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。143Please respect copyright.PENANAyFnJ9jNxda
143Please respect copyright.PENANA2lDxmTB7IO
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。143Please respect copyright.PENANAfCh1OBslXX
143Please respect copyright.PENANAYcgoedf3ce
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。143Please respect copyright.PENANAfJX0V1Gdck
143Please respect copyright.PENANAZivad1hVFO
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。143Please respect copyright.PENANAz5iU9MJkq5
143Please respect copyright.PENANAGKNwdUokP6
這不是宮中會有的景象,她確定自己已不在宮城內。143Please respect copyright.PENANA9R5jE9pism
143Please respect copyright.PENANAcNdZTmidYI
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。143Please respect copyright.PENANAErKiskCxTl
143Please respect copyright.PENANAHQidnaeU78
眼下四顧茫然。143Please respect copyright.PENANAPMxsRN6xha
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三頭落單的山羊逕自從她面前走過。 143Please respect copyright.PENANAPmLqagUJYH
143Please respect copyright.PENANAwk0LezzOXO
有沒有人可以問問?她心想。143Please respect copyright.PENANAJvFmcWEe36
143Please respect copyright.PENANAXm1z4KQZGS
總不能問山羊吧。143Please respect copyright.PENANAczkmxLgq5A
143Please respect copyright.PENANAU0xw9B0LSs
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。143Please respect copyright.PENANApDtg6Y7cVJ
143Please respect copyright.PENANA5hw8xzYAhi
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。143Please respect copyright.PENANAL4b86WV1Ka
143Please respect copyright.PENANAKd7DjzjJ1k
老人拿出一碗殘羹,老狗迎了來,迫不及待地吃著。143Please respect copyright.PENANAzLPq2Fp8WB
143Please respect copyright.PENANAhrST6NiOK2
「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。143Please respect copyright.PENANAkgMV1U8u93
143Please respect copyright.PENANAQEQUpcXTKH
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。143Please respect copyright.PENANAy6diTSOGxJ
143Please respect copyright.PENANABD0TQUB7ic
她努力回想記憶中關於皇宮外圍的一切……羊……老人?143Please respect copyright.PENANAUZ9GbSh404
143Please respect copyright.PENANAkrXjFUpr2Z
是了,金鼇玉蝀橋以西,羊房夾道。143Please respect copyright.PENANA82hxeaqm4M
143Please respect copyright.PENANAQCqPmCJltN
年老或是患病的宮人,會被送來此處醫治,或是等死。143Please respect copyright.PENANATX4EukxQiU
143Please respect copyright.PENANAkoWIBcOclq
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。143Please respect copyright.PENANAxjd2igsONB
143Please respect copyright.PENANAk2u4Lss9Bf
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。143Please respect copyright.PENANAsPvRh0vhqH
143Please respect copyright.PENANAdvXSqGbDSK
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:143Please respect copyright.PENANAepb2ixDNdb
143Please respect copyright.PENANALxNJi6pfnT
143Please respect copyright.PENANAZPDQMjUGjI
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……143Please respect copyright.PENANAT2rohTb0Bz
143Please respect copyright.PENANAKdbbsiDYUd
143Please respect copyright.PENANATJUkHiylcK
男孩歪著小腦袋,像是忘了詞。143Please respect copyright.PENANANC27Fq0hgM
143Please respect copyright.PENANAFfBtktkqwn
「隨意春芳歇,王孫自可留。」湖衣不假思索接詞。143Please respect copyright.PENANA7qg0ya6j66
143Please respect copyright.PENANAAZ7ARtEsls
孩子轉過身來,好奇地看著她。143Please respect copyright.PENANAfzrXNpZXfX
143Please respect copyright.PENANAZl7SgndpOL
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。143Please respect copyright.PENANAwwbqySEJy4
143Please respect copyright.PENANAk94wqcpK1s
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?」143Please respect copyright.PENANAYfqvx8w8Xd
143Please respect copyright.PENANA8rBWJkeL1e
「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。」143Please respect copyright.PENANAGc8A7Rl3jF
143Please respect copyright.PENANAVpsfpso562
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。143Please respect copyright.PENANAWqVhFJ0KnD
143Please respect copyright.PENANA9w6amr0494
母與子。143Please respect copyright.PENANAizicFKkE1V
143Please respect copyright.PENANAOM62bWtSON
她望向水渠,想起馮瑛曾說過的話。心底打起寒顫。143Please respect copyright.PENANABr0O54Lmgm
143Please respect copyright.PENANAiyFLMx7OWp
金水橋。筒子河。143Please respect copyright.PENANAe8DH1DfvdZ
143Please respect copyright.PENANAusbTBz1pjr
母親與未出世的孩子。143Please respect copyright.PENANAyjwR9BD4N1
143Please respect copyright.PENANAPhfFO5IgWL
天哪,怎麼回事。143Please respect copyright.PENANA6PEb3dnzJr
143Please respect copyright.PENANABz3TvWCQw5
孩子竟被藏匿在這兒?143Please respect copyright.PENANASNxUYDrPWu
143Please respect copyright.PENANALSbAkAgd0H
湖衣因震驚而踉蹌後退了幾步。143Please respect copyright.PENANAgh8lnw1BNc
143Please respect copyright.PENANAhBOCSkQApa
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。143Please respect copyright.PENANAdR9U1CRCtg
143Please respect copyright.PENANArpHNLyrVNU
湖衣緊握雙拳,內心天人交戰。143Please respect copyright.PENANAvEMqZQryxG
143Please respect copyright.PENANAnIUfAHAGgu
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?143Please respect copyright.PENANACiS3b3tNd3
143Please respect copyright.PENANA9Mz7OvRi6E
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?143Please respect copyright.PENANAi4iRJQxL1i
143Please respect copyright.PENANAYEELurfBdM
湖衣思忖半晌,心中已有決斷。143Please respect copyright.PENANARR9kO11sOf
143Please respect copyright.PENANAOGpTplhnwA
「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。」143Please respect copyright.PENANAPRqEeo0h13
143Please respect copyright.PENANAhv3EOTTVuV
她得回去找馮瑛,馮瑛肯定能認出來。143Please respect copyright.PENANAw8Abww9Gjr
143Please respect copyright.PENANAfcaa6T2noF
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。143Please respect copyright.PENANAa4pqELHz7O
143Please respect copyright.PENANAW58PhHrOp8
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。143Please respect copyright.PENANAAo0UOdJd3g
143Please respect copyright.PENANAHptDBfl5sO
她在心中祈求,自己的選擇能讓大明朝江山永固,百姓安寧。143Please respect copyright.PENANAkEQ11fs7Fn
143Please respect copyright.PENANAgM0FowDigo
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。143Please respect copyright.PENANAdwOmkk9pIy
143Please respect copyright.PENANAONADVZS3Eb
她飛快地奔回原路,爬出佛堂的通道。143Please respect copyright.PENANAL21kmg0oTk
143Please respect copyright.PENANAET6JaBjGxm
小佛堂一如往常,靜悄悄的。143Please respect copyright.PENANADcsB6m2UUB
143Please respect copyright.PENANAVTgnABJgAT
「馮瑛,馮瑛!」她叫了幾聲,都沒有回應。143Please respect copyright.PENANAquwakV8G8w
143Please respect copyright.PENANAuMIyW6SOiy
湖衣心生疑惑。143Please respect copyright.PENANAtIhVNU2zC6
143Please respect copyright.PENANArPGN8gVzLI
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?143Please respect copyright.PENANAp3zArEiVQn
143Please respect copyright.PENANAqeVEPECGF6
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。143Please respect copyright.PENANATYVSauEn4r
143Please respect copyright.PENANAJ0f6pHQROz
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。143Please respect copyright.PENANAp1mCGySs4j
143Please respect copyright.PENANAsvvBgvxICd
§143Please respect copyright.PENANA3X5YsKxSya
143Please respect copyright.PENANAfPWNryfCMj
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。143Please respect copyright.PENANARr8nRAbJPy
143Please respect copyright.PENANAHDBBRFG9Vp
「見鬼了,今兒是個什麼日子?」年輕的門衛忍不住抱怨。143Please respect copyright.PENANAcrjyJeeYwp
143Please respect copyright.PENANAAJbYAQf6aU
「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。143Please respect copyright.PENANAXH4k8dTmdM
143Please respect copyright.PENANAdPdLtOgGwJ
不祥之兆。143Please respect copyright.PENANAs63S3bAamR
143Please respect copyright.PENANAnrD4BQ3nim
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。143Please respect copyright.PENANAhA39XZGw1c
143Please respect copyright.PENANAvBU3seFH45
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。143Please respect copyright.PENANAT83iB8JIPv
143Please respect copyright.PENANAAoknbEHXGq
「幹什麼的?」騎尉發問。143Please respect copyright.PENANAwMcmBnxFn7
143Please respect copyright.PENANA9Sxw20NKP7
「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。143Please respect copyright.PENANAy1kO5dygcO
143Please respect copyright.PENANA4Avjox6skH
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。143Please respect copyright.PENANAXUvM075jhS
143Please respect copyright.PENANAlCB50hG1jC
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?143Please respect copyright.PENANA9kchsHDM1G
143Please respect copyright.PENANARxnzBz41Ms
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。143Please respect copyright.PENANAXE0VeqDomV
143Please respect copyright.PENANAI6xSrXCKw3
「她惹怒了萬貴妃,長安宮總管太監下令嚴懲。」一名檢校說。143Please respect copyright.PENANA1xgsUi4WMm
143Please respect copyright.PENANAZZll4ZfAe8
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。143Please respect copyright.PENANAl1BFONdwJn
143Please respect copyright.PENANAS10wYl4RCk
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。143Please respect copyright.PENANATSlZPDPEmo
143Please respect copyright.PENANA09DYEcdC53
「那就有勞三位,」騎衛說道,「甬道走到底右方,便是宮正司所在。」143Please respect copyright.PENANASsnvESDDw6
143Please respect copyright.PENANAC3Q0i7lptL
一名檢校笑答:「多謝。」143Please respect copyright.PENANA6HGwfYZwb5
143Please respect copyright.PENANANNzJGxfUda
兩名守衛讓到一旁放行,三人便拖著犯事的宮女走了。143Please respect copyright.PENANA6Inve5I4ce
143Please respect copyright.PENANAppsFJP8hgA
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。143Please respect copyright.PENANAkfLIrm8Cyx
143Please respect copyright.PENANAy4z8jS2MuE
「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。143Please respect copyright.PENANALdXrSVg2k1
143Please respect copyright.PENANAhZAmlLscNm
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。143Please respect copyright.PENANAsGE2hJryHC
143Please respect copyright.PENANA47Ze7JpL3P
匡噹……匡噹……143Please respect copyright.PENANAe1zV0CVmv3
143Please respect copyright.PENANAhZ3SzGgjWx
這聲響究竟從何而來,他環顧四週,打定主意要找出來源。143Please respect copyright.PENANABncxA9Ou2a
143Please respect copyright.PENANA4jg6G2POvB
「糟了!」騎尉大吼。143Please respect copyright.PENANALigS7wuAVI
143Please respect copyright.PENANAqxtrB32z4C
「怎麼啦?」門衛一臉震驚地問。143Please respect copyright.PENANA0kOPP7CGPa
143Please respect copyright.PENANAwtnDqdehLX
「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?」143Please respect copyright.PENANALyVR0PVMe7