話說濟公來到衙門，工夫不大，老爺升堂，吩咐帶和尚。濟公來到大堂一站。見這位老爺，五官端正，一表非俗。老爺往下面一瞧：「你這僧人，見了本縣為何不跪？」濟公說：「老爺為官，官宦自有官宦貴，僧家也有僧家尊。我又不犯國法王章，這裡又沒有佛祖，我跪的是哪個？」老爺一聽說：「你這僧人叫什麼？在哪裡廟裡出家？」和尚說：「老爺要問，我乃是靈隱寺濟顛和尚。老爺可知道濟公的名頭高大？」老爺一想：「濟公乃是秦相的替僧，焉能這個樣子？」心中有些不信。老爺說：「你是濟顛，東門外楊家店內脫頭和尚被殺，你必知情？」和尚說：「我一概不知。」老爺說：「你既是靈隱寺的濟顛，來此何幹？」和尚說：「老爺要問，我是奉秦相諭，帶著臨安兩個班頭出來辦案，捉拿臨安盜玉鐲鳳冠的賊人華雲龍。」老爺吩咐：「把兩個班頭帶上來。」立刻把柴、杜二人帶上公堂。柴元祿說：「老爺在上，下役柴元祿給老爺請安。」杜振英也給老爺行禮。老爺問說：「你兩個人是臨安的班頭？」柴元祿說：「是下役在臨安太守衙門當捕快。」老爺說：「既是你們出來辦案，可有海捕公文？拿來我看。」濟公說：「老爺要問公文，是昨天晚上在店裡丟的。」老爺一聽這話，勃然大怒，說：「沒這么巧事。大概我抄手問事，萬不肯應。先把和尚給我拉下去重打四十大板，打完了再問。」旁邊皂班一聲答應，過來就把和尚拉下堂去。和尚就說：「我要挨打了。」連嚷了兩聲。皂班說：「和尚你嚷也不行，快趴下，叫我們費事。」
话说济公来到衙门，工夫不大，老爷升堂，吩咐带和尚。济公来到大堂一站。见这位老爷，五官端正，一表非俗。老爷往下面一瞧：「你这僧人，见了本县为何不跪？」济公说：「老爷为官，官宦自有官宦贵，僧家也有僧家尊。我又不犯国法王章，这里又没有佛祖，我跪的是哪个？」老爷一听说：「你这僧人叫什么？在哪里庙里出家？」和尚说：「老爷要问，我乃是灵隐寺济颠和尚。老爷可知道济公的名头高大？」老爷一想：「济公乃是秦相的替僧，焉能这个样子？」心中有些不信。老爷说：「你是济颠，东门外杨家店内脱头和尚被杀，你必知情？」和尚说：「我一概不知。」老爷说：「你既是灵隐寺的济颠，来此何干？」和尚说：「老爷要问，我是奉秦相谕，带着临安两个班头出来办案，捉拿临安盗玉镯凤冠的贼人华云龙。」老爷吩咐：「把两个班头带上来。」立刻把柴、杜二人带上公堂。柴元禄说：「老爷在上，下役柴元禄给老爷请安。」杜振英也给老爷行礼。老爷问说：「你两个人是临安的班头？」柴元禄说：「是下役在临安太守衙门当捕快。」老爷说：「既是你们出来办案，可有海捕公文？拿来我看。」济公说：「老爷要问公文，是昨天晚上在店里丢的。」老爷一听这话，勃然大怒，说：「没这么巧事。大概我抄手问事，万不肯应。先把和尚给我拉下去重打四十大板，打完了再问。」旁边皂班一声答应，过来就把和尚拉下堂去。和尚就说：「我要挨打了。」连嚷了两声。皂班说：「和尚你嚷也不行，快趴下，叫我们费事。」
Now, Ji Gong was brought to the yamen, and before long His Honour took his seat in court and ordered the monk brought in. Ji Gong came into the main hall and stood there. He saw that the magistrate had regular features and an uncommon bearing. The magistrate looked down at him. “You, monk! Why don’t you kneel before the magistrate of this county?” “Your Honour is an official,” said Ji Gong. “An official has an official’s dignity, and a monk has a monk’s honour. I haven’t broken the laws of the realm or the king’s statutes, and there’s no Buddha in here. Who would I be kneeling to?” At this the magistrate said, “What is your name, monk? In which temple did you become a monk?” “Since Your Honour asks,” said the monk, “I am Crazy Ji of Lingyin Temple. Does Your Honour know how great Ji Gong’s name is?” The magistrate thought, “Ji Gong is Chancellor Qin’s substitute monk. How could he look like this?” He did not quite believe it. “If you are Crazy Ji,” he said, “then you must know something about the long-haired ascetic monk who was murdered at the Yang Family Inn outside the East Gate.” “I know nothing at all about it,” said the monk. “If you really are Crazy Ji of Lingyin Temple,” said the magistrate, “what are you doing here?” “Since Your Honour asks,” said the monk, “I came out on Chancellor Qin’s orders, bringing two head constables from Lin’an to work a case: we’re to catch Hua Yunlong, the thief who stole the jade bracelets and the phoenix crown in Lin’an.” “Bring the two head constables up,” the magistrate ordered. Chai and Du were brought into the courtroom at once. “Your Honour above,” said Chai Yuanlu, “your humble runner Chai Yuanlu pays his respects.” Du Zhenying also bowed to the magistrate. “You two are head constables from Lin’an?” the magistrate asked. “Yes, your humble runner serves as a constable at the Lin’an prefect’s yamen,” said Chai Yuanlu. “If you are out working a case,” said the magistrate, “you must have a wanted warrant. Bring it here and let me see it.” “If Your Honour is asking about the warrant,” said Ji Gong, “we lost it at the inn last night.” At these words the magistrate flew into a rage. “There’s no such convenient coincidence! I can see that if I question you with my hands folded in my sleeves, you’ll never own up. Take the monk down first and give him forty heavy strokes of the board. When that’s done, I’ll question him again.” The court runners at the side answered with one voice, came over and dragged the monk down from the hall. “I’m going to get a beating!” said the monk, and shouted it twice over. “Shouting won’t help you, monk,” said the runners. “Get down on the floor, quick, and don’t make work for us.”
正在這般光景，只聽外面一聲叫嚷：「千萬別打，我來了！」說著話由外面跑進一個人來。直奔公堂之上，道：「老爺千萬別打和尚。下役尹士雄，我認得這是靈隱寺濟公。」知縣說：「尹士雄你怎么認的？」尹士雄說：「當初救徐治平徐大老爺，我在秦相府閣天樓盜五雷八卦天師符，我見過濟公一次。老爺，打不得的！」
正在这般光景，只听外面一声叫嚷：「千万别打，我来了！」说着话由外面跑进一个人来。直奔公堂之上，道：「老爷千万别打和尚。下役尹士雄，我认得这是灵隐寺济公。」知县说：「尹士雄你怎么认的？」尹士雄说：「当初救徐治平徐大老爷，我在秦相府阁天楼盗五雷八卦天师符，我见过济公一次。老爷，打不得的！」
Just then there was a shout from outside: “Don’t beat him, whatever you do! I’m coming!” As he spoke, a man ran in from outside and went straight up into the courtroom. “Your Honour, whatever you do, don’t beat the monk. Your humble runner Yin Shixiong knows him: this is Ji Gong of Lingyin Temple.” “How do you know him, Yin Shixiong?” the magistrate asked. “Back when I rescued His Honour Xu Zhiping,” said Yin Shixiong, “I stole the Celestial Master’s talisman of the Five Thunders and Eight Trigrams from Getian Tower in Chancellor Qin’s mansion, and I saw Ji Gong once then. Your Honour, he mustn’t be beaten!”
書中交代，尹士雄怎么會在這衙門當官人呢？只因前者在臨安秦相府盜五雷八卦天師符之後，搭救了徐治平。後來徐治平連登科甲，榜下即用知縣。尹士雄去找徐治平，要跟徐治平去當差役。徐治平說：「你是我救命的恩人，你跟我當差，我坐著叫你站著，我居心不安。要叫你坐著，又不成規矩。我給你薦舉一個地方去當差罷。」就把尹士雄薦在龍游縣。吳大老爺跟徐治平乃是同窗知己的朋友，也不能錯待了尹士雄。就留下他叫他當八班的班總。今天尹士雄正在外面班房坐著，聽說要打濟顛和尚，尹士雄一想：「要是濟顛和尚，我認識，我去瞧瞧去。」故此這才來到公堂。一看，果然是濟公。尹士雄趕緊回稟老爺。老爺聽說，急忙下了坐位，上前說：「聖僧千萬不可見怪，弟子是一時的懵懂。今請聖僧上坐。」和尚說：「老爺說哪裡話來，你不知不為罪。」知縣忙忙賠禮，說：「弟子久聞聖僧大名，善曉過去未來之事，佛法無邊。現在弟子這龍游縣出了三條命案，都是一無兇手，二無對證。求聖僧你老人家給占算占算罷。」濟公說：「不用占算。老爺把文房四寶拿來，我和尚給你寫出來好不好？」老爺一聽，趕緊取過紙墨筆硯，交與濟公。濟公背著人，在袖口裡寫好封好。和尚說：「老爺，你把我這張字柬帶好。等著你到東門外楊家店驗完了屍回來，那時轎子一落平，你打開我這張字柬瞧。這三條命案，我都給你寫明白。可別早打開。如早打開，可不靈了。」知縣吳老爺點頭，接過字柬一看，上面畫一個酒罈子，釘著七個鋸子。這是和尚的花樣。老爺把字柬收好，和尚說：「老爺，你派你的兩位班頭楊國棟、尹士雄跟我和尚辦案去。叫我這兩個班頭暫在衙門歇歇。」知縣答應，叫楊國棟、尹士雄跟聖僧去辦案。兩位班頭答應，跟著和尚下堂，一同出了衙門。尹士雄說：「聖僧一向可好？」和尚說：「好。沒有病。」尹士雄說：「楊大哥，我聽說嫂嫂不是病著么？」楊國棟說：「不錯。」尹士雄說：「大哥你給濟公叩頭，求求他老人家。真稱得妙藥仙丹，手到病除。無論什麼病，都能治的好。」楊國棟一聽，立刻給和尚行禮，說：「聖僧慈悲慈悲罷，給我點妙藥靈丹。」濟公說：「不要忙。丹藥倒有，咱們先辦案去要緊。」尹士雄說：「師父上哪去辦案？」和尚說：「上五里碑。」
书中交代，尹士雄怎么会在这衙门当官人呢？只因前者在临安秦相府盗五雷八卦天师符之后，搭救了徐治平。后来徐治平连登科甲，榜下即用知县。尹士雄去找徐治平，要跟徐治平去当差役。徐治平说：「你是我救命的恩人，你跟我当差，我坐着叫你站着，我居心不安。要叫你坐着，又不成规矩。我给你荐举一个地方去当差罢。」就把尹士雄荐在龙游县。吴大老爷跟徐治平乃是同窗知己的朋友，也不能错待了尹士雄。就留下他叫他当八班的班总。今天尹士雄正在外面班房坐着，听说要打济颠和尚，尹士雄一想：「要是济颠和尚，我认识，我去瞧瞧去。」故此这才来到公堂。一看，果然是济公。尹士雄赶紧回禀老爷。老爷听说，急忙下了坐位，上前说：「圣僧千万不可见怪，弟子是一时的懵懂。今请圣僧上坐。」和尚说：「老爷说哪里话来，你不知不为罪。」知县忙忙赔礼，说：「弟子久闻圣僧大名，善晓过去未来之事，佛法无边。现在弟子这龙游县出了三条命案，都是一无凶手，二无对证。求圣僧你老人家给占算占算罢。」济公说：「不用占算。老爷把文房四宝拿来，我和尚给你写出来好不好？」老爷一听，赶紧取过纸墨笔砚，交与济公。济公背着人，在袖口里写好封好。和尚说：「老爷，你把我这张字柬带好。等着你到东门外杨家店验完了尸回来，那时轿子一落平，你打开我这张字柬瞧。这三条命案，我都给你写明白。可别早打开。如早打开，可不灵了。」知县吴老爷点头，接过字柬一看，上面画一个酒坛子，钉着七个锯子。这是和尚的花样。老爷把字柬收好，和尚说：「老爷，你派你的两位班头杨国栋、尹士雄跟我和尚办案去。叫我这两个班头暂在衙门歇歇。」知县答应，叫杨国栋、尹士雄跟圣僧去办案。两位班头答应，跟着和尚下堂，一同出了衙门。尹士雄说：「圣僧一向可好？」和尚说：「好。没有病。」尹士雄说：「杨大哥，我听说嫂嫂不是病着幺？」杨国栋说：「不错。」尹士雄说：「大哥你给济公叩头，求求他老人家。真称得妙药仙丹，手到病除。无论什么病，都能治的好。」杨国栋一听，立刻给和尚行礼，说：「圣僧慈悲慈悲罢，给我点妙药灵丹。」济公说：「不要忙。丹药倒有，咱们先办案去要紧。」尹士雄说：「师父上哪去办案？」和尚说：「上五里碑。」
A word of explanation: how did Yin Shixiong come to be serving in this yamen? After he stole the talisman of the Five Thunders and Eight Trigrams from Chancellor Qin’s mansion in Lin’an, he had rescued Xu Zhiping. Later Xu Zhiping passed one examination after another and, the moment the results were posted, was appointed a county magistrate. Yin Shixiong went to find him, wanting to serve under him as a runner. “You’re the man who saved my life,” said Xu Zhiping. “If you serve under me, I’ll be sitting while you stand, and I couldn’t rest easy with that. If I let you sit, it would be against all proper form. Let me recommend you somewhere else to serve.” So he recommended Yin Shixiong to Longyou County. Lord Wu and Xu Zhiping were close friends who had studied together, so he could not treat Yin Shixiong badly either; he kept him on as chief of the eight squads. Today Yin Shixiong had been sitting in the runners’ room outside when he heard that Crazy Ji was about to be beaten. He thought, “If it’s Crazy Ji, I know him. I’ll go and have a look.” That was why he had come into the courtroom. He looked, and sure enough it was Ji Gong. Yin Shixiong hurriedly reported to the magistrate. When the magistrate heard this, he hastily left his seat and came forward. “Holy monk, please, please don’t hold it against me. Your disciple was muddle-headed for a moment. Holy monk, I beg you to take the seat of honour.” “What is Your Honour saying?” said the monk. “You didn’t know, so there’s no offence.” The magistrate apologised over and over. “Your disciple has long heard the holy monk’s great name: that you know all things past and to come, and that your Buddha-power is boundless. Right now in my county of Longyou there are three murder cases, and in every one there’s no killer and no witness. I beg you, venerable sir, to work it out for me by divination.” “No need for divination,” said Ji Gong. “Bring me the Four Treasures of the Study, and this monk will write it out for you. How’s that?” The magistrate at once had paper, ink, brush and inkstone brought and handed them to Ji Gong. Ji Gong turned his back on everyone, wrote inside his sleeve, and sealed it up. “Your Honour,” said the monk, “keep this note of mine safe. Wait until you’ve finished examining the body at the Yang Family Inn outside the East Gate and come back. When your sedan chair is set down, open my note and read it. I’ve written out all three murder cases clearly for you. But don’t open it early. If you open it early, it won’t work.” Lord Wu nodded. He took the note and looked: on it was drawn a wine jar mended with seven staples. That was the monk’s little game. The magistrate put the note away. “Your Honour,” said the monk, “send your two head constables, Yang Guodong and Yin Shixiong, to work the case with this monk, and let my two head constables rest at the yamen for a while.” The magistrate agreed and told Yang Guodong and Yin Shixiong to go with the holy monk on the case. The two head constables agreed, followed the monk down from the hall, and together they left the yamen. “Have you been well all this while, holy monk?” said Yin Shixiong. “Well,” said the monk. “No illness.” “Brother Yang,” said Yin Shixiong, “didn’t I hear that my sister-in-law is ill?” “That’s right,” said Yang Guodong. “Brother, kowtow to Ji Gong and beg him. His medicines really are wonder-working elixirs: the moment he sets his hand to an illness, it’s gone. There’s no sickness he can’t cure.” At this Yang Guodong at once bowed to the monk. “Holy monk, have mercy, have mercy! Give me some of your wonder-working elixir.” “No hurry,” said Ji Gong. “I’ve got elixir all right. But first we’d better go and work the case.” “Where are we going to work the case, Master?” asked Yin Shixiong. “To Wulibei,” said the monk.