respect copyright.PENANAMcJUlzlhSd
179Please respect copyright.PENANATnBQlcNaKK
「見鬼了,今兒是個什麼日子?」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。179Please respect copyright.PENANATARZ5haxCl
179Please respect copyright.PENANAjpfxJTNkZM
「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。179Please respect copyright.PENANAtqJ4nChG6R
179Please respect copyright.PENANAbvlkYWM1Do
不祥之兆。179Please respect copyright.PENANApERWxp7FfA
179Please respect copyright.PENANAWHTayhtk02
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。179Please respect copyright.PENANAhu4fRfZTl5
179Please respect copyright.PENANAbPSy41tf8o
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。179Please respect copyright.PENANA62zo4YvA4b
179Please respect copyright.PENANAUjfWe1UZGw
「幹什麼的?」騎尉發問。179Please respect copyright.PENANAqnWeOEZhbf
179Please respect copyright.PENANALTE9SGQCFt
「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。179Please respect copyright.PENANAqbyzULCTfn
179Please respect copyright.PENANAwCoY2qM2E7
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。179Please respect copyright.PENANAK39HmwW7GG
179Please respect copyright.PENANAIPWAkchuK3
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?179Please respect copyright.PENANAULJHmlMpnH
179Please respect copyright.PENANAN6J5eVKCIY
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。179Please respect copyright.PENANA8ufo65CCpB
179Please respect copyright.PENANAHj2NkE3Krd
「她惹怒了萬貴妃,長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。179Please respect copyright.PENANAgIp3Alkzyq
179Please respect copyright.PENANA2nQPU01YzD
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。179Please respect copyright.PENANAP0jCYnS618
179Please respect copyright.PENANAveY9n0oUS7
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。179Please respect copyright.PENANA0qanMwrnzU
179Please respect copyright.PENANACz1l7wAHqn
「那就有勞三位,」騎衛說道,「甬道走到底右方,便是宮正司所在。」179Please respect copyright.PENANAGilOW28h0J
179Please respect copyright.PENANAPkTFCMiwOU
一名檢校笑答:「多謝。」179Please respect copyright.PENANALP4klUrB84
179Please respect copyright.PENANAVMdBAoJ5zW
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行,三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。179Please respect copyright.PENANA9CaCc6cUuJ
179Please respect copyright.PENANAq4TaDO1xA9
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。179Please respect copyright.PENANA12KA4elF3K
179Please respect copyright.PENANAMY7xuLqspd
「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。179Please respect copyright.PENANAL6DPK3L80s
179Please respect copyright.PENANAETj0aACeaa
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。179Please respect copyright.PENANAgEiEeAigZh
179Please respect copyright.PENANAkNs9BEm38j
匡噹……匡噹……179Please respect copyright.PENANA9pNiLnWdru
179Please respect copyright.PENANArmPzq20vw9
這聲響究竟從何而來,他環顧四週,打定主意要找出來源。179Please respect copyright.PENANA68JR0T3plO
179Please respect copyright.PENANA3EZGQ1DSKY
「糟了!」騎尉大吼。179Please respect copyright.PENANAs4SVo2jOtf
179Please respect copyright.PENANA0nxHBU1HgI
「怎麼啦?」門衛一臉震驚地問。179Please respect copyright.PENANAS6Z6TWF3Lk
179Please respect copyright.PENANAaYQ2Ybt84N
「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?」179Please respect copyright.PENANABOtjudxCbJ