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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKl5IZ1MjsS
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YEBTTwNO1
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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaC8ue2zhO
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMghJuL7dm0
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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPR3TZ55u9
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKC0cAHqYo
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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoRDaEcE0z
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWmGwY6OqA
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEiWi8SN9s
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjD39qqyUp
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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMn2jtWgVW
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKe2tg5l26
眼下四顧茫然。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvGlh8eUst
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7f77rXhvRe
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRu7U1Vwui
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwlOzqMbWQ
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYofrPi2yC4
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnYDsdoGVG
總不能問山羊吧。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVlQr2magg
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMMYugT7jB
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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFPHM0QNgT
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWpYUs0TCN
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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYeXeKbUWD
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1pozXIus9
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2ZQI90oFI
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qb8bdcWkE
「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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdubMHjC7Gk
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc03kJp6URn
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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBgUKlMniy
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6fe4HJIc1
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqIxHOtMAH
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwq67jxe04i
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNtpLgLUa3
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEt9oB0GAVr
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaV4NSjmDS
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPry2snwQu
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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWhKdGRyyr
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvNn9fLL7o
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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ583zYw3c8s
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZF2FLE8Cc
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：227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tQTUGMblL
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkAp1VBa4z
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ652i1immzM
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……227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurAc22d0XE
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwWHH19qA1
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKj2iatyss
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkssTb0lJe
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTxvvUSTGa
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPdTJ6AlJz
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBriEG9rexJ
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXxmFx2rZ9
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7n6pG7by4
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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyl1r5WDIqc
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7Ms5Ukh41
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？」227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRg6eJZgcVT
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDX5xCKSQS
「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。」227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjxuxqQhge
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8AqD6sdKE
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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIMG3TiJux
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hSpBjuw7Y
母與子。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1AFT4Yw19
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkEZbp87Yr
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4jvCKyonJ
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2ztLE899Z
金水橋。筒子河。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISgaPGq3oI
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdKE0TievQ
母親與未出世的孩子。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHb405bvkRd
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlHNCfzPLu
天哪，怎麼回事。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSWKCAv3fe
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHVk5ebLmf
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXp3QceUeEh
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpUGQxpMyT
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9q9Utyngdg
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YClNocb94
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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2cChzs0z8
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wBDOyaR3y
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAazyhKm01W
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUT36ySuSmf
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？227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh22MWbzrvT
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqDdKdomDi
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？227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oYOxbOOwv
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuKmvhdVt4
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kKx8yRY1J
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjK5bUbQd5
「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。」227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYTO9jtKp3
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrX479I4g7X
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPXmHmcIlG
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWid9DoAYYG
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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuOQJphMde
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYJz0uZBKh
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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡln8SLSl9hh
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsegXaNNGj
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcp9VzSYy8
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETUYDMmMyv
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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72N8yK0WgA
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG10Q5H4mhm
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GBnoPYjlQ
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHNUq4Ikxa
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwfEAay2KD
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvLbMFH23M
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwOUdNevSP
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUgRGyh2YK
湖衣心生疑惑。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxl8rEGAS7
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kmHnSG8wq
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？227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhCw3wbFka
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrE3VpfZEc
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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnwWBqy0Xe
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5lgl0e694
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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPP8znE8Acw
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjv47wjFyry
§227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlq0laaOim
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHNhSeRYz3
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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxzsEmeMnu
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoc0tRkCMsP
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhtRvMO08g
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSKsKxTihK
「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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWd7I1t6wki
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVt6acbeB2
不祥之兆。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4msD9NXm5
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuCq8VR140
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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnHSpFzRfT
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuy53zWfIo
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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEECIs2Dt0r
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhL4uG9HNe
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGHfYfhoNb
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHIIp2NYSC
「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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9COZCpHzs
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyv5N87FD7
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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVIDeGOvoS
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YHyQAo1qG
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？227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1BEBZAFVX
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIoa2iJEhK
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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcu94tdgA3
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYvD4DZwqG
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwfzU2NtNR
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFHjV4p2PU
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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr326oMGxfy
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAJEZBYacA
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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnN8YQl8WK
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckLLy5iVNW
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMAkvRnr37
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9g89a1p6BO
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9CBC3gtF2
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yLUo2OgW5
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvQyPODPA7
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEujl06xwE
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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7ykeDlUvi
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBvzPLJFTz
「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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEJeNQIH8S
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyvkDIAl8t
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。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiESFEdQRD0
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匡噹……匡噹……227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbKUDscOhD
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAkzaMDgad
這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29gLxjCGUd
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「糟了！」騎尉大吼。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ObF0Q1jnc
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTIOzXTcuU
「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQwWqCnDkc
227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdt1JHrxbp8
「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？」227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8UOAIFJqS
