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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLataRPXT0
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaybN9KtLw
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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHasRyCA4j
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbHWW0mrxJ
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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGxRW1VSs2
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2xbY0T96b
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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVR1EabkMK6
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrydptFbuu6
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDRmjycalP
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHPZtVbsDf
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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMABVq4qGtY
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj58QykLPPK
眼下四顧茫然。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLgNohFOKg
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0BxRM9f15
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEvJalDzCf
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStIGycmGPF
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yVpXzBgV5
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5Abb12HrX
總不能問山羊吧。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXVfeHlhQN
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9MCPGScJk
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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbfjX2O2jR
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJxXQESSWc
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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KvWYpuKPQ
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0Y59d8lDL
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLhdNqnW0w
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9HFW6oxiF
「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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAZg9BpaJO
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFucu1YjBP5
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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfIuvOrIpT
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAHyUwPWZC
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERaiNDew65
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLHJckmBhZ
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2GX2UXhvc
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkckPlTTHPw
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ij3cpEoJF
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaoKsm77MsM
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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7JZiHEdNY
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoorhyZPYZ0
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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJs669JDyfY
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdqNspBa8F
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：256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXccXrEJUU
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeC1ZAy95B
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZwKP0EGnD
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……256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPflROS71Go
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4xLTuuMwa
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡec4gEf95rU
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZXWG3i3SP
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNPBeJbLIz
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsX9hkdwyJ5
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4I6aGp3tu
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvk3zXhyk1B
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQaQE30zYs
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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0AoVw6vHK
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVZh1LpT3v
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？」256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zQycGKDFp
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17h6mY1T4k
「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。」256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJcO3FfSNH
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzVW5URguW
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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8l7JWn9QF
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Dr2nyvLhW
母與子。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRYBbSLd7f
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiacg49nz7v
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Dj4ayelYq
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyv83ktUKJ
金水橋。筒子河。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RDBzt0q26
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oMgbYRC1s
母親與未出世的孩子。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPORUhtqDA
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mPfAnB43t
天哪，怎麼回事。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzY2VGXVlo
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCFayta3Kl
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvd32X7AkK1
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcQPw0kr0X
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0r25xZsT66
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxGOShuRVz
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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhB8wjBARbR
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDuaMobuL2
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpqIy2e6NQ
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJsCz2FEDb
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？256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OOD0qhTVx
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbG1DksUpdH
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？256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCf9ZDgSL9
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTZ20aIM3r
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPh47yb1orS
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3EXeobAjy
「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。」256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8f7HGBhs3
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMqgKe18GZ
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmRkip9hPt
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGgnIzXfbi
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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQrSTEhIp8
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7gPrAWFPD
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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDb4UbSF39u
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjsJZ5Zfsk
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXWPXjeZjq
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFULCPTmgd
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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRt9psZgzX
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNo4TCH6kN
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqpN7A8g4v
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ojVWHoU8U
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwykZBDImfJ
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrba98D63M
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vqDwANCWx
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EchPz14KR
湖衣心生疑惑。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZFPteggRq
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xIWxukNLM
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？256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1BwTlGwg4
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FyihVY2DD
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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqh60ulAe5
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhynvlyNiao
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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwm7y0vu5Bj
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmm1heubGD
§256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2142lPEwW
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5I9b7OEphm
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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqvvFy9Q54
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmIGK825gj
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOLdl9JjF2
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCpX4UGaFN
「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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VKSYYnhxM
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlUVcJeMi3
不祥之兆。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncXGCHPns4
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCneo0N98z
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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Zq6VLUt7n
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAB2McUlCUA
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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RVxqEEFEQ
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hYlzZ3wGQ
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9ou8Hl7nE
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp97xjhoNpj
「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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNagy0aUPE
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI531QXaw5T
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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqL8H6zlh6Y
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPA5ksZPcp
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？256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Qy5qtbPtZ
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOlnn7VxkO
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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhDK7DdZU5
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPtC3FOTYE
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnJPXEjM7Z
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FXmDx7K6S
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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAYeOfVwcs
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASjygyj89B
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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Zayy8bcrC
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1DvZyrS7k
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHx88WuF6Lv
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83p5JxyVuC
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdLv1fX0e6
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVfabUIYVK
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxT2zXjC8J
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8q7dKaMpT
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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7NjlVThyY
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nkcJm9YsU
「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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2gsiptbPs
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMXhQk6ist
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。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzb3keI1uAT
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匡噹……匡噹……256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIrGsIyfK2
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIv2Q3xEUA
這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSaGY9a1Zn
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「糟了！」騎尉大吼。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaOdvrptSV
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「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPA5lizLhV4
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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？」256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVwdfg6xHP
