且說蔣平因他姊妹沒有坐騎，只得拉著馬一同步行。剛走了數里之遙，究竟鳳仙柔弱，已然香汗津津，有些嬌喘吁吁。秋葵卻好，依然行有餘力。蔣平勸著鳳仙騎馬歇息。鳳仙也就不肯推辭，摟過絲韁，上馬緩轡而行。蔣爺與秋葵慢慢隨後步履。又走了數里之遙，秋葵步下也覺慢了。蔣爺是昨日泄了一天肚，又熬了一夜，未免也就出汗。因此找了個荒村野店，一壁打尖，一壁歇息。問了問陳起望，尚有二十多里。隨意吃了些飲食，餵了坐騎，歇息足了。天將掛午，復又起身，仍是鳳仙騎馬。及至到了陳起望，日已斜西。來到莊門，便有莊丁問了備細，連忙稟報。
且说蒋平因他姊妹没有坐骑，只得拉着马一同步行。刚走了数里之遥，究竟凤仙柔弱，已然香汗津津，有些娇喘吁吁。秋葵却好，依然行有余力。蒋平劝着凤仙骑马歇息。凤仙也就不肯推辞，搂过丝缰，上马缓辔而行。蒋爷与秋葵慢慢随后步履。又走了数里之遥，秋葵步下也觉慢了。蒋爷是昨日泄了一天肚，又熬了一夜，未免也就出汗。因此找了个荒村野店，一壁打尖，一壁歇息。问了问陈起望，尚有二十多里。随意吃了些饮食，喂了坐骑，歇息足了。天将挂午，复又起身，仍是凤仙骑马。及至到了陈起望，日已斜西。来到庄门，便有庄丁问了备细，连忙禀报。
Now, since the two girls had no mounts, Jiang Ping had no choice but to lead his horse and go on foot with them. They had gone only a few li when Fengxian, delicate as she was after all, was already beaded with fragrant sweat and a little out of breath. Qiukui was doing fine, with strength to spare. Jiang Ping urged Fengxian to ride and rest herself, and she did not refuse: she gathered up the reins, mounted, and rode on at an easy pace, while Jiang Ping and Qiukui followed slowly on foot. After a few more li, Qiukui’s steps began to slow as well. And Jiang Ping, who had spent the whole of the day before with the runs and then sat up all night, could not help breaking into a sweat himself. So they found a wayside inn in a lonely village, where they could take a meal and rest at the same time. They asked how far it was to Chenqiwang: still twenty-odd li. They ate whatever there was, fed the horse and rested their fill. Close to noon they set off again, Fengxian riding as before. By the time they reached Chenqiwang the sun was sinking in the west. When they came to the manor gate, the manor hands asked who they were and what they wanted, and hurried in to report.
只見陸彬魯英迎接出來，見了蔣平，彼此見禮。魯英便問道：「此位何人？」蔣爺道：「不必問，且到裡面自然明白。」於是大家進了莊門，早見北俠等正在大廳的月臺之上恭候。丁二爺問道：「四哥如何此時才來？」蔣爺道：「一言難盡。」北俠道：「這後面是誰？」蔣爺道：「兄試認來。」只見智化失聲道：「哎喲！姪女兒為何如此妝束？」丁二爺又說道：「這後面的也不是僕人，那不是秋葵姪女兒麼？」大家詫異。陸魯二人更覺愕然。蔣爺道：「且到廳上，大家坐了好講。」進了廳房，且不敘座。鳳仙就把父親被獲，現在襄陽王那裡囚禁。「姪女等特特改妝來尋伯父叔父，早早搭救我的爹爹要緊。」說罷，痛哭不止。大家驚駭非常，勸慰了一番。陸彬急急到了後面，告訴魯氏，叫他預備簪環衣服，又叫僕婦丫環將鳳仙姊妹請至後面，梳洗更衣。
只见陆彬鲁英迎接出来，见了蒋平，彼此见礼。鲁英便问道：「此位何人？」蒋爷道：「不必问，且到里面自然明白。」于是大家进了庄门，早见北侠等正在大厅的月台之上恭候。丁二爷问道：「四哥如何此时才来？」蒋爷道：「一言难尽。」北侠道：「这后面是谁？」蒋爷道：「兄试认来。」只见智化失声道：「哎哟！姪女儿为何如此妆束？」丁二爷又说道：「这后面的也不是仆人，那不是秋葵姪女儿么？」大家诧异。陆鲁二人更觉愕然。蒋爷道：「且到厅上，大家坐了好讲。」进了厅房，且不叙座。凤仙就把父亲被获，现在襄阳王那里囚禁。「姪女等特特改妆来寻伯父叔父，早早搭救我的爹爹要紧。」说罢，痛哭不止。大家惊骇非常，劝慰了一番。陆彬急急到了后面，告诉鲁氏，叫他预备簪环衣服，又叫仆妇丫环将凤仙姊妹请至后面，梳洗更衣。
Out came Lu Bin and Lu Ying to meet them, and they and Jiang Ping exchanged greetings. “And who might this be?” asked Lu Ying. “Don’t ask,” said Jiang Ping. “Let’s go inside and you’ll see for yourselves.” So they all went in through the manor gate, and there were the Northern Hero and the others, already waiting on the terrace before the main hall. “Fourth Brother,” asked Second Master Ding, “why are you only getting here now?” “It’s a long story,” said Jiang Ping. “Who is that behind you?” asked the Northern Hero. “See if you can tell, brother,” said Jiang Ping. Then Zhi Hua cried out in spite of himself: “Aiya! Niece, why are you dressed like this?” And Second Master Ding said, “And the one behind isn’t a servant either. Isn’t that our niece Qiukui?” Everyone was astonished, and Lu Bin and Lu Ying were more bewildered still. “Let’s go up into the hall,” said Jiang Ping, “and sit down, so we can talk properly.” They went into the hall, but before anyone took a seat, Fengxian told them how her father had been captured and was now held prisoner by the Prince of Xiangyang. “We changed our dress on purpose to come and find you, uncles. What matters is to rescue my father, and soon.” With that she wept and could not stop. Everyone was shocked and alarmed, and they comforted her for a while. Lu Bin hurried to the back of the house to tell Madam Lu to get hairpins, bracelets and clothes ready, and had the maidservants and serving girls ask Fengxian and her sister to the inner rooms to wash, comb their hair and change.
這裡眾人方問蔣爺道：「如何此時方到？」蔣平笑道：「更有可笑事。小弟卻上了個大當。」大家問道：「又是什麼事？」蔣爺便將媽媽店之事述說一番，眾人聽了笑個不了。其中多有認得甘豹的，聽說亡故了，未免又歎息一番。蔣爺往左右一看，問道：「展大哥與我三哥怎麼還沒到？」智化道：「並未曾來。」
这里众人方问蒋爷道：「如何此时方到？」蒋平笑道：「更有可笑事。小弟却上了个大当。」大家问道：「又是什么事？」蒋爷便将妈妈店之事述说一番，众人听了笑个不了。其中多有认得甘豹的，听说亡故了，未免又叹息一番。蒋爷往左右一看，问道：「展大哥与我三哥怎么还没到？」智化道：「并未曾来。」
Only now did the others ask Jiang Ping, “What took you so long?” Jiang Ping laughed. “Something even more laughable. Your little brother here was well and truly taken in.” “What happened this time?” they asked. Jiang Ping told them all about the old woman’s inn, and they laughed and laughed. Many of them had known Gan Bao, and hearing that he had passed away, they sighed over him for a while. Jiang Ping looked round and asked, “Why haven’t Brother Zhan and my Third Brother arrived yet?” “They haven’t come at all,” said Zhi Hua.