那丫鬟并非受刑之人，暮青猜測受刑之人里應該有她的至親好友，她這一喊，院子里的下人們紛紛下跪謝恩，人人叩首，謝聲如浪。                                                                                                                                    今夜將軍府里死了主子，與此事有關的本都是被打殺的命，剩下的恐怕也要被賣走。賣身為奴之人，生死不由己，保了今朝難保明朝，下一家的主子興許還不如這家，今夜死里逃生，自然誠心叩謝。                                                                                                                                    暮青卻不習慣此景，她今夜懲治宋氏，其因有三——一因她罔顧人命，二因她屈打成招，三因步惜歡。                                                                                                                                    她望進花廳時，見宋氏云寶髻芙蓉妝，羅裙五重華琚佩身，遠遠一瞧，端的是王妃威儀雍容尊貴。她便忽然想起步惜歡在她身后，他若看見此景，怕是要想起過世的母妃，她若在世，今夜母子相見，想必花廳內外都是另一番光景。                                                                                                                                    她心里如此便痛了，想起過世的爹，想起步惜歡的娘，想起這人命如草芥的王朝，忽然心里便燒起一把火。她本不愛與內宅女子爭斗，覺得甚是無趣，今夜卻破了例，將宋氏一番懲治，只為出心里那團邪火。                                                                                                                                    如今她出了氣，下人們相謝，她覺得救人只是初衷之一，因此不愿領受，正苦惱著，見前方有人打著燈籠疾步而來，到了近處一瞧，竟是元修領著麾下親兵到了，巫瑾也在其中。                                                                                                                                    “真的救命恩人到了。”暮青看了巫瑾一眼，見他立在煌煌燈火里，白衣勝雪，不染纖塵，這人間煩擾似與他無關，面前有不少重傷者，他卻未曾多看，甚是淡漠。但暮青知道他定會醫治，因此對院子里的下人們說了句便出了花廳，走了兩步回身問道，“你們主子的尸身停在何處？”                                                                                                                                    “還在主子的書房。”那起先叩謝暮青的丫鬟忙站起身來，領著暮青便往后院去了。                                                                                                                                    步惜晟習武，作息甚是規律，他極少流連花街柳巷，夜里多宿在府里，且有用宵夜的習慣。他用宵夜的時辰多是在亥時，用過宵夜便與嫡妻歇息，今夜他說有些公務，沐浴更衣后便命下人將宵夜端去了書房，可誰知他是要尋死？他死前留了封遺書，又用了些宵夜，隨后便服毒死了。他的生母一聽此事就昏了過去，嫡妻忍著悲痛報了宮里、王府和盛京府衙，如今靈堂還沒布置出來，步惜晟的尸體還在書房，只是被搬去了書房的矮榻上。                                                                                                                                    留書服毒？                                                                                                                                    今夜月影稟報此事時，說的是步惜晟自盡，想必便是因為那封遺書了。                                                                                                                                    暮青邊走邊聽丫鬟回稟，宋氏那等人來了府上，她就沒指望現場能保護好，心中漸漸已有推斷時回頭看了步惜歡一眼，他自從進了府就沒說過話。                                                                                                                                    男子一身親兵服制，改換了容顏，性情也似改了，不笑不言，只在她望向他時眸底生出些淺笑，那般淺，那般柔，卻剎那驚碎了流光，仿佛隔著時光擁她入懷，喃喃細語，耳鬢廝磨，訴盡一腔衷腸。                                                                                                                                    暮青柳眉輕蹙，心中微痛，他果然看見宋氏便想他母妃了。                                                                                                                                    “都督，我們將軍的書房到了。”這時，丫鬟的聲音傳來，暮青一抬眼，見前頭一道曲廊，盡處是一座閣樓，廊下已掛了白燈，有哭聲自閣樓里嗚嗚傳出。                                                                                                                                    哭的人是步惜晟的嫡妻高氏、一個妾室以及三個兒女，暮青進書房時，見到的便是這一堆妻兒撲在步惜晟的尸身上痛哭的場景。                                                                                                                                    元相攝政，皇權勢弱，朝中少有人愿嫁皇家子弟，步惜晟成婚晚，府里只有一妻一妾，兒女三人。嫡妻高氏見暮青來了，悲痛未斂，眸底卻有顧忌與怨恨之意。                                                                                                                                    盛京城里無秘密，步惜晟到都督府上做客之事已人盡皆知，人前日才去過都督府，今兒夜里就留下一封遺書死了，難免不讓人多想。                                                                                                                                    暮青一句也不解釋，只道：“將軍已故，當需驗尸，此為命案現場，還請夫人帶人到偏屋等候。”                                                                                                                                    高氏聽聞要驗尸，忙擋住步惜晟的尸身道：“將軍是喝了燕窩粥后中毒而亡，此事再清楚不過，都督何需驗尸？有這時辰，何不查查是何人害了將軍！”                                                                                                                                    她雖在內宅，可也聽說了，此人不道，驗尸時曾行剖腹取心之事，她斷不會允許夫君的尸身被人如此對待！                                                                                                                                    “喝了燕窩粥死的？”暮青懶得再與內宅女子爭執，抓住高氏的一句話便看向了書桌。                                                                                                                                    書桌上不見遺書，想必是被高氏收起來了，但宵夜還在。                                                                                                                                    只見一碗燕窩粥翻倒在桌上，另外還有四盤點心——杏仁糕、翠玉糕、金絲酥和奶香小豆糕，每只盤子都不大，糕點放在其中正好能拼四塊，其中杏仁糕和奶香小豆糕都少了一塊，顯然是步惜晟吃了。                                                                                                                                    “你怎知人是喝了燕窩粥死的？”暮青走到書桌前，回頭問道。                                                                                                                                    她眸底慧光懾人，知道高氏一定會答！                                                                                                                                    高氏雖對她有抵觸心理，但想讓她協助辦案，拿捏得準她的心理便可。其一，她想知道殺夫兇手，她只要提起與步惜晟的死因有關的事便可轉移她的注意力。其二，她方才的話有懷疑她的意思，為了撇清謀殺親夫的嫌疑，她一定會答！                                                                                                                                    果然，高氏原先還想阻撓暮青，聽聞此話心中頓生驚怒，答道：“那燕窩粥是翻倒的，自然是我們將軍喝粥時中的毒。這淺顯的道理，妾身這婦人都懂，都督難道看不出來？”                                                                                                                                    “嗯。”暮青頷首，卻道，“此話雖有道理，但不合常理。”                                                                                                                                    高氏一愣，“如何不合常理？”                                                                                                                                    暮青道：“你夫君留了遺書，表面上看應是服毒而亡。一個求死之人，死前留下遺書，再用些飯菜，當個飽死鬼上路，這些心理都可以理解。可是我不理解他為何要在吃食里下毒？”                                                                                                                                    高氏皺著眉頭，聽不懂暮青的話，她不明白，為何夫君不可能在吃食里下毒？                                                                                                                                    “求死之人有兩種，一種是忽生自殺之念，匆匆便走了。一種是早有準備的，死前會與世間告別，留遺書、沐浴更衣、用最后一頓飯菜，你的夫君就屬這一種。對他來說，與世間告別的一切事情都是莊嚴的，最后一次修整儀表，最后一頓的飯菜……這飯菜對他的意義是特殊的，他希望再嘗一次人間之味，希望做個飽死鬼上路，這樣一頓對他來說意義神圣的飯菜，你覺得他會往里面下毒嗎？”                                                                                                                                    “……”高氏哪里答得出？聽聞此言早已淚流滿面，哽咽難言。                                                                                                                                    “通常有準備的服毒自盡，服毒者會在留下遺書、修整儀容，并用過最后一餐飯菜后，再拿出毒藥來服下，隨后躺去床上亦或安靜地坐著，等待毒發。你夫君若是真的將毒下在了燕窩粥里，那此舉就意味深長了。”                                                                                                                                    “都督之意，妾身的夫君是、是被人毒殺？”高氏已忘了先前想要阻止暮青查案的心思，至此已一門心思放在了弄清夫君死因的事上。                                                                                                                                    “我沒這么說，現在還不知粥點里有毒沒毒。”暮青說著便轉身道，“工具箱！”                                                                                                                                    她出府時帶了驗尸的工具箱，步惜歡扮成月殺，工具箱自然是他提著。                                                                                                                                    步惜歡沒遞給她，他蹲下身去親自打開了箱子，低頭時掩了眸底的寵溺之意。他不能動用內力，無法模仿月殺的聲音，因此盡量不開口說話，打開工具箱后只抬頭看了暮青一眼，以眼神傳達意思——想要何物？                                                                                                                                    “手套！銀針！”暮青也不跟他客氣，吩咐得理所當然。                                                                                                                                    步惜歡先將手套遞給她，待她戴好后，才將銀針包遞了過去。暮青戴著手套取出五根銀針，分別放到了燕窩粥和四盤點心里，過了一會兒取出來一看，銀針皆未變黑。                                                                                                                                    高氏不知銀針不可試百毒之理，見到銀針未黑，以為宵夜無毒，頓時神色悲戚——即是說她的夫君真是用過粥點后再服毒自盡的，并非被人所害。                                                                                                                                    “這還不能證明宵夜里無毒，能證明的只是里面沒有砒霜或者鶴頂紅。”暮青沒解釋此話是何意，她速速將銀針收起，遞給步惜歡道，“外衣，口罩！”                                                                                                                                    那外衣是從后身系帶，步惜歡親手幫暮青把衣帶系好，她戴上口罩便走到了榻旁。                                                                                                                                    榻旁還守著個妾侍和三個孩童，那妾侍見暮青過來，忙護住了三個孩子。                                                                                                                                    “勞煩讓開。”暮青道。                                                                                                                                    妾侍聞言瞧向高氏，高氏這才回過味兒來，想起方才她還懷疑夫君的死與暮青有關，不打算讓她驗尸查案，可不知怎么的她就查了，還到了她夫君的尸身前。                                                                                                                                    高氏怕暮青剖了步惜晟的尸身，慌忙便要出聲阻止。                                                                                                                                    暮青早有預料，先聲奪人道：“你夫君是服毒死的，口中流涎，衣襟、衣袖上皆沾了燕窩粥，手也捏過點心，雖不知這些粥點有毒無毒，但若孩子碰上了……”                                                                                                                                    話沒說完，高氏和妾侍的臉色就一齊白了，高氏搶步上前將一個大些的男童抱離了矮榻，那妾侍也慌忙護著自己的一雙兒女退得遠遠的。                                                                                                                                    榻前頓時無人了。                                                                                                                                    “最好去備熱水，他們都需沐浴更衣。”暮青頭未回，戴著手套動了動尸體的脖頸、下頜和手臂，手臂還未形成尸僵，下頜和脖頸卻已僵硬——人死了有一個時辰左右，和隱衛回稟的亥時初刻吻合。                                                                                                                                    “快！快去備水！”高氏心驚肉跳，忙吩咐丫鬟去備水。                                                                                                                                    “你們最好也沐浴更衣，免得再蹭到孩子身上，亦或毒死了自己。”暮青邊說邊沾了沾尸體嘴角的口涎，湊近鼻尖聞了聞，眉頭蹙緊——步惜晟的宵夜里有樣點心是杏仁糕，他的口涎里有杏仁味實屬正常，但他死前還喝過燕窩粥，杏仁味兒應被沖淡了，可這氣味卻有些濃。                                                                                                                                    “快！備水備衣！”高氏再無心阻攔暮青，夫君暴斃，宣武將軍府的天塌了，可她上有夫君的生母要贍養，下有嫡庶子女要養育，如今不能死。                                                                                                                                    高氏和妾侍各住一院兒，皆離書房有些遠，當下也顧不得其他事，吩咐了下人后便各自帶著孩子，急匆匆地出了書房去沐浴更衣了。                                                                                                                                    這回，書房里徹底安靜了。                                                                                                                                    步惜歡笑著看向暮青，原以為她性情冷硬，不擅與這些八面玲瓏、口齒伶俐、一張嘴便能顛倒是非的內宅女子交際，未曾想她倒是治她們的好手。懲治人時其威若雷霆，懶得爭吵時也能讓人乖乖聽命行事。她如此擅知人心，方才在前院對付宋氏，想必也有讓她乖乖聽話的本事，可她卻選了最激烈的對峙相逼，想必是因為他吧？                                                                                                                                    男子望著少女的背影，眸光柔如春水，不合時宜，卻暖柔至極，仿佛一個凝望的眼神便能暖了春風化了春雪。                                                                                                                                    暮青一心在驗尸上，她心中生疑，俯身翻開尸體的眼瞼，一看之下面色頓變，“過來幫忙！”                                                                                                                                    她聲冷如霜，步惜歡斂了笑意，來到榻前時見暮青已解了步惜晟的衣帶，對他道：“幫忙把人翻過來！”                                                                                                                                    步惜歡依言照做，尸體一翻過來，暮青便將外袍和中衫一起扒了下來，只見尸體的背上已生了尸斑，那尸斑的顏色甚是不同尋常，鮮紅觸目！                                                                                                                                    暮青盯著那尸斑，聲音結了冰，“毒閻羅！”                                                                                                                                    尸體口中流涎，聞之有刺鼻的杏仁味，尸斑呈鮮紅色，眼瞼等皮膚黏膜亦成紅色，此乃氰化物中毒之征！                                                                                                                                    氰化物會造成體內氧利用不足，血液中含有較多的氧合血紅蛋白，故尸斑呈鮮紅色。暮青當初在汴河城義莊里看驗父尸時，因她到時，人已死了四五日，尸體已腐，因此只聞見了尸身口中的杏仁氣味，尸斑顏色卻不新鮮了。而步惜晟剛死，尸體還新鮮著，身中何毒一眼就能驗得出來！                                                                                                                                    可是，她查的是相府別院的湖底藏尸案，此案與假勒丹神官一案應該是一個幕后真兇所為，事關通敵賣國驚天陰謀，怎會又涉及到了毒閻羅？                                                                                                                                    毒閻羅是大半年前毒死她爹的毒，今夜又出現在了步惜晟身上，這兩件事可有何關聯？                                                                                                                                    “我去前院！”暮青轉身便往書房外去，剛走到房門口，迎頭就撞上了元修。                                                                                                                                    元修扶住暮青道：“別去前院了，正亂著呢！那十來個下人，廢了五個，命雖能保住，這輩子也下不了地了。剩下的幾個傷勢也不輕，有倆丫頭尋死覓活，我讓人打暈了，正命人看著呢。巫瑾還在施藥救人，盛京府衙的人來了，也聚在前院兒呢。你把恒王妃給嚇跑了，恒王府待會兒恐會來人鬧騰，我已調了親兵來將宣武將軍府給圍了，你放心查案，旁事勿理！今夜宮里或相府若是來人，我應付！”                                                                                                                                    元修進門便將前院的事說了，而后才注意到暮青行色匆匆，不由問道：“何事急匆匆的要去前院？”                                                                                                                                    她向來冷靜自持，少有這般心急的時候。                                                                                                                                    “步惜晟所服之毒有異！我懷疑是巫瑾多年前所丟的毒。”暮青從元修懷里退出來，沒看身后的步惜歡，此話她說了一半留了一半，沒對元修提此毒與她爹的死有關。                                                                                                                                    暮青不說這些，一是因元敏是她的殺父仇人，對元修來說，一方是他的戰友和救命恩人，一方是他的至親姑母，她說了只會徒增他的矛盾苦痛，二是因她對兇手的用意深有懷疑。                                                                                                                                    “巫瑾的府上曾有毒藥被盜？”元修不知此事，但也不奇怪巫瑾會將這些事告訴暮青。他看得出來巫瑾將她當成同道中人，而她又對醫術毒術甚感興趣，兩人曾在相府別院的詩會上獨處過一回，那時提起了此事一點都不奇怪。比起此事，元修有更想問的，“我接到消息稱步惜晟服毒自盡，你可驗過尸了？”                                                                                                                                    “剛驗過，此毒名為毒閻羅，乃是巫瑾年少時所制，五年前京中傳入時疫，王府里收治了不少百姓，時疫過后發現府里少了些毒藥，其中有一瓶便是毒閻羅。此毒有極強的杏仁味，如若不是自盡，則只能下在杏仁食物里，否則極容易被發現。”                                                                                                                                    元修聞言看了眼步惜晟的書桌，見那些粥點里有盤杏仁糕，不由蹙眉問道：“你的意思是，他并非服毒自盡，而是有人將毒下在了杏仁糕里？”                                                                                                                                    “難說，除非能證明這杏仁糕里有毒。”暮青走回桌前，拿起了一塊杏仁糕，這杏仁糕做成了杏花模樣，上頭點綴著些紅豆，聞之奶香豆香甚是誘人，但仍遮不住濃郁的杏仁氣味。                                                                                                                                    步惜晟若有自盡之心，應該不會將毒下在食物里，可這杏仁糕確實聞著很可疑。                                                                                                                                    “想知道有毒無毒還不簡單？”元修望向門外，吩咐親兵道，“去抓只野貓來！”                                                                                                                                    暮青一聽便知道他想拿貓試毒，皺眉問：“貓跟你有仇？”                                                                                                                                    元修一愣，“你喜愛貓？”                                                                                                                                    不待暮青答，他便點點頭，道：“那不要貓，去抓條野狗來。”                                                                                                                                    “狗跟你有仇？”暮青剛學解剖時，亦曾解剖過青蛙兔子白鼠和貓狗，但不代表她對待生命態度冷漠，恰恰相反，她的刀下解剖的生靈越多，越知感激這些生靈，亦越知生命的可貴。                                                                                                                                    “如非必要，莫行此事。”暮青道，“我還是去前院看看吧，先審審廚房的人，實在審不出來再說。”                                                                                                                                    －－－－－－題外話－－－－－－                                                                                                                                    昨晚卡得要命，這章內容又多，先發這些吧，晚上還有。