罪己詔:
135Please respect copyright.PENANAO9xpXgbHih
朕纘承大統,於今十七載,用人無方,施治寡術,天譴於上而朕不悟,人怨於下而朕不知;上累於祖宗,下負於黎庶,痛心靦面,罪實在朕。朕一人有罪無及萬夫,萬夫有罪在朕一人。無以一人之不敬,使上天鬼神傷民之命。萬方有罪,罪在朕躬,弗敢自赦。追思己過,悔之何及!
「陛下,此詔若無疑慮,就交由司禮官宣讀吧!」太監懷恩說道。135Please respect copyright.PENANAAxoEi67YcN
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「朕再想想。」朱見深站起身來,他看了數遍文淵閣大學士擬寫的罪己詔,實在想不通自己究竟做錯了什麼,以致「上累於祖宗,下負於黎庶」。135Please respect copyright.PENANA1uQBep1WCS
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金陵的玄武湖中有孽龍現身,連湖洲中的黃冊庫都被沖垮,官民人心惶惶。此時百官又群起上書,要他下詔罪己,齋戒祭天。135Please respect copyright.PENANAc1izvAUrNG
135Please respect copyright.PENANASAPbC2DuC0
「天有異象,必是在上位者失德。」商輅老兒曾如是說。135Please respect copyright.PENANAGrPbql6LH3
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朱見深按群臣所奏,應允代萬民拜祭天地,祈求上天勿降災禍。135Please respect copyright.PENANAZmx7HrQ5Fg
135Please respect copyright.PENANAf1e595XFg2
今日卯時正,天色猶暗,王公和文武百官們就已聚集在奉天殿外,序立等候。大學士和禮部尚書則是會集在華蓋殿,隨皇帝一同先行告祭禮,再到齋宮修省齋戒三日,三日後重回天壇祭天。135Please respect copyright.PENANAieCqxqQtvS
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可朱見深就是不甘心,為什麼他會遭天譴?135Please respect copyright.PENANAGz2cSPetlx
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不,從來就不是因為皇帝做錯了什麼。臣子們要的是一場戲,演給百姓和老天爺看,他們全是忠臣,寧可冒殺頭之罪,也要鞭策帝王成為明君。而他,就是負責出演這場猴戲的戲子。135Please respect copyright.PENANA47wqZRvft9
華蓋殿位於奉天殿和謹身殿之間,華蓋金頂,天圓地方。135Please respect copyright.PENANABHkrRy60xm
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卯時三刻一到,皇帝於華蓋殿升座,正二品以上官員由東階升入華蓋殿左門,進到華蓋殿,在丹陛東側行三跪九叩禮。135Please respect copyright.PENANA8TGdbCAjzu
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朝拜後,鴻臚寺宣念告祭文,請求上蒼勿降災禍於民,再由遣官宣讀他的罪己詔,聽到「追思己過,悔之何及」,朱見深忍不住又震顫了一下。135Please respect copyright.PENANA9bA3usEghx
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要是有悔,他也只悔恨自己生在帝王之家。135Please respect copyright.PENANAsd9vFNIp1X
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冗長的祭儀結束。禮部堂官奏請親祭,前列御仗、香爐、華蓋先行,皇帝步行出華蓋殿,由承天門過金水橋。要過了熙和門,親祭大戲才算落幕。135Please respect copyright.PENANAZFsI6p3tBG
135Please respect copyright.PENANANq7f9eAaTQ
祭儀後,皇帝行至齋宮修省齋戒,王公、文武百官皆跪地恭送,人龍從華蓋殿前,一直綿延到午門。
§135Please respect copyright.PENANAwq5ICTDwBZ
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皇宮舉行祭天禮的同時,他們腳下五丈不為人知的地道裡,暗流正湧動。135Please respect copyright.PENANAsS7W42cXFW
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湖衣背靠在粗糙的石壁表面,沿著交錯的道路踽踽前行。135Please respect copyright.PENANAwSDFbSAB0z
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這座密道建於永樂朝,人工雕鑿出的地下洞穴有如巨大迷宮,幽深的狹道曲折縱橫,滯悶的空氣與厚積的灰塵顯示此地已荒廢許久。135Please respect copyright.PENANAmREagwOzv4
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恍惚中她懷疑背後有人,連忙舉起手中燭火,回頭張望,地面塵土確實只有她一人的足跡。135Please respect copyright.PENANAWesv28qVbE
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黑暗會迷亂人的心智。煙嵐曾如此警醒過她。 135Please respect copyright.PENANAtdQYuxQkb1
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那日,在光禿的杏樹下,馮瑛對她說:「主兒,妳知道皇宮底下建有密道嗎?」135Please respect copyright.PENANAs9hHNHJZly
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湖衣搖頭。135Please respect copyright.PENANApR38iqyiMP
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他貼近她低語:「密道又稱作『老虎洞』,為永樂爺晚年所建。」135Please respect copyright.PENANAgFxbsYlfPO
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「是真的,我進去過,其中一個入口就在清寧宮院旁的小佛堂裡,」煙嵐補充,「有個需要我安慰的太監總管帶我進去的。」135Please respect copyright.PENANA1L8WOYQjde
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「太監不是都已經……要怎麼……」湖衣感到好奇。135Please respect copyright.PENANAotjgFMygpb
135Please respect copyright.PENANAOCky1W7vUA
煙嵐用嫵媚的雙眼瞅著她,「妳真想知道?」135Please respect copyright.PENANAmLqg1xdhmZ
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「算了,其實不想。」湖衣回答。135Please respect copyright.PENANAdKTrX656Lu
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兩人領她進了距清寧宮不遠的小佛堂。135Please respect copyright.PENANAHK4FwtCefl
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由於當今太后信奉真武大帝,而這佛堂裡供的是觀音大士,所以除了例行灑掃的宮役,平日不會有人進出。135Please respect copyright.PENANAeUF0WfundO
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馮瑛移開一座銅製的魏徵像,底下果然露出一個隱蔽的地窖入口。135Please respect copyright.PENANAVn1moaiftB
135Please respect copyright.PENANAANfuhvbLeg
「據傳成祖爺晚年常夜不安枕,只要一閉上眼睛,就會夢見叛軍攻進皇宮,領軍者是手執寶劍的建文帝,每回夢到這兒,成祖爺就會從噩夢中驚醒。夜夜如此,龍體漸衰,於是太子請來已歸隱多時的謀士姚廣孝,一同商議對策。135Please respect copyright.PENANADuWoEGKOlQ
135Please respect copyright.PENANAWDOGVOXBrD
姚廣孝以為當年靖難之役,建文帝就是從南京皇宮裡的密道逃脫,所以成祖爺也該在宮裡修築一條地下通道,可安帝心,萬一朝局真的生變時,皇族成員亦可從密道脫身。」135Please respect copyright.PENANAGEuFoEYkXC
135Please respect copyright.PENANAbep5hIQlup
湖衣認真聽著馮瑛說完。135Please respect copyright.PENANAUUGCzjMAdz
135Please respect copyright.PENANAJJ9LIZaQVT
煙嵐在供桌旁邊取了幾根蠟燭,用火折點燃了以後,三人一同執著蠟燭往地道下面走。135Please respect copyright.PENANAyliRtek0Ot
135Please respect copyright.PENANA8T9WVP5Hwe
「密道會通往哪裡?」向下的樓梯異常狹窄,走道也窄,往前延伸的是無邊無際的黑暗。135Please respect copyright.PENANAJR0O2mpUx0
135Please respect copyright.PENANAYQfcfpXFYE
「據說,有七個出口,散落在相距甚遠的不同處所,但有兩個出口是通往宮外的。」煙嵐說。135Please respect copyright.PENANAkNY24LZ7gX
135Please respect copyright.PENANAd7QN21TSPg
「娘娘,妳一定得逃,」馮瑛懇求,「小的十年前進宮,當時伺候的是淑妃娘娘,她和妳一樣,長相靈秀,也是被人從宮外抓進來的。原本皇上很喜歡她,不久便封了妃,而且還懷上了龍嗣。有一日,長春宮太監汪直受萬貴妃唆使,以毒藥偽裝成安胎藥,送往淑妃娘娘宮中,娘娘獲知後,連忙趁隙逃脫,然而長春宮人多勢眾,淑妃娘娘身子重,跑不快,在永康門外被追上,一眾太監強逼著她跳河。皇上聽說後,悲痛欲絕,立即派人去搜救,眾人在筒子河連續打撈了一個多月,依然找不著娘娘的遺體。」135Please respect copyright.PENANAOMdBYMgCSi
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密道裡一陣遺憾的沉默。135Please respect copyright.PENANAAqEisJawRL
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原來,還有這麼一段過往。湖衣嘆息。135Please respect copyright.PENANARB5IXcYX2C
135Please respect copyright.PENANAxiQ7bOECwu
「我們雖然知道有密道,但是並不清楚裡頭的詳形,只能帶妳進來,剩下的就要靠妳自己了,小姑娘,」煙嵐輕撫著湖衣額前的亂髮,「找到出宮的路,逃出去,別再被抓回來了。」135Please respect copyright.PENANAt0R0EZOhTA
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「你們不跟我一起走嗎?」湖衣問。135Please respect copyright.PENANAtOi5Q3QsQQ
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「我在這宮裡好的很,吃穿不愁的。而他,」煙嵐指著馮瑛,「他是個太監,除了待在宮裡,還能去哪?」135Please respect copyright.PENANAJmylF0K0NF
135Please respect copyright.PENANAHy7Ju3laut
起初,她就只是在無盡的黑暗洞穴中兜來轉去,徒勞無功折返。為了繼續探索,湖衣每日藉口要到佛堂禮佛,實際上是不斷在地下尋找出路,而馮瑛就待在佛堂外為她守門,夜裡回到咸若宮時,宮女們從不問她為什麼去佛堂會弄得一身塵灰,只是默默地為她沐浴淨身。135Please respect copyright.PENANABMfscaHdlm
135Please respect copyright.PENANA0Mh9uQ4us2
心中有了方向,些許減緩思念而不可得的凌遲,偶爾想起朱玹,發疼的胸口令她食不下咽,她便將食物硬塞進口中,咀嚼,然後飲水吞嚥,告訴自己還不能倒下。夜裡難以入眠時,她就讀書,讀《永樂大典》、劉基所著的《太祖實錄》,仔細尋找與密道相關的蛛絲馬跡,直到視線昏茫,她就伏在案上睡去。135Please respect copyright.PENANAxd4NZL88Jr
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即使如蛛網ㄧ般曲折蜿蜒的密道,令她心生恐懼,無止盡的小路、上下狹窄的樓梯、還有死路,常使她深陷在無垠的黑暗裡,甚至有時會懷疑這座迷宮是個活物,隨時在變換形體,為的就是要把她困死在裡頭。135Please respect copyright.PENANAUFRvJ5tqox
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湖衣告誡自己:寧鳴而死,絕不坐以待斃。135Please respect copyright.PENANAtpcjUutlSy
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有了如此體悟,漸漸的,她熟悉了黑暗、潮濕的石牆,在某一個轉角會聽到活水流過;在某一堵滲水牆壁的邊緣,她可以聽到外頭迴盪的人聲。她將繩線的一頭捆在魏徵的銅像上,才不致回不了入口,在關鍵的轉角處,她都用蠟油做了各種足以辨識的記號。135Please respect copyright.PENANAq8BKJoEH5u
135Please respect copyright.PENANAvFxNQfH8SM
她還命令馮瑛去內書房,為她找更多關於皇宮建城時留下的典籍。135Please respect copyright.PENANA7thbakbbhB
135Please respect copyright.PENANAT9qpWmxYjt
有一日,懷抱著厚厚一落書的馮瑛被皇帝叫住,質問他:「你主兒想看書解悶嗎?」135Please respect copyright.PENANAQ5BGOZQOcz
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馮瑛伏跪稱是。135Please respect copyright.PENANAhXgBb7YPdb
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皇帝答道:「若她想看御書房裡的書,你就自個兒去拿,無須上報。」135Please respect copyright.PENANAtGutW8DIVA
135Please respect copyright.PENANAJDuNWzWeI3
於是馮瑛為她從御書房帶來了姚廣孝手繪的《八臂哪吒城》、劉炳忠的《考工記》、《奏銷檔》。她也手繪了一張密道的地圖,記錄著她曾走過的每一條狹窄甬道,與皇宮地圖相對照,慢慢的,她找到了其中五個出入口:一個在太極殿,一個在華蓋殿,一個在實錄庫,一個在軍械庫附近,但是洞口已被封死,當然還有她所在的清寧宮院佛堂。她相信還有另外兩條路,通往另外兩個出入口,她探查比對過,一個通往北海,北海已在宮城之外,並非禁地,應可自由進出;另一個通往西苑,那裡距離出城的外門就更近了。135Please respect copyright.PENANAGzGE1uVVD2
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在此同時,時機突然來臨。135Please respect copyright.PENANA9oBx7TJQzE
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天降凶兆,魔物現世。135Please respect copyright.PENANA3yXJnmYV9D
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群臣奏請皇帝齋戒祭祀以平息天怒。135Please respect copyright.PENANAkW066nFVi9
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親祭期間,皇帝先在齋宮齋戒三日,宮眷也必須一同齋戒。宮中各門額均懸掛齋戒木牌,行「三齋五戒」,三日齋期,不飲酒、不吃葷、不作樂、不理刑名、不近女色,以示誠敬。135Please respect copyright.PENANAe0SOae5Ias
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此時大多禁軍侍衛們都和皇帝同去齋宮,宮禁也較為鬆散,是離宮的最好時機。135Please respect copyright.PENANAs9OCyVkEl4
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今日她已打定主意,此去無回。離開以前,她將手邊餘下的宮份銀錢、皇帝賞賜,分送給咸若宮所有宮人,他們都曾在這晦暗的皇宮中,讓她嘗到情誼的溫暖。135Please respect copyright.PENANA5oarHlcuwf
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儘管她想用更好的方式道別,然而眼下時局緊迫,由不得她多想,必須立刻就走。135Please respect copyright.PENANAAwLgjWmhQ5
135Please respect copyright.PENANAouh5W8jlPX
她換上馮瑛找來的常服,拿了幾錠銀錢,縫在內袋裡,回家的路上她將會需要旅費,還用布巾將她從南苑得來的匕首纏在小腿上。最後,湖衣環抱朱玹給她的紫貂裘,深吸了一口他的氣息作為訣別,就斷然將紫貂裘鎖在衣箱裡。這是他給她的,她帶不走,可也不許他人觸碰。135Please respect copyright.PENANAbN1NbQNx4V
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憶起過往,湖衣還是忍不住心痛,但她知道無論如何傷感,既已決意離去,就不應再回想,她深吸了一口氣,強迫自己專注在眼前的地道。135Please respect copyright.PENANAVPTNXWcpHX
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前方又有兩條岔路,她輕輕拍開岔路間石壁上的塵土,沒有蠟油,所以這是一條她從沒到過的暗道。135Please respect copyright.PENANA72jemEvT45
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湖衣不禁漾開一抹微笑。135Please respect copyright.PENANA4jM0UC1H5P
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這回,她是真的可以離宮了。135Please respect copyright.PENANAgi4DBOL78P
135Please respect copyright.PENANAvuKINDQMfU