石砌的黑暗長廊出現在綠玉眼前，一個臉上有疤的獄卒沿著長廊來回巡視，再走過去就是關押重囚的牢房，那裏陰暗潮濕，柵欄佈滿紅褐色的鐵鏽，彷彿在提醒人們：一但進了這裡，就會被關押至肉身腐鏽。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpsvMOmzRp
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYK651FY3nt
昔日她和豫明夷曾淪落街頭以行乞扒竊為生，當時周圍人告誡過他們：「萬一失風被捕，立刻就會被官差扔進大牢，從此不見天日。」306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsp5nPlAdkM
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuURlca3iRk
即使此刻她擁有金陵城中最具規模的青樓，依然難以克服孩提時的恐懼。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JPXbG6gzR
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQmI3zqbyD
「綠玉夫人，這邊走。」蓄了滿臉短鬚的獄司為她指路，引她轉向一條較為明亮的通道，兩旁燃著熊熊火炬，冒出的煙霧混合著灰塵和絕望的氣味。通道盡頭是一扇木門，不同於方才經過的重刑獄，這扇門後是官奴監，收容的女囚都是犯官家中女眷，因父兄犯罪而被發配為奴，官宦仕族會來挑選容貌姣好的官奴作為奴婢小妾。而在金陵，多年來有個不成文的規矩，容許青樓將仕家挑剩的官奴買回學藝。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡht36qZfcUW
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeS46d7YE9J
「那丫頭很可憐的，」獄司說著，「她的父親曲大人，好好的江寧織造局，卻被西廠羅織，誣陷至死，籍其家產，據說汪太監連夜查封曲府，連一只耗子都不許進出，曲家上下三百七十九口人，都是給活活餓死的。」306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaih9fc9t3
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTJmcPTyq3
綠玉自然明白他說的是兩個月前的那場瓜蔓抄，西廠廠公汪直來到金陵，為了立威，將城中叫得出名號的官員全押進詔獄，掀起一場偌大的政治風波，無數官員遭裁撤，換上貪婪僭奢的親族黨羽，直到鹽幫刺殺了幾名貪官，動亂才稍稍平息。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PnJ4PMxpJ
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVY8Zu7FyU
獄司取出一串沉重的鑰匙，金屬門閂發出粗嘎的摩擦聲，巨大的木門晃開了。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFj4usviud
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPdcYznCMX
「她一被帶來刑部，上頭就交代，只是暫時關押，不許用刑，也不許走漏風聲，」獄司續道：「後來才聽說，國舅萬喜欲納她作妾，這丫頭性子烈，不知怎的得罪了國舅，於是萬家便給曲家安了個莫須有的罪名，西廠戮辱曲大人，曲家全族籍沒，並將她囚禁於此，說要挫去她的傲性。」306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtHw9MlEav
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHksdgBQwq
「後來呢？」綠玉問。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEi93kvvWBJ
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXz6TCYpsvw
「兩個月前，京裡突然來了急報，要萬國舅返京述職，萬喜走得匆忙，約莫是把這丫頭的事給忘了。」獄司嘆了口氣，神情竟然還帶著些許哀傷，「我們一直小心地瞞著她家族已歿的消息，可還是有個嘴巴不牢靠的獄卒說溜了，她一聽聞父母亡故，整個人就矇了，不飲不食，連水都不肯喝。昨日我叫了個婆子給她硬灌下一碗米湯，她虛弱到無力反抗。綠玉夫人，我想，不如妳把她領了去吧。」306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5ADEMOnNT
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmHK7C4cSF
「把一個性子如此剛烈的姑娘賣了作窯姐兒？那無異是要逼死她！」綠玉斥道。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9UV9yTEAo
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKkvne4Klf
「對一個無依無靠的姑娘，沿尋樓總還是個去處。我管這刑部大牢已有二十年了，看過不少大奸大惡之人，而今這世道，朝堂上，朽木為官、禽獸食祿，被捕下獄的，卻是正直之人，曲家就剩這一個孤女了，如果能保住她的性命，也算是給屈死的曲家上下，留下最後一絲血脈。」獄司遲疑了一下，才再度開口，「咱們就挑明了說吧，現在金陵城中，除了妳背後那幾位當家，又有誰能護得她周全？」306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeGDwXV7WO
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgZbW92CMt
綠玉思慮再三，終於開口，「好吧，讓我見見她。」306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qpSILdJoq
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIjZjw2STb
綠玉走官奴監，眼前是幾間石砌的囚室，石牆高處有扇小窗，環境也還算乾淨，看管犯人的是一對年長的夫婦，顯見這裡的囚犯並沒有遭到凌虐。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxTidS2qPg
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmF2OpPibF
在獄司的指引下，綠玉走到了冰月的牢房邊，她從柵欄間探看，石牆上留著一道道細長的血痕，是以十指撓抓出來的，指甲碎片還嵌在乾涸的血跡上，如同垂死之人的絕望哭喊。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbysrXnq9Z
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajPXIQkUaW
指痕的主人正斜倚在牆邊，三個月的牢獄並未減損她的容顏，只是蒙上了一層冰冷孤傲的氣質。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviyWi7HPE5
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6txxqMinKG
當枝上綻開一朵高不可攀的紅花玉芙蓉，世間男子定會前仆後繼地競相攀折。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRuT7KbgNY
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVSFaOLQAH
「讓我進去。」綠玉說。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncRokORNpM
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8iGSoSjWI
獄司揮手要獄卒把牢門打開，綠玉彎下腰，走進牢房。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQ0z3dE68X
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZUxMgQ22c
「姑娘，我是沿尋樓的綠玉，在我們樓裡，有許多和妳一樣無處棲身的姑娘，妳可以跟我走。」306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuZB5qNAwi
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVpo96WlRi
冰月神色漠然，目光望著不知名的遠方，她的十指還包紮著白布，白皙的容顏像是結了冰霜，不見半點人氣。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrbVwgbPjh
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5ZSOur38a
「跟我來吧！」綠玉又說了一次。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEb24J4pwuV
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXj8chqaNqY
她不為所動，彷彿一座細瓷雕像，對周遭不見不聞。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLaXzIy85v
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbuCQYzc1I
綠玉認得這樣的神情，斷了線的人偶，沒有魂魄徒有軀殼，難以承受巨大的悲痛，所以生生切斷和現世的聯繫。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJMPaeYIpy
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqEiwBABFn
多年以前，綠玉也曾遭遇橫禍，家鄉竹山被誣指藏匿反賊，全鄉遭戮、十萬鄉民居住的村莊一炬成灰。她流落街頭，爾後淪為娼妓，那時她如同行屍走肉，萬念俱灰。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaqSBhct6A
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXR5JMgR8y
所以綠玉知曉，在那具軀殼的黑暗深處，還燃燒著一簇地獄之火，要讓這女孩重拾活下去的勇氣，唯有使這簇地獄之火燒成一片火海。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkK5REumVWr
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbmB2nJ8gP
「跟我來，我可以教妳如何向欺凌妳的人復仇。」綠玉說。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0Lje4X0NN
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7NCHXZGTh
一雙明眸眨了一下，逐漸回過神來。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsT93q2cl9k
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxDxML0m73
「對，復仇。」306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kDM5tcDoZ
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMx8taychJD
冰月緩緩轉頭望向綠玉。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNKCehxhrX
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWPNqSlLkT
「像妳這麼美麗的女子，男人會甘心情願為妳而死。」306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWCEBWfjIz
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uKbEDoIMW
她瞪大了雙眼，卻發不出任何聲音。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQEl0G9GsJ
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxyOTnJ0GD
「想復仇吧，首先，」綠玉嚴肅地說，「妳要令眾生傾倒。」306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulAffnY3nj
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnkNiO8jvM
待綠玉帶著冰月回到沿尋樓，已是傍晚時分。緋紅色的夕陽如火焰般照著秦淮舊院，蕭疏的花樹隨風搖曳，向晚的申時鐘聲響起，白日關閉的樓閣紛紛開啟，負責迎客的姑娘掛上了胭脂色的紗燈，銅環門扉半啓，清歌絲竹聲婉轉纏綿。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlVyDX7Iyc
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCy2TQHFzYW
這是男人遠離世俗羈絆、遨遊天外之所，也是女人的修羅場。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItHAcWGKqV
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3Spu2CqBS
安頓完冰月，綠玉發現自己閣樓上的燈是亮的，她走上階梯，心中反覆思量該如何處置冰月，遭逢家變的孤兒，該在何處安身？306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnvnIuypv2
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lAsOBG2Rs
真要她倚欄賣笑，或是……306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABJ0W9o5eu
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRH3NvecPE
有光的所在，就有陰影，在繁華絢麗的閣樓裡，也有曦日照不著的角落，在這些暗處交換的晦澀信息從不為人所知。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4xuac8hDz
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4ogmTQUfC
綠玉一開房門，發現豫明夷正等著她。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrmKQjRLak
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5Yf1poP0U
「有事找我？」豫明夷開口。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbDBcnaHuE
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCWp2mSAwO
「是，」綠玉闔上門，拴上門閂，「蘇州府的胡百川想跟你見個面。」306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlja40GDCSj
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmjOs8o7U4
數月前，蘇州府城因宦官索賄無度而爆發民變，民工不堪官員苛扣，糾眾起事，殺了幾名鎮守太監。事發之後逃往山區，依靠山地據洞築寨，自建軍隊。胡百川正是蘇州民變的頭領。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDG1JxKv2Vc
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKuv7h8OqL
「胡百川？」明夷頭也不抬，「他能有什麼事？」306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4ui6MmRpo
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTImedqUhB
「你和你兄弟一連殺了幾名朝廷大員，揚名立萬，各處民變首領都想跟你結為同盟，就等你振臂一呼，號召天下英雄群起反抗。」綠玉語帶玄機。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FLllCudGX
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8e14nVyshS
「我等只殺貪官汙吏，領兵造反之事我們幹不來，」豫明夷哼了一聲，隨即心念一轉，眼前局勢渾沌不明，江南道上不能自己先亂起來，說：「好吧，還是見一面，看他們意欲如何？」306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdORI9POLbW
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbFIQ5NwXX
「好，我去安排，」綠玉點頭。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvOcsIrEsa
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HASsbyuAY
世道艱難，國家軍費日益浩繁，財政窘困，賦稅與徭役日益苛重，農民受不了錢糧雜役的沉重負擔，最後不得不拋棄土地，逃亡各地。而流亡人口所留下的土地，就被貴族、官僚乃至地方豪紳大肆兼併，且來勢急遽，就連礦工、各衛所屯田的軍士、熬鹽的竈丁，也因生計為勢家強佔，不得不同農民一般，四處流亡。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8u5OckmiX
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34OXIY8crR
數以萬計的流民如潮水般蔓延及各省區，除了農民、鹽工、礦工和散兵遊勇也加入，他們大多聚集為盜，武裝反抗官府，鹽幫因曾戕官殺吏，為受壓迫的平民出了一口惡氣，又吸引更多流民加入，一時氣勢無兩。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg149WcZpH3
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHXxzjm7HG
綠玉嘆息，「走投無路的男人，抄起傢伙和官府對著幹，世人敬稱為『揭竿起義』；走投無路的女孩兒呢，則不免淪落風塵，受人輕賤。」306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9N9lh7khG
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcgz9F9fcf
「在妳這兒的女孩兒，可是讓男人雙手奉上大把銀子，只為博其一笑，要是姑娘一個不高興，別說陪了，連面都別想見著，何來受人輕賤？」豫明夷挑起雙眉冷笑，「是了，我聽說妳帶了新的姑娘回來。」306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhMIJFO2lt
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmqbX5xXNB
「我去了刑部，日前江寧織造局被抄沒，曲家的女兒被發配為奴。獄司瞧她可憐，要我將她買下。」306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UEr3hWEoz
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAECrd0m848
豫明夷忽然想起，「她的閨名可是叫作曲冰月？」306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXAsj8w7H5
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TjAJ67j6u
「這可奇了，你怎麼知道？」306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQ5LYrLE7c
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSqiFO1s7I
「上回我與三弟帶人跟蹤一群鬼鬼祟祟的朝廷走狗，後來發現是西廠閹貨和錦衣衛，他們埋伏在一處林子裡想襲擊一對男女，我和三弟看不下這般作為，便出手將這些鷹犬趕跑了，後來那對男女曾提起這名字。」306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0trEEucW2
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uoOKpWzfE
西廠，錦衣衛，朝廷走狗，夤夜突襲。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZTU5VmPLH
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5n4jm5Osz
苦澀的記憶襲來，綠玉想起那個她沒來得及拯救的孩子。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmJtr7NHzb
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dDL7skrKR
竹山的冬夜，總會颳起暴烈的狂風。風吹過貧瘠的土地和枯乾的樹林，猶如無法安息的亡靈在哭嚎。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4il1JygO4
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexFzfDe4EB
簡陋的小屋無法抵擋狂風的侵襲，破舊的大門被吹得喀答作響，年幼的孩子嚇得驚恐不已。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcqCZurJ47
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJ5A8l8ZT3
「姐姐，好可怕，好可怕喔。」妹妹哭訴著。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYlXpPwbos
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yvxAWiALE
綠玉將六歲的妹妹緊抱在懷中，用單薄的棉被包裹她，「別怕，姐姐在這裡。」306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFAteBiehd
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QOdnPHDGY
「好像有人要把我帶去很遠的地方，」妹妹躲在棉被裡顫抖，「風把門吹壞了，壞人會跑進家裡來。」306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2viSpsZ2C
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdK7o8MT85
綠玉溫柔地拍拍妹妹的背，「別怕，沒有別人在外面，那只是風，我去把門閂好。」306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvun7MOEiZ
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcnqjicY4x
「不要，姐姐，不可以開門，有可怕的壞人等在外面，不可以開門啊。」306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsU5Uq5GaxO
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdyr4kVKS7
綠玉下了床，走到門口想把鬆開的門閂好，只見漆黑的夜色中，山谷裡布滿了士兵，還有拉滿弓的騎兵正射出一支支火箭，她尖叫狂奔，回頭只見其中一支落在她家屋頂，火舌迅速竄燒，破舊的小屋瞬間化作一團燃燒的火焰……306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0fVzPe1Rz
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7U78oMedO
妹妹來不及逃出來。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XjiqiQstP
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskzEMW8SPf
豫明夷猜到她想起了往事，沉聲說道：「我們都已經不是當年那個年幼無助的孩子，現在我們不但無人敢欺，行有餘力，還能顧及同樣遭遇的孤兒。」306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Q9LBVfPSx
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWkXrJXvNA
綠玉低眉不語，想起經歷家破人亡的冰月，心中忽然升起不祥的預感，若這孩子心中那簇地獄之火燒得太熾烈，終將吞噬自己。306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAoOxF0IjU
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjmgXu3vKj
306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREBx09Sj7s
然後按「加至主畫面」