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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrLXob6ijT
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLi4toEsck
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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfZ2SdznVE
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv75ySif0wv
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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWemkEFcVV
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACeDBO75F4
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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeg36GHhbtT
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDWfVuwFNZ
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStJ2gUdlr0
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeAjC7MnYc
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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbMiyYEp7A
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQ9mKo9JZo
眼下四顧茫然。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1P3iVbCfHy
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfno7tWTjsN
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFymJ55z6QA
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZQlrAS4cX
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmi7zsosabG
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9jdMcfSyF
總不能問山羊吧。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLcHr1jViY
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fuTmz1NBk
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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMgs6m1gvH
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzPNCfOaWz
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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWw0V0Cjrv
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSAlCHWKRf
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3uOxPVWCc
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MUPTRbQVm
「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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6X0Ts2oaOl
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lkTwusbIr
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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzNaR0yIFs
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqehs1CPdP
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ70Is5q7d3
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AclkhJLH8
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqmqOukucH
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRmsMhnfzk
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNbwqLTSBe
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2m0jAQKLFj
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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmVJ0XVfeU
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVqS42iEa0
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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqntFbMlOcW
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50KdNRMyij
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：257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fFBs4yd1b
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BEeqqWGJ2
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPa3mM5kQ9
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……257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSvbXLSQXu
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0iOKkKBsA
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhQGnXdhcA
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjtXX7V1si
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFnLJ93Pfv
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq63Wx4Stru
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ933UZOJMpT
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCwvg3VceY
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGjiy3Bd51
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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vjhEacCrv
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptD2X6ROQg
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？」257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxJ5qOtR2J
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiirSM3Dmj
「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。」257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIDBD5X1Rb
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFh5ynSzdh9
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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCNAmzN6JN
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsXXn76Wcm
母與子。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjt9XVtzoE2
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QUT9joL8U
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBO8LuVkiL
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVBHLLn4Dj
金水橋。筒子河。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplIbwApHqO
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZDmuIBrT5
母親與未出世的孩子。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqN2PaLLiJ
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtQyzEv8ko
天哪，怎麼回事。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL42M5rHwed
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQOXnzkwuq
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡassBVuD8NA
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNRy6tteBS
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yi3S378FJ
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpA1cykpnn
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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcCZ4Vapiy
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOnMwmnHm2
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa76W0Nkf25
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoN5JhsrSu7
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？257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJrxvCforR
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Js8RJYMBI
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？257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOnlmPJtM2
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BP3SFrEza
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyjSO4yxdV
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6vByAe7oM
「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。」257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwE2KqB6zyU
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHCfvMr3it
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fcbfiK1eX
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJXOcjTzOV
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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwn3vzSnuqi
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxfsNdOaB5
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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMeLnxRUQd
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28I05DLFyd
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ86BWr5S1N
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobfmiz5wUg
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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKa7Eubioy
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TWgpqA9GE
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Skki5EiyL
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTB3BsT1iQB
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8EwS0RBvL
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWU9tjL0cyo
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aZEGIYj1A
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6pIfpRDRu
湖衣心生疑惑。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFie9CSFfi
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpD1xvdWH5D
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？257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHNz907vRA
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaZcVnJbtq
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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJW6nJaZum
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsB5I1YO2NP
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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqG83k7VXV
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxNGJqh4fa
§257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6RZ6OaKbF
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBq6kYEXq9
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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp529UDOxYo
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4D6rlO94fZ
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOA3Y878t4C
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg58FE9K67b
「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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRo2yxD8h3L
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkX2OPmWvQ
不祥之兆。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Z1ws3LFV6
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4PsLV03wa
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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4J25jCXOp
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfB63x02eQ
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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSkOh1QXHj
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGPstRGErZ
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsr5py0XW6
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHm8nAUoCK
「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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVh3NHnLjy
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbDLZ66pvg
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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzPs5To2ev
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnk2QznbLq
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？257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVDw90cLkB
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3QDrAFIu9
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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuR5TUn6GL
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2ZvmXBGh6
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRUPRxliZv
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgN1nceSbnO
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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZgnn4mCni
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc43sgwtmCt
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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzi4QDHnWA4
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5N5tkotmdt
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKTDs45Gyj
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡON6wizSDfH
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9SRYpphCy
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcEh5CEXfG
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXm1VziAmm7
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaC0umIyRh
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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBJzo970BC
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2562Ewaz5
「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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvA1DP0up3O
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFvYs4eAtV
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。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyHLGDEgNM
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEd5nPDx9AW
匡噹……匡噹……257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4NGTCwJEh
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLIionrhlv
這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVr6wegR1VB
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4wtHgoRqL
「糟了！」騎尉大吼。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEzPSBgTgO
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQVIuREP2T
「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaM0DQTZMb
257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoUlKIseLY
「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？」257Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDoQu9XveM
