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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XOChcqTXl
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvstAmjyG3
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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDS5LFcDGDn
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrVTqDeF3Y
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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnp4E5sRjqO
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZ5WGRRyk6
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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wethT4qfF
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1U1NiVmpEy
這不是宮中會有的景象，她確定自己已不在宮城內。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcxpg5JGm2
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVQScNgLNN
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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmnXYU7w3x
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2jYFljBat
眼下四顧茫然。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtD6Xw2htPL
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uiz6I2pC2
三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQNJ0Ry8ZT
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyTdk4mo70
有沒有人可以問問？她心想。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypKUOuSRMt
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpQGKRkIXh
總不能問山羊吧。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqwAoCN7R2
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVTMA5lsaE
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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnVP0PXQr0
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2NkXgIfZ9
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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9eHskppKl
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleAK9kND9v
老人拿出一碗殘羹，老狗迎了來，迫不及待地吃著。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWXSamGTnC
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUt6aryee1b
「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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJZ43T5kbx
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaugWGU2pP
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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoUxorr34V
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBU1TUroW7t
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人？253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaP3JI7jdy8
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYpo8oFAQD
是了，金鼇玉蝀橋以西，羊房夾道。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZt4XBbAVQA
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvUEGiamgP
年老或是患病的宮人，會被送來此處醫治，或是等死。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQgsS9IZ9V
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwodY0RwBz
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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSCPukGHTF
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuSHJhpwPS
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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSeYMQEnSs
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Mwt3mLcFw
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：253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEniKC3LNVY
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHxbVuWYzV
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fmxx9iNY8
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……253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOXPpuXcmp
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxMH0avjtb
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicFVtMckdk
男孩歪著小腦袋，像是忘了詞。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9fkj3mvkj
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKd1i5vSmH
「隨意春芳歇，王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJLcLwaYGE
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIwg5xoKQw
孩子轉過身來，好奇地看著她。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UNyMwwjeT
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmiFSRLNsb
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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtBj8XSD84
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvaELW0QK2
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？」253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRVbSc0Iq9
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0fOm1kOOd
「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。」253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTpB6kHGk7
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnj1d2IFTvt
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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyc91L8yNbL
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUzKb4cxXc
母與子。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeecY4i8zJ
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vyl8P8spQ
她望向水渠，想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2gKy0Etbc
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡff5mmL7rCQ
金水橋。筒子河。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVm7IOLEUt
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzB29cDSgoL
母親與未出世的孩子。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzc9hVslkJH
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwnEgUMYdW
天哪，怎麼回事。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2MfCM6Ws5
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuz8TOqAINm
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒？253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSTkZe8VLZ
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhEqesYIH5
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTI8mVTvZuK
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8x4HmKaGjA
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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuaaY4ppRm
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6y1K6r6SqF
湖衣緊握雙拳，內心天人交戰。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7WAFeSgW2
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81N3u5gd5V
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？253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRqkouylVX
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyRiwHwUo7
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？253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXofijs5bXX
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojRmqkd61B
湖衣思忖半晌，心中已有決斷。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GQxYLze3i
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacXbdCZ3nA
「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。」253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckCpRbcUkr
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58rBGQDxn3
她得回去找馮瑛，馮瑛肯定能認出來。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvqm3mrsX9
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNfdIiXogv
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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiY4c8yOvXR
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygb3tpEB5V
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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56XI8yBGGa
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVPk1XnEeN
她在心中祈求，自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固，百姓安寧。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2S3Gg481o
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJPGVXnve0
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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8wNdtPpfO
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1geNiYbqc
她飛快地奔回原路，爬出佛堂的通道。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzMyg1UQiZ
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6u7QveJRm4
小佛堂一如往常，靜悄悄的。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLMLTRNgor
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgUZ3yAqvL
「馮瑛，馮瑛！」她叫了幾聲，都沒有回應。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTN4ijxwzJH
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6MawMrWGC
湖衣心生疑惑。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqbrloWqCd
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJGtwcRryZ
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？253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbW7ITAKUb
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjvKXRUzk8
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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnInh9wCk0a
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NkjgIxRgq
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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvTWHrkll6
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibRXbAxxtH
§253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlN8HTpxGUZ
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZM5k82r9LN
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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuyRN995X4
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ja3VKoEHE
「見鬼了，今兒是個什麼日子？」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0nQ6s03eP
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15WXrQsLgF
「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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaHGpYZLD7
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8XEbS46JS
不祥之兆。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPcuKMoyxM
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡap2i4nrdWq
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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkIIS3ffKv
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5MllQUkIs
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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyx4ra4WLzL
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PH6OeFVOe
「幹什麼的？」騎尉發問。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rtdMl4mvO
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyP6895WUvX
「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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLY5NlVL9U
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaO91wZWDuo
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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVMTS6FcWJ
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTU59r03Mjr
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？253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZ48nsORFd
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEbBoKCPFx
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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmh2xgc7muk
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCpJmeESiF
「她惹怒了萬貴妃，長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2SXTBfG41
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2N78umPLLT
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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cPY2Ba4Gk
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRildaN8gI
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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEFtO8AS9l
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnAqPq6wtF
「那就有勞三位，」騎衛說道，「甬道走到底右方，便是宮正司所在。」253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgA8CCF7acV
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehTKOP2n3r
一名檢校笑答：「多謝。」253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlP0sSzlNpQ
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJfjzcAEze
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行，三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KcnGnl7pA
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ132QLyU4HG
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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbaUCmef7i
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrvLkRoKKt
「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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFsV5TqiFJ
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1FZTPSsNg
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。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1tUjV0SSy
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匡噹……匡噹……253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBqlp3roXP
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjJhqlDIHz
這聲響究竟從何而來，他環顧四週，打定主意要找出來源。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzKg0NNfnG
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「糟了！」騎尉大吼。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7uu2QX8v9
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「怎麼啦？」門衛一臉震驚地問。253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZVRyXruW9
253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsq6UwqI6kE
「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？」253Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRfRoYJwVV
然後按「加至主畫面」